Where to Stay in Huatulco – Your Guide to the Bays

Welcome to Huatulco, a magical corner of the Mexican Pacific coast! This sunny destination can be confusing to navigate if you have never visited before, and I hear the same questions asked from new travellers over and over.

“Where should I stay in Huatulco? I want an ocean view but close to downtown. Can I walk to the beach? I prefer a great view.”

And I get it! We all want to be close to everything when we are on holiday – minimum effort preferred. As I was preparing to move to Huatulco in February 2021 I had all the same questions but struggled to find clear, concise info online.

Trying to find information on a place from what you can see on Google Maps is nearly impossible, so I hope to alleviate some of that trip planning stress and explain the layout of Huatulco for you in this all-encompassing article.

I hope this helps you decide where in Huatulco to stay that will be the best fit for you!

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Where should you stay in Huatulco?

I want to start off with the question that is asked the most.

Where can I stay in Huatulco, Mexico which is close to the beach, shops and restaurants, and has high-speed internet?

The answer? Not in Huatulco! The region is divided into sectors and none of them fit that description. And that’s ok!

Ok, now that we have set that expectation, let me show you what Huatulco has to offer!

For more information on the internet in Huatulco, head over to Best Places to Work Remotely in Huatulco.

If you want just a quick version of where in the Bays of Huatulco you should stay, here it is! If you want more detail on the area and a description of all the bays, jump to Where is Huatulco.

If you’re looking for…

Night Life, Cultural Immersion, and Trying New Things

If you are here to experience Huatulco, Mexico and want a true Mexican experience, I recommend staying in La Crucecita.

• Sector H (Downtown)
• Sector I or M (Residential Chahue) if you would like a little more quiet, bigger rentals, but still close to town
• Sector U or U2 for a true local experience

In my opinion, everything is so close, and there are so many beaches that there isn’t a need to stay on the oceanfront, with more than 36 beaches you could go to a different beach every day! Transport is very affordable (Taxis are $2-$10 per trip), and the food is good! Eat from the street carts and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, just try everything!

Oceanfront views

If you have been landlocked too long and are just desperate for the sound of those waves as you fall asleep, but don’t want to be totally isolated, you might like a rental in Arrocito Bay.

A good compromise for central-ish but still on the waterfront would be to stay in Santa Cruz Bay or Sector E. Santa Cruz doesn’t have as many options for hotels as other parts of Huatulco, but you’re right near the water, close to the restaurants in Santa Cruz, and just a 5-minute taxi or 25-minute walk from downtown!

Total Beach Getaway

If you are looking for a few days or a week of doing nothing but sitting in the sand and swim up bars, then an all-inclusive in Tangolunda (or Conejos if you are looking for the adult-only Secrets Huatulco Resort and Spa) might be the place for you! You can make a few designated trips to town for adventures (like maybe diving!), but once you arrive at the resort you probably won’t wander off too much as it can feel like quite the effort to get anywhere else.

A quiet retreat

If you are looking to be immersed in Oaxacan coast life, waking up with your toes in the sand, and turning that phone and email off for a few days then San Agustin is the place for you. It still has everything you need (except maybe night-clubs), but with a rural, hometown vibe.

Where to Stay in Huatulco with Pets

Sadly, Huatulco is not the most-pet friendly place for tourists, and it can be hard to find pet-friendly hotels in Huatulco. Many people travel with their pets, especially dogs and dogs are very common pets in Mexico!

Dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches in Huatulco, so its important to consider whether bringing your pet to Huatulco is the right call for you. But if you do, here is my list of the best pet-friendly accommodations in Huatulco!

What is Huatulco?

To understand Huatulco you will need to adapt your mindset from our Canadian/European/American organization of townships. That’s the first thing people struggle with when understanding this area. Huatulco isn’t a town by our definition, it’s more like a district (well, district and region as you’ll soon learn), as well as a grouping of small settlements. Let’s do a quick geography lesson.

What does the name Huatulco Mean?

Huatulco is an abbreviation of the district of Santa Maria Huatulco and/or Bahías de Huatulco. The district of Santa Maria Huatulco sits on the coast of Oaxaca between San Pedro Pochutla and San Miguel del Puerto. It encompasses the Huatulco Airport (HUX), the town of Santa Maria Huatulco, La Crucecita, and the tourist destination of Bahías de Huatulco (among other hamlets dispersed throughout).

