Tips for travel to Huatulco

Our Huatulco travel tips section is designed to provide you with valuable information on the destinations we serve. You can access weather reports, convert currency, browse through destination guides, research passport and visa information and much more.

Introduction

Entertainment

Entry Requirements

Money & Emergency

Weather

Map

Fun Things To Do

Health & Safety Links

Flight Overview

Introduction

Huatulco has increasingly become known for its ecotourism attractions -- including river rafting, rappelling, and hiking jungle trails. If you're drawn to snorkeling, diving, boat cruises, and simple relaxation, Huatulco nicely fits the bill. Nine bays encompass 36 beaches and countless inlets and coves.

What To Do

Several of the bays are accessible only by sea. Independent entrepreneurs at the marina in Santa Cruz or at the hotels can take you there in lanchas (small, open boats). You can be dropped off at the bay of your choice and arrange to be picked up later, or book the boat for the day.

For water sports fans, Huatulco offers deep-sea fishing and snorkeling. Land-lubbers can take in the environment, by bike or on horseback, on various ecotours.

There are excursion boats docked at Santa Cruz Bay and they can be reserved through Cantera Tours, at Castillo Huatulco hotel, Servicios Turisticos del Sur and Turismo Tangolunda. Boats tour the bays, and offer excursions up to Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, Manialtepec and Chacahua lagoons. La Bamba and El Zorro are the two largest and most popular boats.

Ecotours have recently gained in popularity and are being actively encouraged by the government of Oaxaca. Visitors can join a mule train that winds leisurely through the foothills to the heart of the Sierra Madre, or take a tour of area coffee plantations.

Bike rental shops, such as one at La Crucecita's main plaza, take visitors on "ecological" bicycle tours of the bays. Or go horseback riding through a jungle path. Check your hotel travel desk for more information.

Most hotels have water sports desks offering wave runners, bananas, kayaks, scuba, skin diving and fishing. Most of the larger hotels offer excellent tennis facilities.

There's golf at the 18-hole public course that FONATUR inaugurated in Tangolunda in 1991, reputedly the most beautiful public course in the country.

For snorkeling, locals favor the waters of La Entrega, a protected marine park on Santa Cruz Bay. Opposite the beach here, a 640 foot-long, 112-foot-wide coral reef creates a natural aquarium harboring more than 700 types of colorful fish and other sea life. Gear can be rented from a small concession stand. Several beachfront restaurants sell seafood and cold drinks. San Agustin beach, on the westernmost of the nine bays, is also very popular, with its wide beach, great fishing, snorkeling and high waves as well as the calmest waters in the area.

Favorite diving spots are the reefs off Cacaluta and La Montosa islands, Bufadero, where there's a sunken ship, Los Duendes and El Tigre, areas typical of the Pacific, where the big fish swim among large rock formations. The Triton Dive Shop is highly recommended for instruction and equipment. Reservations for Triton can be made through Cantera Tours located in the Castillo Huatulco hotel.

Dining

For water sports fans, Huatulco offers deep-sea fishing and snorkeling. Land-lubbers can take in the environment, by bike or on horseback, on various ecotours.

Most hotels have water sports desks offering wave runners, bananas, kayaks, scuba, skin diving and fishing. Most of the larger hotels offer excellent tennis facilities.

There's golf at the 18-hole public course that FONATUR inaugurated in Tangolunda in 1991, reputedly the most beautiful public course in the country.

Money

Banks & ATMs
Banks in Mexico are rapidly expanding and improving services. They tend to be open weekdays from 9am until 5pm, and often for at least a half day on Saturday. In larger resorts and cities, they can generally accommodate the exchange of dollars (which used to stop at noon) anytime during business hours. During times when the currency is in flux, a particular bank may not exchange dollars, so check before standing in line. Some, but not all, banks charge a service fee of about 1% to exchange traveler's checks. However, you can pay for most purchases directly with traveler's checks at the establishment's stated exchange rate. Don't even bother with personal checks drawn on a U.S. bank -- the bank will wait for your check to clear, which can take weeks, before giving you your money.

Travelers to Mexico can easily withdraw money from ATMs (automated teller machine) in most major cities and resort areas. In most resorts in Mexico, the use of ATMs is perfectly safe -- just use the same precautions you would at any ATM. Universal bank cards (such as the Cirrus and PLUS systems) can be used. This is a convenient way to withdraw money and avoid carrying too much with you at any time. The exchange rate is generally more favorable than that at a casas de cambio. Most machines offer Spanish/English menus and dispense pesos, but some offer the option of withdrawing dollars. The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587) networks span the globe; look at the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations at your destination. Be sure you know your personal identification number (PIN) before you leave home and be sure to find out your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Also keep in mind that many banks impose a fee every time a card is used at a different bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions (up to $5 or more) than for domestic ones (where they're rarely more than $1.50). On top of this, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee.

Traveler's Checks
Traveler's checks are something of an anachronism from the days before the ATM made cash accessible at any time. Traveler's checks used to be the only sound alternative to traveling with dangerously large amounts of cash. They were as reliable as currency, but, unlike cash, could be replaced if lost or stolen.

