Making the most of Huatulco
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Santa Cruz Bay lies immediately south of La Crucecita village. The Huatulco area's principal town is only a mile from the pier, or a pleasant walk of 20 min., and merits a visit if only for its renowned Oaxacan Alebrijes figures. Taxis cost about $3 in each direction.
Take the printable map ashore.
Formerly a refuge for pirates and tired sailors journeying from the Far East, Huatulco, pronounced wah-tool-co, is now a relatively little-known cruise port. This Pacific Coast destination in Mexico's Oaxaca state was among the western hemisphere's first to prioritise ecotourism and protection of natural resources. Its landscape includes 22 miles of rugged shoreline, unspoilt beaches and exceptionally clear water.
A good swimming beach begins beside the pier, where a lounger costs $5.
Getting around
Numerous tour operators have stands at the pier.
Explore one of the nine separate Bays of Huatulco, several reachable only by boat. A local guide can take you to the best snorkelling and fishing sites, while a guided motorised-catamaran trip covers multiple bays.
Nearby places
Cascadas de Llano Grande is a sequence of attractive waterfalls about an hour and a half from Huatulco. Visitors can swim in the natural pools amid luxuriant scenery.
Food and shopping
La Crucecita is the principal shopping destination, with a traditional open-air market offering goods from finely embroidered clothing to alebrijes, carved wooden animals. The Handicraft Museum also sells work by the local craftspeople whose pieces are displayed there.
The small town of La Crucecita is worth seeing, and taxis cost about $3 each way. To walk there, leave the port, turn right onto the main cross street and, after 100 yards, turn left onto a very broad path that rises and falls for approximately 1 ½ mile. Heat and a lack of shade can make the route strenuous. Note that the footpath has no “La Crucecita” sign.
Looking from the pier, the beach is to the left and the marina to the right. Behind the beach, several restaurants and bars, most with free WiFi, stand beside a small shopping centre offering souvenirs, tours, wines, spirits and other services.
Money
Mexico's currency is the peso (MXN). Its symbol matches the one used for US dollars, which can cause confusion; dollar prices in tourist areas appear as "US$" or use an S with a double stroke. The approximate exchange is 17 pesos to 1 US$.
US dollars are accepted widely in the far north and at tourist destinations elsewhere.
Credit cards are less commonly accepted than in Europe or the USA, and certain businesses add a fee of roughly 5% to these payments.
Staying connected
Spanish is the principal language. English is spoken extensively in tourist destinations and cities bordering the United States.
Opening Hours and
In large towns and cities, hours are Mon-Sun 1000/1100-2000/2200; elsewhere in the country, they are Mon-Fri 0900-1400/1600.