The 27 Best Beaches in Huatulco Mexico You Have to See the Believe

The main beach in Huatulco, Santa Cruz Bay makes for a great place to get your bearings and enjoy your first day in Huatulco.

Grab a beer and some fish tacos at one of the restaurants right on the beach, then head in for a swim.

The water here is calm, and the sandy bottom makes for clear, turquoise waters.

Santa Cruz Beach is great for swimming, especially if you’re traveling to Huatulco with kids because of its calm waters, but it’s not great for snorkeling.

Santa Cruz is also a nice beach to spend your evenings in Huatulco. The Santa Cruz Pier is popular with locals meeting friends for a few Mexican beers at sunset.

You can also catch live music and go dancing at El Habanero Loko or Macquil, one of the best bars in Huatulco.

💒 Huatulco Mexico Travel Tips: Must see in Santa Cruz

Don’t miss the Capilla de la Santa Cruz Chapel on Santa Cruz Beach.

It’s an important pilgrimage site for Catholics, and houses a statue of the patron saint of Oaxaca and fishermen, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

5. Bahía Conejos (Bunny Bay)

👙 Good for swimming? No | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? No | 🌮 Are there restaurants? No (Only at the resort)

Meaning “Bunny Bay,” Bahia Conejos is a beautiful, secluded, crescent-shaped bay on the northeastern end of town.

Here, you’ll find Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa, an adults only resort that’s perfect for a honeymoon in Huatulco or a romantic getaway. For couples, it’s the hands-down best Huatulco Mexico all inclusive you’ll find.

There are three beaches within Bahia Conejos Bay: Playa El Tejoncito, Playa Conejos (where the Secrets Resort is located) and Playa Punta Arena.

Of the three, the best beach here is Playa Conejos, though it can get crowded on weekends and holidays.

While Conejos Bay is one of the most photogenic and Instagram worthy Huatulco beaches, it’s not ideal for swimming.

The water here is usually too rough for even experienced swimmers, and the drop-offs in the water can be steep.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

6. Playa la Entrega

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? Yes

Playa la Entrega is one of the most popular and most accessible snorkeling beaches in Huatulco.

In fact, some go as far as to say it’s the best snorkeling beach in Huatulco and one of the best swimming beaches in Huatulco too!

Planning to do a lot of snorkeling in Huatulco Mexico?

🤿 This full-face snorkel mask is the best mask for snorkeling available today. It’s super easy to use, and even if you’re a beginner at snorkeling, you’ll feel confident underwater when using it.

Located in Bahía Santa Cruz Bay, the water at Playa la Entrega Beach is shallow and filled with coral, making it an easily accessible snorkel location for tourists and families. 

A taxi to La Entrega from Santa Cruz or La Crucecita is only about $70 pesos ($4 USD).

The beach is lined with restaurants, which means you don’t have to pack anything, and there is plenty of shade available under the umbrellas.

However, because this is one of the best beaches in Huatulco for snorkeling, it can get very crowded by midday.

The best time to visit Playa la Entrega Beach for snorkeling is before 11am because as the crowds grow, they stir up the sand on the bottom and affect visibility.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

8. Playa la Bocana

👙 Good for swimming? No | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? No | 🌮 Are there restaurants? Yes

If you can only visit a few beaches on your trip, Playa la Bocana should be one of them.

By day, it’s one of the best Huatulco surfing beaches, but has many other activities to offer. It’s also a nice place for a sunrise viewnig, and to walk along the beach to the Copalita River.

🏨 Not sure where to stay in Huatulco Mexico? If you want to splurge, check out nearby Montecito Beach Village. The luxury Huatulco villas are tucked away on the hillside that overlooks Playa la Bocana Beach below.

The beach is half in the Huatulco district, and half in the next district, Copalita.

Playa la Bocana is special because the Copalita River feeds out into the middle of the beach, making for a completely different ecosystem than anything else in Huatulco.

💆‍♀️ Get a mud massage in Huatulco

Don’t miss the Playa la Bocana mud bath massages. The mud on this beach is good for the skin, and has natural exfoliants.