Something to note in the naming of places is that each little hamlet in Santa Maria Huatulco is referred to by its name, then Huatulco on the end. You will see a lot of common Latin American names (Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, etc.) so the Huatulco is added to clarify. e.g. Santa Cruz Huatulco.

Bahias de Huatulco Geography

The Town of Santa María Huatulco

Santa María Huatulco is the biggest city in the region, so naturally, it has the bigger city things. Bigger markets, larger shopping centres, and it is the political centre for the area. It is also a portal to the rest of the state and by extension, the country. There are two other roads from the interior to the coast, but the route through Santa Maria Huatulco is the most direct, therefore preferred.

Note: Santa María Huatulco is also where the weather readings come from on your phone apps, which is why the weather forecast is so rarely accurate for the Bahías de Huatulco. The weather varies just 1-3km off the coast, and Santa Maria Huatulco is about 10km off the coast as the crow flies. For more on Huatulco weather, see The Best Time to Visit Huatulco.

Huatulco Airport (HUX)

The HUX airport is located 17km (~ 20minutes) from the bays and 13km from Santa Maria Huatulco. It’s a very small airport, so it generally moves pretty quickly with only one flight leaving or arriving at a time. This makes navigating simple and short lines for baggage claims and customs.

There are plenty of taxis waiting outside the arrival gate that will be willing to take you to most areas in the region for about $500 pesos.

If you are staying at an all-inclusive or hotel they most likely have arranged a transfer with you. There is also an Enterprise at the airport if you are renting a car.

It is also common for people visiting Puerto Escondido to fly into Huatulco and take a bus or private transfer. Its about 2-3 hours from HUX airport to Puerto Escondido, depending on the type of transport you take.

Note: a great thing about Huatulco is that the taxis are safe and standardized. No matter which taxi you take they will be the same price, no haggling or worrying about “tourist tax”. If you do take a taxi and like the driver, I recommend getting their Whatsapp number (usually printed on the car, or they will happily give it to you). Then you will always have someone to call if you need a ride somewhere there aren’t taxis waiting!

El Centro – La Crucecita Huatulco

As you arrive in the Bahías de Huatulco from the Airport, or Santa Maria Huatulco if coming from Oaxaca, you will pass through La Crucecita, the main town for the bays. La Crucecita has a small downtown core of only about a dozen blocks (Sector H) that is commonly referred to as “El Centro” or “downtown”.

It may be small but La Crucecita is a hub of activity both day and night! A nice, central park comes alive at night with artisans, snack vendors, karaoke bars, dance clubs, quiet restaurants for coffee and dessert, and whatever else you are in the mood for. If you move slightly away from the square down Bugambilia Street you will find many street vendors, all offering some of the best burgers, tacos, or fried platanos (bananas) you will ever have. Don’t be afraid of the street food in La Crucecita! 

The Sectors of Huatulco

Spiraling out and to the east of the downtown are residential areas called sectors. These areas are similar to what you might know as neighbourhoods in your home city and are naturally divided up by the canals that run through the town protecting the area in the rainy season, and the few core streets. Like any city, these sectors vary in wealth, vibe, and what they offer.

I put together this map to easily lay out the sectors, and included some notes about each area! Sectors are an official form of geography and are noted in mailing addresses. I will go over some of the most popular sectors here, but please use the map to see details on all of Huatulco’s sectors!

Huatulco is well known to be a very safe place, and the community prides itself on this fact.  The only sector I would avoid is H3 as it is the most run-down and unlit of the areas. Otherwise anywhere in La Crucecita has something to offer visitors.

Sector H – El Centro

Starting in the core, sector H is the closest to downtown, therefore it can be more expensive to live in or rent. Its great to stay here if you like to be in a walkable area, close to restaurants, grocery stores, and the markets! Its about a 30 minute walk to Santa Cruz from here.

Places to Stay in Sector H

Apartments: Condos Pacifico or Terrazas
Hotels: Hotel Diamante, Hotel Guarumbo
Pet-friendly Hotels: Hotel Posada Jois, Casa Shaguiba

From Sector H at the western end of downtown, there is a pedestrian path that connects the core to Santa Cruz and Chahue, the closest bays. I walked this path every day for 3 months from Sector H to Playa Santa Cruz, it takes about 35-40min from Sector H to the beach in Santa Cruz.

