Karl WP Beyer With Acapulco, Cancún, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has four seaside resorts that are known far beyond the borders and are all large cities. The situation is completely different with Huatulco, more precisely Santa María Huatulco. Surrounded by nine beautiful Pacific bays, this community is located in the province of Oaxaca on the edge of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range.
Huatulco - Hotels in Bahía Chahue
The municipality, which covers an area of 514 square kilometers, has just over 50.000 inhabitants. It was one of the first destinations in the world to commit to ecotourism. At the beginning of the 1980s, only four of nine bays were developed for tourism while respecting ecological principles. Huatulco is primarily a travel destination for Mexicans. Huatulco's motto is: “close to heaven”.
During the season, cruise ships regularly dock in the Santa Cruz Huatulco district. Generally, the ships only lie at the pier protruding into the bay for a few hours. In the time they have left, passengers go on individual or organized excursions in the surrounding area.
Huatulco-Bahia Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Huatulco - Things to Do & See
One thing is certain: cruise ships don't go to Huatulco because of the overwhelming sights. They come mainly because of the unique landscape of the Parque Nacional Bahías de Huatulco. The strictly protected national park has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2006.
Santa Cruz Huatulco - Terminal Maritime
Walking tour of Santa Cruz Huatulco
After leaving the cruise ship and the pier, it doesn't take more than 30 minutes to see all the essentials of the place, including the adjoining fishing and sports port.
Individual boat tours to the beaches
Tour operators await the ship's guests just a few meters behind the pier. The standard offers include boat tours with small fishing boats, catamarans or large passenger ships.
Santa Cruz Huatulco - excursion boats
The boat trips lead past striking rock formations and beautiful beaches. The surf often breaks spectacularly on the rocky coast, and there is even a blow hole to be seen. As an addition to the trip, you can watch seagulls, pelicans, frigate birds and large birds of prey.
The bays that make up the Parque Nacional Bahías de Huatulco, with a total of 36 beaches, are the region's most valuable tourist asset. Only four of the bays have been developed; there is a complete construction freeze on the others. Bays used for tourism are the Bahía de Conejos, the Bahía de Tangolunda, the Bahía de Cahué and the Bahía Santa Cruz. They offer good beaches and are suitable for all forms of water sports.
Cost of individual boat tours
A trip along the coast to three or four bays takes one to two hours by small boat. Upon request, a swim stop can be made on one of the beaches. In December 2019, such boat trips could be booked on site for 50 US dollars. Initially, double the amount is requested, after a short negotiation the price is reduced to the stated value.
Beach stay in Santa Cruz Huatulco
Why go on a boat trip at all? Within sight of the cruise ship, water rats enjoy the beautiful beach and the pleasantly warm water of Bahía Santa Cruz. Speaking for the project: the close proximity to the ship, the well-tended fine sandy beach with loungers and parasols and the delicious drinks that are served in the bars on the beach.
Santa Cruz Huatulco - beach bar and Cruise ship MS Rotterdam
Drive to La Crucecita
Surrounded by forest and a few minutes' taxi ride from the jetty, La Crucecita is also worth a visit. The main features of the small town, which has fewer than 20.000 inhabitants, are: the small central park called “El Zócalo”, a beautiful church, a market hall, many small shops, cantinas and bars. Embroidery and alebrijes are sold almost everywhere. “Alebrijes Oaxaca” are partly “crazy” wood carvings that predominantly depict animals. The Museo de Artesanias Oaxaqueñas sells works of art by regional artists.
Taxi prices: Taxi rides from the port to the center of La Crucecita cost between $4 and $5. The US dollar is accepted everywhere along with the Mexican peso.
Bahías de Huatulco National Park
Excursions to the neighboring, almost 12.000 hectare national park are also a tourist “must”. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve consists mainly of mangroves and low tropical forest.
Rock islands in the Parque Nacional Bahías de Huatalco
There are 9.000 plant species, 264 mammal species and more than 700 bird species. In addition, 470 species of reptiles and other animals from spiders to whales live in the park and in the adjacent sea.
In view of the generally short lay times of the cruise ships, the tours organized by the cruise ships are recommended for this destination.
Update - February 2024