Where is Huatulco?

Where To Find This Majestic Vacation Spot

We’ve talked quite a bit about what to do in Huatulco; where to eat, stay, shop etc. However you may be asking yourself, “that’s all great, but where is Huatulco”?

Huatulco [wah – tool – co] is situated on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Oaxaca [wah-hawka]. It is the most southern tourist destination in the country, located 398 miles north of Guatemala.Huatulco is a mere 16 degrees north of the equator, offering a year-round tropical paradise and boasting 330 days of sun per year! In fact when locals are looking to book a vacation they often choose to do so here.

It is truly remote and culturally intact (for a tourist locale) – located about a 6 hour drive to Oaxaca city and about a 12 hour drive to Mexico city.

The town is actually called “Bahías de Huatulco” but over time has been shortened, unofficially, to simply – Huatulco.

A total of 9 bays encompass the Bahías de Huatulco; (from east to west) Bahías Conejos, Bahías Tangolunda, Bahías de Chahue, Bahías de Santa Cruz, Bahías de el Organo, Bahías de el Maguey, Bahías de Cacaluta, Bahías de Chachacual, and Bahías de San Augustin.

Apart from the 9 bays, the most recognized area in Huatulco is La Crucecita, located a little northeast of Santa Cruz. This bustling area is considered “town”  or “el cento” due to its many restaurants, shops, fruit/veggie markets, town square/Zocalo, and its overall central location.

Popular bays of Huatulco:

Tangolunda Bay

Popular mainly because almost all luxury resorts are located in this area. Despite the fact that hotels block access to a lot of the beach area, all beaches in Huatulco are public – even the beachfront directly in front of the resorts. There is a public beach entrance to Tangolunda Bay that you will find off the main road.

Thankfully tourists have the opportunity of buying day passes to the resorts for around $10-$20 USD a person. Giving you access to all amenities including pools, beaches, organized activities and more!

Santa Cruz

Often considered town along with La Crucecita, this area is home to many shops, restaurants and entertainment. For more information on the region visit our section on Santa Cruz.

San Augustin

Located on the western edge of Huatulco, this bay has recently become quite developed in comparison to the bays around it. Home to a wide variety of restaurants, shops and activities, San Agustin is a great place for a day trip. For maps of the bays and more click here.

Surfing Destination

When locals are looking to book a vacation they often choose to do so here. With such surf spots as Puerto Escondido, Barra de la Cruz and the Oaxacan Riviara, Huatulco has become an ideal location for many surf competitions. Everything from Rip Curl and the Mexpipe challenge to the X-games have been hosted here. For more posts on surfing in Huatulco, Click here!

Ecotourism

Being the first sustainable tourism destination in the Americas allowed Huatulco to achieve its green globe status.  Meaning they have taken serious steps to insure that the tourism business doesn’t come at the expense of the environment.

Hopefully this post has answered your question of “where is Huatulco” and left you wanting to see more. Please leave comments if you have any questions on the region!