The locals at Playa la Bocana offer massages for about $100-200 MXN pesos ($5-10 USD), which is a bargain for beachfront massages in Huatulco.

It is arguably the best beach Huatulco has to enjoy nature and relaxation.

🏝️ Playa Cacaluta Beach

Cacaluta Beach is a half-mile-long (1 km) white sand beach, with absolutely nothing on it.

Just offshore, there’s Isla Cacaluta Island, a popular place for Huatulco diving, where scuba divers can explore the coral reefs and unique underwater rock formations.

🏝️ Playa Arroyo Beach

Arroyo Beach is smaller, and the water is calmer so it’s easier to swim here.

The waves on Playa Cacaluta can be a bit intense, so if you want to swim and even snorkel, Playa Arroyo is the place within Bahía de Cacaluta Bay.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

10. Bahía Maguey

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? Yes

If you are looking for a Huatulco beach that has something for everyone, look no further than Bahía Maguey Bay.

Maguey Beach is a gorgeous, long stretch of sand that is half serviced with beachfront restaurants, and half virgin and free of people or structures.

At the end of the beach near the restaurants, big catamarans and Huatulco tour boats bring snorkel tours here.

The shallow waters are safe for swimming, even for young kids, and you can see some fish and marine life along the rocks.

For more advanced snorkeling or to go free diving in Huatulco, head to the other end of the beach and swim out along the rocks.

If you swim out far enough you’ll even see dive buoys, as this area is one of the best spots for diving in Huatulco. 🤿 Want to scuba dive in Huatulco? Check out this Huatulco diving guide.

Maguey is easily accessible by rental car, moped, or taxi. It is the last bay of the nine Bahias de Huatulco that you can access by land.

As noted, this is the perfect all-in-one beach, with safe swimming and beautiful water, great snorkeling, and restaurants on the beach.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

11. Bahía Organo

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? No

Bahía Maguey’s close, but much quieter neighbor, Bahía Organo, is the place to go if you’re looking for a completely relaxing day at the beach — with no one around.

This is an unserviced beach, and most visitors access this beach by boat on a Huatulco snorkeling tour.

🏝 Looking for other secret beaches in Huatulco? Head to Playa Magueyito, a hidden beach that’s only accessible by boat, or a 30 minute (semi-strenuous) walk along the coast.

You can easily get to Playa Organo, as it’s very close to Bahía Maguey Bay and Playa Maguey Beach.

Instead of driving up to the beach itself, you’ll park on the main road, then walk about 20 minutes through the forest to the beach.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

12. Playa Punta Santa Cruz

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? Yes

If you are in the Bahía Santa Cruz area, and looking to do some snorkeling in Huatulco, head over to Playa Punta Santa Cruz.

You can enjoy the restaurant and pool at the La Bacaanda Beach Club at Hotel Marina Resort, or sit on this very quiet, small beach.

From here you could adventure further out along the peninsula to Playa el Pescador, Playa San Andrés, Playa Fandango and Playa Paraiso.

The corals in this area are amazing, and you might even see some turtles swimming alongside you.

13. Playa Fandango

Fandango Beach is adjacent to Punta Santa Cruz, and accessible by a short walk along the shoreline.

This is great if you would like a little more beach space, and some privacy from the fisherman who will be walking back and forth to their boats at Punta Santa Cruz Beach.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

14. Bahía San Agustin

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? Yes

If you can only take one expedition during your Huatulco tip, hop in your rental car and check out Bahia San Agustin.

This is the last of the Huatulco bays, and located at the end of the Huatulco National Park. It’s accessible by Huatulco boat tours, or on land via Highway 200 if you’re renting a car in Huatulco.

An adventure to Bahia San Agustin is special because you’ll drive through several small communities to get there. Be sure to stop at the fresh fruit stands, admire the agave farms, and see the famous iguana tree🦎

You can visit in an afternoon, or spend more time there, as it’s one of the best day trips from Huatulco. Don’t forget to pack your snorkeling equipment, as this is one of the best Huatulco snorkeling beaches.

