Santa Cruz Huatulco – A Local Guide
Are you planning a trip to Huatulco? Then you might consider Santa Cruz Huatulco as your vacation destination! This little beach town is a beautiful and popular tourist destination on the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico.
The area of Huatulco can be confusing, the region is spread out and there are a lot of names for different regions. It’s not clear where one town starts and another begins!
I’ve spent the last few years living in Huatulco learning everything I can about the region and the wonderful town of Santa Cruz. Here I will share my secrets and top tips for getting the most out of your stay in Huatulco!
So let’s jump into the warm waters of Oaxaca and learn about Santa Cruz Huatulco!
Photo: Shev
Where is Santa Cruz Huatulco?
Santa Cruz Huatulco is located on the southern Pacific Coast of Mexico. A small beach town nestled into the region of Bahias de Huatulco, Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Huatulco is becoming a popular tourist destination for travellers!
Santa Cruz is a part of the town of La Crucecita, and comprises Sectors A & E. Santa Cruz is also the name of the protected bay the town is built around. One of the 9 bays of Huatulco, Santa Cruz Bay is one of the calmest and most popular beaches in the area.
Want to learn more about Huatulco? Learn about the neighbourhoods (sectors), beaches and more here.
Photo: Shev
Santa Cruz Beaches
The town and bay of Santa Cruz is home to 9 beaches, but most travellers only visit one or two! Here is the full list of beaches inside Santa Cruz Bay.
Playa Santa Cruz
The biggest and most popular beach in Santa Cruz, and maybe in Huatulco is Santa Cruz Beach.
The water here is calm with a sandy bottom, making it great for swimming. In the mornings you can see Huatulco’s open water swim club gather here, as well as paddleboarders, kayakers, and other water enthusiasts enjoying the peaceful water.
During the day, the beach is busy with families, travellers enjoying the many beach restaurants, and visitors arriving from the cruise ships that dock in the bay.
Santa Cruz Beach is a popular gathering place for local events. Fireworks displays for the New Year and other celebrations are usually best viewed from this beach.
Playa Punta Santa Cruz
On the other side of the cruise port in Santa Cruz, you will find the small beach of Playa Punta Santa Cruz.
The water is very calm and good for swimming, but you need to beware of the many fishing boats anchored here.
Beaches of Punta Santa Cruz
Punta Santa Cruz is also the name of the peninsula on the south side of Bahia Santa Cruz. This outcropping has a series of beaches that are only accessible with a short hike or by boat.
Get the full list of Huatulco’s 36+ beaches here!
Playa Fandango
This is the closest beach to hike to in Punta Santa Cruz. It’s a cute and quiet bay with great snorkelling.
Playa el Amor
A tiny, intimate little beach right next to Playa Fandango, Playa el Amor is just a short hike further than Fandango, but the path is steep.
Playa Pescadores
Playa Pescadores is a secluded beach about a 20-minute hike from the trail entrance. You can also get here by boat.
Playa el Paraiso
This beach is at the very tip of Punta Santa Cruz and is only accessible from the water, either by boat or paddleboard.
Photo: Shev
La Entrega
Perhaps Huatulco’s most popular beach is Playa La Entrega. This unique spot in Santa Cruz Bay has fantastic snorkelling and you can often see turtles swimming here.
The beach is very popular so it’s best to go early in the morning to beat the crowds!
Playa Los Compas
Located inside the inlet around La Entrega, Playa Los Compas is a tiny little beach that you can only access by swimming!
Playa Yerbabuena
Playa Yerbabuena is a small beach inside the military sector of Huatulco. Despite being on the military base, Yerbabuena is open to the public!
Photo: Shev
6 Things to do in Santa Cruz
This little Oaxaca beach town is a hub of activity for the district of Huatulco. Many local events take place here regularly throughout the year!
1. Visit the Weekly Organic Market
The Mercado Organico de Huatulco (MOH) takes place on Saturdays throughout the year in the main square in Santa Cruz. It’s a popular activity for locals and travellers alike!
Santa Cruz Organic Market Schedule
November to April
Saturday mornings
8:00 am – 2:00 pm
May – October
1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month
8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Going to the organic market in Santa Cruz is one of my favourite things to do in Huatulco. There is so much going on!
The market is divided into 4 main sections.
- Artisans and handicrafts
- Fresh produce
- Street food and eating area
- Live music and viewing area
2. Explore the beaches of Santa Cruz
There are many beaches to explore in the bay! Some have great snorkelling while others are quiet and great for relaxing.
These are the beaches in Santa Cruz, or you can check out the more than 40 beaches in Huatulco!
3. Explore the Huatulco National Park
At the end of Sector E in Santa Cruz there is an entrance to the trails of the Huatulco National Park. This is the safest access point for the trails to Cacaluta Bay and other walking trails of the park!
Tip from a local: the trails are generally safe, but it’s always advised to adventure in groups or take a tour. I love this mountain biking ride through the Huatulco National Park!
