Why Honeymoon in Huatulco
Swimming here is easy. Unlike much of Mexico's Pacific coast, Huatulco's bays are tucked behind headlands, so many beaches have gentle water and coral close to shore.
It is also peaceful. There are no high-rise hotel walls or late-night strips. Evenings revolve around the small town of La Crucecita, where families gather in the plaza and restaurants serve Oaxacan food at local prices.
Nature is close. Lowland jungle runs down to the sand. Coffee farms dot the mountains behind the coast. The Copalita River offers rafting and hiking. For couples who enjoy a few active days mixed with lazy ones, Huatulco has plenty without ever feeling busy.
When to Go
December through May is the dry season and the best time. Skies are clear most days, highs are in the upper 80s Fahrenheit and the sea is at its calmest and clearest for snorkeling. The area averages around 330 sunny days a year.
The rainy season runs roughly June through October. Expect heavy afternoon or evening storms, high humidity and greener hills. September is usually the wettest. Prices fall, but some boat trips are canceled when seas get rough. Hurricanes occasionally affect the coast.
November is a pleasant transition month. Christmas, New Year and Easter week are the busiest periods, with Mexican families filling the resorts, so book ahead for those dates.
Where to Stay
Tangolunda Bay is the main resort zone, with five beaches and most of the larger hotels. Secrets Huatulco is the area's best-known kid-free all-inclusive, set on cliffs above the sea. Camino Real Zaashila, with whitewashed buildings stepping down to a sheltered beach, is a long-standing favorite.
Chahué and Santa Cruz are closer to town, with smaller hotels, the marina and easy walks to restaurants. Santa Cruz is also where most boat tours leave from.
La Crucecita, a short taxi ride inland, has simple guesthouses and the best local food but no beach. Approximate rates: US$120 to US$250 a night for good hotels, with kid-free all-inclusives often running US$400 to US$800 for two.
Romantic Things to Do
Take a boat tour of the bays from Santa Cruz. Most stop at several beaches, including Cacaluta, a long white crescent inside the national park, with time for snorkeling. Hire a private boat if you want the beaches to yourselves.
Snorkel at San Agustín, the westernmost bay, where coral starts just off the sand and simple palapas serve fresh fish.
Spend a day in the mountains on a coffee farm tour. Several working fincas near Pluma Hidalgo show how shade-grown coffee is picked and roasted. Some offer overnight stays.
Raft or hike the Copalita River, then visit the Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita, a small archaeological site with a viewpoint over the sea.
Getting There and Around
Bahías de Huatulco International Airport (HUX) has seasonal nonstop flights from Dallas/Fort Worth on American, plus several routes from Canada in winter. Most US travelers connect through Mexico City, with a flight of about an hour and a quarter from there. Routes change often, so check before booking.
The airport is about 20 minutes from Tangolunda. Taxis are inexpensive and easy to find. Many resorts offer transfers. A rental car is useful for coffee country or a day trip west along the coast to Mazunte, about an hour away, but stick to daylight driving.
Puerto Escondido is around two hours west by road, so a split stay on the Oaxacan coast is easy to arrange.
Food and Drink
La Crucecita's plaza is the place for Oaxacan classics. Order tlayudas, memelas and enmoladas covered in mole negro from small restaurants around the square. Prices are much lower than at the resorts.
At the beaches, simple palapa restaurants grill fish and shrimp, often caught that morning. Try a whole fish cooked with garlic and chile while you sit with your feet in the sand.
Mezcal is everywhere and worth trying neat. Coffee from the nearby Pluma region has a long reputation in Mexico. Cafes in town brew it well. Drink bottled or filtered water. Cash in pesos helps at beach shacks and markets.
Honeymoon Tips
- Book at least one private boat or small-group tour. The beaches reachable only by sea are the highlight.
- Some open beaches, especially facing the swell, have strong currents. Swim in sheltered bays and ask locals about conditions.
- The State Department rates Oaxaca at "exercise increased caution." Huatulco is a quiet tourist area, but avoid driving at night and do not travel the Isthmus region to the east.
- Mosquitoes are common, particularly in the rainy season. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen. Some areas in the national park restrict sunscreen in the water.
- Dress is relaxed. Linen and sandals work for most dinners, even at the resorts.
