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Wondering about snorkeling in Huatulco? Situated on a sunny stretch of Mexico’s southern Pacific coastline and dotted with 36 sheltered beaches, a wealth of dive sites and extraordinary sea life, this region offers some of the best snorkeling in Mexico.
In fact, taking a snorkeling tour is one of the top things to do in Huatulco for people who love outdoor adventure.
This detailed guide offers tips on where to find the best spots — whether you’re looking for a guided excursion or just planning to snorkel from shore.
Best Snorkeling in Huatulco – Tour Huatulco National Park
While the Pacific Coast of Mexico is not as well known for snorkeling as the island of Cozumel in the Caribbean, much of the coast of Oaxaca is protected from development.
Huatulco National Park is one of the largest protected areas in southern Mexico. This helps support rich marine life and healthy reefs.
On a Huatulco snorkel tour, you can expect to see sea turtles as well as several species of fish including parrotfish, needle fish, grouper, snapper, angelfish as well as manta rays and eagle rays,
It’s even possible to see dolphins and migrating humpback whales as they head south in December and return north in March.
Huatulco’s Unpolluted Water Offers Prime Snorkeling in Mexico
When it comes to clean, non-polluted waters, Huatulco offers some of the best snorkeling in Mexico. The beaches in Huatulco consistently receive high marks for cleanliness by SEMARNAT, the government agency that monitors the water quality of the beaches in Mexico.
Three times a year they publish water quality results measuring the enterrococcus fecal bacteria levels. A score of more than 200 per 100 milliliters of water means swimming is unsafe and the waters are too polluted for human health.
Under its Clean Beaches Program, the agency monitors 15 beaches and 17 sites within the three main tourism areas of Oaxaca and all six beaches in Huatulco reported within the June 23, 2018 report received clean (APTA) scores.
That’s important if you’re planning on spending a lot of time in the water or are looking for the best family beaches in Mexico.
To help keep Huatulco’s waters clean, be sure to pack biodegradable sunscreen and a rashguard shirt with high SPF protection.
Choosing the Best Snorkeling Tours in Huatulco Mexico
During my all-day Snorkel Excursion with a Tour of the Bays with Hurricane Divers, the waters were teeming with a fascinating type of sea creature — sardines! Compared to swimming with dolphins, swimming with sardines probably doesn’t rank high on the lifetime bucket list for most people.
But, as I plunged headfirst into a school of thousands of the graceful acrobats, I discovered that the tiny silver fish has its own special charms. They shape-shifted from a shadowy cloud into a shimmering ribbon of silver that swirled around my body like a wisp of fine silk.
Then, moving in unison, they morphed again – this time into a blanket that blocked out the sunlight and threw the coral reef into darkness. It was really a magical experience.
Importance of Safety
Anyone who has read my post the Beginner’s Guide to Snorkeling Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Museum, knows that although I love the ocean, I’m not the most confident swimmer. When deciding on a snorkeling excursion, it’s extra important for me to choose a safe tour operator.
Hurricane Divers features bilingual guides, modern boats with roofs for shade, life vests, mobile phones, safety equipment, first aid kits and more. They are PADI-certified and only take small groups.
While they do supply snorkeling masks and fins, many people prefer to snorkel with a full-face snorkel mask for comfort, visibility and enhanced protection from water leakages.
If you do, then you’ll need to bring your own. If you’re considering purchasing a full face snorkel mask, it’s worth consulting this complete Guide to Buying a Full Face Snorkel Mask comparing different brands.
Snorkeling at San Agustin Beach
Our group of eight snorkelers and three crew members anchored offshore at San Agustin Beach, a western bay in the Bahías de Huatulco area that has incredible, sapphire-blue waters. It’s definitely one of the best snorkeling locations in Huatulco.
With its sheltered calm waters and underwater visibility of up to 18 metres, even novices can spot florescent damsel fish, spiny black sea urchins and eels ducking through the crevasses of the coral reef.
A Picnic Lunch at Chachacual Bay
Another of the other attractions of going snorkeling with Hurricane Divers is that their all-day excursion includes a full gourmet lunch.
Upon arrival at Chachacual Bay — even more untouched than San Agustín and accessible only by boat– the crew laid out an al fresco lunch while we floated in shallow waters bursting with blue-spotted coronet fish and yellow-tailed sturgeon.
Refreshed by the clear waters, we planted ourselves on the white sand to enjoy grilled steak arranchera, spicy adobo chicken and fresh papaya salad.