Sector A – Santa Cruz

If being close to the beach is most important to you, you might be interested in staying in Santa Cruz! Sector A is the most central part, and there is a residential Sector E that is very walkable to Santa Cruz, but quieter and off the main road.

Sector A is home to the public marina where most of the boat tours leave from, as well as the park that hosts the weekly organic market in the high season.

Note: Fun fact, this pedestrian path used to be a road before Boulevard Chahue was constructed. This path was intended to be the Huatulco version of 5^th Avenue in Cancun, but was never completed and has been in its current state since 2015. Also beware that this is a beautiful walk, but the hill is quite steep and it is hot. Definitely avoid walking it in the afternoons when the sun is strongest.

Hotel Sector – Tangolunda Bay

If a carefree beach vacation is what you’re looking for, then you might be interested in staying in the hotel sector, especially if you are going with family. This sector encompasses Tangolunda Bay and is home to most of Huatulco’s all-inclusive resorts.

Zona Hoteleria in Huatulco is about 7 minutes from downtown by taxi. It has its own restaurants and shops though, so it is easy to eat off-resort if you want to try something new!

Favourite Hotels in Tangolunda/ Huatulco’s Hotel Sector

Villas: Maria Isabel, Villas Fasol
Resorts: Camino Real, Park Royal,
Pet-Friendly Resort: Dreams Huatulco

Best Sectors for Long-term renters or owners in Huatulco

Without going into too much detail, here are some great sectors for those looking to stay longer in the region!

Sector H – Great year-round as it’s easily accessible to all the shops and restaurants. There is also something to be said for living in a community like Condos Pacifico or Terazzas, its easy to meet people!

Sector J & K – If you are looking to properly immigrate and delve into the community, I think J and K are the best sectors to do that. They are still very central so they can be less intimidating than the further sectors like U.

Your neighbours will be a mix of locals and other immigrants, and you will get all the local services like the many street deliveries, gas, water, etc. I lived in Sector K for almost a year and really loved it!

Arrocito: This is a popular location with visitors because tf the many condos built with stunning ocean views over the rocky cliffs and small bay. This area is closer to the ocean than Sectors N and O, but similar in that it is completely car-dependent and has no food stores.

Sectors N & O: If you are looking to buy in Huatulco, these two sectors are probably at the top of your list. Sector N is best if you are looking to custom build, but be prepared that there will be a lot of construction noise in this area over the next couple years.

Sector O is already developed, and the houses vary quite a bit in size and amenities. This is a gated community, so you pay a fee for the guard at the front, but your house will most likely have a pool!

Both Sectors are suburbs, with no restaurants or stores close by. It is still possible to walk from both areas, thanks to some pedestrian shortcuts, its only about 15 minutes walking from the back of Sector O to Sector I, and about 30 minutes to get to Chedraui.

Boulevard Benito Juarez

Blvd Benito Juarez is the road that runs along the coastline of Huatulco. It starts at Bahía Maguey/Cacaluta and runs down the coast to La Bocana Beach, then follows the river inland to connect with Barra Copalita and Highway 200. 6 of the 9 Bahías de Huatulco can be accessed by road, 5 of them are along Boulevard Benito Juarez.

Highway 200

Highway 200 (the orange in the photo to the right) is the main highway that runs along a huge chunk of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It starts in Salina Cruz, just 2 hours from Huatulco, Mexico. and runs all the way north through Puerto Vallarta, before ending in Tepic.

In Huatulco, we use it to access the Huatulco Airport, Santa Maria Huatulco, and to head to Pochutla or Puerto Escondido.

Las Bahías de Huatulco

Ok, that was our geography lesson! Let’s get to the good stuff, the bays! Generally, when people talk about “Huatulco”, they are referring to the wonders of the Bahías de Huatulco, so that is what I am going to focus on. For visual reference as we move along, here are the nine bays of Huatulco, named and colour-coded!

What is Special about Bahías de Huatulco?

