Huatulco didn’t shout. It whispered. It came in gently—one curved bay at a time, each one with its own shade of blue, its own pace. I didn’t rush between them. I let the coastline guide me, from fishing boats bobbing in the shallows to forest-backed sands where the loudest sound was the water pulling back into itself.
What struck me most was the variety. Some beaches were built for long, lazy days. Others felt like secrets, only reachable by boat or footpath. And all of them carried that Oaxacan warmth—not just in the sun, but in the food, the music, and the way no one ever seemed in a hurry. I wandered bay to bay, and each one gave me something different to hold on to.
Best Beaches in Huatulco:
Santa Cruz Bay
Santa Cruz was my landing point. Boats lined the marina like they had stories to tell, and the beach buzzed with families, vendors, and the occasional guitar floating through the air. It wasn’t remote or wild—but it was welcoming. It felt like the center of things, a place where the sea met real life.
I found a spot near the palm trees and watched kids chase waves while tour boats drifted in and out. The water was calm, the kind you just step into without flinching. This is a beach that doesn’t ask anything of you, I thought. It just lets you be.
For lunch, I walked along the promenade and chose a spot at *Mercader*, shaded by a wide umbrella. I ordered the coconut shrimp, and when it arrived, the scent hit first—sweet, nutty, with a hint of lime. The shrimp were crispy and golden, with juicy meat inside and a side of mango salsa that added just the right brightness. I lingered long after the plate was clean, sipping cold water and watching the bay flicker in the sun.
Santa Cruz Bay At a Glance
- Drive time from Huatulco Airport: About 20 minutes
- Address: Bahía Santa Cruz, Santa María Huatulco, Oaxaca
- Best Time to Visit: Morning for swimming, late afternoon for strolling
- Vibe: Lively, friendly, central
- Highlights: Calm water, marina, easy access to tours and boats
- Facilities: Full—restrooms, restaurants, shops
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Open all day
- Food Nearby: Mercader and other spots along the bay
San Agustin Bay
The road to San Agustín was rough—dusty, uneven, the kind that makes you question your rental car’s suspension. But the beach at the end made it feel worth every bump. The bay unfolded slowly, a wide stretch of golden sand wrapped in green hills, with fishing boats anchored in the shallows like they’d been there forever.
There weren’t crowds, just a few travelers and locals. The water was warm and clear, and when I slipped in, it felt like the world paused for a moment. This is the kind of place you come to disappear for a while, I thought, floating on my back with only sky above me.
I wandered up to a beachside palapa restaurant with no menu—just a woman grilling behind a wooden counter and the smell of garlic and lime in the air. I asked for fish, and what came out was a whole red snapper, crisp at the edges and glistening with butter. The flesh fell away in soft, smoky flakes, and the side of rice was laced with epazote and chili. I ate with my hands and didn’t speak for a while.
San Agustín Bay At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: About 45 minutes (some unpaved road)
- Address: Bahía San Agustín, near San Miguel del Puerto
- Best Time to Visit: Mid-morning to mid-afternoon for swimming and sun
- Vibe: Remote, relaxed, rustic
- Highlights: Snorkeling, soft sand, minimal crowds
- Facilities: Basic—local food shacks, some restrooms
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Accessible during daylight hours
- Food Nearby: Local beach restaurants (ask what’s fresh)
Cacaluta Bay
Cacaluta didn’t come easy. I parked on a quiet road and followed a forest trail for nearly 20 minutes, walking through silence broken only by birdsong and the occasional rustle in the leaves. Then the trees opened, and the bay appeared—wide, wild, and utterly still. There were no umbrellas, no shops, no noise. Just sand, sea, and space.
The waves were bigger here, and the undertow was strong, but the shore itself was gentle. I wandered its length barefoot, the sand hot and clean beneath me, and sat beneath a lone tree with no one else in sight. This is what untouched looks like, I thought. And I hope it stays that way.
I brought lunch with me—a fresh tamal de elote I’d picked up that morning in La Crucecita, still warm and wrapped in a corn husk. It smelled sweet and earthy, the texture soft and slightly crumbly. I ate it slowly, the ocean rumbling in front of me and the jungle murmuring behind. There was nothing else I needed.
