Santa María Huatulco Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

A beach with a lifeguard tower, palm trees, and a clear sky.
A beach with thatched-roof huts, palm trees, and people swimming and sunbathing.
A white building with a stone wall, palm trees, and a beach.
An aerial view of a coastal area with winding roads, a mix of residential and commercial buildings, and a large body of water.
A pavilion with a tiled roof, surrounded by palm trees and a well-maintained garden with red flowers.

Scuba dive above coral reefs, sunbathe on one of the many beaches and peruse small Mexican pueblos in the traveller’s paradise of Huatulco.

Huatulco is a major travel destination on Mexico’s southern coast. It comprises dozens of picturesque beaches of different types and sizes along the Pacific Coast. The region is ideal for a holiday, whether you intend to scuba dive among coral reefs and colourful fish or enjoy local delicacies in charming oceanfront pueblos.

Drive or take a boat from Santa Cruz to La Entrega (The Surrender), one of the more isolated beaches in the Santa Cruz area of Huatulco. Sunbathe on soft sand while the kids play with buckets and shovels. Take a swim in the Pacific Ocean’s calm waters. Bring scuba equipment or rent snorkeling gear right at the beach to swim with fish around the colourful reef.

Break for lunch or dinner in one of the charming restaurants along the bay. Fresh oysters are a specialty remember to barter to get the best price. After the crowds thin in the late afternoon, stay for the sunset in quiet seclusion.

Make a visit to nearby Playa Chahué, which is surrounded by mossy cliffs and hills. Lie on the often deserted beach listening to waves crashing against the rocks. After your day of sunbathing, take an evening walk through the town of La Crucecita (The Small Cross). This charming area has a plaza, shops and traditional restaurants where you can buy homemade ice cream. Listen to typical Mexican music, such as folk and mariachi, as you sip a tropical drink of coconut water or mescal.

Spend a beach afternoon at the 1-mile (1.6-kilometre) long Playa San Agustín in the western Santa Cruz region. Dine along the beach at one of the small restaurants serving fresh seafood. Scuba dive in the calm waters or snorkel over the shallow reef.

Reach Huatulco from Mexico City by plane, bus or boat. Many visitors pair a trip to Huatulco with one to Oaxaca, 230 miles (370 kilometres) to the north. After a few days exploring the cobbled streets of the inland colonial city, take a welcome sunbathing break on Huatulco’s beaches.

Our guide on where to stay in Santa María Huatulco

Find the best Santa María Huatulco areas for the activities you enjoy most.

Crucecita

You'll enjoy the beaches and restaurants in Crucecita. You might want to make time for a stop at El Zócalo or Mercado Tres de Mayo.

Tangolunda

While visiting Tangolunda, you might make a stop by sights like Tangolunda Beach and Tangolunda Bay.

Chahue

While visiting Chahue, you might make a stop by sights like Chahue Beach and Santa Cruz Bay.

Sector R

When in Sector R, you can plan a visit to Chahue Beach and Playa Santa Cruz, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Santa Cruz

If you're spending some time in Santa Cruz, Playa Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Bay are top sights worth seeing.

Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa - All Inclusive

Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa - All Inclusive

4 out of 5
Blvd Benito Juarez #4 Santa María Huatulco OAX
The price is NZ$544 per night from 30 June to 1 July
NZ$544
30 June - 1 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach resort in Santa María Huatulco. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very good! (965 reviews)
"There were a lots of beetles all over the property. Alive inside our room and dead outside squashed because ppl walked over them and staff wouldn’t clean it or do anything to maintain a good appearance. In our room my husband and I woke up in the middle of the night with a beetles crawling on our ..."

Reviewed on 25 June 2026

Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa - All Inclusive
Las Brisas Huatulco – All Inclusive

Las Brisas Huatulco – All Inclusive

4.5 out of 5
Bahia de Tanglounda Lote 1 Santa María Huatulco OAX
The price is NZ$638 per night from 14 July to 15 July
NZ$638
14 July - 15 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury resort in Santa María Huatulco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,822 reviews)
"Everything was perfect!"

Reviewed on 27 June 2026

Las Brisas Huatulco – All Inclusive
Park Royal Beach Huatulco – All Inclusive

Park Royal Beach Huatulco – All Inclusive

3.5 out of 5
Blvd. Benito Juarez #8 Santa María Huatulco OAX
The price is NZ$315 per night from 12 July to 13 July
NZ$315
12 July - 13 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this all-inclusive resort in Santa María Huatulco. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (542 reviews)
"Food, drinks, great customer services . Are give them 5. Hard working employees, in my own"

Reviewed on 22 May 2026

Park Royal Beach Huatulco – All Inclusive
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Rooms Huatulco

Rooms Huatulco

3 out of 5
Monte Alban Este Santa María Huatulco OAX
Stay at this apartment in Santa María Huatulco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and housekeeping. Popular attractions Chahue Beach and Playa Santa Cruz are located ...
Rooms Huatulco
Rooms M

Rooms M

3 out of 5
Vialidad 6 Santa María Huatulco Oax.
Stay at this apartment in Santa María Huatulco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, balconies or patios and climate control. Popular attractions Chahue Beach and Playa Santa Cruz ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (38 reviews)
"Clean room, great price, friendly staff!!"

Reviewed on 5 May 2026

Rooms M
Celeste Beach Residences Huatulco Curamoria Collection

Celeste Beach Residences Huatulco Curamoria Collection

5 out of 5
Lote 1, Manzana 12 Santa María Huatulco OAX
Stay at this luxury aparthotel in Santa María Huatulco. Enjoy free parking, a full-service spa and 2 restaurants. Popular attractions Chahue Beach and Santa ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (41 reviews)
"Should be called PARTIAL OCEAN VIEW even though the listing was titled oceanview. Otherwise the place was huge and the best part was the staff who were super friendly. It’s in a secluded cove which means that other than the food they have (which isn’t included, and is reasonable but expensive by ..."

Reviewed on 25 Apr 2026

Celeste Beach Residences Huatulco Curamoria Collection
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Stay near popular Santa María Huatulco attractions

Activities

Cities near Santa María Huatulco