The 10 Best Beaches in Huatulco, Oaxaca

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Discover the most beautiful and best beaches in Huatulco from quiet coves to action-packed hubs for watersports lovers.

Home to nine beautiful bays and 36 stunning beaches including Tangolunda, La Entrega, La India, Santa Cruz and San Agustín, the Bahias de Huatulco in Oaxaca, Mexico has lots to offer beach lovers.

But with so many beaches to choose from, it can be tough to decide which beach is the best for your vacation.

This guide will help you discover the best beaches in Huatulco for snorkeling and swimming. Or just spending a day chilling out at a beach restaurant if you’re on a cruise.

I’ve been exploring the state of Oaxaca since my first visit in 2003. Between living in Puerto Escondido and researching Mexico’s Pacific Coast for Fodor’s Oaxaca Travel Guide and Lonely Planet’s Mexico from the Source, I’ve spent a lot of time in Huatulco.

With its golden sand and sunny skies (and reliably hot weather), it’s one of my favourite places to enjoy some beach time.

I’m convinced that Huatulco is one of Mexico’s undiscovered treasures. I return every year to relax and spend time on its beaches.

To help you make the most of your visit to Huatulco, here are my top picks of the best beaches in the Bahías de Huatulco area.

Pronunciation

How do you say Huatulco? It’s pronounced ‘wa-tool-ko’ with the emphasis on the second syllable. It’s sometimes spelled incorrectly as ‘watuka’ or ‘hua ulco’ but is officially known as the Bahías de Huatulco.  

And if you’re wondering about Oaxaca…it’s pronounced ‘wa-ha-ka.’

Where is Huatulco?

The Bahias de Huatulco are located in the state of Oaxaca on Mexico’s west coast facing the Pacific Ocean. It’s important not to confuse Santa Maria de Huatulco with the resort destination of Huatulco.

While it’s well worth visiting for its rich history, Santa Maria de Huatulco is located inland in the Sierra Madre Sur mountains beyond the Bahias de Huatulco International Airport (HUX).

The beach resort and all-inclusive hotel zone is officially known as Bahias de Huatulco! 

The Best Tour of Huatulco’s Beaches 

Since each Huatulco beach has a different character and something unique to experience, I recommend that you take a full-day Tour of the Bays of Huatulco as soon as you arrive.

That way you can make of a note of which beaches are your favourites and return to them again during your vacation.

In addition to visiting seven of Huatulco’s bays, the best boat tours will pass by impressive rock formations such as “Bufadero.” It’s one of the largest blow holes on the Oaxacan coast.

On your boat tour you’ll also often see sea turtles, humpback whales and dolphins, all of which adds up to an unforgettable day on the water.  

Check rates of a Full Day Tour of the Bays of Huatulco on Viator.com. 

If you’re travelling with a family or group of friends, it’s worth considering a Private Tour of the Bays of Huatulco. Not only will you get picked up and dropped off at your Huatulco hotel but the tour will include a visit to Playa San Agustin.

Playa San Agustin is widely considered the most beautiful beach in Huatulco. But it’s also the furthest and most expensive to reach by taxi. 

The Best Beaches in Huatulco 

1. Playa Santa Cruz Beach: Best Huatulco Beach Near Cruise Terminal

If you’re arriving in Huatulco by cruise ship, Playa Santa Cruz is the first of the Huatulco beaches you will see. Directly located at the Santa Cruz marina in Santa Cruz Bay, it’s a small golden sand beach with calm waters suitable for families and children.

You’ll often see small fish swimming in the shallows. The waters at this Huatulco beach is surprisingly clear and clean considering that it’s so popular.

At the east end of Playa Santa Cruz, the beach is roped off to protect swimmers from motorized water craft.

The only downside is that if you happen to arrive on a cruise ship day, the sight of a giant cruise ship on the cruise ship pier can overwhelm the view.

There are several restaurants where you can order a cocktail and enjoy lunch in between swimming.

There’s also plenty of things to do at night at this beach.

Staying in a condo or a hotel close to Bahia Santa Cruz means it’s also easy to take a boat tour to more remote beaches such as La India beach in Chachacual Bay.  Or drive to other nearby beaches such as La Entrega and Maguey.

Top Hotels and Condos near Santa Cruz Beach (Sector A, E and F)

1. Holiday Inn Huatulco: This budget/ mid-range hotel is located on Blvd Benito Juarez next to the marina. It has a small swimming pool and restaurant.

Check prices of Holiday Inn Huatulco on Booking.com

2. Binniguenda Huatulco Hotel: All-inclusive Binniguenda Hotel is also located on Blvd Benito Juarez (Google Map) and features a large swimming pool as well as an excellent beach club.

