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Sheraton Huatulco Resort
Services/Facilities/Amenities Quick Description: Restaurants
Lounges/Bars
AttractionsBays Tour On this excursion you will visit five of the nine bays of Huatulco. The tour begins with the Bay of Chahue, followed by those of Santa Cruz, El Organo, El Maguey and La Entrega. At La Entrega you will make a stop for swimming and snorkeling, giving you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters filled with colorful fish and coral reefs. Bays Tour On this excursion you will visit five of the nine bays of Huatulco. The tour begins with the Bay of Chahue, followed by those of Santa Cruz, El Organo, El Maguey and La Entrega. At La Entrega you will make a stop for swimming and snorkeling, giving you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters filled with colorful fish and coral reefs. Puerto Escondido and Chacahua Lagoons Tour As one of the biggest tropical parks in Mexico, Chacahua Reserve is a must for all nature lovers. Covering an extensive area on the Pacific Coast located 2 1/2 hours from Huatulco, the park is a haven for a large variety of Migratory birds. While on the tour you will have the opportunity of cooling off in the tepid waters. After all of this you will then visit Puerto Escondido Town and beaches. Puerto Escondido and Chacahua Lagoons Tour As one of the biggest tropical parks in Mexico, Chacahua Reserve is a must for all nature lovers. Covering an extensive area on the Pacific Coast located 2 1/2 hours from Huatulco, the park is a haven for a large variety of Migratory birds. While on the tour you will have the opportunity of cooling off in the tepid waters. After all of this you will then visit Puerto Escondido Town and beaches. Horseback Eco-Tour This unique excursion allows you to get to know the great variety of flora and fauna that make up our ecosystem. The views afforded along the way are truly breath-taking. Don't forget your swimsuit for our stop at Magueyito Beach. Horseback Eco-Tour This unique excursion allows you to get to know the great variety of flora and fauna that make up our ecosystem. The views afforded along the way are truly breath-taking. Don't forget your swimsuit for our stop at Magueyito Beach. Coffee Finca Tour Explore Oaxaca's beautiful Sierra region on this excursion which takes you high up into the coastal mountains. An early morning departure allows you a visit to the picturesque villages enroute on your drive through the verdant coffee to the 'finca' (plantation). Upon arrival you are given an explanation of the coffee growing process and tour of the finca. Afterwards you are treated to lunch, followed by free time to relax in the cool waters of one of the nearby rivers. We then return you to our hotel in the late afternoon. Coffee Finca Tour Explore Oaxaca's beautiful Sierra region on this excursion which takes you high up into the coastal mountains. An early morning departure allows you a visit to the picturesque villages enroute on your drive through the verdant coffee to the 'finca' (plantation). Upon arrival you are given an explanation of the coffee growing process and tour of the finca. Afterwards you are treated to lunch, followed by free time to relax in the cool waters of one of the nearby rivers. We then return you to our hotel in the late afternoon. Scuba Diving / Snorkeling / Deep Sea Fishing The waters off Huatulco are the perfect playgrounds to enjoy these activities. For sportsmen we offer an opportunity to try your luck in the coastal waters of Huatulco that feature a wide variety of game fish, including Barracuda, Martin, Tuna, Pompano and Red Snapper. Scuba Diving / Snorkeling / Deep Sea Fishing The waters off Huatulco are the perfect playgrounds to enjoy these activities. For sportsmen we offer an opportunity to try your luck in the coastal waters of Huatulco that feature a wide variety of game fish, including Barracuda, Martin, Tuna, Pompano and Red Snapper. Childrens's Activities Different games for children at the pool and the beach. Competitions, egg tossing, dancing contests, aerobics, bingo, volley ball, sack races, and more. Childrens's Activities Different games for children at the pool and the beach. Competitions, egg tossing, dancing contests, aerobics, bingo, volley ball, sack races, and more. LocationPaseo Benito Juarez S/N -, Oaxaca, Bahias de Huatulco, Mexico, 70989
Huatulco Huatulco is located just one hour flying from Mexico City. It counts with all kind of hotels from three star ranke to five star ranke. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Mexico. The nine bays that together make Huatulco are Chachacual, San Agustin, El Maguey, El Organo, Santa Cruz, Chahue, Tangolunda and Conejos. It offers a warm tempature around the 90s during the Summer. In Huatulco you will find all the services necessaries to spend a terrific vacation. Also, there are all kind of restaurants where typical and international food is served. Nearby, you may practiced watersports. In Huatulco you will admire its nature. It can be compare with the paradisse!. If you like to see Arqueological sites there are two places near Huatulco. One is Miahuatlan - Mee-a-oo-a-tlan-, and the other one is Asucion Tlacolulita - A-zoo-zee-on Tla-co-loo-li-ta. They are located about two to three hours driving from Huatulco. Huatulco is located just one hour flying from Mexico City. It counts with all kind of hotels from three star ranke to five star ranke. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Mexico. The nine bays that together make Huatulco are Chachacual, San Agustin, El Maguey, El Organo, Santa Cruz, Chahue, Tangolunda and Conejos. It offers a warm tempature around the 90s during the Summer. In Huatulco you will find all the services necessaries to spend a terrific vacation. Also, there are all kind of restaurants where typical and international food is served. Nearby, you may practiced watersports. In Huatulco you will admire its nature. It can be compare with the paradisse!. If you like to see Arqueological sites there are two places near Huatulco. One is Miahuatlan - Mee-a-oo-a-tlan-, and the other one is Asucion Tlacolulita - A-zoo-zee-on Tla-co-loo-li-ta. They are located about two to three hours driving from Huatulco.Huatulco is a place yet to be inundated with tourism, a place still in its infancy of development. Located about 300 miles south of Acapulco on the Pacific Coast, Huatulco was totally isolate until 1982 . One of the first projects the Mexican government undertook was water purification and filtration in the entire Huatulco area. This means that visitors to Huatulco can safely drink the water and eat fruits and vegetables without endangering their health with the dreaded "turista". The Huatulco area comprises two towns - Santa Cruz and La Crucecita. The larger of the two is La Crucecita and has a little more to offer for shopping and dining options; it's also where the famous Carlos & Charlies bar is located. A $3 taxi ride will take you to either. A must-do for horseback riding lovers is the Horseback Riding tour through the Oaxacan jungle. The tour takes you through a little fishing village, horseback riding on the beach, and a stop for a swim. This tour seemed to suit both the adventurous novice and more advanced riders. It's a half-day tour runs about $60. Other tours are available for purchase, too. The Beaches of Huatulco, Oaxaca Huatulco Info/LINKS <--- VERY GOOD INFO!!! (http://www.eden.com/~tomzap/huatulco.html) WEATHERThe coast of Oaxaca lies well within the tropics at a latitude of about 16 .