4. Take a Sunrise Kayaking Tour
This tour is a favourite among travellers! There are only a few places to see the sunrise from Huatulco, so paddling out into the ocean is a popular choice for spectacular views.
This sunrise kayaking tour from Santa Cruz Bay includes all your gear and a delicious local breakfast. It’s one of my favourite things to do in Huatulco!
Most impressive time! Eriberto and Ferguson were amazing guides. Amiable and knowledgeable. Had never kayaked before and they provided adequate safety review and how tos with tips along the way. They were very patient and helpful. Able to see an amazing sunrise even with the humid haze and some sea turtles. Stopped by a beach to have coffee, cookies and fruit. An experience I will never forget and I’m so grateful. Gracias por todo!
Tania – (More Reviews)
Note – this tour is only available during the high season in Huatulco (November to March)
5. Visit the Huatulco Lighthouse & Blowhole
El Faro or the Lighthouse is a popular viewpoint at all times of day in Huatulco. Located at the very end of the peninsula on one side of Santa Cruz Bay, El Faro offers views of the sunrise, sunset, and ocean wildlife!
The lighthouse is open during the day to visitors. From the walls, you can look down into the water and La Bufadora – the blowhole!
The natural phenomenon of the blowhole in Huatulco shoots water straight up the cliffs to the lighthouse. When the waves are just right, you’ll be treated to the splash of ocean mist and a thunderous noise as water passes through La Bufadora.
Photo: Shev
6. Relax in one of Santa Cruz’s Beach Clubs
Most of Huatulco’s beach clubs are in the nearby area of Chahue Bay Huatulco, but there are a couple of great ones in Santa Cruz!
Club Niru
Part of the Binniguenda Huatulco All-Inclusive Resort, Club Niru is located right on Santa Cruz Beach. Enjoy a full buffet, lounge chairs, shade, and access to their pools and toys with a day pass!
Bacaanda Beach Club
Located on the other side of the bay in front of Playa Punta Paraiso, Bacaanda Beach Club boasts a beachfront bar, a beautiful pool, and a lower minimum spend than Club Niru.
Photo: Shev
Notable Santa Cruz Businesses
A list of some of the businesses and tour operators based in Santa Cruz Huatulco.
Santa Cruz Marina
This is the centre of ocean activity in Huatulco. The marina in Santa Cruz is where all of the tour operators work out of. If you want to take a boat tour or snorkel tour in Huatulco, this is where you will go!
Huatulco Scuba
Huatulco’s highest-rated scuba operator, Huatulco Scuba is based out of the Santa Cruz Marina. They offer diving packages, courses, and ocean wildlife safaris! This is the shop I dive with when I’m in Huatulco.
Rafael Ortega Art Gallery
A beautiful and unique art gallery in Huatulco, Rafael Ortega has some incredible artwork in many mediums, but the most notable are the stone pieces. Ornate stone furniture and sink basins are among my favourite pieces there!
Hagia Sofia
The head offices for the Hagia Sofia Nature Park are in the Ocean Park Condos in Santa Cruz. The park is located in the mountains just under an hour away from Santa Cruz. This is one of my favourite things to do in Huatulco.
Cafesurf
A great surf shop in Huatulco! Cafe Surf rents paddleboards, surfboards, and scooters. They also offer surfing lessons and trips to popular surfing beaches around Huatulco.
Hurricane Divers
Huatulco’s oldest dive shop, Hurricane Divers, can also be found in the Ocean Park Condos right near Santa Cruz Beach.
Photo: Shev
Where to Stay in Santa Cruz Huatulco
Santa Cruz Huatulco is one of Oaxaca’s best beach towns to stay in if you’re looking to be near the beach. Here are some of the best places to stay in Santa Cruz!
Hotel Binniguenda Huatulco
The Binniguenda is a highly-rated 4-star hotel in Santa Cruz Huatulco. It’s popular for its amenities architecture and all-inclusive options. They offer different meal packages from hotel only to all inclusive!
Hotel Binniguenda is not located directly on the beach, but they run a free shuttle back and forth to their beach club, Niru, in Santa Cruz. Use of the beach club is included in your accommodations at the Binnuguenda Huatulco!
· The room was very clean. The hotel is located in an amazing garden with various option to have fun with the kids like a mini-golf and table tennis. There was a shuttle to the beach club every half hour, but it is also possible to walk to the beach. We liked the restaurant at the beach club where the lunch was.
Miriam – (More Reviews)
Condo Barlovento
The perfect beach getaway is to be had at Condo Barlovento! Located at the edge of Santa Cruz Bay, this condo offers unbeatable views of the Oaxacan Coast and access to a private beach!
Condo Barlovento is the perfect place to stay in Santa Cruz with beach access, amazing views, and the privacy of an apartment!
Holiday Inn Huatulco
Facing the Santa Cruz Marina, the Holiday Inn Huatulco is familiar, comfortable, and in a location that can’t be beat!
