Your Guide to the Best Beaches in Huatulco Mexico

Huatulco beaches are some of the most beautiful on the coast of Oaxaca. Along the coastline you’ll find the famous 9 Huatulco bays, which feature an incredible 30+ beaches tucked inside.

So how do you know what are the best beaches in Huatulco to visit?

You’re about to discover my favorite beaches and how to get there, including the best way to get a lay of the land when you first arrive.

I’ve traveled to Huatulco numerous times while living in Oaxaca City. And when I take friends and family to the coast, one of the first things we do is take a boat ride to explore the bays of Huatulco.

In my opinion, the best beaches in Huatulco are those located within the National Park so we will start there. Plus there are a few beaches you don’t want to miss that are only accessible by boat.

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How to Get to the Beaches in Huatulco

Many of the best beaches in Huatulco are located within the Huatulco National Park. While harder but not impossible to access, these beaches come with the perk of fewer people.

Several of the bays in Huatulco are walkable from the downtown area called La Crucecita. Although most require you to drive or hire a taxi. You may find it worth it to rent a car in Huatulco, which is the best way to get to the beaches on the outer edges.

And there are a handful of beaches that are only accessible by boat. In fact, I recommend you book this affordable tour of the bays in Huatulco when you first arrive. 

This will allow you to see many beaches in a short amount of time. Then you can spend the next days revisiting your favorites or discovering others.

Want to explore more of the Oaxaca Coast? Read this guide to the best beaches in Oaxaca.

Cacaluta Beach – An Unspoiled Beach in Huatulco

Located within a beautiful bay of the same name, Cacaluta beach feels like an unspoiled beach you’d find in the movies. And actually, that’s not so far-fetched. 

Cacaluta beach was the backdrop for the movie, Y Tu Mamá También. The plot follows two young Mexican men and an older woman who take off on a road trip from Mexico City to find an undiscovered beach along the coast of Oaxaca.

It takes a little effort to arrive at this beach in Huatulco since it’s located deep within the National Park. But it’s totally worth it on a calm day. And if the conditions are right, you can snorkel here.

How to get to Cacaluta Beach

The easiest way to get here is to hire a private boat for the day which includes a stop at Cacaluta Beach to swim, snorkel, and sunbathe. It’s surprisingly affordable and a great option for groups (up to 8 people).

On my first trip to Huatulco I was traveling solo, so I opted to book this tour to Cacaluta Beach which includes walking through the National Park to Playa Cacaluta and snorkeling at another nearby beach after.

If you rent a car to explore Huatulco, you can drive, park along the road, and hike the path that leads to the beach. The walk through the Huatulco National Park takes about 40 minutes, half of which is along a manmade walkway. There are plants and wildlife as well as a lookout point along the way.

Bahía del Orgáno – A Little Slice of Paradise

Orgáno Bay is also located within the Huatulco National Park. It’s easier to access than Playa Cacaluta but of course, that also means there will be slightly more people. Nonetheless, this Huatulco beach still feels like a little slice of paradise. 

Surrounded on both sides by tall cliffs, the protected cove of Orgáno Bay has calm waves of turquoise water. There are no restaurants and not a lot of shade, just a beautiful wild beach with golden sand.

How to get to Orgáno Beach

To get to Bahía del Orgáno, you will need to access the path that leads you along a 10-minute shaded walk to the beach. It’s not marked on maps but a taxi should know where to go. 

You could also walk from La Crucecita as my friends did. There is a sidewalk all the way to the path within the National Park, but it takes about 40 minutes by foot and there is no shade.

Playa La India in Chachacual Bay

This large bay also backs up to the Huatulco National Park. Within Chachacual Bay is a gorgeous beach, Playa La India, which is only accessible by boat.

When we arrived to Playa La India on this tour of Huatulco’s bays, I was in awe of the white sand beach and crystal clear water. It was a Saturday, so my feeling was quickly dismissed when two huge boats arrived and started to ferry throngs of people to shore.

But we came here to snorkel (check out my favorite Huatulco snorkeling spots here). So, I stuck my face in the water for the next hour and blissed out among the sea life.

Our guide told us the beach is much quieter during the week, so keep that in mind if you book the tour. While there are no beach restaurants here, there are refreshing drinks and micheladas for sale as well as vendors that rent chairs and umbrellas.

San Agustin Bay – A Beautiful Beach Near Huatulco

Every time I asked a taxi driver, “What’s your favorite beach in Huatulco,” the answer was always San Agustin. But due to its somewhat remote location, I didn’t get to this Huatulco bay until my second visit. 

San Agustin is a long sweeping bay with calm waters. A fairly large reef extends from the shore towards the large rocks in the center. I spent a nice hour snorkeling here despite renting a leaky mask from one of the beachside restaurants.

Even though it’s a 45-minute drive from La Crucecita (half of which is along a dusty dirt road), this beach gets busy. I arrived early in the morning, directly after an early morning drive from Oaxaca to Huatulco. By the time I was leaving, quite a few people had started to fill the restaurants along the shore.

Bonus Huatulco Beach – Riscalillo Bay

I wasn’t even aware of this remote bay until someone mentioned it while I was on a boat tour of the bays of Huatulco. It’s a bit too far for the tour, so I didn’t make it here. But if you’re visiting San Agustin Bay, you should consider driving the extra way to Riscalillo Bay.