Monthly lows and highs are typically 18 C (64 F) and 45 C (113 F), averaging 30 C (86 F),
with little variation from month to month. The region is generally arid along the coast
with more rainfall in the nearby mountains. The rainy season CURRENCYIn resort towns such as Huatulco, you will be able to spend U.S. dollars as well as Mexican currency. If you plan to do some exploring though, you'll need pesos. In some areas, such as Puerto Angel and Zipolite, it is important to have small change since most businesses will have difficulty making change for large bills. About the only place in Puerto Angel that can change a large bill is the supermarket. Many money changers can only give you large bills, so if you plan to venture into out-of-the way places, you will need to begin accumulating small change early on by spending large bills wherever you can. If you do attempt to spend a large bill at a small establishment and the clerk hands it over to an 8-year old who then runs down the street with it, do not despair, he's just searching for someone who can make change and should return in a few minutes. So, where to change your money? If traveling by ground transportation, stop at a border town (either side) and exchange it at a casa de cambio or a bank. If traveling by air with a stop in Mexico City, you can exchange money at the airport there, though changing at the airport will probably yield the least favorable rate (especially at San Antonio). I don't think the Huatulco airport can change money. I have gotten pesos at the ATM machine (pulse system) in Santa Cruz (Bahías de Huatulco) on Boulevard Santa Cruz down past the Hotel Castillo, using my ATM card on a U.S. bank. I was given a good exchange rate and only charged the regular offsite transaction fee by my bank. There are two banks there with different types of ATM machines. In Pochutla there is a Bital bank with ATM and VISA, and a Bancomer with a VISA machine. Using a money machine is probably the best way to change money since they give a good rate and you don't have to carry a lot of cash or travelers checks around. They are available at most banks now. Some hotels will exchange money, possibly limited to small amounts, but will probably offer the worst rates. Rates of exchange can vary, so it is a good idea to know what the current rate of exchange is. You can check the exchange rate below as provided by Olsen and Associates. Another test is to look at the buy and sell rates where currency is exchanged. If they are within 3 or 4 percent of each other, you should be in good shape. If you are carrying much cash or valuables, it would be a good idea to have them lock it up at the hotel desk. They should count it and give you a receipt (recibo). Don't take much cash to the beach. Credit CardsVisa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Mexico, American Express is to a lesser extent. Diners Club is accepted at a few establishments. In out-of-the-way places such as Puerto Angel or Zipolite, I wouldn't expect to be able to use them. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Mexico, American Express is to a lesser extent. Diners Club is accepted at a few establishments. In out-of-the-way places such as Puerto Angel or Zipolite, I wouldn't expect to be able to use them. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Mexico, American Express is to a lesser extent. Diners Club is accepted at a few establishments. In out-of-the-way places such as Puerto Angel or Zipolite, I wouldn't expect to be able to use them.
Snorkeling HazardsThe Pacific Coast of Oaxaca does not have large coral reefs, but there is a lot of coral there. Coral is made by tiny creatures who go out and collect discarded razor blades and cement them together to build sturdy, defensible homes. Okay, I'm kidding; some coral is actually quite fragile and can be easily damaged by clumsy swimmers, but it is often razor sharp which is another reason to avoid contact. Many a diver has returned to the surface with bloodstained legs without realizing he's been injured. Another common hazard is the sea urchin. These are small, black spherical creatures with thin black spines 2-3" in length radiating in all directions. They congregate on the rocks and in crevices and feed on algae. The spines are quite sharp and the tip may break off and remain embedded in the skin if these are contacted. They evidently contain a mild venom because the pain and swelling of these wounds is out of proportion to the small injury. There are a number of varieties of moray eels in the area. These are generally small--an inch or so in diameter and a couple of feet or so in length. They inhabit crevices in the rocks and often extend their head and a portion of their body out into the water. They are quite beautiful and interesting to watch, but don't offer your finger. They've got teeth. There are a few varieties of shark in the area. The fishermen sometimes bring in large quantities, but they have to go to deep water and put out bait to find them. Most of them are too small to be a threat to swimmers. I am not aware of any injuries caused by sharks on the coast of Oaxaca nor have I seen one in the water. There are periods when the ocean becomes too rough for snorkeling. Sometimes this is predictable. Please refer to the Scuba Diving section for details.
