What to Do in Huatulco

Discover Top Huatulco Activities & Excursions

Before its development as a beach lovers’ paradise on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Huatulco was merely a handful of beach huts and a few rustic coffee farms. Fast-forward to the grandiose, luxurious resorts of today, scattered around some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery. Here are our picks of the best things to do in Huatulco!

Take on the Bays by Boat

Huatulco is well-known for its nine glorious bays and luckily, it’s easy to visit them all! Countless boat tours leave from the bay of your choice: San Agustin, Chachacual, Cacaluta, Maguey, Organo, Santa Cruz, Chahue or Tangolunda. Snorkel or swim during your stops along some of the bays’ 36 beaches, admire the breathtaking coastal landscape and keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, stingrays and other marine life frolicking below the waves.

Walk the Trails of Hagia Sofia

A fabulously fragrant nature reserve, Hagia Sofia boasts the best of the area’s flora. Winding trails snake around a river, a waterfall, a fruit orchard and a lush scenery of colourful, exotic flowers and trees. The clincher? This gorgeous greenery attracts a variety of butterflies and tropical birds, providing the perfect soundtrack to your serene stroll.

Get a Mexican History Lesson

Near the beaches of Huatulco sits the impressive remnants of the ancient Zapotec civilization, like the abandoned city of Monte Albán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around 500 BC. The archeological site houses temples, tombs, courtyards, ball courts and hundreds of petroglyphs hidden among the stones. For an extra dose of history, you could also pop over to the Bocana del Rio Copalita Eco-Archaeological park where trails take you to pre-Hispanic Mixtec ruins and a history museum.

Shop Around La Crucecita

Need to treat yourself? Head to La Crucecita! The charming town serves authentic Mexican culture around its plaza, park, and restaurant-lined streets. It’s also the perfect spot to stock up on souvenirs! Wander around kiosks selling the best Mexican crafts, from handmade jewellery to colourful textiles. Plus, you can visit the Museum of Oaxacan Handcrafts for a bit of back-story!

Sample Oaxacan Cuisine

Huatulco happens to be located in the Mexican state that serves some of the country’s most delicious cuisine—Oaxaca. Look out for classic Oaxacan dishes: anything with mole (a complex, chili-based sauce), tlayuda (a kind of tortilla pizza topped with beans, meat, Oaxacan cheese, and more), white beans and shrimp, seafood soup and chapulines (grasshoppers). Don’t forget to add the famous local tipple of choice…mezcal!

Free the Turtles

Overlooking the bay of San Agustin, Mazunte welcomes hundreds of sea turtles to its shores, who come here to lay their eggs. The Mexican Turtle Centre invites travellers to join them in protecting the baby turtles and helping them reach the sea. This slice of the Oaxacan coast is one of the top five sea turtle nesting areas in the world!

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