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Huatulco is built around the Bahias de Huatulco, nine scalloped bays that run 35km along the Oaxaca coast and hold 36 beaches. Most things to do in Huatulco revolve around that water, from snorkeling reefs and surf breaks to boat tours that hop between bays, plus waterfalls and coffee plantations in the Sierra Madre del Sur behind town. Prices are in Mexican pesos, and most operators run out of the Santa Cruz marina or La Crucecita. See the Huatulco weather guide if you need to pick the right season first.
Things to Do in Huatulco: The Bays and Beaches
Take a Seven-Bay Boat Tour
The classic Huatulco outing is a panga (small boat) tour that stops at Santa Cruz, Organo, Maguey, Cacaluta, Chachacual, and San Agustin bays, with snorkeling stops along the way. Tours leave the Santa Cruz marina around 10:00 and run roughly five hours. Expect to pay MX$450 to MX$600 per person, and bring your own water and reef-safe sunscreen. Cacaluta bay is the isolated beach used in the film Y Tu Mama Tambien, reachable only by boat.
Snorkel at La Entrega
La Entrega, the small beach at the eastern end of Santa Cruz bay, has the calmest water and the best accessible reef in the area. A coral shelf runs just 20 to 40m from shore, holding parrotfish, angelfish, and sea urchins. Snorkel gear rents for MX$150 to MX$250 from the palapas on the sand, and the beach has lockers, showers, and restaurants. Arrive before 11:00 in high season to grab a shaded spot.
Surf at La Bocana or Playa Zicatela-adjacent breaks
Huatulco’s surf is smaller and more consistent than nearby Puerto Escondido. La Bocana, where the Copalita River meets the sea, works best June to October and suits intermediate surfers, while El Mojon further east is a mellow longboard wave. Board rental runs MX$250 to MX$350 per day, and no break in Huatulco has the heavy, expert-only reputation of Puerto Escondido’s Zicatela. Check the Huatulco weather by month guide for water and swell conditions.
Things to Do in Huatulco: Waterfalls and Nature
Swim the Cascadas Magicas de Copalitilla
The Copalitilla waterfalls, about 40km inland from La Crucecita, are a series of tiered pools with milky-blue water that earned them the name cascadas magicas. You swim beneath several falls, and the water runs at a cool 22°C (72°F), a relief after the coastal heat. Guided day trips cost MX$300 to MX$400 per person including transport and usually stop at a coffee farm on the way back. The pools are busiest on weekends, so go on a weekday.
Hike in Huatulco National Park
Parque Nacional Huatulco protects 11,890 hectares of dry forest, mangroves, and coral reefs, including several bays you can only reach by boat or foot trail. Entry runs MX$31 to MX$60 depending on the access point. The short trail at Organo bay climbs to a lookout over the Pacific, and the park’s mangroves at Chachacual shelter herons and crocodiles. Rangers are present at the main entrances, and you should carry your own water.
Tour a Pluma Hidalgo Coffee Plantation
The highlands behind Huatulco grow Pluma Hidalgo, an arabica coffee named for the cloud-forest town where it is cultivated at 1,200 to 1,500m. Several fincas run 90-minute tours that walk you through the drying patios and roasting shed and finish with a cupping. Tours run MX$250 to MX$400 per person and are usually booked through La Crucecita agencies or your hotel.
Things to Do in Huatulco: Culture and Town Life
See the Painted Ceiling in La Crucecita
The Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, the church on La Crucecita’s main plaza, holds the largest hand-painted ceiling image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the world. Local artist Jose Luis Garcia painted it across the dome in the 1960s, and the figure’s handprint contains a tiny image of a sleeping woman. Entry is free, the church opens daily, and it is a two-minute walk from the main market.
Wander the Santa Cruz Marina and Cruise Docks
Santa Cruz bay is the town’s working marina and cruise terminal. Even without a boat booked, the waterfront promenade is good for a sunset walk, with seafood restaurants and bars facing the moored pangas. When a cruise ship docks, the plaza fills with market stalls selling Oaxacan textiles and mezcal. For dining and hotel options in the area, see our where to stay in Huatulco guide and the Huatulco neighborhoods overview.
Taste Oaxacan Mezcal and Food
La Crucecita’s restaurants serve Oaxacan staples: tlayudas (large crisp tortillas topped with beans, cheese, and tasajo), mole negro, and fresh Pacific seafood. For mezcal, several tasting rooms pour small-batch espadin from the state’s mezcal valleys, and a flight of three usually costs MX$150 to MX$250. The main market on the plaza is the cheapest place to eat, with comida corrida (set lunch) around MX$80 to MX$120. For money, taxi, and safety details, see the Huatulco travel tips page.
Things to Do in Huatulco: Diving and Fishing
Scuba Dive the Huatulco Reefs
Huatulco has around a dozen dive sites off Chachacual, Maguey, and San Agustin bays, ranging from 8m coral gardens to a 30m wall. Visibility runs 15 to 30m in the dry season and drops after heavy rain. A two-tank certified dive costs MX$2,000 to MX$2,500, and PADI open-water courses run about MX$6,500 over three days. Several dive shops operate from Santa Cruz and Chahue.
Go Deep-Sea Fishing
Sport fishing targets sailfish, dorado, and yellowfin tuna, with the best action June through November when the offshore currents warm. A six-hour shared charter runs MX$2,500 to MX$3,500 per person including gear, and the fleet departs the Santa Cruz marina at dawn. Catch-and-release is common for billfish. Confirm dates and operators against our Huatulco events and festivals page, and read best time to visit Huatulco for the optimal fishing months.