Snorkeling at NightIf you wish to go snorkeling at night, you'll need an underwater flashlight. Get one from a scuba shop before you go to Oaxaca because it may be difficult or expensive to find one in Mexico. The kind that uses 8 D-cells makes a nice bright light, but the type that uses 2 D- or C-cells will be adequate. Choose a site that you are already familiar with. At night you'll find a different group of inhabitants than you saw in the daytime. Buceo Sotavento -Leeward Dive Services Not Much English in HuatulcoMy husband and I just returned from a Labor Day weekend vacation to Huatulco, arriving there on Friday night. After a short trip from the airport, we arrived at the Sheraton Hotel [photos 141K] and enjoyed a delicious Mexican buffet and Mariachi band with the wonderful dancers of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. A real touch of Mexico on our first night there. This apparently is a Friday night only activity. The Sheraton is a beautiful place, tastefully decorated and well kept. The open air concept of the lobby and hallways is visually a treat. The grounds are obviously a source of great pride for the hotel. We were on the 6th floor and had a great view of the pool and beach. What a treat to have the balcony! I have very very few complaints about the hotel, but I would say the beds are extremely hard. I was really surprised that there weren't more hotel personnel that had a working knowledge of the English language. I thought that to be a surprise for a resort area. Communication was a little difficult because of that not only in the hotel, but at the airport, and in using the taxi service. As stated many times in other posts, the sun is so powerful there. Sunscreen is essential. We had no problems with the mosquitoes. The weather is very hot and humid. If you are trying to get away from hot and humid in September, this would not be the place for you. If you are looking for a quiet retreat away from crowds in a beautiful surrounding, then I think you would enjoy. We saw very few Americans and decided that since everything was geared to those speaking Spanish, maybe it is a resort that the Mexicans want to keep to themselves. For your information about prices: our hotel stay for 3 nights, 3 breakfast buffets, one lunch and two evening meals came to $516 US. This was for two adults and a room with king-sized bed. We think that was reasonable for the quality of the hotel and the food. I think it's worth mentioning: By mistake, on Saturday, I left my wedding ring and another fairly expensive ring on the nightstand. When we returned that afternoon, I found them carefully placed in an ash tray on the bedside table. That was impressive to me.
Simply WonderfulI am a 28-year old woman from Monterrey, Mexico. I went to Huatulco from August 2nd to 7th and spent a beautiful time there. I think I am in love with that place. A friend of mine and I went by Magnicharters, it is a very organized company; but if you go from Monterrey by Magnitur and you have home-airport transportation included, Confirm it by phone one hour before, because I almost missed my flight because the driver was so late at my house. Other than that, the flight was good. I stayed at the Sheraton resort; it is a five-star hotel, literally. Service is good. Three meals were included in my travel pack, so I tried the two mayor restaurants there in the hotel, food was good. We had free drinks too from 11 am to 11 pm, it was nice. I want to say that the bar Jorongos (Horongos) is so nice and there was live music by the Maraca's Group, they have excellent music, they turned on everyone, we spent a wonderful time there. First I want to say thanks to Tom for this smart site, your maps were useful there. Thank you. The tours are great, we went on the Bay Tour by a catamaran (a kind of boat), we visited almost all the beaches there, and snorkeled a lot. The tour guides are so funny. On another day we went to La Crucecita and Santa Cruz by a bus called "Iguana" with the funniest tour guide of all Huatulco, Don Oscar, he took us to the Conejos Beach and there we took a mud bath; it is fun when kids are putting a lot of mud over your body; it is relaxing. I went to Chahue beach and saw the sunrise by my left side, (it was a romantic time). The view from the Sheraton is great, and even though Tangolunda bay is not the best for swimming, we played in the waves and swam there; most of the day the sea was calm. The best beach undoubtedly is La Entrega for swimming and snorkeling. As a recommendation, use a large amount of sun block. You are going to get a beautiful tan and without pain. If you swim a lot, spend time tanning the front part of your body, you'll need it. You can find souvenirs in the market at La Crucecita and you have to visit the family who make textiles. I bought a very beautiful cotton curtain for my bedroom. If you want to buy food, go to the Probadita and you will taste the best "mezcal" and "moka". I think, I'm missing a lot of my trip, but if you have questions about it, I made some friends there, and they can tell you a lot about that beautiful place.
Laredo to HuatulcoWe got back to Laredo from your small patch of Paradise late last night. Am not sure whether I should pass on the word that this is a wonderful place to visit or not. I am afraid that so many people will hear about it that they'll head down there "en masse". I was very pleasantly surprised to see so many mountains. I had no idea that it would so remind me of my native Arkansas. No one has mentioned the foliage they will see down there. The tropical plants we try so hard to cultivate in most parts of the U.S. as houseplants are so interesting to see in their native habitat. I think you should devote a section to that at your web site. That will draw quite a bit of attention. I would suggest a picture of what we call tabachine (the trees that are beautiful with their red flowers). I must admit that I am currently trying to cultivate some in my garden right now. Be sure to tell your readers that bringing trees to the U.S. is against the law. I was given these seeds by someone here that has been successful with them. We were part of one of those Magnitur groups. I never saw them mentioned at your web site. My guess is because these tours originate in Mexico. We were able to get plane fare from Monterrey, Mexico, to Huatulco easily with a local travel agent. Our round trip airfare for two adults, tour bus transport from airport to the Sheraton, three nights and four days, all inclusive (drinks & buffets), bus back to airport, and then in Monterrey we were taken by Chevy Suburban to the regular bus station was a total of $1,000. I think this is excellent. Our bus to and from Monterrey which is 2-1/2 hours was about $24 each! The buses were more comfortable than the Boeing 727 that took us from Monterrey to Huatulco. We saw an American movie in perfect air conditioned comfort. The bus ride included NO chickens or other livestock. There were a few passengers that might cause some people a little discomfort but they just local working people and can be a wealth of information if you speak Spanish. The bus did pick up two guys outside of Monterrey that gave us all a serenata. That is an experience that isn't easily forgotten if it is your first. A nice gesture is to donate a small amount to them (50 cents is fine). Another nice gesture is a small candy to the children seated near you or to share with your fellow passengers. There were a few comments about the architecture of the Huatulco airport. I found the palapas charming. The lack of air conditioning was not too overpowering. The buses from the tour company were all top of the line. Not at all what most Americans would think of as being available. The guides were entertaining and charming. I do have to agree that the shopping did lack. We rented two motor scooters in front of the Sheraton and had a delightful morning's experience in town. No where in the information did I see the mention of the area's famous black pottery. It is unique and deserves a mention. The embroidery needs mention too -- I knew about it but most do not. I expected to see more of a variety of the famous Taxco silver and the beautiful folk art. Beware of a shop across from the church that sells folk art plates -- this guy claimed to be the artist "Roberto" and really tried to "poke my eyes" on the prices. His work is better quality than any other that I saw but he was VERY insistent. If you know the guy of whom I write tell him that I was the guera that in there this past Sunday. The people were very friendly and I enjoyed visiting with several of the local ladies who were universally pleasantly surprised that I spoke Spanish and was willing to visit. The Sheraton was a very pleasant stay. The cafe de olla was exceptional. It will become a frequent beverage at my home. The various buffets and restaurants at the hotel were a feast for the senses. The serving staff were always very quick to satisfy my addiction to mango which isn't commonly served. At almost every meal one of the waiters would bring me something made with mango. Every day is a different menu. we greatly appreciated the taco night with fajita, carne al pastor, and mollejas ( sweetbreads). Delicious. The view was beautiful, the pool crystal clear, and the grounds immaculate. Good job. We, too, did the beach tour. It was okay. We had one that was a lot more fun when we were in Puerto Vallarta and there were no snacks and only the most basic drinks. The snorkeling was okay if you've never done it before. Xel-ha and Xcaret near Cancún are many, many times better than at Huatulco. The water is also much clearer on the Caribbean side of Mexico. Huatulco is worth the visit but for my money the charm of Puerto Vallarta is more romantic (you can't beat Liz Taylor & Richard Burton's passion for the place) and Xcaret and Xel-ha are the most beautiful places on the planet. Tell people to come see Huatulco before it gets too commercialized like the other resorts in Mexico.
