Discover Las Bahías de Huatulco

Looking to plan your next vacation or just need a destination to daydream about? Las Bahías de Huatulco is the place!

Last year for La Navidad, our family spent a week in Huatulco relaxing and enjoying the nature, the food and the local culture. It was one of my favorite vacations we've ever taken. Watch the video to get a little taste to whet your appetite.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xfTwU9cMJw[/youtube]

Located along the Pacific coast in the southern state of Oaxaca, Huatulco spans 20 miles of coast between the Coyula and Copalita rivers.

The state of Oaxaca is known for its rich culture, and the area's pre-Hispanic roots are still prominent today. Local indigenous cultures such as the Mixtec and Zapotec are present and influence the traditions and cuisine.

There are nine bays and 36 beaches in Huatulco; the bays include Tangolunda, Chahué, Santa Cruz, Conejos, Maguey y Oregano, Cacaluta, San Agustín and Chachacual.

According to the Mexico Tourism Board, Bahía San Agustín has the largest coral reefs in the Pacific. This certainly makes Huatulco an excellent destination for those who love snorkeling as much as I do!

Bahía Santa Cruz serves as a little port where cruise ships, yachts and smaller boats can dock. It's from Santa Cruz that you can reserve a lancha to take you on a tour of the nine bays.

Bahía Tangolunda has a busy beach and a restaurant where you can eat freshly caught fish and other local foods. It also has a busy beach that's great for swimming, snorkeling, inner tube rides and more.

For those who like water activities and sports, there's something for everyone: diving, surfing, snorkeing, rafting, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and fishing, among other things. You can also enjoy a calm game of golf or try more adventurous things like rappelling, hiking or mountain biking, as Huatulco has a very large protected ecological reserve.

The cuisine of Huatulco includes Oaxacan staples such as quesillo (a kind of stringy cheese); black, yellow and red mole; tlayudas (a large tortilla baked on a comal sort of like a big tostada, topped with things such as beans, lettuce, quesillo, local meats and more); meats such as chorizo (served in ball-shape)  and tasajo (a cut of beef); and chapulines (crickets), among other things.

But the real star of the cuisine in Huatulco is the fresh fish and mariscos (shellfish) — it's not uncommon to find lobster and other sea delicacies on practically every menu. I noticed that aguachile, a dish made mainly with shrimp, onions, chiles and citrus juices was on nearly every menu.

If you plan a visit to Huatulco, you can't miss La Crucecita, which serves as the area's "urban" hub with restaurants, a market, a plaza and other small shops. Things you'd want to buy as souvenirs include local art, barro negro (pottery made with the region's black clay), Oaxacan chocolate and mezcal.

For more information on what Huatulco has to offer, including activities, hotels and transportation options, check out the Mexico Tourism Board's page about Huatulco.

• Have you been to Huatulco? What was your favorite part? If you haven't been there before, what would you like to explore most?

Marca País – Imagen de México, is a joint public and private sector initiative designed to help promote Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination. This program is designed to shine a light on the Mexico that its people experience every day. Disclosure:  I am being compensated for my work in creating content for the México Today program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here are completely my own.