Cacaluta Bay At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: 20 minutes + hike (about 15–20 minutes on foot)
- Address: Bahía Cacaluta, Huatulco National Park
- Best Time to Visit: Morning or late afternoon—bring water and leave no trace
- Vibe: Wild, secluded, cinematic
- Highlights: Long, empty beach, birdwatching, solitude
- Facilities: None—no services or food
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Daytime only—entrance closes at dusk
- Food Nearby: None—bring everything you need
Tangolunda Bay
Tangolunda felt different right away. The sand was smooth and bright, the hotels behind it grand and orderly. It was the most developed of Huatulco’s bays, but not in a way that pushed the sea out. The water still shimmered. The sky still opened wide. And even with the resort umbrellas lining the shore, I didn’t feel rushed or watched—I felt still.
I walked the length of the beach just after sunrise, the light catching in ripples on the water, and only a few other people were out—someone stretching on a yoga mat, a couple holding sandals in their hands. This is what luxury feels like when it remembers to be kind, I thought, digging my toes into the soft sand.
Later, I stopped at *Café Viena* in one of the nearby resorts and ordered chilaquiles rojos. The salsa was smoky, deep with guajillo pepper, and soaked into crisp tortillas just enough to soften the bite. The fried egg on top was still runny, and when I broke it open, the yolk ran golden into everything below. I didn’t want the meal—or the morning—to end.
Tangolunda Bay At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: 10–15 minutes
- Address: Bahía Tangolunda, Huatulco
- Best Time to Visit: Early morning or sunset for walks
- Vibe: Refined, calm, resort-side peace
- Highlights: Gentle surf, beach walking, resort amenities
- Facilities: Full—restrooms, restaurants, shaded areas
- Cost: Free access (some areas part of private resorts)
- Hours: Open all day
- Food Nearby: Café Viena and resort restaurants nearby
Chahue Bay
Chahué was wide open—no crowds, no surfboards, just the rhythmic sound of the ocean and a few scattered footprints in the sand. The waves rolled in with a little more strength here, and the beach was long enough to walk without turning around for a while. I came in the late afternoon, just as the heat started to pull back.
The sand was fine and pale, and the whole place had this spaciousness to it, like it hadn’t decided whether to be social or solitary. It lets you choose, I thought. And that makes it generous.
I left the beach and walked inland to *Giordana’s Delizie Italiane*, a small café tucked between shops. I ordered a slice of pizza with roasted vegetables and a glass of chilled hibiscus tea. The crust was crisp, the cheese bubbling, the vegetables charred just enough. The tea tasted like flowers and citrus, cool and tart. I sat outside while the sky softened into pink and gold.
Chahué Bay At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: About 5 minutes
- Address: Bahía Chahué, near La Crucecita
- Best Time to Visit: Afternoon into sunset for walking and watching the light change
- Vibe: Spacious, quiet, under-the-radar
- Highlights: Long beach, occasional strong waves, room to breathe
- Facilities: Public access, some restrooms, parking nearby
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Open access
- Food Nearby: Giordana’s Delizie Italiane and other cafés in La Crucecita
La Entrega Beach
La Entrega had a different kind of energy. Families gathered in tight circles under umbrellas, music played softly from a speaker wedged in the sand, and waiters in flip-flops moved between tables carrying plates of fresh fish. But just past the shoreline, the water was so clear I could see every ripple on the sea floor.
I brought my mask and snorkel, slipped into the water, and found myself surrounded by coral and darting fish within seconds. No long swim required. This is the beach that shows you what lives beneath, I thought, floating weightless while schools of yellowtail moved past my knees.
After swimming, I grabbed a shaded table at *El Chiringuito*, one of the casual spots right on the sand. I ordered a whole grilled huachinango (red snapper), butterflied and crisped over coals. The skin was smoky and salted, the meat sweet and tender. It came with handmade tortillas, warm and pliable, and a squeeze of lime that hit like sunshine. I didn’t rush. No one here was rushing.
La Entrega Beach At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: About 10 minutes
- Address: Playa La Entrega, Bahía de Santa Cruz
- Best Time to Visit: Early morning for clear snorkeling
- Vibe: Local, lively, snorkeling hotspot
- Highlights: Calm water, coral reefs, great for families and food lovers
- Facilities: Restrooms, palapas, on-site restaurants
- Cost: Free access; optional rentals
- Hours: All day (often busiest midday)
- Food Nearby: El Chiringuito and several beachside marisquerías
Playa Organo and Maguey
Getting to Órgano and Maguey felt like unlocking something. The road wound down from Huatulco National Park, and the beach signs were so subtle I almost missed them. Maguey came first—bustling with open-air eateries and beach chairs. Órgano sat farther in, quiet, shaded, and empty when I arrived.
Maguey was for company—families laughing, boats anchored, waiters calling out lunch specials. Órgano was for solitude. I walked between the two, sandals in hand, stopping at tidepools and driftwood along the way. It's rare to find beaches that feel this close and this different, I thought. But here, contrast is part of the charm.
Lunch was back at Maguey. I chose a table under a bright yellow tarp and ordered tiritas de pescado—thin strips of marinated fish tossed with onion, chili, and lime. It smelled sharp and clean, the kind of dish that wakes you up in the best way. Each bite had a citrus tang and just enough heat to make me reach for a cold agua fresca. It was simple. Perfectly chilled. Pure beach food.
Playa Órgano & Maguey At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: About 15 minutes (accessible by taxi or boat)
- Address: Huatulco National Park area
- Best Time to Visit: Weekdays to avoid crowds at Maguey; early morning for Órgano
- Vibe: Maguey: friendly and active. Órgano: peaceful, untouched
- Highlights: Dual experience—local buzz vs. wild quiet
- Facilities: Maguey has full services; Órgano has none
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Open access during daylight
- Food Nearby: Several beach eateries at Maguey
Conejos Bay
Conejos Bay didn’t show off. From the road, you might miss it entirely—shielded by private homes and quiet hills. But once I found the right turn, the view opened like a sigh. The bay was framed by rocky cliffs, with the water turning from deep blue to soft green as it neared the shore. No boats. No buzz. Just the sound of small waves folding themselves into sand.
I didn’t see many people—just one couple reading under a palapa and a fisherman pulling his net from the surf. I walked along the curve of the bay, stopping where the rocks met tidepools, and sat for a long while without checking the time. This beach doesn’t want to be busy, I thought. It wants to breathe.
There was no food nearby, so I brought fresh bolillos, sliced avocado, and Oaxaca cheese from the market in La Crucecita. I made a simple sandwich right there on a flat rock, the bread still warm from the bakery. The cheese was soft and slightly salty, the avocado creamy and clean. It tasted better than anything fancy, maybe because I’d earned it with quiet.
Conejos Bay At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: About 20 minutes
- Address: Bahía Conejos, eastern edge of Huatulco
- Best Time to Visit: Morning or late afternoon—there’s no shade
- Vibe: Quiet, local, private-feeling
- Highlights: Tidepools, solitude, clear water
- Facilities: None—no services
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset
- Food Nearby: None—bring what you need
Barra de la Cruz
Barra didn’t feel like the other bays. It felt like something wild pushing through—wind, waves, and raw coastline. The road in was dusty and lined with surfboards, and by the time I stepped onto the beach, I could already hear the break. Long, powerful, and perfect for surfing, Barra has a reputation that pulls wave-chasers from around the world. But even if you don’t surf, it stirs something in you.
The beach stretched wide, open and elemental. I sat on the warm sand near the dunes, hair tangled from the breeze, and watched a group of surfers drop into wave after wave with almost meditative ease. This is a place that moves you, even if you’re still, I thought, closing my eyes and letting the wind press gently against my skin.
Afterward, I ate at one of the few local comedores just off the beach. I ordered empanadas de camarón—crispy, golden, filled with garlic-sautéed shrimp and a sprinkle of queso fresco. The masa was warm and slightly charred, the filling juicy and rich. They came with a small bowl of pico de gallo that smelled like lime, onion, and the garden after rain. It was the kind of meal that said, you made it.
Barra de la Cruz At a Glance
- Drive time from Santa Cruz: About 45–60 minutes
- Address: Barra de la Cruz, Oaxaca (south of Huatulco)
- Best Time to Visit: Morning for surf, late afternoon for sunset
- Vibe: Untamed, remote, beloved by surfers
- Highlights: World-class surf, big skies, powerful waves
- Facilities: Bathrooms, a few small eateries
- Cost: Free; small fee to access the beach trail
- Hours: Daytime only
- Food Nearby: Local comedores at entrance
What the Bays Left Behind
I didn’t leave Huatulco with a favorite beach. I left with a rhythm. One shaped by quiet mornings at Conejos, snorkel-filled afternoons at La Entrega, and the untamed pull of Barra de la Cruz. Some bays invited stillness. Others asked for movement. All of them made space for something to land—whether it was thought, memory, or just breath.
There’s something about Huatulco’s coastline that resists being rushed. Even the well-loved spots—Santa Cruz, Tangolunda, Maguey—carry a softness, like they know how to hold both locals and travelers at once. And the lesser-known shores? They feel like a gift kept just out of sight until you're ready to find them.
I came for the beaches. I left remembering how it felt to be quiet inside them.
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