Huatulco, Mexico – A Once Over

Y tu mama también! Do you remember this movie, with Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna? It’s the story of two teenage boys and a beautiful woman on a roadtrip in Mexico, arriving in one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Mexico: Huatulco! The combination of unspoiled beaches and tropical forests, white sand and sun, this place will convince anyone they’ve arrived in paradise!

Why did they choose this remote place in Mexico? To answer this question, we need to go back 20 years, when this area consisted of 34,000 hectares of largely uninhabited forest reserve and nine pristine bays of soft brown sand, whose shores were gently kissed by the sparkling, clear blue waters of the Mexican Pacific. The sole inhabitants lived in a humble fishing village known as Santa Cruz Huatulco. A collection of small, pastel adobe huts on the site of an ancient Zapotec settlement, it was Mexico’s most important Pacific port in the 16th century.

View from Las Brisas hotel overlooking Tangolunda Bay, Huatulco

Today, although many luxury resorts have been developed along these magnificent bays, little has changed, and this is the appeal of Huatulco. In recognition of the ecological importance of this region, it has been designated a national wildlife preserve, and all development has been planned and carried out with the preservation of the territory in mind. In fact, several of the bays are still completely undeveloped today and can only be accessed by boat.

This paradise is located on the southern coast of the Mexican Pacific in the state of Oaxaca and boasts nine incredible bays along 35 kilometres of coast: San Agustín, Chachacual, Maguey, El Órgano, Santa Cruz, Chahué, Tangolunda, Conejos and Cacaluta.

In total, there are 36 beaches with brilliant, crystalline water bounded on the north by the impressive Sierra Madre del Sur and on east and west by the Copalita and Coyula rivers. Tangolunda Bay has deluxe hotels, an 18-hole golf course, deep-sea fishing, reef diving and five lovely beaches. There’s no big city here, but the two small towns of La Crucesita and Santa Cruz make for a pleasant outing with their cafés and colourful shops. If you want to travel a little, you can head to nearby Puerto Escondido where lush vegetation gives the city a distinctly tropical character. Sightseeing in the area includes bay tours, eco-excursions and horseback riding.

Festivities galore!
Santa Cruz Bay is considered one of the most important ecological reserves, with its coral reefs. Thanks to its abundant marine life, not only is an excellent spot for scuba diving and snorkeling, but it also hosts the annual Torneo de Pesca de Pez Vela (sailfish fishing tournament) in April and May.

During November, there are all kinds of amazing cultural events in and around Huatulco. First of all, Huatulco hosts an impressive Sea Music festival with live concerts featuring international artists, movie screenings and so on. Every year, one foreign country is invited to showcase its cultural specialties!

Huatulco also has an incredible film and food festival, attracting filmmakers, visual artists and writers. After watching the films, the actors and the audience engage in lively discussions. Depending on the program, visitors can also sample traditional Mexican dishes.

Beach paradise scuba diving
Huatulco’s fascinating coast is an amalgam of beaches, rocky outcroppings, islands, cliffs and coral reefs that offer a wide variety of attractions for scuba divers. Among the best beaches for scuba diving are La Guerrilla, Tejoncito, Arrocito, Tangolunda, La Entrega, Órgano, Maguey, Cacaluta, La India, Chachacual, Riscalillo, and San Agustín, where numerous species of marine life are to be found.

Pretty woman
Tangolunda is derived from a Zapotec word meaning “pretty woman.” It is one of the most beautiful bays and the site of major hotels and residential subdivisions. In its expanding commercial zone, you can enjoy numerous recreational, athletic and dining adventures. One of Mexico’s most complete golf courses is in Tangolunda, with spectacular vistas of the ocean.

Cacaluta: Place of the black bird
Exuberant vegetation frames this ecological reserve of beautiful, completely untouched scenery and an abundance of vegetation and wildlife. Cacaluta is ideal for relaxing, thanks to its subtropical climate and cool breezes.

Chachacual
This natural reserve has stunning coral reefs. Acacias, fig and mangrove trees edge its two beaches, Chachacual and La India. It is a favourite breeding spot for golfina turtles. Each year, more than 100,000 of these turtles lay their eggs in the sand here.