Learn Some SpanishThe most important thing for you to do before you go is to LEARN SOME SPANISH!!! It's not just that speaking Spanish will help you in town. We stayed at the Sheraton [photos 141K] (which I highly recommend) and found only two or three people in the entire staff who spoke serviceable English and none who were fluent. So, every little bit helps. Basic stuff, directions, prices (numbers!), food and drink. I had read many comments to this effect on this excellent page, but I was still taken by surprise by how much Spanish I needed. The Spanish I've picked up from a lifetime in Texas was definitely not enough. Huatulco is favored by Mexican tourists, which means it feels more like a foreign country than a resort. I happen to consider that a major plus. Tangolunda beach, where several of the big resorts are located, is not very swimable. The flags were black every day but one. If you want to swim, head out to Entrega or somewhere rather than waiting for the surf to calm down, because it probably won't. Don't let the restaurants and rental shops and public baths on La Entrega fool you: this is a very basic, cash-only environment. No one takes credit cards and there is nowhere to change money (though everyone takes US dollars). One thing you will find on Tangolunda are some of the pushiest touts and peddlers I've encountered since Turkey. One tout I encountered in Santa Cruz became rather insulting when we turned him down, but that was an isolated event. The fishing-boat touts will sometimes come right up into the poolside area to bug you. [A tout is a solicitor. -Tom] Simply put, everywhere you go outside your hotel, you're going to get the hard sell. Cab-drivers, silver merchants, fishing boat rentals, little wooden bookmarks, hair-braiders, trinkets, everything you can imagine. If you so much as make eye-contact, it takes a minute or so to extricate yourself, Spanish or not. If you ask them any questions, they'll be on you every time they see you thereafter. So, be warned! But most people were exceedingly nice. Be sure to visit El Sabor de Oaxaca for dinner one night. Also, Ve el Mar in Santa Cruz (ask your cab driver to take you directly there: it's in a little corner of the square and you might not see it otherwise), and go to the Cactus, for drinks at least. Ask for Ramon, and then ask him about his football career ;->. In Tangolunda, I recommend Jarro's, but on the opposite side of the block and to the right is El Burro Charlie's, which makes an excellent Arrachero (marinated steak). If you're a coffee drinker and you get sick of the Nescafe they serve at the hotel and most of the restaurants (the Mexicans call it "No-es-Cafe," get it?), go to Cafe Huatulco, which has recently moved closer to El Burro Charlie's. They also sell whole-bean and ground coffee to take home with you, which I am enjoying as I write this. The regional alcoholic drink of Oaxaca is mezcal. You really should try it, though it is an acquired taste (even if you're an accomplished bourbon or scotch drinker, this stuff will challenge you). Alternately, ask for cafe Huatulco (not the cafe, the drink!), which is an elaborate, flaming coffee drink with mezcal. Little bottles of mezcal are available everywhere, and everyone in Huatulco has an opinion as to which is best. El Sabor de Oaxaca even bottles their own house brand. If you go to a liquor store, sometimes they will stage a spontaneous tasting for you so you can decide for yourself. But beware! All those tiny shots add up! There is also a cream mezcal ("for the ladies," I was told). Many of these bottles are actually charming, hand-made jugs and jars, and you might buy one just for the container. However, pack it very carefully in water-tight plastic AND cushioning towels or whatever. I had a bottle leak on the way home, much to the amusement of US customs when they opened my bag...