If you stay all day, the water here is spectacular for swimming. The rocks and hard coral in San Agustin Bay teem with life, making the snorkeling nothing short of amazing.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

15. Playa Chahue

👙 Good for swimming? No | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? No | 🌮 Are there restaurants? Yes

Playa Chahue is the best beach in Huatulco to enjoy both by day and by night. 📸 Huatulco Travel Tips: If you’re visiting during the day, make a quick stop at the Mirador Chachué lookout point.

For a more posh experience, you can enjoy the best Huatulco beach clubs at Playa Chahue. These include the Beach Club at Hotel Quinta Bella Huatulco, SeaSol Beach Club in Huatulco and Queen Beach Club Huatulco.

Looking for things to do in Huatulco at night? Chahue Beach is popular for both locals and visitors alike to gather at night.

Bring a sand-proof beach blanket, a bottle of wine (or two!), get takeout from one of the best Huatulco restaurants, and enjoy the moonlight and shooting stars.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

15. Bahía Chachacual

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? No

Chachacual Bay is located inside Huatulco National Park. This bay is only accessible by boat, and has several popular snorkeling areas.

There are two beaches in Bahía Chachacual, Playa la India Beach, one of the most photogenic Huatulco beaches, and Playa Chachacual.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

17. Playa Chachacual Beach

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? No, but there are usually people selling drinks and snacks

Chachacual Beach is a huge beach with white sand and clear blue water. It would take you hours to walk the length of the beach and back, so you might want to skip doing the full stretch.

However, do explore a bit and be on the lookout for turtle tracks in the sand 🐢

18. Playa la India

Playa la India (sometimes called Playa de la India Huatulco) is probably even more popular than Chachacual itself.

Known for its incredible white sand, this little beach is tucked into the side of Bahia Chachacual. It is one of the best snorkeling spots in town, and makes for one of the best Huatulco day trips.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

19. Playa la Violin

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? No

Playa la Violin Beach is the closest beach from the town of La Crucecita, Oaxaca. It offers a totally relaxed experience, away from the crowds.

It does require a very short, but very steep hike from the road down the beach itself.

💡 Huatulco Travel Tips: You’ll have a nice view of the Faro de las Bahías de Huatulco (Huatuco Lighthouse) from Playa la Violin Beach.

The best way to visit Playa la Violin is by arranging with a taxi driver to drop you off, and then pick you up at an agreed upon time, since you won’t have cell service when on the beach.

It’s also easy to access by moped, or even on your rental bike if you’re up for the inclines.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

20. Playa Arrocito

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? Yes

Arrocito Beach is one of the lesser-visited beaches in Huatulco, perfect for getting away from it all and out into nature.

Located in a tiny beach cove, the waves are usually pretty calm, but do exercise caution when swimming or snorkeling during high tide.

Located just a short taxi ride from the center of town, this small beach (one of the smallest Huatulco beaches on this list) still has everything you need.

If you’re driving your rental car, there’s even free parking. When you get hungry, there’s a restaurant right on the beach. 

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

21. Playa Cacalutilla

Located near Bahía San Agustín Huatulco, Playa Cacalutilla is an unserviced beach that will likely be free of other people when you visit.

Remember to look closely at the sand and you may see turtle markings, as Cacalutilla Beach is a popular place for turtles to lay their eggs.

🐢 Huatulco Fun Facts: Huatulco is home to more than four types of sea turtles. Laying season is from September to February, and hatching season is December to May.

Most of the nesting grounds are protected, so you’ll have to take a Huatulco turtle release tour.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

22. Playa Riscalillo

If you’re in Bahia San Agustin and have some extra time, head down the road a little further to Playa Riscalillo.

The road is a fairly new development, as pre-2021 Riscalillo Beach was accessible only by boat. Now, it’s just a five-minute drive in your rental car from San Agustin.

Looking for Huatulco things to do that aren’t beaches? You can chase waterfalls in Copalitilla, tour a Huatulco coffee plantation, learn how to cook Oaxacan food in a Huatulco cooking class — and there’s so many other things to see in Huatulco.

