Huatulco, a Vacation to Remember

Huatulco advertises itself as one of those isolated, beautiful parts of paradise on Mexico’s Pacific coast that has luxury accommodations and an 18-hole golf course. So far the Mexican government has not done badly in preventing this description of Huatulco from becoming a contradiction in terms. It is still remote, it is still beautiful, and its luxury accommodations have not drawn so much of the tourist trade to make the area compromised by its development.

It was only in the 1980s that the Mexican government started to change this out-of-the-way fishing village into a major tourist spot. First you had to add electricity and running water, then build the luxury hotel, then the golf course. Give it access to an airport and the area becomes the place for memorable vacations. You need not throw away the traditional life of Huatulco however. Even the Sheraton Hotel has a good folk-art store!

Huatulco offers the visitor the wilds of both sea and jungle – all at excursions rates. Horseback riding or mountain bike tours into the jungle will bring you close to a natural environment tamed enough for you to enjoy but exquisite enough to give you a unique experience.

Most of the active life for tourists around Huatulco involves the sea and sun. The area is actually a series of nine interlocking bays each of which vary in what to do and infrastructure to support your visit. The three main areas are the more exclusive Tangolunda, as well as Chahue and Santa Cruz. At Tangolunda the golf course is world-class as are the restaurants; at Santa Cruz the bay offers beautiful beaches, good restaurants and discotheques; at Chahue you will find a traditional village, craft shops and, of course, restaurants. Lobster is seen as a local treat.

Deep-sea fishing and diving will both bring you close to the nature Huatulco has to offer. Your deep-sea excursion will give you a whole new perspective on tuna, while diving areas along the coral reefs will allow both the experienced and novice diver to search for the large schools of fish that populate the area.

River rafting through spectacular scenery with kayak, raft or canoe is one of the attractions of the area. For those looking for a more gentle way to explore Huatulco, numerous bay tours are available that will take you through rock formations, past the beaches and bays, and allow some water sports along the way.

Shopping can also take some of your time while you’re enjoying sun and surf. Small shops and street vendors offer products produced locally as well as the “crafts” brought in from around the country. Some of the local specialties can be quite nice, such as the Oaxacan embroidered blouses and dresses, and the barro negro pottery made from dark clay exclusively found in the Oaxaca region of which Huatulco is a part. One stop to make is in La Crucecita. It’s El Museo de las Artesanias. It’s both a shop for local crafts and an education into how the products are made.

A remote resort with beautiful scenery with lots to do – not a bad way to spend time away from home. Spend some time before you go to find the budget hotels. Resorts can be expensive but they can also offer a memorable vacation.