Check prices of Binniguenda Huatulco Hotel & Beach Club on Booking.com

3. Ziba Condos and Suites: Brand-new, luxury apartments (studios to 2 bedroom) with balconies and a rooftop swimming pool at the corner of Calle Pochutla and pedestrian path, a 2-minute walk to restaurants and Santa Cruz beach.

Check prices of Ziba Condos on Booking.com.

4. Plaza Coyula Condominios: Well-located condo apartments, a 2 minute walk to restaurants and Santa Cruz beach (Google Map).

5. CALA Suites and Lofts: This brand-new, luxury condo building features a beautiful rooftop swimming pool and is just steps to Santa Cruz Beach.

Check prices of CALA Suites and Lofts on Booking.com.

6. Chantico Condos and Plaza: Condo apartments (one to two bedroom) set around a courtyard with a swimming pool. It’s a 5-minute walk to Santa Cruz beach.

Check prices of Chantico Condos on Booking.com.

6. Hacienda Real Condominiums: A large condominium complex in a traditional Mexican colonial design with nicely landscaped grounds. It’s a 7-minute walk to Santa Cruz Beach.

Check prices of Hacienda Real Santa Cruz on Booking.com.

 2. Tangolunda Bay:  Top Beach for Luxury Hotels and All-inclusive Resorts

When it comes to choosing a resort for a winter vacation, I like to stay at a hotel directly on a beach.

There are lots of hotels on the beach to choose from at Playa Tangolunda. It’s a good choice for people looking for a Huatulco resort with a long stretch of sand for morning or afternoon beach walks.

It’s also one of the best swimming beaches in Huatulco. Inexperienced swimmers will feel comfortable at Playa Tangolunda although you still need to pay attention to water safety conditions. A green flag means water conditions are safe to swim or enjoy water sports.  

The beach at the east end of Tangolunda Bay near Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa is the best for families. It has gentle waves and calm waters.

Even the smallest toddlers will be able to spot schools of fish in the shallow waters near the rocky outcroppings.

The sand at 800 metre long Tangolunda beach is golden brown and not too coarse.  The beaches on Tangolunda Bay have a moderate slope to the water and the sand is firm.

If you’re only visiting for the day, many of the resorts offer day passes which provide access to beach loungers, drinks and dining.

Ideally located in the middle of the bay, both the all-inclusive Barcelo Huatulco and Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa offer day passes. Note that in peak holiday periods, day passes may not be available.  

Even more beaches — Playas Tornillo, El Secreto, Manzanillo and Ventura — can be found on opposite side of Tangolunda Bay. Located within the all-inclusive Las Brisas Resort, they’re not the easiest to access if you’re not a guest.

A river and a long pier block access between the two resort and beach zones.

Best Condos and Hotels on Tangolunda Beach

Check rates at Barcelo Huatulco Beach Resort on Booking.com 

Check rates at Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa on Booking.com

Palacio Huatulco: This condo-hotel is located on Blvd Benito Juarez across from the the Park Royal Huatulco and near the Barcelo Resort. The stately architecture of Palacio Huatulco will remind you of Paris and each of the units have kitchens so it’s well equipped for both short and long stays. It’s not on the beach but it does have a swimming pool.

Check rates at Palacio Huatulco on Booking.com.

3. Playa Conejos on Bahia Conejos (Conejos Bay)

Located east of Tangolunda Bay, beautiful crescent-shaped Conejos (Rabbit) Bay is one of the most photogenic of the bays in Huatulco and is one of the most private.

While the views are spectacular, the beach at Conejos Bay isn’t ideal for swimming. The water is often rough and the drop-offs can be steep.

Secrets Resort is adults-only so this beach is perfect for couples without children. It also has a spa and several infinity pools offering spectacular ocean views. 

It’s also the closest bay to La Bocana Beach at the mouth of the Copalita River, where you can enjoy a therapeutic mud bath.

Or, spend a few hours at the fascinating Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita and Museum, one of the top things to do in Huatulco. 

Our top choice for an adults-only resort in Huatulco is Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa. The all-inclusive Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa is currently the only resort on Conejos Bay but this may change.

A gigantic Nickelodean Resort and Water Park was  scheduled to open in Summer 2021 on Bahia de Conejos but was delayed due to the pandemic. 

Read more: Visiting for the day? Outside peak holiday periods, it’s usually possible to get an all-inclusive Day-Pass to Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa 

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

4. La Entrega Beach 

Spending a day at the beach is one of the top things to do in Huatulco. So it’s no surprise that Playa La Entrega is popular duringpeak periods.

Not only are there several seafood restaurants to choose from on this long beach, but the snorkelling is actually quite good.

If you’re interested in snorkeling in Huatulco, then La Entrega should be at the top of your list.

With its easy access, calm waters, gentle waves and roped off section protected from motorized watercraft, it’s a great beach for families.