From Canada to HuatulcoWhat can I say!!!!!!!! Huatulco was everything and more than we had expected. beautiful, quiet, non commercial, and very Mexico. a very easy place to fall in love with. My husband, my sixteen year old son and I arrived in Huatulco on feb18/99 for a two week stay. This web site gave us so much information before we went. Here are our thoughts of Huatulco. When we arrived at 6pm the temperature was still 30 degrees. The airport is beautiful, very open, very small, and doesn't even look like an airport. It is made of papalas...and is cut right out of the jungle. We stayed at the Sheraton. Would highly recommend. Beautiful hotel, spacious, fabulous pool area- I thing the nicest of all the properties in the area..All the staff very friendly......remembering....Carlos...the bellboy,,Louie the bartender at happy hour.....and all the lifeguards on the beach. Most of the restaurants we tried were excellent. Tangolunda Bay Jarro's Café - Jarro's Café, across the street from the Sheraton, was excellent for breakfast and very inexpensive.....Excellent fruit pancakes....They also had a very good dinner menu, especially some of the Mexican dishes. My favorite was the chicken enchiladas verde. (I even got the recipe.) Great entertainment from 'Poncho' the parrot. The staff were extremely friendly. Casa del Mar - excellent food, beautiful sunset, breathtaking views. You can actually walk there from the Sheraton. It takes about 20 minutes and it is all uphill. You are definitely warm by the time you get there. A cab ride is about 15 pesos. This restaurant is higher priced, but still reasonable. The shrimp and the pasta were excellent, definitely worth the trip!! Argentina Grill - This restaurant was a few yards from Jarro's Café, across the street from the Sheraton. We had a shrimp pasta one night...The shrimp were excellent, but the pasta was very bland... we later had pizza....We thought it was very good; very very friendly staff. La Crema - We had read a couple of good reports on this restaurant, that their pizzas were excellent. My son and I had pineapple/ham and if wasn't bad, but my husband had sausage pepper pizza that was not very good at all. We were quite disappointed in this restaurant. The Oasis - I would not order steak from here, as my son had one and it was quite dry, tough, and not very good at all. The chicken mole was very good, and my husband had the tacos; very good also. La Crucecita - My favorite Mexican food restaurant. Very small..all Spanish menu, and our waiter only spoke Spanish. The food was excellent. Excellent chicken enchiladas with verde sauce, and the fajitas were excellent. The prices were unbelievable! For two meals and a couple of beers each the bill was only about 11.00. We had a couple of meals here. We went another night with a couple we met and she had a dish called 'Tlaydu' it was like a Mexican pizza; was very good. Santa Cruz Ve el Mar - This little restaurant was a great find. A couple we met from New York told us about it. It is right on the beach. Tables in the sand next to the water, with candelit tables. The food was excellent, and very cheap. The lobster was pricey, but everything else was very inexpensive. I had a shrimp dish with peppers, that was excellent. My husband had whole red snapper that he said was great. The dishes were about 50 pesos each. We went back to this place a couple of times. The towns Santa Cruz and La Crucecita Santa Cruz - Santa Cruz is the original little town. Some great restaurants on the beach. There is a little area where there are things to buy, like t shirts etc. Very reasonable. You can bargain here and get excellent deals. This is the best place to cash your travellers cheques. At the hotel we were getting 560 for the Canadian dollar and at the bank 650. There are three banks in Santa Cruz. The one on the end away from the town centre gives the best rate. You can tell by the lineup a 10am. La Crucecita - We fell in love with this little village. This village was built for the Mexicans who work on the resorts. It is very Mexican. Beautiful church, a must to see. Very authentic Oaxacan/Mexican food. Some great little shops, one of them upstairs from the cactus restaurant. Great pottery,. lots of the native black clay pottery. Very orginal..La Crucecita is the only place you can shop for bread/pasteries (at a little bakery), and to shop for fruits and vegetables. There is a little market in the village. Cabs - Cabs were very reasonable...15 pesos from the Sheraton to Santa Cruz, La Crucecita. Cab back to the airport was 100.00 pesos. We paid much more taking the tourist bus from the airport to the Sheraton. Huatulco Rent a Bike - Across from the Sheraton there is a place to rent scooters. We rented a couple of times. These guys were great. Gave us an idea where to go, what to see, very friendly. Would highly recommend to do this. We took the scooters one day and drove to a little village called 'Copalita'. The drive there was beautiful. We stopped along the way and went down to bays and beaches that did not have one person on them. The drive was very hilly with very winding roads. Very little traffic. The little village of Copalita was very poor, but the people were very friendly and all the little kids had big smiles on their faces. Overall - We are going back next year. We have already made our reservations at the Sheraton. It is truly unspoiled and hopefully will stay that way a little longer. People were wonderful, Mexican and seafood excellent. Lots of sun - and breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely a quieter place - no night life-very relaxing. A definite 10. One last thing- If you like discos Then you should get off in Acapulco!!!!!!!!!!!
