Huatulco On Your Own

The 10 Top Things to do in Huatulco

The planned resort of Huatulco is an interesting place to visit. It's a beautiful place, and there are a lot of things to do.

1. Bask on the beach at Tangolunda. It's Huatulco's best resort beach.


2. Buy an Alebrijes papier mache figure. The variety of these keepsakes is endless; one example is the picture to the right.


3. Rent a bike and discover Huatulco on wheels. Getting around on 2 wheels is not difficult.


4. View the bays of Huatulco by boat. These trips also include snorkeling and swimming; they're a great way to spend a few hours in Huatulco.


5. Dine on traditional and unusual Oaxacan cuisine. There's nothing like sampling a fried grasshopper.


6. Shop for traditional Oaxaca goods and folk art. If the shop owner speaks English, or you speak Spanish, you can turn your shopping experience into a real learning experience.


7. Pack your binoculars and go birding. The Huatulco area is on the migratory map from South America to Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.


8. Catch a big one on a sportsfishing expedition. They've got some mighty good fishing in these parts.


9. Take a rafting safari down the Copalita river. This is another great way to spend an afternoon.


10. Take a horseback ride. The best way to experience Huatulco is to get outdoors and explore. And doing it on horseback makes it even better.

Getting Around

Orientation

Your ship will dock at the Cruise Ship pier at Playa Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz Bay. Your excursions will commence from this area.

Taxi services link the three separate areas of Tangolunda, Santa Cruz and La Crucecita. Fares average around $50 pesos from La Crucecita to Tangolunda, and $30 pesos from Santa Cruz to Tangolunda.

Given the limited amount of time your cruise ship will be spending in port, renting a car is impractical.

Since the distances between Santa Cruz, La Crucecita and Tangolunda aren't great, walking is a good--but potentially damp--alternative, considering that you're in the tropics.

Riding a bike in the area is another alternative. Rent a Bike Huatulco has about a dozen locations in the Huatulco area.

Shopping

What's Special in Huatulco

Two market places, one in La Crucecita and the other adjacent to the Marina in Santa Cruz, sell a large variety of Oaxacan-made goods. These include alebrijes (see below), shell objects, carved gourds from Pinotepa de Don Luis, bule gourd water carriers, hammocks and woven bags, palm hats, black and red coral, silver, seed, bamboo, and clay jewelry; leather goods, wood and coconut shell masks, onyx chest sets, ashtrays and figurines, wood carvings, baskets, rugs, and native textiles (shawls, huipiles, and table linens). The silver jewelry is mainly from Taxco.

The shops at La Crucecita carry jewelry, black pottery and other ceramics from various parts of Mexico, ironwood sculptures of birds, coastal textiles from the Amusgos towns and native villages in the Central Valleys, painted wood animals, featherwork, hammocks and bags.

The hotel shops in Tangolunda also carry boutique clothing, paintings, prints and sculpture, Cuban cigars, and crafts from various parts of Mexico.

Alebrijes Alebrijes are brightly-colored folk art sculptures of fantastical animal-like creatures. While Pedro Linares first used the term to describe his papier mache creations, it is now commonly used in reference to the Oaxacan woodcarvings popularized by Manuel Jimenez.

Pedro Linares started out as a common papier mache artist who eked out a living on the outskirts of Mexico City by making traditional pinatas, carnival masks, and Judas dolls for local fiestas. In the 1930s, he broke from tradition and started creating elaborate decorative pieces that represented imaginary creatures he called alebrijes. Inspired by a dream when he fell ill at age 30, these papier mache sculptures were brightly-painted with intricate patterns and frequently featured wings, horns, tails, fierce teeth, and bulgy eyes.

Linares' unique creations were discovered by a gallery owner in Cuernavaca, and have since been exhibited around the world. Linares received Mexico's National Prize for Popular Arts and Traditions for his work. Linares' sons and grandsons carry on in Pedro Linares' tradition, and have become sought-after artists in their own right.

The alebrije name is often used in reference to the fanciful woodcarvings created by artists in Oaxaca. These popular folk art wood sculptures are also known as animalitos, monos, or simply figuras. While most share the bright colors and fanciful subjects popularized by Linares' work, individual artists generally have very distinctive carving and painting styles.

Manuel Jimenez is recognized as the founder of folk art woodcarving in Oaxaca. Like Linares, Jimenez progressed from carving simple pieces in the local tradition to creating internationally-recognized works of art.

