Escape to Mexico's best kept secret: Bahias de Huatulco
BY WAHEEDA HARRIS, POSTMEDIA NEWS APRIL 27, 2015
In the Pacific coast town of Huatulco, Oaxaca it's very easy to find pristine beaches and several places to swim, snorkel or dive, like in Parque Nacional Huatulco.
Photograph by: Waheeda Harris , Postmedia News
For regular travellers to Mexico, Cancun, Ixtapa, Riviera Maya are popular options, but for those who want a laid-back beach trip with plenty of natural beauty and distinct cuisine, Huatulco, Oaxaca should be next on the list.
Located on the south Pacific coast of Mexico, Bahias de Huatulco is a series of nine natural bays and several coves, with the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains surrounding the area.
An area that wasn’t developed in the first waves of tourism, locals have protected their natural environment and made it a priority with more than half of the region included in the Nacional Parque Huatulco and limiting the number of hotel developments.
One of the bigger bays of Huatulco, Tangolunda Bay has calm waters and plenty of hotel options, such as Dreams Resort & Spa. With 330 days of sunshine each year and a daily average temperature of 28C, here’s five ways to explore this quiet Pacific coast town’s natural landscape, culture and cuisine:
Beach – with nine bays, there’s plenty of places along the coastline to discover sand and sea. Tangolunda Bay is home to many of resorts and there are over 35 beaches on offer from Santa Cruz to La Entrega. Take a boat tour from the Santa Cruz marina into Nacional Parque Huatulco to access pristine white sand stretches, tropical rainforest and coral reefs.
History –visitors can wander among the ruins of Bocana del Rio Copalito, an archeological site that sits on the traditional boundary between the Mixtec and Zapotec areas. With over 86 acres, the ruins are currently being excavated by Mexico’s Institute of Anthropology and History, revealing the lifestyle of the nobility who lived on this site in the first six centuries BC through newly-uncovered artifacts.
Shopping – the wee town of La Crucecita makes for a laid-back afternoon to discover local souvenirs, such as textiles, ceramics and handicrafts. The town’s zocalo (aka main plaza) has several street vendors with their arts and crafts, ice cream and coconuts for sale under the palm trees. Make sure to visit the local church with one of the world’s
The church of La Crucecita is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, who is painted on the ceiling. largest paintings of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the world on its ceiling.
Cuisine – for all those foodies who want to expand their Mexican food knowledge, the Oaxacan dining has many indigenous offerings such asmole poblano, a complex sauce made with a variety of spices and chili peppers and traditionally served with turkey. Modern Oaxacan cuisine includes a variety of mole sauces and revels in locally-grown and sourced ingredients like avocado, pineapple, seafood, insects and chocolate.
Libation – the literal meaning of this word is an offering, and for those in Oaxaca, mezcal is worthy of the reverence. Made in small batches at local palenques from the maguey plant, this distilled spirit has a smoky flavour and does contain a worm, a sure sign of authenticity. Although tradition dictates to sip this liquid straight, modern day versions mix mezcal with pineapple, banana, orange or chocolate.
Travelling to Huatulco:
Transportation – travellers can find package deals via Air Canada Vacations and Sunwing during the winter season, or access Huatulco via United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Aeromexico.
Just one of several pools at Secrets Resorts & Spa, located on one of the nine bays in Huatulco. Accommodation – couples should make tracks to contemporary-styled Secrets Resort & Spa. Located on its own bay, the stylish hotel offers spacious suites, all overlooking the sea. Multiple pools, a large beach area for swimming, snorkeling and sailing, several bars, 10 restaurants and nightly entertainment will keep anyone amused.
One secret – each room has a secret box for private delivery of room service (available 24 hours). The Secrets Spa offers multiple face and body treatments, all of which include an hour-long water circuit to stimulate circulation, relax muscle and erase stress. Guests can also dine and enjoy amenities at the sister resort, Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa, a family resort on a separate bay, accessed by a complimentary shuttle.
Dining – for a beach day within steps of tasty Oaxacan cuisine, head to Playa Maguey, with its numerous beach bars, including El Camaron Gigante, well-known for its seafood dishes, like shrimp-stuffed grilled pineapple and spicy grilled dorado. And for fine dining, tasty mole options and mezcal-pairing with dinner, Tamarindo Restaurant at Secrets Resort offers a memorable night of indulging in local ingredients.
Need ideas to escape for a weekend or a week? Check out these destinations….
The author was a guest of AM Resorts which neither viewed nor approved this article prior to publication.
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