The Full ReportWe just returned from a week at the Sheraton [photos 141K] with our 13 year old son, Matt. The comments on this page provided a great reference - unfortunately I forgot to print them out before we went but amazingly I remembered enough to get by. We had a fabulous time. Would we go back? In a minute. We did not take the all inclusive package at the hotel since we enjoy getting out of the property to explore and eat elsewhere. We flew out of Toronto on February 25th with Signature Tours via Royal Airlines. Someone had negative comments regarding Royal in an earlier post - we found the flight there and back just fine and the service great. The transfer from the wonderful airport to the hotel went flawlessly, all of 25 minutes or so, and it's nice that the bus on the way to the hotels goes through La Crucecita so you can see what the town looks like and decide which stores or restaurants to visit on an excursion later. Our check-in at the hotel was quick - we were assigned a room on the ground floor, and having remembered someone's post about scorpions, I asked for another room and we were accommodated with a pool-view room on the 4th floor, no questions asked. The service in the hotel was wonderful - we have been to Mexico a combined 11 times between myself and my husband so we know what to expect (Los Cabos, Puerta Vallarta, Cancun, Acapulco). I would have to say Huatulco met our expectations for a relaxed, easy vacation. The weather was beautiful, hot and sunny, a bit humid but not too much (kept the skin from drying out!). We managed to entertain ourselves within the hotel, and outside. We saw a lot of families with kids of all ages - babies up to midteens, as well as young and older couples, and many groups. What follows are a few tips if you plan to go to Huatulco, and stay at the Sheraton in particular. Golf: My husband and son played one day, they booked a 7 am tee-off and left the hotel at 6:30 without breakfast assuming they could find something to eat at the golf course. Wrong. The cost was $100 US for the two of them, including cart. If you plan to golf, go early. It gets much too hot. They thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it challenging enough. The course is right next to the hotel, it is a 15-peso ride by cab. The Pool: The hotel gives out pool towels at 7 am which you sign for and return by 7 pm that day. Best to go between 7 and 8 am to get your towels and put them on the pool chairs you plan to use that day, otherwise you may be out of luck to get chairs by a nice palapa with a table. Then you can go and have breakfast or do whatever, nobody will disturb your chairs if they have towels on them. Fitness Room: There are scheduled aerobics each morning. I took the 8:15 am step class one day and nearly died from the heat. The room is air-conditioned but they had the door open outside. The instructor speaks only Spanish, and most of the participants were Mexican except for me and one other person but we had fun and got through the routine. Pace yourself if you take a class, especially if you are not used to the heat. They have a water cooler there, also free weights, a treadmill, and a Stairmaster. The cost for the class is 30 pesos. Exchange rate at the front desk: It was 9.20 for the US $ and 5.65 for the Canadian $. In town (La Crucecita) it was 9.65 at an exchange centre (not the bank, never found it). [It's in Santa Cruz, a block or two past the marina - 2 banks] Activities around the pool: Water aerobics anytime between noon and 1:30, it changed daily. Not a bad routine but if you're into fitness you really have work at it to get a workout. The guy who does the sports is new - the other one got fired or quit, not sure. The new guy (don't know his name) is on the go all day, after water aerobics he sometimes gives merengue lessons - very entertaining ! - and plays with all the kids. He also organizes pool volleyball and beach volleyball if you are interested, there is no pressure to participate. Restaurants: We had a great meal at Don Porfirios - very entertaining - the waiters did a Spanish version of Achy Breaky Heart which was worth the price of the meal alone. We also had a wonderful meal at the Italian restaurant just down the block from Don Porfirios - unfortunately I can't remember the name of it. There was a 4-piece band playing on a small stage who were very entertaining, lent a nice atmosphere to the evening. One place I cannot recommend is La Pampa Argentina - very expensive and the food was not at all up to par. I ordered the veal cordon bleu - what I got was a huge piece of meat with cheese on it and french fries (the frozen kind!), my husband ordered the tenderloin which he sent back once and when it came back it was still not cooked to his liking - we ended up throwing most of it to the stray dog on the sidewalk. That meal cost $62 US for the 3 of us - by far the most expensive and most disappointing of our dining adventures. The one restaurant I would definitely recommend is the Ve El Mar in Santa Cruz. We got there at 8 pm so it was dark, but we had a table on the beach, we could see the fishing boats out in the bay, and I ordered the surf and turf shish kebab for 80 pesos, and my husband ordered the porterhouse steak for 50 pesos, and with 3 drinks, the entire bill came to $16 US. We couldn't believe it, and gave the waiter a $9 tip just because it was way too cheap. The food by the way was out of this world. We also spent a lot of time at Jarro's, home of Pancho the parrot, who didn't disappoint. He landed on the table next to us and took the top off the sugar bowl and started eating the sugar until the owner came to put him back on his perch. We also found out that when Pancho starts saying "ola" over and over again that means he's hungry, and if he doesn't get fed soon, he starts calling for the waiter in spanish! Eating at the Sheraton: We had the breakfast buffet a couple times, but it is expensive (100 pesos for adults; 55 pesos for kids). I am a cereal and fruit in the morning type of person so I didn't indulge as much (Jarros is good for that kind of breakfast). The buffet is in Dona Rosa's - you can sit inside or outside, though if you sit outside the birds get a bit much. They are very noisy and will steal food from your plate. They even steal the sugar packets (not the sweetener though!). It is funny to see one strutting around with a sugar packet in its beak and the others trying to steal it). We had dinner in this restaurant a couple times - nothing special there. We did not get a chance to eat at the oceanside restaurant (La Tortuga) although we did order poolside lunch from there and it was fine. We also didn't eat in the Italian restaurant in the hotel - too expensive and we didn't feel like dressing up. Stuff for kids to do: Our son got a bit bored but he hooked up with two other boys there, one 15 year old and one 11 year old and we hardly saw him again. They fished, they played soccer on the beach with mexican kids, they rented scooters across the street from the hotel ($15 for an hour), jet-skis ($25 for half an hour, you can go all over the bay, over to Club Med and back easily). They swam in the ocean which was a bit rough (we were there during the full moon) and had a great time. Matt (our son) was especially impressed with the swim-up bar in the pool, and the fact that the bartender would give him a virgin banana daiquiri every now and then. Language: We didn't have a problem trying to speak with anybody - you pick up basic words and phrases anyway. The worst thing we had was when I asked for some butter for our bread in one of the restaurants - the waiter must have thought I was asking for the washroom (bano) and pointed me off in the direction of the washroom - even though I was motioning the buttering of bread with bread in one hand and knife in the other!! Once he realized what I was asking he ran off in a hurry to get it, and we could all hear him say 'Oh my God" once he realized what I had asked. He came back with the butter, all embarrassed, and we all had a good laugh. Shopping near the hotel: There are a couple of good small convenience stores - one next to Jarros and one just down the street between the Argentina Grill and Don Porfirios - they have soda, chips, yogurt, mescal, kahlua, beer and other necessities. Far less expensive than the store in the hotel, and much more selection. Mosquitoes: yes, the mosquitoes got us one evening as we walked along the beach. You can't see them, they are very small, and I didn't get any bites, but Matt got bites on his back which soon swelled up into welts. We went to the hotel store and bought some ointment called "Andantol" in a yellow and blue box which immediately took the swelling down and kept the itch away. Also we bought some "Autun Active" mosquito repellent in a yellow bottle with orange cap. Didn't have a problem with them again. Sun: It is very very hot in Huatulco - humid and there is a breeze which can fool you into thinking it's not as hot as it is. Sunblock is a necessity. We used a 30 on Matt but he still got burnt - have to reapply it often when you are in the water and sweating, even if it is waterproof. Taxis: Generally 20 pesos between the hotel and either town, Santa Cruz or La Crucecita. 15 pesos to the golf course. The cabs don't stop at the stop signs on the main road from the hotel strip to the towns. Don't be alarmed. Just hold on and enjoy the 'topes' (speed bumps) Shopping: We went to La Crucecita on our first excursion, to get the obligatory souvenir shopping out of the way. Lots of silver, not much different from any other place in Mexico. Not a lot of bargains, however I did get a nice marcasite piece for $40 US (they wanted $96) it was a 'slow day'. Better bargains are to be had in the market in Santa Cruz - the usual T-shirts, pottery, silver. They will barter there, and expect it. Last notes: All in all, our vacation was excellent. The weather was fantastic, and our idea of a vacation is to relax by the pool, wander into town, eat whenever, no timetables, no schedules - our lives are much too scheduled at home to do that on vacation. We woke up early, 7 am, got to bed around 11 pm, slept like logs, and really slowed down our lives. The service in the hotel is first class - the rooms were immaculate, towel service every evening, hibiscus on our beds at night. There is not one thing I could complain about, nor would I look for something to complain about. If you are looking for a paradise I would highly recommend Huatulco, and if the Sheraton suits your style and your budget then you will be very happy there. If you have any questions please send me an email, I'll be glad to help answer them.