Snorkeling around Cacaluta Island in Cacaluta Bay
Next up was Cacaluta Bay where a coral plate stretches for 300m at depths of between 2 to 12 metres. The marine life is so abundant and the coral so colourful around Cacaluta Island, it’s known as Las Jardines or the gardens.
“Watch for strings of gas bubbles escaping from between the rocks on the bottom” said our guide as we anchored in open water. “You may find sea turtles and Nurse Sharks resting in the gaps in the coral.”
Deciding to drip-dry for a few stops, I soaked up the panorama of sun and sea. Manta rays leaped above the water’s surface and plumes of crystal spray shot out of a nearby blowhole.
No other boats were in sight.
“Where is everybody?” I asked.
“Huatulco is out of the way for many people,” he shrugged. “We rarely see other boats.”
Where is Huatulco Mexico?
Located in the southern state of Oaxaca two hours from Puerto Escondido, it’s 185 km south of Acapulco and closer to Guatemala than major Mexican cities.
Yet its isolation doesn’t mean you’ll be roughing it. Much like Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, Huatulco was identified as a prime site for tourism development by Fonatur, the Mexican government agency.
A massive injection of cash created an impressive infrastructure of wide boulevards, luxury marinas, golf courses and a modern sewage treatment system. Yet it remains surrounded by stretches of undisturbed wilderness.
“They learned from earlier overbuilding mistakes and imposed development restrictions,” said our guide.
With flights to Huatulco increasing, the region’s peaceful seclusion may not last long. But for now, the beaches and clear blue waters are free of crowds.
Trying to decide on a resort that’s good for snorkeling? Learn more about where to stay in our Hotel Guide to the Best Huatulco Beaches
Huatulco Snorkeling from Shore
While taking a Huatulco snorkeling tour is the best way to see the most variety of fish, it’s possible to experience some rewarding snorkeling from shore in Huatulco.
It’s even possible to snorkel right in the bay of Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz marina is also where you book fishing tours for fish like sailfish, marlin and tuna.
When it comes to variety of fish, abundant coral and calm waters, the best place for snorkeling from shore in Huatulco is the Bahia San Agustin. Located an hour by boat and a $15 – 20 USD cab ride from the luxury hotel zone of Tangolunda Beach, San Agustín Beach is relatively deserted, apart from a few seafood palapas (thatched huts).
It flanks Huatulco National Park, a 119 sq. km. ecological reserve at the base of the Sierra Madre Sur.
It’s also possible to do some snorkeling from the shore at Dreams Resort & Spa and the Barceló Huatulco Resort & Spa on Bahia Tangolunda, one of Huatulco’s best beaches.
To a lesser extent you can also snorkel at Secrets Resort & Spa, where you’ll need to wait for low tide and cross over the rocks at the end of Conejos Bay to find the best snorkeling area.
Be wary of ocean conditions if you choose to swim here as the under currents can be strong.
Travel Guide to Snorkeling Huatulco – Tours, Tips and Gear
What to Pack
According to the environmental protection organization Marine Safe and many other sources, “swimmer pollution” is a major cause of declining coral reefs in many parts of the world, including the Caribbean, the Red Sea, Costa Rica and anywhere humans get into the water on or near a reef.
Chemicals in sunscreen such as oxybenzone induce coral bleaching and are genotoxic which means it damages coral DNA. Oxybenzone is also toxic to algae, sea urchins, fish and mammals.
Concentrations of oxybenzone are growing around nearshore reefs are already within the range of being a significant environmental threat so it’s important to take action to reduce the chemicals in our ocean now.
To reduce your impact when snorkeling, try to use sunclothes to protect against UV exposure and reduce the amount of sunscreen you use. You can reduce the quantity of sunscreen you use by 90% if you apply it only to your face, back of hands, neck and feet and use a biodegradable suntan lotion such as Badger SPF 35 Sport Sunscreen Cream.
Snorkel Gear
While all tour operators include snorkel gear as part of their rental rate, the quality of the gear can vary widely. If you want to have the best and safest snorkeling experience, it’s wise to travel with your own snorkel kit.
At minimum, invest in a mask and snorkel. I travel with a custom snorkel mask that’s been fitted with prescription lenses. It cost $200 but has lasted me for years and is virtually indestructible.
Our Contributor Sue Campbell who has fearlessly snorkelled everywhere from Belize to Tahiti swears by her full face snorkel mask. It’s important to invest in a good quality full face snorkel mask as low-cost, poor-quality imitations have the potential for CO2 build-up and head straps can be too tight and difficult to remove in an emergency.