Inspired by the woodcarving of fellow Oaxacan Don Pascual Santiago and the papier mache work of Pedro Linares, Jimenez began carving stylized monkeys (monos) and other creatures in the 1960s. His critical and financial success spawned a new industry for small villages in one of Mexico's poorest regions. There are now over 200 woodcarving families concentrated in the villages San Antonio Arrazola, San Martin Tilcajete, La Union Tejalapa, and San Pedro Cajonos.

Oaxacan Cuisine

Oaxaca cuisine is vibrant, inventive and diverse, and always includes fresh, high-quality ingredients. Oaxaca is famous for its moles, which come in many varieties. These include negro (black), amarillo (yellow), coloradito (reddish), almendrado (with almonds), verde (green), rojo (red), Manchamanteles (tablecloth stainer) and chichilo negro.

Moles, which vary in spiciness, are elaborate and labor-intensive, often requiring more than 30 different ingredients. Moles are predominately served with chicken, but you can also order them with pork or beef. Mole negro is the most ubiquitous dish, and is made with 20 or more ingredients, including chopped chocolate and burnt grain. The dish has undertones of toasted chile and wave upon wave of textured spice and heat.

Other typical and popular Oaxacan dishes include:

• Cakes and breads


• Saltamontes or Chapulin: The local grasshoppers come in two sizes; they're boiled then fried with garlic, salt and lemon juice.


• Tlayudas: Over-sized tortillas.


• Tamales


• Quesillo: Oaxaca's special cheese made in long strips wound into a ball

Some of the unique regional fruits available in Oaxaca include:

• Mamey: this fruit has bark like brown rough skin and is orange inside. It is soft, smooth, thick, and creamy.


• Chico zapotes: some say this fruit tastes like peaches with a hint of lemon; some say it has a taste of pineapple; others describe it as a mix of mango, coconut, caramel and vanilla; and others say it's like orange sherbet.


• Tejocotes: like teeny golden apples, though the color can range from red-orange to a translucent golden yellow. They have a sweet and sour taste, which is reminiscent of something between a plum and an apricot.


• Nanches: the size of raspberries, but they contain just one stone. They're like cherries or plums.


• Papayas


• Mangos: peeled and carved into easy-to-eat sculptures on sticks

Some of the interesting regional desserts available in Oaxaca include:

• Barquillos: pastries filled with puddings


• Sugar cane and walnut candies similar to pralines


• Empanadas: Coconut and pineapple turnovers


• Gasnates: Cones full of merengue


• Polvorones: hard, flat donut-shaped cookies


• Cocadas: coconut dessert made with sugar


• Besos (kisses): which resemble miniature cream puffs


• Turrones: of stiff-beaten egg whites with red sprinkles, inside two wafers open like a shell

Restaurants

Recommended Restaurants in Huatulco

See our Recommended Huatulco Restaurants Map for the locations of the restaurants listed below.

El Sabor de Oaxaca
Oaxacan
An airy and pleasant restaurant in a covered courtyard. Specializes in regional Oaxaca cuisine, offering moles, tlayudas (corn tortillas with cheese and other fillings), chilies rellenos (stuffed chilies) and other dishes.
Avenida Guamuchil #206, in the Hotel Las Palmas
La Crucecita

Restaurant Ve El Mar
Seafood
This friendly, casual restaurant serves lobster, ceviche, shrimp and other seafood dishes.
On the beach at Playa Santa Cruz

Grillo Marinero Calle
Seafood
Featured on the Travel Channel "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman." A seafood restaurant favored by the locals, open only for lunch.
Carrizal and Macuhitle in La Crucecita.

Pollo Imperial
Mexican rotisserie chicken
Very good and inexpensive marinated rotisserie chicken served with boracho beans and a macaroni and ham salad.
On Carrizal, between Guamuchil and Blvd. Chahue in La Crucecita.

Jarro Cafe
International
They offer good breakfasts, sandwiches, hamburgers and steaks.
Located across from the Barcelo Huatulco Beach Hotel, in Tangolunda Bay.

Cafe Vienna/Astriaco
International
At the Hotel Plaza Huatulco, around the corner from Don Porfirio's

Cafe Huatulco
Coffee emporium
Serves a variety of coffees brewed from locally-grown beans. Also sells bags of coffee.
Located at the plaza near the marina in Santa Cruz Bay, and in the Plaza Esmeralda shopping center at Tangolunda.

