Bahías de Huatulco

Introducing Bahías de Huatulco

Mexico’s newest planned coastal resort lies along a series of beautiful sandy bays, the Bahías de Huatulco (wah-tool-koh), 50km east of Pochutla. This stretch of coast had just one small fishing village until the 1980s. The Mexican government has trodden more gently here than at other resort projects: pockets of development are separated by tracts of unspoiled shoreline, the maximum building height is six stories, and water-processing plants assure no sewage goes into the sea. Lower than expected occupancy rates have slowed development, and, for now, Huatulco is still a relaxed and relatively uncrowded resort, with a succession of scenic beaches lapped by beautiful water and backed by forest. Balancing this, a cruise-ship pier has gone in at Bahía de Santa Cruz, and between October and May an average of two ships a week dock here. Agencies offer all sorts of active pursuits here, from snorkeling and diving to rafting and horseback riding, but Huatulco is not a place to stay long on a very tight budget.