Best Huatulco Resorts for Snorkeling from Shore
There’s a wide range of hotels for every budget in Huatulco and La Crucecita (inland town).
If you’re on a budget, the Holiday Inn Huatulco located in the Santa Cruz harbour features clean rooms with balconies, a full service restaurant, a Starbucks and an outdoor swimming pool with a view.
Check rates and availability at the Holiday Inn Huatulco, an IHG Hotel, on Booking.com.
The inexpensive Mision de los Arcos Hotel in the heart of La Crucecita offers luxury rooms (with AC) at budget prices but no swimming pool. It’s located in La Crucecita which means you’ll need to taxi or bus it to a beach.
For a luxury stay, try the Barceló Resort & Spa or Dreams Resort & Spa. They’re both set on Tangolunda Bay and are very family-friendly. It’s possible to snorkel directly off the shore in front of these resorts, depending on water conditions.
Check rates and availability at the Barceló Huatulco Resort & Spa on Booking.com.
If you’re in town for a day, it’s also worth checking out the Barceló Resort Day Pass. A day pass costs $45 USD per person and offers access to the resort’s public amenities including swimming pools, lounge chairs, restaurants and bars, including a swim-up bar.
Check rates and availability at Dreams Resort & Spa on Booking.com
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Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.
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Lesley Peterson
I loved Huatulco, the friendly people there and the dry, desert-like climate. I enjoyed a boat ride from gorgeous emerald bay to gorgeous emerald bay, swimming at beaches otherwise deserted because there is no road access. Swimming with the sardines sounds an amazing experience.
esperanza
Swimming with sardines in those beautiful waters sounds so lovely! Just remember to keep your mouth closed. Would love to try it!
kirk and rebecca needham
my husband and i have been snorkeling in the dominican rep.
for the last 6 years and it is getting so run down without
hardly any more good snorkel sites. a stewardess on
our flight told us about huatuco and what we have been
reading it sounds like it would be just what we have
been looking for…..fabulous snorkeling, warm, beautiful waters,
private lagoons, beaches and just nice and secluded. we are
anxious to try it next year for our anniversary in october….
could anyone out there let us know more about the hotels and
which one to stay at? we would like to be at an all incl without
kids —-for some peace and quiet especially when dining? we
have five adult kids and numerous grand kids—we love em but
when we go on vacation—-that is what we want—privacy-adults…
let us know please more about awesome snorkel spots too—
we like going on our own also—we r retired scuba divers due to
my injury years ago—-
Michele
Hi Kirk and Rebecca…it sounds as though you’d enjoy Huatulco. It’s received Green Globe International Certification as a sustainable tourist area which means it has modern water and sewage treatment plants all the better for clean waters for swimming and snorkelling. The new Secrets Huatulco is my favourite place to stay if you are travelling without kids and want a romantic getaway on a beautiful, private bay. All rooms are ocean-view and the culinary team is one of the best in Mexico. I wrote about Secrets in this article on Huatulco’s Soul Food. and on my blog post Secrets on a Day Pass.. You shoudl be able to get a good deal in October. An economical option is Mision de los Arcos – its in the small town of La Crucecita so it isn’t near the beach but it does offer a shuttle service. I’m headed back to Huatulco again soon so will report back on any new hotels I recommend.
My colleague Sue Campbell just wrote a review on Secrets Huatulco in Luxury Latin America so you might want to check it out. Hope this helps with your planning ( and happy anniversary)!
Cindy Baker
I really love your underwater shots and would be interested to know what camera you use for them. Hurricane Divers sounds like a great option for a good and safe experience. And thanks for the tip about sunscreen – – it makes sense but I hadn’t thought about that before.
Carol Colborn
We will be spending three months in Mexico (Jan. 1-March 31) every year beginning next year. Maybe I will finally learn to snorkel. My husband’s skin also needs a lot of sunscreen so Badger Sports 35 we will definitely try!
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
I don’t snorkel, but I can see I’m missing something!
Doreen Pendgracs
Hi Michele. thx for this fab post about snorkelling in Huatulco. Love your pic of the Beach picnic at Chachacual Bay. I can definitely see myself there.
Marilyn Jones
I wish I wasn’t so afraid of the water! Your experience sounds like so much fun and your photos make it look so alluring!! I enjoyed reading about your experiences!!
Michele Peterson
I’m actually terrified of water, Marilyn! If I can snorkel you can too! The key is to find a tour operator who will keep an eye on you
Irene S Levine
Love Huatulco! What a special place~