Maguey Bay – A Good Beach for Families

This popular bay is located next to Orgáno but it feels like a totally different world. If you’re driving, you’ll be pulled in different directions by the various parking attendants when you arrive. Their job is to get you to park at and thus patronize their restaurant.

And it’s pretty much impossible to know which restaurant you prefer to enjoy the beach from when you’re staring at the back of the buildings. Although I did appreciate the secure, shaded parking.

There’s a lot of activity at this beach in Huatulco. Luckily it’s a fairly large beach to accommodate the various boat tours that leave from shore (not recommended by the way).

Other activities at Maguey Bay include banana boat rides and snorkeling. There are also a lot of vendors that stroll this beach.

Craving more beach days? Read this guide to the best beaches in Puerto Escondido.

Santa Cruz Bay

Santa Cruz is the central bay in Huatulco. This area centers the marina, surrounded by hotels and restaurants. It’s also walkable from La Crucecita via a well-planned pedestrian walkway.

Santa Cruz Beach – Most Central Beach in Huatulco

The beach in Santa Cruz Bay is not one of my favorites but it is convenient and the waves are calm for swimming. The bustling restaurants create a really busy atmosphere that lacks a peaceful vibe. As a result, I didn’t spend much time at Playa Santa Cruz. 

However, tucked away on a far corner of the beach, away from the hustle and bustle is the upscale Niru Beach Club which features an infinity pool with ocean views. And next door is one of the top resorts in Huatulco, Niru Ocean Suites.

Playa La Entrega – Nearby Beach for Snorkeling

Located just down the coastline is La Entrega, a beach known for some of the best snorkeling in Huatulco. This wide bay has gentle waves and a beach lined with restaurants. The large reef is one of the best places in Huatulco to snorkel.

While Playa La Entrega is technically within Santa Cruz Bay, the road to get there is long. It’s a convenient taxi ride. Or you can drive the 15 minutes and leave your car in the large parking lot. I did meet a traveler that walked to La Entrega, though it takes over an hour.

Playa el Violin – A Secret Cove Beach

This is a lovely beach in Huatulco that feels like a little secret. And while it’s quite possible you’ll have this beach all to yourself, this small beach is no secret.

I think what keeps most people from coming here is the steep rocky path you need to navigate to get to Playa el Violin. But for those without mobility restrictions, it’s perfectly doable.

The shallow waters have a few small rocks and an area to snorkel with typically calm waves.

Playa Chahue – Centrally Located Beach in Huatulco

This is another convenient Huatulco beach, located within a 30-minute walk from La Crucecita. The is a well-kept beach with bathrooms, showers, and a maintained walkway. There are a few restaurants here, though not much other shade.

This long stretch of beach has stronger waves and currents than the protected coves. It’s recommended for experienced swimmers. And even then, you should be aware of any warnings or flags.

When I was there in June, there was a red flag indicating it was not safe to swim. When I returned in the winter, I was able to get in the water but the waves were stronger than other beaches.

Playa El Tejon

This is another small cove beach in Huatulco that used to be secluded due to the steep path to get down to the beach. But it has recently seen some development.

The waves here can be strong, so it’s good to take precautions. To get to Playa El Tejon, it’s best to drive or hire a taxi as the route from La Crucecita is mainly along the highway.

Playa Arrocito

Arrocito Beach is tucked into an upscale residential area. The small cove typically has gentle waves for swimming and large grains of sand, hence the name which translates to little rice.

You can do a little snorkeling here, but I recommend going early as the visibility decreases in the afternoon as more people get in the water. The waves can also be stronger in the afternoon. There are a few restaurants on Playa Arrocito, but beware of extra charges.

Tangolunda Bay – Huatulco Beach for Resort Stays

The long stretch of beach in Tangolunda Bay is home to some of the best all inclusive resorts in Huatulco. Its golden sand and crescent shape is picturesque. But swimming conditions should be assessed on the day of and guided by the color-coded flags. 

When I first visited in June, a small storm was passing off the coast. At this time, even the far shallow area was too rough to swim. There is a more protected cove on the far side that can be a good place for snorkeling when the conditions are right.

Playa Conejos – A Dramatic Beach in Huatulco

Large, rugged rocks jut out from the sandy beach to create a dramatic landscape at Playa Conejos. It is photogenic, but Conejos Beach is not a swimming beach. The waves can be strong and the ocean quickly becomes deep. 

This crescent bay is home to the adults-only Secrets Resort & Spa. If you aren’t staying at the resort, there is public access via a short path from the parking lot.

Playa La Bocana

Similar to Playa Conejos, this is not a swimming beach. However, there’s a lot of appeal here for birdwatchers.

When my dad and I arrived for sunrise, we watched lots of birds feeding in the surf. As we walked down the beach, the mouth of the Copalita River provided another spot to birdwatch – this time roseate spoonbills and other graceful water birds.

The beginning of the walk requires wading through a shallow stream of water to get to the long stretch of beach on the other side. When we arrived the current wasn’t strong but I could see this changing day to day. So do assess it when you arrive and take precautions.

Questions About the Beaches in Huatulco

That wraps up the best beaches in Huatulco, Mexico. Which Huatulco beach are you most excited about visiting? Tell me in the comments!