The beach at Riscalillo is still tranquil, as it’s not overly-developed — though it does have a few small restaurants and some fantastic snorkeling. It is a popular site for spotting eagle rays, fish and even octopus while snorkeling.

You may feel like you’ve been transported to the Mexican Caribbean beaches in Yucatan when visiting Riscalillo Beach.

The water is shallow, with a soft, sandy bottom for beautiful turquoise waters that are clear enough so you have great visibility underwater.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

23. Playa el Pescador

👙 Good for swimming? Yes | 🤿 Good for snorkeling? Yes | 🌮 Are there restaurants? No

Not far from Playa Fandango, you’ll be at Playa el Pescador. You have to wade through the water to get here, but it’s worth the effort.

You’ll likely have this little beach all to yourself, and the shape of the rocks shields you from view of the other beaches along this peninsula.

This is a great spot to park yourself for a few hours — especially if you want to go snorkeling in Huatulco.

Playa el Pescador (Fisherman’s Beach) sits right on the reef, and its ideal location means you have a good chance to spot some turtles in the water.

24. Playa el Paraiso 

This beach is great because you enjoy local food and beers from a local family who has built a small shelter here.

This beach is best accessed by land from Punta Santa Cruz, or by a water taxi from the Punta Santa Cruz Beach.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

25. Playa Tejon

Between Bahia Chahue and Bahia Tangolunda lies Playa Tejon Beach. This little beach is accessible with a five-minute, easy walk through the trees from the access road, and is a great place to spend a few hours. 

Tejon Beach has a gorgeous, massive tree in the middle of the beach, unlike most trees in Huatulco, as it is evergreen.

It offers great protection from the sun, and the locals have slowly been adding benches and enhancing the inside into a fort-like shelter.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

26. Playa Boca Vieja (Secret Beach)

Playa Boca Vieja Beach is somewhere I shouldn’t be telling you about, because it’s a secret! Well, kind of, anyway.

Situated east of Río Coyula, and southwest of Estero la Salina, this virgin beach paradise is only about 45 minutes from Huatulco by rental car.

Playa Boca Vieja Beach is known for its unique setting, where the river is right next to the Pacific Ocean — but also for its seafood.

Enjoy the freshest seafood you’ve ever had at a palapa right on the beach as you enjoy the sea-breeze in this Oaxaca pueblo (small town).

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

27. Barra de la Cruz

Looking for the best Huatulco surf spots? This semi-remote and off the beaten path Huatulco beach has some of the best surf waves in the area.

🏄‍♀️ Huatulco Travel Tips: If you plan to venture all the way to Barra de la Cruz, Oaxaca, don’t miss nearby Playa Mojón as well.

There’s not much here besides surf, sand and sun, and a few places to eat in the tiny pueblo (town) near the beach just off Highway 200, so plan ahead if you visit.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

Huatulco Beaches Map

There are a lot of beaches in Huatulco, so might need a visual to help plan your Huatulco itinerary.

Check out the map of beaches in Huatulco Mexico above to give you a better idea of which of the the best beaches in Huatulco Mexico are near one another.

If you can try to squeeze a few into your Huatulco itinerary — after all, these are some of the best beaches in Oaxaca Mexico. Depending on who you ask, they’re also some of the best beaches in Mexico.

Huatulco Beaches: Serviced vs Unserviced

Huatulco Oaxaca has both beaches with services and amenities, like restaurants, restrooms, snorkel rentals, beach clubs, etc. — and unserviced beaches.

The unserviced beaches in Huatulco have nothing but sand and sea to enjoy. All the beaches listed here are labeled with what they offer.

▶︎ READ MORE Huatulco Mexico: Ultimate Travel Guide for Visitors

Huatulco Beaches vs Huatulco Bays

There are nine bays in Huatulco — and the 36 beaches of Huatulco are located within those bays.

🏝 Here is a list of all the bays of Huatulco

It can get a bit confusing, and sometimes people mislabel a playa (beach) as a bahía (bay), but everyone in Huatulco will know what you mean.

Best beaches in Huatulco Mexico

Huatulco to Puerto Escondido Mexico

Now sure how to get to Puerto Escondido from Huatulco? The safest, easiest and best way is to book this private transportation service, but you can also drive your rental car or the ADO bus to Puerto Escondido.

