Drive ten minutes east from Oasis Pacifico and you’ll reach Huatulco (pronounced WA-TULKO), a region of nine bays and 36 beaches that stretches across 20 miles of glorious Pacific coastline in the state of Oaxaca. The area was singled out by the Mexican government’s Tourism Development arm, FONATUR, for its uncommon beauty and developed into an eco-friendly resort area. No, this isn’t Cancun. Instead, Huatulco offers visitors all the benefits of a first-class vacation destination while preserving the local ecology and culture. More about the history of Huatulco.
The principal bays at Huatulco, Bahia de Santa Cruz, Bahia Chahue, and Bahia Tangolunda, offer an amazing tropical beach vacation experience – splendid golf courses, horse stables, tennis courts, marinas, and more. In addition to the beaches, one can explore the shops and restaurants in the communities of Santa Cruz, La Crucecita, and Tangolunda Bay. Whether you’re after wildlife or nightlife – Huatulco is your destination for good times. More about the activities found in Huatulco.
History
The name Huatulco comes from the Náhuatl word cuaúhtolco, meaning “the place where the wood is adored.” Ancient legend says that the great civilizing god Quetzalcóatl left the inhabitants of the bay and port of Santa Cruz a wooden cross.
The seat of the refined Zapotec culture, the region witnessed the movement of Spanish boats and violent pirate raids. Hernán Cortés used it to distribute the produce of his farms along the coast, which turned Huatulco into an extremely active port.
This attracted pirates during the second half of the 16th century, including Drake and the famous Thomas Cavendish, causing the local inhabitants to flee. Famously, Cavendish commanded his men to destroy the cross, but it miraculously withstood their axes and ripsaws. Today a splinter from the cross can be found in the chapel of the Holy Cross in Santa Cruz.
Huatulco was a fishing village thereafter until Mexico's Tourist Development arm, FONATUR, began developing it as a planned tourist complex in 1982.
The Huatulco area is also an ecological preserve. It is the first community in the Americas and third in the world to achieve Green Globe status, a certificate from the travel and tourism industry that measures economic, social, and environmental management.
For more information on the Green Globe 21 program please visit www.greenglobe21.com
Links to websites for more about Huatulco
Activities
Year-round beautiful weather, pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, jungles, and river rapids provide a natural playground like no other.
Outdoor activities in the Huatulco region are virtually limitless, and include: golfing 18 holes at the gorgeous and challenging seaside course in Tangolunda; tackling the 4-class rapids at Rio Copalita; exploring the incredible diversity of sea life while scuba diving or snorkeling; taking to the seas aboard a yacht or sailboat; riding a horse through deserted beaches and jungle; parasailing Tangolunda Bay; trying a traditional Zapotecas mud bath; bird watching deep in the jungle; deep-sea fishing; racing through an ATV jungle tours; or dancing the day away aboard a catamaran. And opening soon, a new "ecoarcheological" park in Punta Celeste promises to educate and entertain. All this adventure is mere minutes away from your Oasis Pacifico home.
Shopping
The strategic development of the area ensures that authentic Mexican old-world charm co-exists with all the conveniences of modern life. ATMs, Internet cafes, and massive grocery stores fit in perfectly with Huatulco's open-air restaurants, quaint shops, and festive plazas.
Check out a matinee at the four-plex movie theatre in the fully air-conditioned mall, and then amble down the narrow streets of La Crucecita through the markets, craft shops and boutiques. Sample the local traditions and culture while perusing exquisite handmade stone, bead and silver jewelry, famous Oaxacan black clay pottery, and hand-woven textiles. An excursion into town like no other, all a stone's throw from your Oasis Pacifico home.
Dining
Whether repelling down a mountain cliff or bartering for a hammock, you're sure to work up an appetite while in Huatulco. The area boasts a large variety of gastronomical treats, from street vendors to quaint restaurants to elegant international cuisine. Friendly service abounds in Huatulco's restaurants, which are growing to meet its international clientele. Options include delicious regional Oaxacan cuisine, pizza parlors, a five-star steakhouse, taco stands, and more. Dining for all pallets, and close enough to your Oasis Pacifico home to bring back hot takeout.
Nightlife
Whether you want to check out a dance club, catch a game at a sports bar, or enjoy a pint at the Irish pub, when the sun goes down in Huatulco there's still lots to enjoy. All a quick cab ride from your Oasis Pacifico home.
More about Huatulco activities such as shopping, dining and the nightlife.