Bays of Huatulco
Nine calm bays ringed by forest and a national park: the quiet side of the Oaxaca coast, made for snorkeling and boat days.
Plan your Huatulco trip
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Book unique activities at special prices.
Huatulco hotels for your dates
Up-to-date rates for 3 nights and 2 adults in Tangolunda, Santa Cruz, Chahué and La Crucecita.
Huatulco's bays and corners
Each bay has its own personality: some with a marina and restaurants, others almost untouched inside the national park.
- 9Bays along the coastline
- ≈36Beaches tucked between the bays
- Nov–AprDry season with clear skies
- ≈1 h 15Flight from Mexico City
Huatulco from the air and the shore
Forest running down to the sand, turquoise water and bays best seen from a boat.
- A bay wrapped in forest · ProtoplasmaKid (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Islets and rocky coast · Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Santa Cruz and its pier · ProtoplasmaKid (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Santa Cruz Bay · Arturo Alcalá Hernández (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Beach time at La Entrega · Xicoamax (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Maguey Bay · Wavehunter (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Huatulco FAQs
Seasons, areas, transport and what to do around the bays.
When is the best time to visit Huatulco?
November to April brings sunny days, almost no rain and calm seas, perfect for snorkeling. June to October is the rainy season and overlaps with Pacific hurricane season, though the forest turns lush and green. Christmas, Holy Week and July–August are the busiest periods.
Which airport do I use, and how far are the hotels?
Bahías de Huatulco International Airport (HUX). From there it's about 20 minutes to La Crucecita, Santa Cruz or Tangolunda by taxi or authorized transport. The flight from Mexico City takes around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Which area of Huatulco should I stay in?
Tangolunda has the big beachfront and all-inclusive resorts. Santa Cruz and Chahué sit by the marina and pier, handy for boat trips. La Crucecita is the town itself, with smaller, more affordable hotels steps from the main square, restaurants and the market.
Is the bay boat tour worth it?
It's the best way to see Huatulco: in one day you visit several bays, stop to snorkel and have lunch on a beach. Tours leave from the Santa Cruz pier. Some bays, like Cacaluta inside Huatulco National Park, have limited road access, so a boat is the easiest way in.
Where can I snorkel in Huatulco?
La Entrega is the easiest, with calm water and reef close to shore. Maguey, San Agustín and Cacaluta are also good. Conditions change with the swell, so ask on the beach before going in, and use reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral.
How did La Entrega Beach get its name?
"La Entrega" means "the handover": according to history, independence hero Vicente Guerrero was handed over to his captors here in 1831 before his execution in Cuilápam. Today it's one of Huatulco's calmest beaches, with seafood palapas and access by road or by boat from Santa Cruz.
What else is there to do besides the beach?
Visit coffee farms in the nearby mountains, such as around Pluma Hidalgo; see El Bufadero, a blowhole that sprays through the rocks with the swell; go rafting on the Copalita River in season; and wander La Crucecita's main square and its Guadalupe church in the evening.
What food should I try in Huatulco?
Fresh fish and seafood at the palapas on Maguey or La Entrega, and Oaxacan cooking in La Crucecita: tlayudas, mole, quesillo cheese and tamales. Finish with a cup of local coffee or a mezcal.
How many days do I need in Huatulco?
Four or five nights cover the bay tour, a couple of beach days, a coffee or Copalita River outing and an evening in La Crucecita. If you want to add Puerto Escondido, the coastal highway takes about 2 hours or more depending on traffic.
Keep your Huatulco flights and hotel on your phone, even while you hop from bay to bay.
