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Home » Destinations » Mexico » Huatulco » Review of Secrets Huatulco Resort: Excursions, Rooms, Food

Review of Secrets Huatulco Resort: Excursions, Rooms, Food

Posted July 16, 2018, Updated February 15, 2023 //  by Michele Peterson 7 Comments

We may earn income from links in this post. Please read this Disclosure for details.

Tucked in a secluded bay at the end of a string of resorts in Huatulco Mexico, this luxury all-inclusive resort will make you swoon with its stunning views and dramatic architecture. It’s also away from the crowds of Cancun and located on Mexico’s under-the-radar Pacific Coast in Oaxaca. Virtually every suite has an incredible ocean view but our insiders guide will provide you with tips on choosing the best rooms, the advantages (and disadvantages) of swim-up suites, the food and best things to do. Read my review of Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa and find out if this undiscovered stretch of Mexico’s Pacific Coast is for you!

Thinking about Secrets Huatulco Resort and Spa for your next beach vacation in Mexico? Trying to decide whether it’s worth it to upgrade to a swim-out room? Wondering about things to do on this fantastic stretch of Pacific coastline? We’ve got the answers for you.

Here’s what you need to know before booking. Read on for our complete review and guide to planning a perfect vacation at the all-inclusive Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa in Huatulco, Oaxaca:

 Huatulco Beach Resort Weather 

View of the swimming pool and beach at Secrets Resort in Huatulco in Oaxaca, Mexico.
View of Conejos Bay in Huatulco

If you’re planning a beach getaway and trying to decide between Secrets in Huatulco or a  Secrets Resort in Cancun or Riviera Maya, one of the first things to consider is the weather.

Huatulco is located on Mexico’s southern Pacific Coast and receives more sunshine and warmer weather than the Riviera Maya.

Huatulco’s temperature doesn’t vary much throughout the year and you can expect consistently hot weather and sunshine. Read more about the weather in Huatulco in our Essential Guide to Huatulco Mexico. 

The Beach at Secrets Huatulco 

View of Conejos Bay from the resort with beach palapas on the sand.
Secrets Huatulco beach on Conejos Bay

The longest beach with hotel accommodation in Huatulco is Tangolunda Bay where Dreams Resort and the Barcelo (both are family-friendly unlike Secrets which is adults-only) are located.

Secrets Huatulco is located on Conejos Bay, a small crescent shaped beach that is quite private and beautiful. Note that all beaches in Mexico are public and a Nickelodean Resort will open in Conejos Bay in 2021.

 

It has a steep slope so is not the most walkable beach. The waters can also be rough but there are calm areas near the edge of the bay where the water sports kiosk is located.

At low tide, you can cross by foot into a neighbouring bay where there is calm water for snorkeling.

Secrets Huatulco Preferred Club: Is It Worth It?

Buildings 1 and 3 at Secrets Resort in Huatulco, Mexico.
Buildings 1 and 3 Secrets Huatulco

The architecture of Secrets Huatulco features 399 suites in six buildings terraced on a hill rising from the beach at Conejos Bay. This means that while every guest room has a great view, the higher up you go, the better the view.

Each of the suites includes a balcony as well as my personal favourite — the Secrets Box for private 24-hour room service delivery.

The Preferred  Club Category comes with extra amenities that include:

  • access to the Preferred Club 7 am to 11 pm
  • appetizers and premium liquors
  • services of a concierge
  • upgraded mini-bar (M & M’s Pringles and liquors). The regular mini bar includes soft drinks, water and beer.
  • pillow menu
  • upgraded bath toiletries such as sunscreen, body lotion etc.

Preferred Club guests also enjoy private check-in and check-out within the Preferred Club lounge. This is an important benefit if you happen to be arriving the same time as a large group or a charter flight.

Beyond that, I’ve never used the Preferred Club lounge at Secrets Huatulco as there are so many other beautiful bars, lounges and restaurants to choose from.

Secrets Huatulco Preferred Club suites may also be selected for their terrace whirlpool or swim-out rooms.

Swim out rooms at the resort.
Swim out rooms at Secrets Huatulco

Check prices and availability at Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa on Booking.com.

Preferred Club Swim-out and Terrace Whirlpool

View of swim-out suites in Building 5 from Castaways restaurant at Secrets Huatulco
View of swim-out suites in Building 5 from Castaways restaurant Secrets Huatulco

When choosing whether to pay extra for a swim-out suite at Secrets Huatulco, it’s important to consider the climate.

