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Huatulco Basics

© istockphoto.com/sjharmon

Huatulco, also known as the Bahias de Huatulco, is a tourist development located on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca state. Huatulco's tourism industry is centered around its nine bays. The population of the area is around 30,000 people.

Huatulco was developed in the mid 1980s by FONATUR, Mexico's tourism development agency. The economy of the region is based almost entirely on tourism. It is a beautiful place with a very laid back atmosphere. Huatulco is one of the cleanest and greenest developments in Mexico, with populated areas interspersed with large green zones.

This is the tropics, and Huatulco can be very hot and humid. Sunshine can be expected about 330 days a year with the average temperature of 82° F (28° C). The Dry Season extends from December to May, and the Rainy Season lasts from June to November.

First Impressions

Depending on the last port you visited, more than likely you'll probably arrive in Huatulco in mid-morning. Even then, the approach to Huatulco sneaks up on you. The shoreline is really beautiful...some bays are placid, but Santa Cruz bay is quite rocky on its sides, while there is a very pleasant beach and a small marina sharing space with the Cruise Ship Pier.

Your ship will dock at the Cruise Ship Pier in Santa Cruz bay. From the Pier, the beach is on the left side, and the marina is on the right side. Just behind the beach you'll find a number of restaurant/bars and a small retail center, with shops selling souvenirs, tours, wines and liquors and other services.

Santa Cruz Bay is just south of the village of La Crucecita. Only a mile away from the Pier, La Crucecita is worth a visit, if only to shop for the famous Oaxacan Alebrijes figures (see picture, right). Alebrijes are brightly-colored folk art sculptures of fantastical animal-like creatures, originally created by the artist Pedro Linares.

The main luxury hotel district is located on Tangolunda bay, a short $50 pesos taxi ride from Santa Cruz bay. The master plan for Huatulco calls for greenbelt space to be left between building projects, and areas for future development are being carefully selected to minimize environmental impact. Distinguishing itself from Cancun, hotels and other buildings in the area cannot exceed a height of six stories.

Time Zone

Huatulco is on Central Time, six hours later than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or five hours during daylight savings time. Daylight savings time begins on the first Sunday of April, and ends on the last Sunday of October.

Language

Spanish is universally spoken in Huatulco; most of the shopkeepers catering to tourists also speak English.

Currency

The Peso is Mexico's official currency, and uses the "$" sign to denote the peso amount. The exchange rate is currently around 12.75 Pesos per US dollar. Just be aware: larger notes (e.g., $500 Peso notes) are often difficult to change.

Banks and ATMs

Banks with ATM machines are found just around the corner from the main square (south side) in the village of La Crucecita. These ATM machines dispense pesos. ATM machines in the area can be found at the following locations:

Banco Internacional: Blvd. Benito Juarez, at the Centre Bahia de Conejos and Bahia de Santa Cruz.
BBVA Bancomer: Blvd. Santa Cruz and Calle Pochutla.
Citibank: on Blvd. Benito Juarez.
Santander Serfin: Blvd. Chahue # 164 Col. People with Bank of America accounts aren't charged a fee when using a Santander ATM.

Using US Dollars in Huatulco

Pesos, or credit cards for that matter, would probably be a better way to pay for the things you're going to buy in Huatulco. The larger hotels and higher-end shops will accept US dollars, but you may not get a very favorable exchange rate. And if you do use dollars in a smaller shop, they more than likely won't have change for anything larger than a $20 bill, unless the change is in pesos.

© istockphoto.com/Tyrannosaur

Weather

Huatulco is hot and humid year-round. From November through February, the average high temperatures are in the low 80s F (about 30° C). During the evenings, it frequently feels cool enough to wear a sweater. The wind blows off the Pacific in Huatulco, making the evenings quite nice.

The rainy season lasts from May to October, but as with most monsoonal areas, rains tend to be fierce and brief in the late afternoon, leaving the evenings dry and cooled off. September brings the highest levels of humidity and sees the heaviest rains.

The hurricane season stretches from August to the end of October.

Huatulco Average Temperatures
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High - F	82	84	89	92	92	91	91	91	89	86	83	82
Avg High - C	28	29	32	33	33	33	33	33	32	30	28	28
Avg Low - F	64	64	68	70	72	73	73	73	73	71	67	65
Avg Low - C	18	18	20	21	22	23	23	23	23	22	19	18

Bahias de Huatulco Weather Forecast, Mexico

Keeping In Touch

Internet Cafes

You can find several cyber cafes in the nearby village of La Crucecita, a pleasant 20-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride from Santa Cruz Bay. The rates are very reasonable, ranging from $20 to $50 pesos per hour.

Chocco-Late Internet Cafe is located in the Hotel Mision de los Arcos, Gardenia #902, next to Hotel Flamboyant.
PC-Internet coffee house, located at the Plaza Galerias, near La Fuente supermarket.
Plaza Connect Internet Cafe, near the square in La Crucecita.

Finding US Newspapers

US newspapers are unavailable in Huatulco.

Local Holidays & Festivals

The following local festivals, holidays and events are scheduled to take place in Huatulco in 2010:

Ano Nuevo (New Year's Day), January 1. National holiday celebrated with dances and fiestas.
Dia de los Santos Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), January 6. A national holiday when children receive their Christmas gifts as well as shoes full of candy.
Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day), February 1. Public holiday commemorating the signing of the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The day is usually marked by festivals and street celebrations.
Carnaval (Mardis Gras), February 11 to 16.
Birthday of Benito Juarez, March 15. A public holiday celebrating the birthday of Benito Juarez, who rose from humble origins to occupy the Presidency of the Republic in the second half of the 19th century.
Primero de Mayo (Labor Day), May 1. A national holiday.
Dia de la Santa Cruz (Day of the Cross), May 3.
Cinco de Mayo, May 5. A national Mexican holiday commemorating the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when the Mexican army defeated a French force twice its size just south of Mexico City. Not as big a deal in Mexico as it is in the US.
Independence Day, September 16. Look for the delivery of the "El Grito de Dolores," the offical grunt that marks the day.
Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day), October 12. Dia de la Raza is how Mexico celebrates Columbus Day.
Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), November 1 to 2. A day when celebrants honor the deceased. In the town center (Zocalo) and at nearby cemeteries, locals will celebrate with music and decorate shrines with flowers and photos.
Revolution Day, November 22. A national holiday celebrating the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
Fiesta de la Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), December 8. Marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration season.
Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe), December 12. Commemorates the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint.
Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25. A public and religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ.

Cruise Lines Making Port

Huatulco is a popular port for ships making Panama Canal cruises to and from Caribbean and Pacific Coast ports. Cruise ships begin to arrive in September and continue making port through March.

The following cruise lines make port in Huatulco: