Huatulco

The region of Huatulco is located in an area of sinuous and irregular geography on the Mexican Pacific coast, right where the mountains meet the sea, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The area consists of nine bays with thirty-six white sand beaches. The enclave has the charm of the inhospitable, but guests staying at Huatulco's luxury hotels will enjoy all the comfort and amenities of the busiest beach destinations. Cruise ships dock in Santa Cruz Bay and most passengers head for the most popular tourist beaches in Huatulco Bay, where the white sandy beaches in the shape of a half moon are nestled among the rocks scattered along the sea, all set against the backdrop of the lush green hills of the Sierra Madre del Sur.

Huatulco is a land blessed with sunshine for three hundred and thirty days a year, and the average temperature is about twenty-eight degrees, so visitors can swim, surf and sunbathe at their leisure at all times. Boat excursions are a great way to visit and enjoy some of the coves and small bays further away from the main beaches, and guides usually point out dolphins jumping in the waves and manta rays diving at the surface of the sea. The transparent water of this sea makes it an excellent place for scuba diving and snorkeling, especially in the vast Huatulco National Park. This one hundred and twenty square kilometer strip of lowland rainforest, mangrove forest and coastal waters has been protected since 1998 and has been awarded international Green Globe certification in recognition of conservation efforts that have kept the habitat of hundreds of native plant and animal species safe. This place is an eco-tourist's dream come true: the park encompasses six bays, including the popular Maguey Bay, and is home to one of the most important coral aggregations in the Mexican Pacific. With a guided tour, tourists can get to know this enclave and visit the most outstanding features of this carefully protected park.

A vacation in Huatulco is not complete without a trip inland, and many tourists choose to tour the well-known Magic Waterfalls. A swim in these waterfalls surrounded by lush jungle is a refreshing change from the sunny beaches. Most tours include a stop at a coffee plantation. Huatulco hotel guests who want a taste of traditional Mexico can stroll through the streets of La Crucita, and should not forget to enter the church in the town's central plaza. A huge portrait of Mexico's religious icon, the Virgin of Guadalupe, adorns the ceiling of the church, and this image is said to be the largest in all of Mexico. A highlight of any walking tour is the tasting of mezcal, the traditional drink of this region. Mezcal acquires its smoky flavor from cooking the agave hearts buried in earthen pits before fermentation, making it different from tequila, which is not cooked. Visitors exploring the quaint little town will discover numerous artisans weaving colorful Oaxaca-style fabrics, as well as shiny black pottery, and even a photocall that will allow tourists to have their picture taken in which they appear to be wearing the famous and elegant traditional lace dresses.