Discover Mexico’s Lesser-Known Hideaway: 36 Beaches Await For A Great Winter Escape
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Oaxaca City may be one of Mexico’s hottest city breaks right now, and locals may tell you to kick rocks, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore the vast state of Oaxaca, teeming with some of Mexico’s most underrated beach towns.
You might’ve heard of Puerto Escondido at this point, especially with United announcing the only direct U.S. route to this trendy surfers’ paradise and digital nomad hotspot.
Lining the shores is an equally stunning cluster of beach towns that are lesser known in comparison but just as much of a draw.
One of these was just highlighted as one of Mexico’s safest destinations, an idyllic hideaway boasting 36 beaches from which to choose.
Huatulco certainly isn’t a household name lying in the shadows of much more popular Mexican resort towns, and even its own state’s timeless capital is always abuzz.
Despite flying under the radar, Huatulco makes for a great winter escape with dozens of scenic beaches and grand resorts.
Luxurious Stays & Year-Round Summer Vibes
Huatulco is one of the rare places that has maintained its coastal charm as a relatively small city yet offers all the modern luxury you could ask for.
Although a far cry from Cancun’s dime-a-dozen resorts and buzzing bars, Huatulco is a more laid-back beach escape, but if there’s common ground with Cancun, it’s English-speaking locals and great weather.
Expect summer vibes year-round, with average highs in the 90’s every single month! When the winter blues have you down, Huatulco is the ultimate pick-me-up for all things beach related.
You can surf, kayak, lounge in the sun, go for a swim without a care in the world. Well, except for hurricane season, you don’t have to worry about that in winter.
When you’re not enjoying Huatulco’s vivid blue and warm, swimmable waters, it’s never a bad decision to treat yourself to beachside luxury at an affordable resort.
While you won’t find dirt-cheap Southeast Asia rates here, you can still score great deals for Mexico standards, but anything beats Cabo’s prices, right?
Huatulco has incredible resorts overlooking the Pacific with familiar names like Secrets, Dreams, and my favorite, Barcelo – all under $300 per night for 5-star stays.
For budgeters, Airbnb is loaded with waterfront rentals and inland apartments off the coast for those who love to work in a touch of culture and timeless towns into their travel plans.
I’d be remiss not to mention the digital nomad appeal here, too. Long-term ocean-view stays can be found for $1,000 and US$1,500 per month.
9 Bays And 36 Beaches
When saying “Huatulco”, it encompasses a vast region of clustered beach communities. In fact, Huatulco itself is short for Santa Maria Huatulco, a teeny inland village a stone’s throw from Huatulco’s airport.
Largely referred to as Bahías de Huatulco, this region is brimming with stunning beaches and bayside bliss.
To help narrow down such a long list of options, TripAdvisor recommends these 5 beaches as your top go-to’s:
- Bahía San Agustín
- Playa La Entraga
- Bahía de Cacaluta (crescent-shaped with coarse white sand)
- Playa la Bocana
- Bahía Chahué
However, doing my own research, if I were planning a Huatulco vacation, I think I’d opt for Playa Zapotengo for more privacy away from more popular beaches while still being surrounded by vibrant blue waters.
Better yet, if you stay at night, recent beachgoers boasted about crystal-clear stargazing away from light pollution and great hole-in-the-wall restaurants nearby.
Unfortunately, the former crocodile sanctuary appears to be closed, but be careful spotting them out in the wild; they are active this side of Mexico.
Multiple Ways To Reach Huatulco
There’s no better time to discover all Huatulco has to offer, from beautiful beaches, ritzy resorts, and cheap, local eats.
With United now offering direct flights from the U.S. to nearby Puerto Escondido, reaching Huatulco is just a stone’s throw away.
That being said, Huatulco does have its own airport but no direct routes.
For the more adventurous, travelers’ reviews are a mixed bag regarding flying straight into Oaxaca City and then hopping aboard a bus through rugged mountains where the guardrail budget seems to have been diverted to mezcaleria happy hours.
The other option would be to check your cruise itinerary, as Huatulco is home to a fairly busy port.
Regardless of how you visit, Huatulco is worth the adventure to discover a Mexican paradise too often overlooked.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.