Activities

Tour Operators in Huatulco

Bahias de Huatulco Travel Services This travel company offers a 12 tours, including a Boat Tour of Huatulco Bays; a tour of Santa Maria Huatulco; a tour of a coffee plantation; a fishing villages tour; a tour of Oaxaca City; snorkeling and diving excursions; rafting and kayaking trips; sportsfishing; biking and 4WD vehicle rental; horseback riding; hiking and bird watching trips; and golfing.
Tel: +52 (958) 583-4151

Xpert and Professional Travel Plaza Coyula local 11, behind Banamex in Santa Cruz. Coffee plantation tours, waterfalls tours, snorkeling tours by boat, bird watching tours, ATV jungle tours, sport fishing, zip line, cooking classes, horseback ridding, rafting, local villages tours.
Tel: +52 (958) 587-1290

Aventuras Huatulco Located on the second floor of Plaza Conejo, a half block from the zocalo in La Crucecita. Excursions include mountain biking, coffee plantation, bird watching, rock climbing, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, deep sea fishing, bays tour and visit to the villages.
Tel: +52 (958) 587-0054.

Servicios Turisticos Del Sur Located at the Hotel Castillo, Santa Cruz. Rafting, horseback riding, 4-wheelers, coffee plantation tours (La Gloria), bicycle tours, neighboring towns.
Tel: +52 (958) 587-1211.

Adventure Tours

Porttrips International offers a Huatulco Adventure Tour that combines snorkeling, a visit to a papaya plantation, a rafting trip down the Copalita River, taking a mud bath plus lunch. The 4-hour tour is in an air-conditioned van, runs $92 per person, with a 6 person minimum.

Porttrips International offers their Outback Safari Tour that takes you on a tour of the outback in an open-air all terrain vehicle. You'll go deep into the forest, stopping in a small village to learn some local customs. Then you'll head to the coast and drive through lagoons, visit a papaya grove and be entertained by school children. The tour ends at a small coastal fishing village for a lunch and the opportunity to swim and snorkel. The 6-hour tour runs $105 per person, with a 6 person minimum.

Shore Excursions Group offers an ATV Jungle Tour. On this tour, you'll climb aboard your ATV and follow the professional guide as you head off into the beautiful, natural trails of the Huatulco region. You will enjoy an up close and personal view of the jungles and beaches of the nine bays as you twist and turn on the exciting trails. The 3½-hour tour runs $95 per person.

Beaches in Huatulco

Tangolunda Beach. This half-mile long beach is home to the Sheraton, the Maeva and the golf course. The beach may also be accessed through Tangolunda Park, west of the hotels. Here you'll find moderate waves, with swimming, diving and all watersports available.

Playa Santa Cruz. This 800-foot long beach is situated at the foot of the Cruise Dock. The beach enjoys calm waters, coral formations, sea shells and lots of fish life. It's a good place to snorkel or scuba, but watch out for sea urchins and moray eels; there's also a small underwater cave. Restaurants, equipment rental, and boat rides available.

Bicycling

Rent a Bike Huatulco has about a dozen locations throughout the Bahias de Huatulco area. They also offer moped rentals and eco tours. Tel: +52 (958) 587-0669.

Bird Watching

Huatulco Bird Watching Tours. Local expert field guide Pedro Gasca will take you to several sites, depending on the season, to view a variety of species from parrots to pygmy owls. The cost for birding expeditions vary from $40 to $80 depending on the length of the tour and the sites to be visited; each is individually designed for the client's preferences, and include land or aquatic transportation, a birding list, trip report, and beverages. Contact Pedro Gasca at +52 (958) 113-2473.

Huatulco Hiking Tour. Take a hike around Punta Celeste with views of the river, open sea, and forest, for sightings of terrestrial and aquatic birds. The 3½-hour tour can be made in the early morning or late afternoon, and costs about $45. Tour includes transportation, binoculars, specialized bird guide and beverages. Call +52 (958) 583-4047 for reservations

City Tours

Porttrips International offers a Huatulco City Tour. This 4-hour tour will give you an orientation of the Bahias of Huatulco, taking you along the bays, visiting an river estuary, and to the village of La Crucecita, among other stops. The tour is an air-conditioned van, runs $30 per person, with a 6 person minimum.

Shore Excursions Group offers a Huatulco City and Shopping Tour. After taking a tour of the city, you will proceed to the famous La Crucecita and Santa Cruz markets. Here you will find everything from silver jewelry to Oaxacan handicrafts to local black pottery at bargain prices. The 3-hour tour will then return you to the cruise pier.

