Photo by Mario Mendez on Unsplash
Four days on the protected coast of Oaxaca, where a string of bays sits inside a national park. A town square and a harbour, three small coves, a day by boat to the western bays, then a ruin by the river and two open beaches to the east.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: warm, sunny days with little rain score highest (the air stands in for the sea, which is not included). Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How much walking? On foot, about 1.7 to 3.4 kilometers a day, and 33.7 kilometers by car or transit in all across 4 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
An easy first day close to town, on foot and by short taxi hops. The bay at Santa Cruz, the town square with its church and a painted ceiling, then the harbour and its beach in the evening. Little shade at the water, so start early.
Steamed corn tamales filled with chicken in dark mole, with a mug of café de olla, coffee brewed with cinnamon and brown sugar in a clay pot, a warm start to the morning.
Local tip Eat the tamale hot and unwrap it slowly.
The main bay of Huatulco, a curve of sand beside a small pier where boats leave for the other bays. The water here is usually calmer than at the open beaches, but still ask a local or a lifeguard about the day. Walk the shore early, before the heat.
Go when Early morning, when the water is still and the boats are leaving.
Local tip Walk the whole curve of the bay and ask a local about the water before you swim. Carry water, since shade is scarce, and book any boat from a licensed desk.
Fish cured in lime juice with onion, tomato and coriander, eaten on a crisp tostada, with a glass of agua fresca made from the fruit of the day.
Local tip Ask what came in that morning, and go easy on the chile.
The parish church on the town square of La Crucecita, with a large mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe painted across its ceiling. It is cool inside and quiet, a fair place to rest from the midday sun. Dress modestly, keep your voice low and look rather than photograph during a service.
Go when Midday, when the square is hot and the church is cool.
Local tip Look up at the painted ceiling, then sit on the square for a while. Dress modestly and keep your voice low, since it is a working church.
A beach and a marina on the eastern side of the main bays, with a walkway beside the water. Boats rest in the harbour, and the beach is a short step from the road. Walk as the heat fades, and ask locally about the water before you swim.
Go when Evening, once the heat has gone (about 6:40 PM).
Local tip Walk the harbour edge, then the sand. Ask a local about the water before you swim, and watch your footing on the wet stone near the boats.
A tlayuda is a large, crisp tortilla spread with black bean paste and topped with Oaxaca cheese, lettuce and a meat of your choice, a supper from the city of Oaxaca that is eaten along the coast as well.
Local tip Share one between two and fold it like a book.
A day of small coves west of the main bay, where the water is sheltered and the shore is green. Two are reached by a short ride and a walk, and one by boat or a path. Take water, shade and your own snorkel if you have one.
Eggs scrambled with tomato, onion and green chile, served with beans and warm tortillas, a plain breakfast for a morning among the coves.
Local tip Ask for the salsa on the side and add it a little at a time.
A small, popular cove just west of the main bay, with calm, shallow water on most days and a rocky reef near the edge. It is best early, before the day trippers arrive. Wear shoes for the rocks, and ask before you swim or snorkel.
Go when First thing, before the day trippers and the heat.
Local tip Wear shoes for the rocks and swim near the shore, in the calm part. Ask a lifeguard or a local about the day, and take your rubbish with you.
A quieter cove with a steep, green shoreline behind it. Boats stop here, and a path leads along the coast, but access can change, so check ahead on how you will get in and out. Bring shade, water and what you need to carry out.
Go when Midday, for a long rest in the shade.
Local tip Check ahead on how to reach it and how to leave. Bring water and food, and swim only close to the shore where the water looks calm.
Soft corn tortillas with grilled or fried fish, cabbage and a squeeze of lime, a simple lunch after a morning in the water.
Local tip Squeeze the lime on last and keep a napkin close.
A curved, sheltered bay with soft sand and a gentle slope into the water, where families often gather. Shade is easy to find at the edge of the sand. Currents still move at times, so stay close to the shore and keep an eye on children.
Go when Afternoon, for a slow swim and an easy walk.
Local tip Stay close to the shore, keep children within arm reach and ask a lifeguard about the day. The sand is soft, so shade is easier than at the rocky coves.
Chicken in mole negro, the dark, glossy sauce of Oaxaca made from chiles, seeds and chocolate, served with rice and warm tortillas.