You can get traveler's checks at almost any bank. You can also get American Express traveler's checks over the phone by calling tel. 800/221-7282.

Visa offers traveler's checks at Citibank locations nationwide, as well as at several other banks. Call tel. 800/732-1322 for information. AAA members can obtain Visa checks without a fee at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378. MasterCard also offers traveler's checks. Call tel. 800/223-9920 for a location near you.

If you choose to carry traveler's checks, be sure to keep a record of their serial numbers separate from your checks in the event that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.

Credit Cards
Credit cards are a safe way to carry money: They also provide a convenient record of all your expenses, and they generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs, provided you know your PIN. If you've forgotten yours, or didn't even know you had one, call the number on the back of your credit card and ask the bank to send it to you. It usually takes 5 to 7 business days, though some banks will provide the number over the phone if you tell them your mother's maiden name or some other personal information.

Charges will be made in pesos, then converted into dollars by the bank issuing the credit card. Generally you receive the favorable bank rate when paying by credit card. However, be aware that some establishments in Mexico add a 5% to 7% surcharge when you pay with a credit card. This is especially true when using American Express. Many times, advertised discounts will not apply if you pay with a credit card.

Dear Visa: I'm Off to Huatulco! -- Some credit card companies recommend that you notify them of any impending trip abroad so that they don't become suspicious and block your charges when the card is used numerous times in a foreign destination. Even if you don't call your credit card company in advance, you can always call the toll-free emergency number if a charge is refused -- a good reason to carry the phone number with you. But perhaps the most important lesson is to carry more than one card on your trip; if one card doesn't work for any number of reasons, you'll have a backup.

Emergency

The tourist office near the Gala hotel in Tangolunda (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) and the tourist booth on the plaza of La Crucecita, can both be helpful in case of emergency.

Huatulco doesn't have any private hospitals, but there are public clinics and medical centers such as the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and the Red Cross Hospital.

Health Websites
http://health.yahoo.com Information on specific diseases and conditions, drugs and herbal remedies, as well as advice from health experts.

www.tmvc.com.au Contains a list of all Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centres throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, plus general information on travel health.

www.istm.org The website of the International Society for Travel Medicine, with a full list of clinics specializing in international travel health.

www.tripprep.com Travel Health Online provides an online-only comprehensive database of necessary vaccinations for most countries, as well as destination and medical service provider information.

www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk UK NHS website carrying information about travel-related diseases and how to avoid them.

Fun Things To Do in Huatulco

Attractions & Activities

Huatulco Attractions

La Crucecita Village
Built in 1986, the villages 7,000 residents are visitor industry workers. This charming town has an elegant main square with Mexican sculptures, shade trees, walkways, benches, green lawns and a central bandstand. The colonial style buildings house shops, outdoor café's and more.

Santa Maria Huatulco
This city is Huatulco's historic center of development. Its roots are traced to the pre-Hispanic era when it served as a trade center for the coastal Oaxacan region. See a red and white cathedral dating back to the 18th century, native market and coffee plantations surrounding the city.

Punta Celeste Archeological Site
One of the most interesting sites in recent years is at Punta Celeste. Overlooking the ocean, the site consists of burial sites, ball courts, small pyramids and a cliffside sacrificial stone. The site dates back to 500 B.C. and was developed by a mysterious culture known as the Mixteco.

Bahias de Huatulco
Bahias de Huatulco is the largest ecological reserve designated by the Mexican government, it combines modern structures within a large undeveloped natural area. The area is known for its high, rugged mountain landscapes, waterfalls, rivers and deep, fertile valleys.

Manialtepec Lagoon
"The place of spring-fed waters", is a beautiful, natural refuge filled with mangrove trees, a rich diversity of wetland bird life and tropical vegetation. Visitors will enjoy watching exotic birds such as the White-fronted Parrot, or visit with local fisherman working from their dugout canoes.

Huatulco Activities

Water Sports
Huatulco's calm bays are ideal for a full range of water sports, including swimming, jet skiing, windsurfing and sailing. For divers and snorkelers, Huatulco's crystal clear waters and coral reefs are home of pockets of diverse undersea life.

Dining & Nightlife
Excellent dining is available at most resorts in the Huatulco area, along with an assortment of options located within two small shopping malls. Cuisine ranges from continental, to seafood, to authentic Oaxacan dishes. Try the Boom Boom Disco for some exciting nightlife.

Horseback Riding
Another of the area's popular visitor activities is horseback riding. The Rancho Caballo del Mar in Bahia Conejos offers three-hour beach and river rides, departing each day.

Golf
The Campo del golf Tangolunda is an 18-hole beauty of a golf course that is laid out next to the beach on Tangolunda Bay. The attractive clubhouse offers a swimming pool, tennis courts and a pro shop. Greens fees are reasonable.

Boat Excursions
To fully appreciate the beauty of Huatulco's gorgeous bays and coves, a boat trip is highly recommended. The trips depart from the local dock in Santa Cruz, and the vessels range from 350-passenger deluxe cruises to simple skiffs, known as "pangas".