It’s hard to put your finger on it exactly, but Huatulco is just a special place. It’s quiet, but still has some nightlife and good food. There are tons of activities to do and places to explore, but also dozens of beaches to choose from if you prefer to relax. It is home to the Huatulco National Park (protected land and waters), Oaxacan food, shopping, and of course, the beaches.

So, what are the Bahías de Huatulco? Bahías de Huatulco is a section of the Oaxacan coast consisting of 9 bays and more than 36 beaches. Yup, that’s right, this little region alone is home to more than 36 beaches! Bahías de Huatulco starts at the edge of the Huatulco National Park with Bahía San Agustín and follows the coast all the way to the Hotel District of Conejos and Tangolunda. The district of Huatulco runs a little further and includes a few more beaches, but Conejos is the last bay.

A list of the Bays of Huatulco from West to East

San Agustin Bay

Accessible by road (albeit a bumpy one)
Furthest bay from La Crucecita
Best Snorkeling
Full services, restaurants, hotels, and a town
No cell reception, minimal wifi. Great quiet getaway

Chachacual Bay

Only accessible by boat
Largest bay
Many snorkel sites and several beaches
Some services – you can rent an umbrella and chairs on the beach

Cacaluta Bay

Can be accessed by land on foot, bike, or ATV
Famous turtle habitat
Great snorkelling and diving (by boat around the island)
Unserviced – No restaurants or services

Maguey Bay

Easily accessible by road
Great snorkeling and free diving from shore
Restaurants and services

Organo Bay

Not accessible by road. Can access by walking path or boat
No Services
Snorkel and diving sites available from the beach or by boat

Santa Cruz Bay

Located in the town of Santa Cruz Huatulco
Full services
Protected swimming area
Home to the cruise ship port & tourist marina

Arrocito Bay

Luxury development, largely inhabited by expats
Home to Cosmo Residences and Ocean restaurant
Small bay with some public access and restuarants

Tangolunda Bay

Hotel District, home to most of the all-inclusive resorts

Conejos Bay

Home to Secrets Huatulco Resort and Spa -Adult Only all-inclusive
There is a trailhead from Blvd Benito Juarez where the public can access the bay.

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Bahia Santa Cruz

While not physically the centre of Bahías de Huatulco, to me Santa Cruz feels like the middle. It’s kind of a gateway as well to the bays of the region. Santa Cruz Huatulco is home to the famous cruise ship dock, a central square that hosts the weekly organic market, as well as its own restaurants and shops. This bay is one of the most protected in the area, so it is popular for swimming and paddle boarding.

In addition to being the temporary home for cruise ships, Bahía Santa Cruz is home to the Mexican Navy for the area, so it is not uncommon to see their boats coming in and out of the area.

Santa Cruz Huatulco is also home to the main tourist marina in the bays. At the Terminal Maritima you will find all the boats that offer sport fishing, snorkel tours, and scuba diving (with the exception of one scuba shop in another harbour) and other boating rentals. You can also rent snorkel equipment by the day here.

Where to Stay in Santa Cruz Huatulco

There are many hotels, condos, and Airbnbs to stay in in the town of Santa Cruz. All of them will offer you proximity to the beach, restaurants, and transport options like the bus and taxis.

Sector A and E are in the vicinity of the bay and town of Santa Cruz and are more accessible without a car. If you have a car there is the naval sector (Sector B) – inside the gated entry to the Naval Base. There are also some condos and places to stay near the lighthouse (El Faro), and Playa La Entrega, located on the west side of the bay about a 10min drive from Santa Cruz.

La Vivienda Villa is a great 3-star hotel option, with prices ranging from $1000 – $1900 per night depending on the time of year. Hotel Marina Resort & Beach Club is an option on Punta Santa Cruz Beach, so you have a bit more privacy than on the main beach.

There is also a Holiday Inn that offers great views of the Marina, and is right on Blvd Benito Juarez so it’s very walkable.

If you are looking to be more self-sufficient, check out apartments Mansiones Cruz del Mar in Secotr A, and Casa Mama Beña in Sector E.

Bahía Chahue / Chahue Bay

Bahía Chahue is popular with tourists because it is where the beach clubs are. Along this bay, you will a string of beach clubs connected together, and only some have beach access. The public access to Chahue Beach is in the centre of Playa Chahue, if you are looking at the ocean the beach clubs line the beach to your right, and to your left is a largely virgin beach. 