Cultural Tour

Shore Excursions Group offers a Huatulco's Customs and Traditions Tour. On this tour, you'll head into the Tangolunda countryside where you will see spectacular panoramic views and learn the rich history of the area. You will stop at La Crucesita, a small local village, where you can stroll through the charming main plaza and shop in the handicraft market and silver shops. The shops here sell Oaxaca's famous woven rugs and black pottery, as well its carved wooden figures. Stop at the Mezcal house to learn about this traditional drink and sample other local culinary delights such as mole, chocolate, and quesillo. Before heading back to the pier, you will also visit a loom to see local artisans weaving traditional cloths. The 3½-hour tour runs $95 per person.

Deep Sea Fishing

Hecho en Mexico Tours offers sportsfishing, bay tours by boat (14-passenger Super Panga) and land tours via large 12-passenger van. Their tour guides are bilingual. Tel: +52 (958) 587-1860.

Diving

Hurricane Divers operates Huatulco's only PADI Gold Palm Instructor Development Center in the city. They offer a two tank boat dive in the morning, meeting in the dive shop at 9:30 am to leave from the marina at 10:00 am. The majority of the dive sites take 5 to 25 minutes to reach. At the site the equipment is prepped and you get a dive briefing. After a 45 minute dive (approximately) the tour transfers to another site for a second dive. Normally the tour returns to the shop before lunchtime, between 1:00 to 2:00 pm. They speak English, Spanish, German, French and Dutch. Headquarters is on Santa Cruz Beach in Huatulco, with a smaller shop in Plaza Punta Tangolunda at Tangolunda beach. Open weekdays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; and closed on Sunday.
Tel: +52 (958) 587-1107

Eco Tours

Porttrips International offers a Organic Coffee Plantation and Petting Zoo Tour. This 4-hour tour will take you into the Sierra Madre mountains to a large coffee plantation. Learn about the tropical plants and animals of the area. A typical Oaxacan meal will be served for lunch and a petting farm is available for the children to enjoy. The tour is an air-conditioned van, runs $49 per person, with a 6 person minimum.

The Huatulco Coffee Plantation Tour takes you into the mountains east of Huatulco, touring various coffee plantations. You'll learn how Oaxacan coffee is cultivated and learn about life on the plantations. Lunch and refreshments are included. Cost for the day is $50; contact Paraiso Tours at (958) 581-0218 for reservations.

Horseback Riding

Rancho Caballo de Mar Located at Playa Punta Arena, Bahia de Conejos. This company offers a Huatulco Horseback Riding Tour through the jungles and to Conejos and Magueyito beaches, making for a wonderful way to see the natural beauty of the area. The ride lasts 3½-hours, with departures at 9:45 am and 1:45 pm, and costs $45. Reservation required, English and French spoken. Tel: +52 (958) 587-0366.

Sailing & Snorkeling

Porttrips International offers a Paradise Found Bay Tour. This 4-hour tour will take you to 7 of the 9 bays of Huatulco, during which time you'll stop near the beach at La India for some snorkeling and beach activities, then make for the bay of San Augustin for a seafood lunch (not included in tour price). The tour takes you to the bays in a motorboat. Snorkeling gear rental is not included in the price of the tour. The tour runs $43 per person, with a 6 person minimum.

Shore Excursions Group offers an 7 Bay Tour. This tour takes you on a boat trip along the coast to see Huatulco's famous 7 bays where you will enjoy sunning, snorkeling, and swimming. The boat will anchor at a calm, inviting spot where you can swim and snorkel in the warm tropical waters. Throughout your journey, you can enjoy drinks onboard the boat. The 7-hour tour runs $95 per person.

Luna Azul Bays Tour. Enjoy a day of Sailing, Snorkeling, Swimming and Sunbathing at the beautiful Huatulco bays aboard the 44-foot sailboat Luna Azul. The Luna Azul will take you to some of the quiet, scenic bays, not accessible by car, where you can swim, fish, or just lay out in the sun. Snorkeling equipment is also available if you want to view some of the beautiful coral that thrives in the area. Day trips include your ice-cold beverages and cocktails. Contact Captain Jack Hennessy at +52 (958) 587-0945 for reservations.

Watersports

Huatulco Watersports On Santa Cruz beach, beside the gas station. They do jet ski tours, rentals and instruction. Tel: +52 (958) 587-2818.