Huatulco Cruise Port Guide

On cruises to Mexico, you might not be too familiar with the Huatulco cruise port and its surrounding areas, but you soon will be. In recent years, the Huatulco area has grown in popularity and has retained a natural beauty and a dedication to ecological preservation that few other resort towns can boast about. From the Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita to Huatulco National Park, there’s no shortage of nature to explore during your Huatulco cruise stop.

Head on a boat tour along the coast’s various bays, including the Bahía San Agustín, Each of the nine bays has a different feel, from secluded to brimming with colorful coral. Beyond natural beauty, Huatulco is also known for its cuisine. From flavorful, chocolate-tinged mole to spicy mezcal, you’re in for a treat here. Tour a coffee farm or enjoy a mezcal tasting while you’re in port. Huatulco is the perfect place to experience life’s simplest pleasures for all five senses.

Cruises to Huatulco, Mexico

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Top Sights & Attractions for Cruises to Huatulco

Huatulco National Park

Tour this ecotourism haven and protected area during your visit to Huatulco, where you’ll gain a new appreciation for the preservation of the flora and fauna of the area. Spot turtles, dolphins, whales, and hundreds of other species that call the park home. Hiking, cycling, and guided van tours are just a few ways travelers like to explore the park.

Bahía San Agustín

Snorkel the clear waters or set up one of the rented hammocks for pure relaxation at Bahía San Agustín, which has long been considered one of Huatulco’s best and most beautiful beaches. A dip in the bay on a hot day is a must-do.

Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita

Looking to get up close with the history of the Oaxacan coast, including artifacts from the settlements of the ancient Zapotecs and Mixtecs? Luckily, there’s the Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita, where there is a breathtaking lookout point from the edge of a cliff in the park.

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Top Things to Do in Huatulco

Tour a Coffee Plantation

Learn how your brew is made from start to finish, and bring some coffee beans home when you tour a coffee farm in Huatulco. There’s an abundance of coffee farms scattered around Huatulco and Oaxaca, including Las Nieves, Finca Monte Carlos, and Finca Margaritas, to name a few.

Enjoy a Mezcal Tasting

Made from the green agave plant, mezcal is the spicy older brother of tequila. Its significance to the region makes it a sippable, sophisticated drink of choice during your time in Huatulco. Many places offer tastings, and the experience will teach you about the origins of mezcal and its significance to locals.

Take a Boat Tour Along the Bays

Board a catamaran and visits five of the Oaxacan bays, where whale and dolphin sightings are common. Relax in style as you take in the undeveloped beauty of the Mexican coast.

Top Food and Drink Spots Near the Huatulco Cruise Port

Like other coastal areas of Mexico, fresh seafood is a must try while you’re on the Oaxacan coast. Try delicious mole, a sweet and savory sauce that drenches all kinds of dishes like eggs, chicken, or rice. Tamales and quesillo, a regionally-produced string cheese, are other must-try dishes. If you’re feeling daring, try chapulines, which are fried grasshoppers considered a Oaxacan delicacy. Of course, the region’s famous liquor is mezcal, a spicy agave-based alcohol.

Culture & History of the Huatulco Cruise Port

The Zapotecs and Mixtecs were early inhabitants of the Oaxacan coast, which remained relatively undisturbed for hundreds of years before the area was singled out as an opportunity for tourism development in the 1980s. The Huatulco National Park was declared a UNESCO biosphere site in the 1990s to preserve the natural landscape of the area. Even though the Huatulco cruise port has developed considerably in the past 20 years, it remains one of Mexico’s underrated gems of a resort town, where the naturalness of the coast and the resistance to overdevelopment have preserved the Huatulco spirit.

Huatulco Port Facilities & Location

Your Huatulco cruise ship will dock at Santa Cruz Bay. It’s easy to lose time staying close to the bay because of the variety of shops, restaurants, and other things to do, including swimming or sunbathing at Santa Cruz Beach. From there, you can decide how to structure your day in Huatulco, as it’s easy to hail a taxi to other parts of town from Santa Cruz Bay.

Transportation in Huatulco

Your Huatulco cruise ship will dock at Santa Cruz Bay. It’s easy to lose time staying close to the bay because of the variety of shops, restaurants, and other things to do, including swimming or sunbathing at Santa Cruz Beach. From there, you can decide how to structure your day in Huatulco, as it’s easy to hail a taxi to other parts of town from Santa Cruz Bay.

Shopping Near the Huatulco Cruise Port

Your Huatulco cruise ship will dock at Santa Cruz Bay. It’s easy to lose time staying close to the bay because of the variety of shops, restaurants, and other things to do, including swimming or sunbathing at Santa Cruz Beach. From there, you can decide how to structure your day in Huatulco, as it’s easy to hail a taxi to other parts of town from Santa Cruz Bay.

Local Currency & Tipping Customs

The official currency of Mexico is the peso. Credit cards tend to be accepted in higher end places in Huatulco, but it’s best practice to carry some pesos with you in case you visit a store or restaurant that doesn’t accept credit cards. There are also ATMs commonly available. Taxi drivers in Mexico do not expect tips, but it’s common to leave a 10-15% tip for your server at a restaurant.

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