It’s also a good beach for swimming as it doesn’t have a strong undertow or steep drop off.

There are washrooms and showers available for a fee. Try to arrive early in the day to avoid the crowds. There’s free parking.

This is a good beach to visit if you’re on a cruise.  

🌟 Insider Tip: If you’re up for an adventure and really want to avoid the crowds, then head to Playa El Violin.

This hidden gem is accessible via a steep walking path off the highway enroute to La Entrega.

Scramble down the cliff and you’ll be rewarded with the turquoise blue waters and soft sand of one of Huatulco’s best beaches.

5. Playa Maguey 

This is my personal favourite when it comes to the beaches in Huatulco. It’s set within Bahía Maguey, a cove on the coast next to La Entrega Beach.

To reach Maguey Beach (Google Map) you follow the winding road that meanders its way through a protected zone of jungle populated by white tailed deer, armadillos and iguana.

A wide sidewalk runs parallel to the road and is popular with joggers and fitness enthusiasts. 

While not the largest beach in Huatulco, Playa Maguey is wide and flat enough to support several beachfront restaurants.

They serve Oaxacan specialties as well as pulpo (octopus), pineapple stuffed with shrimp and fish, usually mahi-mahi (dorado) or red snapper.

There’s no cost to dine at a table. To spend the day, rent a lounge chair with an umbrella for 150 MXN pesos a day.

Swim or snorkel the offshore reef. Maguey Beach is one of the best beaches for swimming and snorkelling in Huatulco.

Note: Most restaurants at Maguey Beach close at 5 p.m.

🌟 Foodie Tip: To sample pescado al horno (butterflied, marinated fish baked in a clay oven) head to Caracol Purpura. It’s one of the most popular restaurants on Maguey Beach.

We like to eat at Restaurant Las Hamacas (Google Map). It’s on a less crowded stretch of Maguey Beach away from the motor boats and the friendly server Ruben will often offer a complimentary shot of his scorpion mezcal.

6. Chachacual Beach and La India Beach

One of Huatulco’s best beaches is accessible only by boat. Chachacual Bay is home to Playa La India, known for its incredible white sand.

Most Huatulco snorkelling excursions feature a stop at Chachacual Bay along with Organo Bay, Cacaluta Beach and other beaches so remote they are accessible only by boat.

This coastal zone is protected as sea turtle habitat and for the tixinda sea snail a source of purple dye in traditional Oaxacan weaving. 

7. Playa San Agustín 

One of the best beaches in Huatulco for a day trip is Playa San Agustin Bay. It’s located at the end of a dirt road and is home to a large coral reef. 

There’s excellent snorkelling from shore and several seafood palapas. It also has gentle waves and calm waters.

To get to this beach, it’s best to rent a car in Huatulco and go exploring the coast of Oaxaca to Mazunte and its beautiful beaches.

Check for the best car rental rates at Discovercars.com

Or, book a taxi and make arrangements to get picked up for the return trip back to Huatulco. Expect to pay at least 250 pesos one-way.

🌟 Insider Tip: For even fewer crowds, nearby Playa Estacahuite is another fabulous beach for swimming and snorkeling.

8. Playa Arrocito

Set within a mangrove forest tucked within Arrocito Beach Village, a subdivision of upscale condos and villas in between Tangolunda and Chahué Bays, Playa Arrocito (Google Map) is rather a hidden gem.

While small in size, it does have a restaurant with Oaxacan food, washrooms (5 MXN pesos) and shower facilities (7 MXN pesos).

The calm waters and gentle waves. It’s one of the best beaches for swimming and snorkeling from shore.

Playa Arrocito is another good beach to visit if you’re on a cruise.

9. Playa Chahué (Chahue Beach)

At 1420 feet long and located near Santa Cruz and La Crucecita, Playa Chahué (Google Map) is one of the longest beaches in Huatulco.

It’s also a designated Blue Flag Beach (a global designation recognizing cleanliness and sustainability).

However, the water at Chahué is also known for its rip currents and steep drop off. So if you plan to swim here, check beach conditions first.

A yellow flag means take precautions when swimming, a red flag means dangerous swimming and a black flag means no swimming allowed.

There’s very little shade at Chahué Beach so bring your own beach umbrella. Public showers (10 MXN pesos) and washrooms are available.

🌟 Pro Tip: This beach is home to the Sea Soul Beach Club, a luxury beach club. It offers an infinity pool, an upscale restaurant with poolside service, loungers, fitness club, washrooms and children’s playground.

In 2024, the cost for a Day Pass is 600 MXN ($43 CAD or $35 USD) including a 200 MXN credit towards food or drink.