The Holiday Inn Huatulco is also one of the few pet-friendly hotels in Huatulco. So if you are bringing a pet, this is the best choice of hotel in Santa Cruz!
The location is excellent. There is a taxi station right around the corner where you can get transportation to the downtown area. It’s also close to restaurants at the beach and to the pedestrian route to the downtown area, which is about a 20 minute walk. The ocean here is very calm and safe to swim with children. Also, the hotel has a washer and dryer that you can use to do your laundry, which was a huge help to us. The housekeeping staff provided excellent customer service along.
Maria – (More Reviews)
Photo: Shev
Where to Eat in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz has some of the best restaurants in Huatulco! It’s hard to narrow it down, but here are some of my favourites:
Mercader
This is the best restaurant in Huatulco. Local owners Francia and Braulio travel to Asia every year and bring back recipes and ingredients for their menu!
My favourites are the shrimp empanadas and Udon Noodle Bowl.
Casa del Cafe
One of the best coffees in Huatulco is to be had at Cafe del Cafe in Santa Cruz. They also make great breakfasts!
They are open in the mornings until about midday, it’s a great place to work and enjoy
Niszul
This new restaurant in Huatulco is in Hotel Yuu Lee Casa Bendita in Santa Cruz, near the beach. They serve beautiful traditional breakfasts on a cute, shaded outdoor garden.
Photo: Shev
Santa Cruz Huatulco FAQ
Are the beaches in Santa Cruz Huatulco Swimmable?
Yes! A unique feature of the Bay of Santa Cruz in Huatulco is that all of the beaches are safe to swim in. The area is protected and not prone to rip currents.
The beaches in Santa Cruz are great places to swim, snorkel, paddleboard, and even scuba dive!
Can you use the US Dollar in Huatulco?
No – The currency in Huatulco, Mexico is the Mexican Peso.
Some businesses might accept USD, but only if you don’t have another option. The ATMs are safe to use in Huatulco, and its easy to avoid extra fees. Get a travel card before you come like the Wise card!
What airport do you fly into for Huatulco?
Huatulco has its own airport – the Huatulco International Airport (HUX). It’s very easy to travel to Santa Cruz Huatulco!
The airport is about 25 minutes from Santa Cruz by car or taxi, and a little longer if taking a collective or private shuttle.
Shev’s Summary – Santa Cruz Huatulco, Oaxaca
Santa Cruz Huatulco is a small, quiet, but popular town on the quiet Pacific coast of Oaxaca.
The town is known for being the centre for public events happening in Huatulco. Its where people come to see fireworks displays, enjoy the weekly organic market, and start ocean adventures off the Huatulco coast.
Santa Cruz Huatulco is the best place in Huatulco to stay for its access to the beach as well as shops and local restaurants.
Whether you are living in Huatulco or just here for a visit, Santa Cruz Huatulco is a great place to explore!
Huatulco Travel Planning Guide
🚑Do I need Travel Insurance to visit Huatulco?
Absolutely, yes, 1000x yes! If there is anything we have learned from the last few years it’s that life is unpredictable and plans can always change.
At just a few dollars per day, it’s worth getting travel insurance just for the peace of mind. I have my travel health insurance through Safety Wing and my travel insurance through Travel Insurance Master.
💦 Can I drink the water in Huatulco?
Yes, the water in Huatulco is safe to drink, but I don’t feel it’s worth the risk. Buy a garafon to reduce plastic waste, or use a Waatr bottle like I do to have clean water anywhere you travel!
🚙 Is it safe to rent a car in Huatulco?
Yes! It’s totally safe to rent a car in Huatulco, but the availability books up fast. I recommend comparing prices and booking in advance with Discover Cars.
🗣️Do I need to speak Spanish in Huatulco?
Yes – some.
Many Huatulco tours are offered in both English and Spanish, and most serving staff and store owners in Huatulco speak a little English. Learning the basics like how to order or read a menu will really help you out!
I used Pimsleur to learn Spanish and it was extremely effective! I highly recommend the app to anyone who wants to become comfortable navigating Mexico. You can also use Google translate very effectively in Huatulco.
📲 Will my phone work in Huatulco?
Yes, your phone will most likely work, but it will be expensive. It’s best to order a Telcel SIM Card to your home so you are connected and ready to go when you reach Huatulco!
Check out my post with more details on technology in Huatulco here.
🏨How do I book a place to stay in Huatulco?
For Huatulco, and Mexico in general, the best site to book accommodations is Booking.com. They have access to hotels, vacation rentals, and even short-term apartment rentals there and is usually cheaper than Airbnb.
For travellers on a budget, I like to book hostels through HostelWorld
✈️ Where is the best site to buy flights to Huatulco?
Read here for all of Huatulco’s direct flights throughout the year, but I like to book tickets through Skyscanner to find the best prices.
🛂Do I need a visa for Huatulco?
Probably not, most tourists are granted a 180-day tourist visa upon arrival at the airport. This is now done with a stamp in your passport, as of fall 2022 Mexico is phasing out the paper forms – yay!