Local tip Tear the tortilla and use it as a spoon.
A day on the water to the wilder bays at the western end of the string, inside the national park. You need a licensed boat from the marina, calm enough weather and a spare day in case boats do not sail. Take shade, water and a bag for rubbish.
Crisp tortilla pieces simmered in a green salsa, topped with cheese and cream, a filling breakfast before a day on the water.
Local tip Eat well and carry a roll in your bag for the boat.
A wide bay with a long beach, backed by dry forest inside the national park. There are no hotels, so what you bring is what you have. Go by licensed boat, take water and shade, and check ahead on whether boats are sailing that day.
Go when Morning, when the boats are few and the air is cool.
Local tip Go by licensed boat and check ahead that boats are sailing. There is no shop, so bring water, shade and a bag for your rubbish.
A small, quiet cove further along the coast, with clear views across the bay. Boats often stop for a swim. The water can be calmer than at the open beaches, but not always, so listen to the crew and swim near the boat.
Go when Midday, for a swim near the boat.
Local tip Swim near the boat and listen to the crew. Ask about the water before you jump in, and do not touch the reef or the rocks.
Shrimp cooked in butter and garlic with a little chile, served with rice and warm tortillas, eaten at a plain table near the water if the boat stops to eat.
Local tip Pack your own food and water as well, in case the boat does not stop.
A wide bay at the western end of the string, with a small fishing community on its shore. It can be reached by boat or by a long road, so check ahead. Take it slowly, and leave time for the trip back before the light fades.
Go when Afternoon, with time kept for the trip back.
Local tip Ask the boat crew when the last run home leaves, and be back with room to spare. Bring water and sun cover.
Thin sheets of chile-rubbed dried beef, a specialty of Oaxaca, grilled over coals and folded into corn tortillas with a slice of avocado.
Local tip Add a spoon of salsa and squeeze some lime on top.
A day east of town. An old stone site beside the Copalita River, then two beaches on the open bays that are more exposed to the sea than the coves. Go to the ruin in the cool of the morning and keep your swim for where locals say it is fine.
A memela is a thick, flat corn cake spread with beans and topped with Oaxaca string cheese, called quesillo, cooked on a hot griddle, a morning dish of the whole state.
Local tip Add a spoon of salsa on top.
An old pre-Hispanic site beside the Copalita River, reached by a trail through dry forest to stone platforms on the hillside. It is hot and has little shade by midday, so go early with water and a hat. Check ahead on when it is open and on the path.
Go when First thing in the morning, in the cool.
Local tip The path climbs through dry forest with little shade. Take water and a hat, wear shoes with grip, and check ahead on when it is open.
A whole fish split open, rubbed with a red chile paste and grilled over coals, served with rice and salad. A dish of the Pacific coast, eaten with the hands.
Local tip Share one fish between two.
A long beach on the open bay to the east, with wide sand and less shelter than the coves. The waves and currents can be strong here, so walk the sand and look at the sea. Swim only where locals or lifeguards say the day is safe.
Go when Late morning, for a long look at the sea.
Local tip This bay is more open to the sea than the coves. Walk the sand and swim only where lifeguards or locals say the day is fine.
The beach of a wide bay east of town, with a long curve of sand and a calm feel in the evening. Waves and currents change from day to day, so ask before you swim. Stay until the light turns gold, then ride back to town for supper.
Go when Late afternoon, for the light on the water (about 6:40 PM).
Local tip Ask a local about the water before you swim, and keep to the calmer end of the beach. Take your rubbish with you.
A cup of strong coffee from the mountains behind the coast, with a roll of pan dulce, the soft sweet bread eaten with coffee across Mexico.
Local tip Ask where the beans were grown.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to April and November to December are the best months for a beach trip to Huatulco. This plan is built for november to April, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 4 days in Huatulco, planned for november to April. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
On foot, about 1.7 to 3.4 kilometers a day, and 33.7 kilometers by car or transit in all across 4 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
4 days of surf, lagoons and coves on the Oaxaca coastAbout 90 km awayAn easy add-on
6 days of slow eating in OaxacaAbout 150 km away
4 days of son jarocho, coffee and a waterfront in VeracruzAbout 400 km awayMake it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated November 2026
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