10. Playa Órgano (Organo Beach)

Another gem of a beach that offers good swimming and few crowds is also accessible only by boat or by foot.

While there’s no vehicle access to Playa Órgano (Organo beach) (Google Map), it’s possible to park (free) on the side of the Bahia Cacaluta/Playa El Maguey roadway.

It’s then a 15-minute walk along a mostly level path to the beach itself.

Because Playa Órgano is located within Huatulco National Park, there are facilities such as garbage and recycling receptacles but not much else.

Bring your own water, beach chairs, shade and food.

The easiest way to get to Organo Beach is by car. While it’s possible to get a taxi to drop you off at the trailhead, it’s not so easy to flag down a taxi on the return.

We rent our cars on Discovercars.com. It’s an online car rental booking site that compares rates from several companies to find the best deal.

Huatulco Safety: Is Huatulco Mexico Safe?

Huatulco is a very safe destination for tourists. Crime in Huatulco is lower than in other resort destinations.

It also has one of the highest IDH Índice de Desarrollo Humano (Human Development Index) in Mexico when it comes to employment, education and salaries (which means crime such as robberies, assaults and street gangs are lower). 

Its tourism  infrastructure was built by FONATUR. This means isitors and local residents enjoy excellent roads, lighting and tourism police security.

Is it safe to travel to Huatulco Mexico? As recently as 2024, the U.S. Department of State ranked Mexico overall a Travel Advisory Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. 

The state of Oaxaca is a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.This is better than Jalisco, Sinaloa (Level 4)  or Nayarit (Level 3) other popular Mexican resort destinations. 

There are NO recommended restrictions for transit between the airport in Huatulco to hotels in Puerto Escondido or Huatulco.

However it pays to exercise caution. Avoid hiking remote trails alone, walking the beaches at night or carrying large sums of money.

Also pay attention to water conditions and beach warning flags. A red flag means the surf is high or there are dangerous currents or both. Many people worry about crime in Mexico but pay little attention to water conditions.

According to the State Department, the most common form of death for American tourists outside the USA are accidents (38%), drownings (19 %) then homicides (18%).  

Weather in Huatulco Mexico

If you’re planning to vacation between November and March, you’re more likely to get reliably sunny skies in Huatulco than the Cancun Riviera-Maya coast.

Not only is the average water temperature s generally 3-5 degrees higher than in Cancun-Riviera Maya (or beaches in the Mediterranean), but there’s less rain. In January you can expect 26 C (79 F) vs  an average temperature of 23 C (73) in Cancun. 

The average number of days with rain in Huatulco between January and March is 3. In Cancun-Riviera Maya it’s 16.

How Clean are Huatulco’s Beaches?

Huatulco is one of the few places in the world with both Green Globe Certification and EarthCheck Gold Certification,  the benchmark for recognizing sustainable tourism practices and environmental protection.

The municipality’s state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant means Huatulco’s beaches are among the cleanest in Mexico.

Huatulco’s consistently receive high marks for cleanliness by SEMARNAT. This government agency is responsible for monitoring the water quality of the beaches in Mexico.

Three times a year they publish water quality results measuring the enterrococcus fecal bacteria levels. Scores of more than 200 per 100 mls of water means swimming is unsafe for human health.

All of the six major beaches in Huatulco reported within the July 2024 report received acceptable APTA scores. The only beach with a poor score was Playa la Bocana.

This is a low level of pollution compared to many other resort destinations in Mexico. In comparison, two of the beaches in Puerto Escondido were ranked among the dirtiest in Mexico.

How Swimmable are the Beaches in Huatulco?

Which has better beaches? Huatulco or Cancun Riviera Maya? The sand on the beaches on Mexico’s Pacific Coast is golden rather than white. It’s coarser and has a steeper slope to the water than those on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

In Huatulco, while the beaches are less crowded and more private than those elsewhere in Mexico, they are relatively short. With the exception of Tangolunda and Bocana Beaches they’re not ideal for long walks.

There is no problem with beach erosion. The beaches in Huatulco are wide and spacious.

How swimmable are the waters? This varies daily and seasonally. Huatulco’s waters can be rough with strong rip currents. So it’s important to heed the advice of lifeguards and safety flags.

Playa Tangolunda, La Entrega, Playa Arrocito and Maguey Beaches are generally good beaches for swimming in Huatulco. 

While many people recommend swimming at Chahue, for me, the strong waves, steep drop offs and rip currents can make for scary swimming.

If you’re not a strong swimmer you should opt for one of Huatulco’s most swimmable beaches. 

Seaweed in Huatulco Beaches 

Unlike east-facing Mayan Riviera and Cancun, much of the Caribbean and Florida, Huatulco is free of sargassum seaweed.

So you will not encounter problems with smelly, rotting seaweed in the water or on the shoreline.

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