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Huatulco Attractions

Bahias de Huatulco National Park
Located in the town of Santa Maria Huatulco, west of Santa Cruz Huatulco. The Bays of Huatulco are one of the largest ecosystems in the Mexican Republic it has been a protected area since 1988. This park covers 29,368 acres and has some 9,000 lowland jungle plant species in its gallery forest and mangroves. The park also has 470 reptile species, including black iguanas, salamanders and snakes.

Bahias de Huatulco Beaches and Bays
Bahias de Huatulco is actually made up of a series of nine bays and numerous small coves stretching along 20 Miles of jagged coastline, including 36 pristine white sandy beaches. Some beaches are easily accessible and some are only accessed by boat. The beaches offer excellent snorkeling and swimming. Some of the more popular beaches are Playa Chahue, Playa Santa Cruz, Playa Tangolunda, Playa La Entrega, Playa Consuelo and Playa Maguey.

Barra del Potrero Iguana Sanctuary
Barra del Potrero Iguana sanctuary, where you can see hundreds of green and black iguanas as well as several other reptiles. The iguana sanctuary is run by a couple of locals, and the iguanas are housed by a chain fence. They are allowed to rome free around the property. The sanctuary is located 20 kms. north up Hwy.200 right before crossing the Cozoaltepec River bridge at Barra del Potrero, near the turtle sanctuary

Botazoo Ecological Park
This is an ecological area located 10 miles from Huatulco. It is a bird lovers paradise with over 120 different species, that can be spotted along the river and in the lagoon. Botazoo also has several lagoons like the La Bocana Lagoon. It is also home to the archeological site Punta Celeste. This area also offers excellent rappelling adventures with a rock wall that measures 50 meters.

Coffee Plantation - La Gloria
The coffee plantations are located in the mountains of the Sierra Madre del Sur about hour and half from Huatulco. Owners, Maria Isabela (Doña Chabelita) & Don Gustavo Scherremberg offer guided tours of the coffee plantaion incuding roasting and the process. .At the end of the tour the local family will allow you to taste some of the many flavors of coffee, various Oaxacan chocolates, mezcal and they even prepare a home cooked Oaxacan meal complete with chicken mole and Jamaica.

Copalita River
The Copalita River is formed by the Southern Sierra Madre and it's waters flow through deep canyons into the Pacific Ocean. The river runs through lush jungle vegatation and high cliff wall on either side of the river. The Copalita River offers amazing white water rafting and kayaking tours and there are 3 different sections of the river ranging from Class I-V. The Copalita River also offers swimming and several waterfalls.

Copalita Waterfalls - Cascadas Magicas de Copalitilla
The Copalita Waterfalls are located an hour and half from Huatulco along the Copalita River, just above the village of Santa Maria Xadani. The majestic waterfalls vary in size and offer swimming, hiking and relaxation in an all natural setting. The larger waterfalls have a swing that you can swing and rapel from. Almost all hotels can set up a tour to the Copalita Waterfalls, this is also a good tour to do inconjunction with the coffee plantation tours.

La Crucecita
La Crucecita is the place in Huatulco that most resembles a real Mexican town. La Crucecita is located 10 minutes from the hotel area of Tangolunda. The town comes complete with a park, zocalo and a church that is said to have the largest painting of the Virgin de Guadalupe on the ceiling. La Crucecita is where most of the restaurants, cafes, boutiques, handicraft stores and markets are located.

La Crucecita Catholic Church Of Santa Cruz
La Crucecita church offen reffered to as El Templo de Guadalupe is located in the center of town surrounded by shops and a park in the small town of La Crucecita. It is dedicated to the Patron of Mexico, the Vigin Mary. The interior of the church is covered with several frescoes and on the ceiling is a fresco of what locals claim to be the largest painting of the Virgin de Guadalupe in Mexico.

Mazunte Turtle Sanctuary
This area was once home to several turtle slaughterhouses, however after the implemantation of laws protecting turtles and their hatchings this area is now a turtle sanctuary. The Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, or Mexican Turtle Center holds every species of marine turtle inhabiting the Mexican coast. The sancuary includes large outdoor tanks, an aquarium and incubation facilities. It is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays. Nearby is an iguana sanctuary with over 1,800 iguanas.

Punta Celeste
Punta Celeste is an archeological site dates to 500 B.C. and was developed by the mysterious Zapotec culture. Located inside the Botazoo Ecological Park around 10 miles south of Huatulco, it has been compared to the ruins at Tulum on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Punta Celeste overlooks the ocean and consists of several burial sites, pyramids and ball courts. Due to lack of funds these ruins are still relatively unexplored. It is also a good place to rapel.

Santa Maria Huatulco
Surrounded by the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur is the small town of Santa Maria Huatulco. This is the town from which the resort Huatulco got its name. Santa Maria Huatulco is located thirty-minutes away from Bahias de Huatulco. It is a typical colonial style village with cobble stone streets and a main plaza surrounded by the church La Conception, municipal building, cemetery, several markets and a city hall that was built in 1870.

Santa Maro­a Huatulco Church - La Conception Church
The church of Santa Maroa Huatulco was built in 1908. It is located 30 minutes from Huatulco is the small village in the town of Santa Maria. The church contains artifacts dating back to the 18th century including the Señor de las Misericordias (Lord of Misery), an interesting figure of Christ which was worshipped here. A piece of the original wooden cross is located here. The church also has a large clock near the entrance and a cemetery nearby.

Stone Face
Huatulco is made up of nine bays and 36 beaches. Most of the beaches can only be reached by boat. On a boat tour you can observe the amazing shoreline from a different point of view. Hear the ocean’s voice roaring at “La Bufadora” (the blowhole) or be surprised with the massive natural Indian face, engraved thru time by the sculpturing action of the waves and the wind also known as the stone face.

Tangolunda Bay
Located just 10 minutes from the main dining and shopping areas of Santa Cruz and La Crucecita is Bahia Tangolunda. Tangolunda Bay was chosen by FONATUR as the premier area in Huatulco, mainly due to its five beautiful beaches. This area offers several luxury 5 star resort hotels with every amenity. The beaches are private and are said to be the cleanest beaches in all of Mexico. Tangolunda also offers an 18 hole champion golf course.

Zapotecas Mud Bath
Used by the Zapotecas but also the Mayans and Aztecs the mud called Lodo known for its medicinal healing powers are offered by the The Women of La Bocana Cooperative”. Traditional Zapotecas Mud Baths are available everyday for around $5 on the beach at La Bocana which is where the Copalita River ends. The Lodo treatment is exclusively the work of These are the women of the village, who are direct desendants of the Zapotec people.

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