While the sizzling hot weather is ideal for a beach vacation, the swim-out rooms at Secrets Huatulco have limited shade.

This can mean the terraces get sweltering hot at midday. However in the evening and early morning, they are quite spectacular.

If privacy is important to you, you need to consider that you are sharing the pool with other guests and they are ground level which means you give up some of the ocean views available at the higher levels.

If you’re travelling with another couple or in a group, booking neighbouring swim-out suites is a fun option. For the quietest suites, opt for a swim-out room in Building 5 which is to the east of the Sky Bar.

Secrets Huatulco Map – Resort Layout of Swimming Pools, Swim-out Rooms and Restaurants

A map of Secrets Huatulco showing guest rooms, restaurants and spa.
Secrets Huatulco map of rooms restaurants and pools

The quietest swimming pool area is shown at #21 on the left hand side of the above map and is pictured below. The liveliest zone of the resort  is the pool area shown at #22 on the Secrets Huatulco map as it’s where the Swim-Up bar and pool aerobics are located.

It also offers access to the beach which are at a lower elevation than the pool area. This is the toughest section of the resort to find loungers.

Infinity swimming pool at this adults-only resort in Huatulco, Mexico.

Secrets Huatulco Food, Restaurants and Bars

The traditional cuisine of Oaxaca is deservedly famous for its diversity, complexity of flavours, the craftsmanship of its preparation and unique ingredients.

Be sure to try chapulines (toasted spicy grasshoppers), mezcal, nopal and moles! 

Read more about the food on Oaxaca’s coast in our post on Best Restaurants in Puerto Escondido.

Nopal appetizer served on the menu at Tamarindo Restaurant at Secrets Resort.
Expect lots of local ingredients — such as this appetizer featuring nopal

At Secrets Huatulco you can select from nine restaurants, including seven with gourmet à la carte menus, one international buffet and a cafe. There’s also 24-hour room service with a Secret Box for food drop-off in a pass-through so you’re not disturbed.

The  menu offers many opportunities to sample Oaxacan fare, especially within its Tamarindo Mexican restaurant. However I’ve also discovered that you’ll often taste dishes from other parts of Mexico that are authentically and deliciously prepared.

For example, on a recent visit I enjoyed a bowl of birria, a beef stew most often found in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. It was equally as good as many of the ones I tasted while researching recipes for Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source. 

Much like other all-inclusive resorts, not every restaurant is open every day. So it’s worth planning ahead to decide where you want to eat.

Equally importantly, the fact that no-reservations are ever needed at any Secrets Resort. This means you can always opt to dine at a restaurant with no dress code, such as the World Cafe buffet or within your room.

Dress Code: What to Pack

Sky Bar and outdoor dining at Secrets Resort in Huatulco.
Secrets Huatulco offers a glamorous setting especially at nightfall

Much like other upscale resorts in Huatulco (such as the Barcelo Resort & Spa) there is a dress code at Secrets Huatulco  at dinnertime at certain restaurants. Men are required to wear long pants and shirts with collars and sleeves.

Women it’s a bit more flexible as dresses are interpreted more loosely. The Secrets Huatulco brochure specifies “dress shoes” for both men and women which generally means “close-toed” but can be safely interpreted to mean no ratty looking running shoes or flip flops.

Thankfully, the dress code is enforced so you’re not going to see people in  bathing suits dining inside the fancy dining spots such as Bordeaux, the French restaurant. At Secrets Huatulco, I noticed that the hostess would often find them a seat on the outdoor terrace rather than turn them away as I’ve witnessed at other resorts.

Choosing the Best Secrets Huatulco Excursions and Tours

From taking a snorkeling tour of Huatulco‘s beautiful seven bays, there are so many tempting options for things to do in Huatulco, it can be hard to decide which ones to choose. Never fear.

We’ve done the research for you and sifted out the too-expensive and the disappointing to come up with the absolutely worth-it excursions to invest your vacation dollars in. 

Check out the Top 13+ Things to Do in Huatulco, Mexico. Take a mud bath, explore an archeological site or witness sea turtle nesting.