Playa Chahue is not my personal favourite, because it is not safe to swim in the water. People sometimes do, but please do not be one of those people. There are flags in the sand warning when the water is particularly bad, but Chahue is famous for riptides and changing currents so please be careful! The water may look calm but a rogue wave can and often will come from nowhere. This is why this bay popular with the beach clubs in Huatulco – they have private pools.

However, Chahue is a great place to hang out at night. If you have the chance to catch a moonrise at Playa Chahue – do it! Its one of the best viewpoints in the district to watch the moon come up over the sea.

There is another marina in Chahue, but it is largely private docking for boat owners. At the time of this writing, it is under construction for upgrades due to changing ownership, so many boats were forced out of the marina. Additionally, in the fall of 2021 major construction began on a new conference centre for Huatulco.

Note: When looking for places to stay beware of the difference between Bahia Chahue and Residential Chahue. The sector behind Chedraui, on the east side of Boulevard Chahue is called Residential Chahue. There are many AirBnB’s and condo buildings in this area. It’s a great area of town but not on the oceanfront like Bahia Chahue.

Places to Stay in Chahue

There are a couple of hotels right in the bay near the beach – the Quinta Bella and Xquena Hotel & Spa and many more right on the beach, or between the beach and Blvd Benito Juarez.

Bahía Arrocito

Continuing our journey east down the coast, we arrive at Arrocito, the smallest of the bays. Arrocito is a community largely made up of expats and where you will find the magazine images of massive, millions of dollars homes overlooking the cliffs and the sea.

Arrocito is home to the famous Cosmo Residences, and their restaurant Ocean. The bay and beach itself is very small and tucked into the rocks, with high cliff faces on either side.

There has been a bit of a political struggle with Arrocito. Technically, it is not possible to own beaches here like it is in some other places in Mexico. But, this being a wealthier neighbourhood of Huatulco the local population and beach restaurants were not welcomed by the residences and restaurant. So, you will see a dividing line in the sand separating Ocean restaurant, their cabanas and beach chairs, and the traditional beach restaurants you find elsewhere in Huatulco. Honestly, I find it gives the place a weird vibe but, it is what it is.

Places to Stay in Arrocito

As I mentioned, the Cosmo Residences are a very popular place to stay in Arrocito. They are great if you are looking for a view, access to the beach, and most of the amenities of an all-inclusive but with a little more independence as it is actually a condo building, not a hotel or resort. You will also find many Airbnb or VRBO listings in this area.

Bahía Tangolunda

Further east yet and we come to Bahía Tangolunda, the Hotel District. We are now a solid 10 minutes from La Crucecita by car and 20+ from the airport. This bay is exactly what is sounds like, its where the hotels are! More specifically, the all-inclusive resorts.

Tangolunda hosts Las Brisas, Quinta Real, Barcelo, Dreams, Camino Real, and Hotel Aquamarine. It has all the all-inclusive things, you can rent paddleboards, jet-skis, whatever you like. There is some coral for snorkeling, but a lot of it has been damaged by, well, the all-inclusives.

You can access the beach here if you are not staying in a resort but are interested in exploring Playa Tangolunda! Tangolunda also has and RV park.

Places to Stay in Tangolunda

Tangolunda is exclusively home to the all inclusives of:
Las Brisas
Quinta Real
Barcélo Huatulco
Dreams Huatulco
Camino Real

If you look on Google Maps you will see more places on the east point, there are many villas and rentals available there but they are on the point, higher on the cliffs and do not have direct access to Playa Tangolunda.

Bahía Conejos

Bunny Bay! Bahía Conejos is the easternmost bay in the Bahías de Huatulco and hosts the famous adults only Secrets Resort.

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Ok, now we need to backtrack a little bit. If we go back down Blvd Benito Juarez to Santa Cruz, drive through the town heading west, we will be on our way to the bays of Organo, Maguey, and Cacaluta.

Bahía Organo

Bahía Organo is host to Playa Organo, a virgin beach! This cute little bay has lovely sand, the calmest waters you will find in the bays, and a little snorkelling area. Being a virgin beach, it has no restaurants, largely because it is not accessible by road! You can access this bay by a walking path from the main road, or by boat.