Mexico's Newest ResortThe nine Bays of Huatulco cover 22 miles of beautiful Pacific coast land. Located 180 miles south of Oaxaca and 75 miles east of Puerto Escondido, the Huatulco development is the latest and largest project of FONATUR, a government-funded agency dedicated to tourism development. The bays are southeast of Acapulco and have much the same kind of terrain shaped by the Sierra Madre mountains butting against the Pacific Ocean, forming uncounted bays and coves containing scores of charming crescent-shaped beaches embraced by craggy cliffs. Scarcely a decade ago, Huatulco was an isolated wilderness with no electricity, no water lines, no phones and no sewage system. The 1,000 or so people that inhabited this stretch of coastline made their living from fishing and small-scale agriculture. There were no solid cement structures and the only access to the region was a rugged dirt path. In 1983, FONATUR, developer of Cancun and Ixtapa, launched a carefully designed development project to create an ultra-modern and eco-friendly resort on 52,000 acres, in three separate stages. Luxury hotels and an 18-hole golf course were constructed on Tangolunda Bay; three and four star hotels, a dock for water sports and excursion boats, and locales for shops and restaurants were built on Santa Cruz Bay; and a new town-La Crucecita-designed to capture the flavor of a typical Mexican village, became the urban center for local residents. The initial phase was opened in 1988 to receive visitors in the resort's first 1,300 rooms. Sixty thousand national and international tourists visited Huatulco during its first year as a resort. Today, the area known collectively as Las Bahias de Huatulco, has 3,500 hotel rooms in establishments ranging from deluxe properties on Tangolunda to smaller, less expensive hotels in La Crucecita and Santa Cruz. To handle the influx of visitors, FONATUR inaugurated an 8,850-foot jet airfield, with a palapa terminal, 12 miles north of the bay area. While the palapa was approved all around for blending nicely with the tropical surroundings, the airfield itself caused some controversy when reports surfaced that the landing strip was built on an ancient Zapotec archaeological site. In about a decade, FONATUR expects Huatulco to be the size of Cancun, with 9,000 hotel rooms and 800,000 tourists annually. In fact, the airport's national and international terminals were recently expanded and baggage carrousels were installed. The expandable airstrips already accommodate 757s. There's still not much in the way of shopping. But if you're the type who seeks solitude amidst the comforts of world-class accommodations, then Huatulco is the place for you. Enjoy the exclusivity while you can. The infrastructure for Stage I, which encompasses Tangolunda, Chahue, Santa Cruz and Conejos bays, has been completed. Stage II, which will open up Cacaluta Bay to development, is already under way. According to FONATUR projections, when the plan is completed in 2018, Huatulco will have more than 30,000 hotel rooms, about 2 million visitors a year, and a resident population of 600,000 inhabitants. Huatulco's greatest attractions are the bays themselves Conejos, Tangolunda, Chahue, Santa Cruz, El Organo, El Maguey, Cacaluta, Chachacual, and San Agustin-with stunning, pristine beaches, white sand and clear waters thriving with marine life and unblemished by pollution and crowds. The air is fresh and scented with the sweet-spicy smell of tropical foliage. The last southern glimpse of the Sierra Madre mountain range is visible in the distance beyond the bays. And FONATUR's master plan for the resort calls for preserving 40,000 acres of the land, which is studded with bougainvillea, almond, laurel and palm trees, in its natural state. What to See and DoSeveral of the bays are accessible only by sea. Independent entrepreneurs at the marina in Santa Cruz or at the hotels can take you there in lanchas (small, open boats). You can be dropped off at the bay of your choice and arrange to be picked up later, or book the boat for the day. For water sports fans, Huatulco offers deep-sea fishing and snorkeling. Land-lubbers can take in the environment, by bike or on horseback, on various ecotours. There are excursion boats docked at Santa Cruz Bay and they can be reserved through Cantera Tours, at Castillo Huatulco hotel, Servicios Turisticos del Sur and Turismo Tangolunda. Boats tour the bays, and offer excursions up to Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, Manialtepec and Chacahua lagoons. La Bamba and El Zorro are the two largest and most popular boats. Ecotours have recently gained in popularity and are being actively encouraged by the government of Oaxaca. Visitors can join a mule train that winds leisurely through the foothills to the heart of the Sierra Madre, or take a tour of area coffee plantations. Bike rental shops, such as one at La Crucecita's main plaza, take visitors on "ecological" bicycle tours of the bays. Or go horseback riding through a jungle path. Check your hotel travel desk for more information. Most hotels have water sports desks offering wave runners, bananas, kayaks, scuba, skin diving and fishing. Most of the larger hotels offer excellent tennis facilities. There's golf at the 18-hole public course that FONATUR inaugurated in Tangolunda in 1991, reputedly the most beautiful public course in the country. For snorkeling, locals favor the waters of La Entrega, a protected marine park on Santa Cruz Bay. Opposite the beach here, a 640 foot-long, 112-foot-wide coral reef creates a natural aquarium harboring more than 700 types of colorful fish and other sea life. Gear can be rented from a small concession stand. Several beachfront restaurants sell seafood and cold