Ecotourism
A subtropical climate with an average year-round temperature of 28°C (83°F) and 330 days of sunshine are responsible for the luxuriant vegetation here, which includes the main species found in low jungles. During the rainy season, the dry forest areas turn from tan to green. This ecosystem is unique because it combines jungle and forest with subtropical animals and abundant flowers. Coastal marine life is characterized primarily by coral reefs, purple-dye-producing sea conches and golfina turtles that breed in the area.

To round out a visit to Huatulco, a visit to a coffee plantation such as El Pacífico, La Gloria, or Monte Carlo is a must. Head into the mountains of Oaxaca surrounding Santa Maria Huatulco to a 19th-century coffee plantation founded by German immigrants. You’ll learn about the harvesting and processing of the area’s delicious pluma coffee. Spend time with the family owners and enjoy a typical meal. The tours include visits to exotic tropical forests with waterfalls, caves and suspension bridges. Bring some of this coffee back to Canada, and every morning will be a pleasure.

Turtle paradise
The Mexican government has opened a fine Mexican Turtle Center, located in the coastal village of Mazunte (30 km up the coast from Huatulco). There probably isn’t a better place in the world to see sea turtles. What is special about Mazunte is the large numbers of turtles concentrated on a single beach. Thousands of sea turtles lay eggs here during the breeding season and millions of hatchlings then try to reach the ocean. The Center houses a museum, turtle farm, cactus garden and research centre dedicated to protecting marine turtles. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is by donation. Mazunte is also home to a women’s cooperative factory that produces natural-ingredient cosmetics sold around the world through the Body Shop. Take advantage of super low prices!

Green Globe 21 for Huatulco
Huatulco is the first tourism community in America to receive the Green Globe 21 sustainability certificate. In fact, this is a fully planned centre developed by the Mexican Fund to Foster Tourism (Fonatur, its initials Spanish acronym) in the 1980s. It was certified in early 2005 as the first Sustainable Tourism Community in the Americas and third in the world. The people and authorities of Huatulco are committed to a vision of long-term sustainability and have set themselves the goal of keeping it at the forefront of Mexican and international beach destinations in environmental matters.

Places to stay
Huatulco’s accommodations are located in one of five areas: Tangolunda Bay, Conejos Bay, Chahue Bay, the city of Santa Cruz, and the town of La Crucecita.

Huatulco has an upscale urban infrastructure that adheres strictly to international quality and environmental standards with respect to the architecture and its natural surroundings. There are 2,300 hotel rooms—ranging from modest inns to hotels ranked “Gran Turismo,” five-star hotels and even an above-rating special category—that offer accommodation alone or operate on an all-inclusive basis.

Traditional food for lovers of fine dining
Huatulco reflects the surprising flavours of Oaxaca’s cuisine and the marvels of its culture. Even the most discriminating palates will be satisfied in the restaurants in Tangolunda, Chahué and Santa Cruz, as well as in the town of La Crucecita, a great place to enjoy fresh fish and seafood. Try the Molito de camaron seco or the Tamales de pescado seco. And be sure to sample Mexican lobster: you’ll love it!

For More Information:
http://www.visitmexico.com/wb/Visitmexico/Visi_Home?show=regions

Eco-adventure operators
Buceo Sotavento: 958-581-0051
Gaalho: 958-587-0087
Turismo Conejo: 958-587-1559
Zona de Aventura Extrema : 958-587-1264

Natural Habitat Adventures, a WWF Conservation Travel Provider offers trips to Mazunte’s National Mexican Turtle Center. All-inclusive trips are limited to approximately 10 travellers and are accompanied by WWF-trained guides. Natural Habitat pays travel agents a 10 percent commission on the trip rate, with the exception of park and permit fees. 1-800-543-8917 | www.nathab.com

Restaurants and Bars

• Las Margaritas: steak and lobster in a covered and open-air dining room. At the Marina Suites Resort.

• El Mar Restaurant: seafood specialties with a Hawaiian flair.

• Avalos Doña Celia Restaurant Bar: local favourite specializing in fish with almonds and fish wrapped in palm leaves. Covered patio or open-air dining.

• Helados Bing: popular Mexican chain selling delicious ice cream, located at the Santa Cruz Marina.

Travel Planners
All Inclusive packages and air only options are available from Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver through Signature Vacations. Visit www.signaturevacations.com for departure dates, prices and package information.

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