Whether you’re staying at Secrets or Dreams or the Barcelo, each of these Huatulco excursions includes hotel pick-up and drop-off. That’s especially  important if you’re staying at Secrets as it’s the furthest away from downtown Huatulco, known as La Crucecita. 

Boats in the marina at Santa Cruz in Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico.
View of the Marina at Santa Cruz Huatulco

Unlike other resorts in Huatulco that are closer to La Crucecita or Santa Cruz marina, Secrets Huatulco is located at the very outer edges of  the string of hotels dotted along the Bahias de Huatulco.

This means you can’t just walk to the marina and book a sightseeing tour of the seven bays or visit Puerto Escondido by bus for a few days.

The good news is that Secrets partners with Amstar DMC for transfers and destination experiences. This means there is an Amstar desk conveniently located within the Secrets Huatulco lobby where you can browse brochures and register for tours.

You do have other options beyond Amstar though. While it’s not recommended to book tours from vendors on the beach, there are several  local excursions and accredited tours that are safe, high quality and well worth booking independently.

Summary of Our Review of Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa

  • Beautiful secluded setting with exceptional views from everywhere on the property
  • Reliably, sunny skies with little rain for much of the year
  • Hot temperatures will please pool lovers but makes outdoor explorations challenging
  • No seaweed but the Pacific Ocean waters on this beach can be rough for swimming
  • Beach has a steep slope so not the best for walking
  • Superior all-inclusive cuisine and service
  • Vast and uncrowded swimming pool zones are sparkling clean
  • Distance from town means evening entertainment options are limited to the resort
  • Onsite spa is one of Mexico’s best
  • Wide variety of excursions are available for full and half day

If you’re undecided about booking an overnight, it’s worth looking into a Day Pass at Secrets Huatulco 

Check prices and availability at Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa on Booking.com.

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:

How to Visit Pluma Hidalgo Coffee Country 

Don’t Miss These Top Outdoor Adventures in Puerto Escondido 

9 Tips For The Perfect Romantic Getaway in Puerto Escondido 

7 Reasons to Love Mazunte, Mexico 

Quick Tips: How to Take the Shuttle from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido Mexico 

Save to Pinterest! 

Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa in Huatulco Mexico

Michele Peterson
Michele Peterson

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.

Read more about Michele Peterson.

« Patio Dining at ONE Restaurant in Yorkville, Toronto
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About Michele Peterson

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.

Read more about Michele Peterson.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathy Sweeney

    July 22, 2018 at 1:44 am

    Although I’ve been to Mexico numerous times, I’ve never visited the state of Oaxaca. Secrets Huatulco Resort and Spa looks like a great place to explore the area of Huatulco and beyond. I love the photo of the resort at nightfall — very glamorous and romantic.

    Reply
  2. Doreen Pendgracs

    July 19, 2018 at 9:12 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful post, Michele. Huatulco is a destination that has so far alluded me. But learning all about Secrets really makes me want to explore further.

    Reply
  3. Suzanne Fluhr

    July 18, 2018 at 5:00 pm

    I just saved this post to my Mexico Pinterest board. Now that our son has moved to Mexico City and we can now fly there non-stop of our home city, Philadelphia, I suspect we’ll be visiting our southern neighbor more often. On our last trip to Mexico, we visited Oaxaca City and some of the surrounding countryside. However, we never made it to the Pacific coast and I keep reading about the Huatulco area. Thanks to you, I now have information to consult when we’re ready to make that trip.

    Reply
  4. Michelle da Silva Richmond

    July 17, 2018 at 7:49 am

    I haven’t been to Huatulco in many years and it looks like it’s grown a lot since then. I may have to go and check it out again!. Muchas gracias!

    Reply
  5. Lori

    July 16, 2018 at 11:56 pm

    I love the amount of detail you included in this. I also love Mexico and the Pacific coast but have never been to Huatulco. Chiles & chocolate is a perfect cooking combo so that tour sounds tempting, and it’s nice to see tortuga eco opportunities too. Saving this for our next trip!

    Reply
  6. Carol Colborn

    July 16, 2018 at 2:21 pm

    Your post comes at the right time. I am deciding on Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. I didn’t know there’s Huatulco! Looks and sounds so luxurious and interesting, especially the turtles!

    Reply
    • Michele Peterson

      July 16, 2018 at 4:36 pm

      Definitely check Huatulco out Carol! It’s much smaller than Puerto Vallarta but has lots to offer!

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