drinks. San Agustin beach, on the westernmost of the nine bays, is also very popular, with its wide beach, great fishing, snorkeling and high waves as well as the calmest waters in the area. Favorite diving spots are the reefs off Cacaluta and La Montosa islands, Bufadero, where there's a sunken ship, Los Duendes and El Tigre, areas typical of the Pacific, where the big fish swim among large rock formations. The Triton Dive Shop is highly recommended for instruction and equipment. Reservations for Triton can be made through Cantera Tours located in the Castillo Huatulco hotel. HotelsOn Tangolunda Bay, the Hotel Zone, is the new Zaashila Resort, a luxurious hotel with a unique 100-yard-long free-form pool. There is also the deluxe Sheraton Huatulco Resort and two all-inclusive resorts, the sprawling Club Med, and the adjacent Royal Maeva. At the end of hotel row, on a cliff in Balcones de Tangolunda, is the exquisite Casa del Mar. Villas Paraiso offers five one-bedroom villas, each with a kitchenette. Dominating the hills framing the bay is the all-suite Holiday Inn. In Santa Cruz, a short drive from the Hotel Zone by taxi, is the attractive Marina Hotel & Resort, which also offers timesharing. There's also the charming Binniguenda, the area's oldest hotel, and the Castillo Huatulco, which has a full range of tourism services. Ml are just a short walk from the marina on Santa Cruz Bay. La Crucecita, the town built as part of the Huatulco megaproject, is about a 10 minute ride from Tangolunda and was created to resemble a "typical" Mexican village. Though spanking new, the town square boasts an old-fashioned band-stand, creating an aura of timelessness. The colonial-style Flamboyant hotel is located on the main square and the 32-room Gran Hotel Huatulco is situated at the village entrance. DiningFor dining, visitors can choose from a growing number of hotel restaurants and independent eateries. La Crucecita offers 1/2 Carlos 'n Charlie's, famous for its oysters, TBC salad, and shrimp in beer, Maria Sabinas and Don Wilo's, for Oaxacan cuisine. Also popular are the Oasis and Cactus, where the most asked for dish is camarones bandidos, shrimp prepared tableside with onions and mango sauce. Both restaurants also serve sushi. The restaurant at Casa del Mar offers good food accompanied by a beautiful view. Near the Sheraton hotel is Cavendish, a pretty restaurant with fine international cuisine. On the beach in Santa Cruz are several restaurants serving fresh seafood and 2-pound lobsters, the favored local dish, accompanied by a michelada (beer with lemon on the rocks, served in a frosty salt-rimmed glass), the favored local drink. One of the most popular spots is Avalos, better known as Dana Celia. Until recently, the most action you were likely to see after sunset was sand crabs skittering on the beach. The Sheraton offers a Mexican Fiesta night every Friday, including dinner and a show. There's also Magic Circus, the only disco, a couple of blocks from the Binniguenda hotel in Santa Cruz, and folk dancing at 1/2 Carlos 'n Charlie's. ShoppingHuatulco can hardly be called a shoppers delight-with a few exceptions. At the market in Santa Cruz and around the town plaza in La Crucecita, artisans sell woven goods, embroidered garments and other handicrafts. Several good shops in Plaza Oaxaca, a small shopping center on the square in La Crucecita, carry excel-lent selections of handmade items. Hidden down the street from the Flamboyant hotel is Paradise, displaying some interesting crafts from Mexico and Guatemala, and Batik clothing brought from Isla Mujeres. The Sheraton hotel houses an attractive gallery carrying paintings and sculptures. The Future of HuatulcoFONATUR is determined to preserve the bays' natural beauty. To this end, sewage treatment plants have been installed and tough restrictions placed on new construction and real estate speculation. All buildings must be low-lying and blend into the natural environment, much like the airport's palapa terminal. The control tower was also thoughtfully built atop a hillside to give it the necessary height without intruding on the scenery. You might do well to include Huatulco in your travel plans. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This is similar to the view from our room. 
Nearby Airports: Huatulco
International Airport, 25 km; Puerto Escondido International Airport, 130 km.
typically runs from May to October, with
September having the most rain. Amounts vary from year to year and most of the rainfall
occurs on a relatively few days. November through April is the dry season. As things dry
out, most plants in the lower elevations lose their leaves, but the bougainvillea, which
grows wild, takes this opportunity to bloom, and star fruit trees produce their fruit. The
terrain is hilly along the coast with granite outcroppings extending into the sea against
the backdrop of the Sierra Madre del Sur to the north. 
he rare essence of tranquility and unspoiled
tropical beauty is captured in Huatulco, where the best days are spent basking in the sun
on pristine beaches, and the best nights involve mapping out your dreams on the shimmering
stars. 
uatulco actually consists of a series of nine bays
set at the foot of the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains. Tangolunda Bay is the most
impressive bay, and offers an array of accommodations, plus golf, water sports, shopping,
dining and gorgeous beaches. The calm turquoise waters are a swimmer’s delight, and
the fishing couldn’t be better. The area is graced by a number of ecological
preserves designed to insure that Huatulco always remains a place where nature can
peacefully coexist with deluxe resort facilities. A relaxed atmosphere only adds to the
enchantment. 