Bahía Maguey

Ah, Bahía Maguey. This bay is perhaps the most popular with repeat travellers and expats. Like Chahue, Bahía Maguey is half restaurants and half virgin beach, making it popular with both tourists and residents alike. It is also the last bay accessible by road from Blvd Benito Juarez (the road that runs along the coast), the next land-access is Bahía San Agustin at the other end of the National Park, about a 45min drive from La Crucecita.

At the western point (virgin side) of the beach you will find great coral and snorkelling along the cove heading into the water. You can swim out along the rocks to the diving buoys and still only be 2-5m above the corals. At the eastern point there is also a designated swim area that some people snorkel in, but the western side has much more to offer.

The great thing about Maguey is that is accessible by road, you can drive or take a taxi right to the restaurants on the beach! From La Crucecita, it is 60 pesos for a taxi and about a 7-minute drive. You will want for nothing, there are beach vendors selling handcrafts and oysters, as well as the beach restaurants offering shade and beach chairs to enjoy the view.

Bahía Cacaluta

At the end of Blvd Benito Juarez you can turn left for Bahía Maguy, or turn right for the access to Cacaluta. We are now deep in the Parque National, and have come to end of our land-accessible bays. Sort of.

Cacaluta is an interesting place, only the beach and waters are part of the National Park, the forested area is inhabited by several small communities. Bahía Cacaluta is not accessible by road, but you can park at the end of Blvd Benito Juarez and make your way down a path on foot or by bicycle.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in Huatulco is do a sunrise bike tour to Cacaluta beach. I had a great experience and would highly recommend it and easy bikes Huatulco. You can read my post about my sunrise bike tour to Cacaluta here.

Calcaluta is the second largest bay, with a gorgeous, sprawling, ever-changing beach. In the centre of the bay is Cacaluta island, adding about a half dozen dive sites to the Huatulco bays just around this rock. There is also a snorkel area off the island that is popular with the snorkel tours. It is also a popular with the turtles, if you are into ocean life I recommend trying to catch a turtle release while you are here!

While Cacaluta has snorkeling sites, they are not accessible from the shore. As you can see in the photo the surf is very strong! But there are some other places on the beach where it is safe to swim, on the eastern end away from the island. The water colour here is incredible.

Bahía Chachacual

Next up is Bahía Chachacual. This bay is the largest bahía in Huatulco and is completely inaccessible by land. There are multiple beaches and snorkel sites on every side of this bay, and if you look closely you might see turtle tracks in the sand here too!

This bay used to be completely virgin, but if you do get a chance to visit this bay by sea you will find it crowded with snorkel tours and private tours. The large snorkel boats send staff early to set up chairs and tables on the beach, and this is often where they provide lunch if that is included in your tour.

Bahía San Agustín

You may already know, but Bahía San Agustín is my favourite bay. While technically accessible by road, most people who visit on holiday will arrive by boat as a part of a tour.

Agustin is famous for its reef. Just step off the beach at the western point and you will find yourself completely enthralled by the coral, rock formations, and the fish that inhabit them. Large schools of yellow-tailed sturgeon are plentiful, and the black and yellow pilot fish might take a nibble at your legs and toes. It is positively magical.

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Shev’s Summary – Where to Stay in Huatulco

Ok! That’s it! That was my guide to figuring out where to stay in Huatulco. There is so much more to say about this unique corner of the world, and I will continue to share my knowledge and tips on how to make the best of your time here. I hope you found this helpful, feel free to ask any more questions in the comments below if you feel I missed something!

Here are some additional resources for you if you are planning a trip to Huatulco.

• All About Huatulco – This is my landing page for all the information I have gathered about Huatulco, Mexico. Head over there for an interactive menu of Huatulco info!

• Things to do in Huatulco – There are tons of events and activities happening in this little corner of the world. Find out more about them here!

• Chat with a Local – I offer 1-to-1 information calls to anyone interested in learning more about Huatulco. Check out my About page for more info on that!
  • There are also few Facebook groups for the area that can be helpful. Use the search bar function with any questions, or make a post if you can’t find the answer!

Want to learn more about Huatulco, Mexico? Check out some of my other posts below, or sign up for my email list to be notified of new posts about the bays!