Puerto Escondido is the most-visited of all Oaxaca beaches, and located about two hours from Huatulco.

If you’re wondering, What is the closest beach to Oaxaca City? — It would be the beaches of Puerto Escondido.

Puerto Escondido has some of the best beaches on the Oaxaca Coast, like Playa Zicatela, Playa Carrizalillo, Playa la Punta and Playa Bacocho — some of the best Huatulco area beaches.

For other great beaches near Huatulco, head to Playa Zipolite in Zipolite, Bahía Estacahuite in Puerto Angel, Playa San Agustinillo in San Agustinillo, and Playa Mermejita in Mazunte.

Overlooking this beach, Punta Cometa is one of the best places to watch the sunset on the coast.

Huatulco Mexico Travel Guide & FAQ

🗺️ Huatulco Map

☀️🏨 Need a place to stay? Check out all the best Huatulco Mexico resorts and best hotels in Huatulco!

Huatulco Mexico is located on the Pacific Ocean, about six hours by car from the state’s capital, Oaxaca de Juarez (AKA Oaxaca City).

If you’re wondering, How do you pronounce Oaxaca?, you’re not alone! Let’s actually clear up the Oaxaca pronunciation before we go any further — Oaxaca is pronounced waa-haa-kah.

You can easily travel from Oaxaca City to Huatulco by private shuttle, plane, rental car or bus; but we’ll get into Huatulco transportation later.

It is a small airport, and very easy to navigate. If you’re booking a flight to Huatulco, make sure you’re flying into HUX Airport, and not Puerto Escondido Airport, which is about two hours away.

There are limited direct flights to Huatulco from the U.S. and Canada, and they’re usually only available in winter. However, you can find Mexico City to Huatulco flights year-round.

🚌 Best Huatulco Airport Shuttles

As far as Huatulco Mexico safety, just take the same measures here as you would when traveling anywhere else on Earth.

If you want to network with locals to get a better feel for Huatulco before and during your visit, join some Facebook groups, like these:

• Huatulco What’s Up
• Huatulco Gringos

🧳 Not sure what to pack for Huatulco Mexico? Check out this guide to Packing for Mexico, and for outfit inspiration, head to Cute Outfits for Mexico.

Can I drink the water in Mexico? is actually one of the most common questions I get, so I did a deep dive to understand it better. For more info, check out this guide, Can You Drink the Water in Oaxaca?

🌡️ Huatulco Weather: Yearly Averages

If you’re traveling to Huatulco on a budget, you’ll want to visit during the slow summer season.

For the best value, but still nice weather, plan your visit during what’s called the “shoulder season,” a magical time right in-between the high season and low season.

• Huatulco Busy Season: November to March
• Huatulco Slow Season: May to September
• Huatulco Shoulder Season: October and April
• Huatulco Rainy Season: April to September 
• Huatulco Dry Season: October to March

It has great resorts, similar to Cancun, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, but without the large crowds. Huatulco also has great tourism infrastructure, and is safe for tourists.

I recommend Huatulco for those who want to enjoy the beaches, nature and relaxation. It’s great for daytime activities, but limited in its nightlife.

There are some bars in nearby La Crucecita, but even the bars at the best Huatulco resorts often close by 10pm-11pm.

Final Thoughts: Best Beaches in Huatulco Mexico

Huatulco is a special place, and provides a unique experience from other more touristic Mexico beach towns and resort towns.

Its beaches, nature and culture are well preserved, yet there are beautiful Huatulco hotels and resorts, so you get the best of all worlds.

Huatulco also has EarthCheck Gold Certification and Green Globe Certification, meeting the standards for Sustainable Tourism.

With more protected space than most other Mexico travel destinations, you’ll have an amazing trip, but also feel good about your Huatulco vacation.

Note: Shevaun (Shev for short), who lives in Huatulco Mexico, assisted with this article. Her blog, Shev Strolls, is an excellent resource for all things Huatulco travel, including her guide to all 36 Huatulco beaches.