Las Bahias de Huatulco is its full name - "The Bays of Huatulco" - there are nine in total - and between them they are host to 36 stunningly attractive beaches - featuring soft sands and crystal clear blue waters off the Pacific coast in Mexico's State of Oaxaca.Situated about 430 kilometers (270 miles) south of Acapulco on Mexico's Pacific Coastline, Huatulco is a new resort area and is set to become one of Mexico's key beach attractions for people in search of a well preserved natural surroundings and eco-centers coupled with highly appointed accommodation and good facilities to retire to in the evening.
The resort is undergoing a phased development. 52,000 acres of land have been reserved - with over 40,000 acres listed for protection and ecological preservation.In Huatulco, the resorts are not a high rise commercial cousin to Cancun. Instead, space has left between building projects and areas for development are being carefully selected to minimize the impact on the environment, for example, hotels and other buildings cannot exceed six stories in height.There are nine bays in total, although today Huatulco is divided into 3 distinct areas: Crucecita, Santa Cruz and Tangolunda. Eventually, around 5 or 6 of the bays will be developed; some of the bays are unsuitable for development as the shoreline is too rugged and the undertows too strong along some beaches. Tangolunda Bay is the best developed to date; it has established resorts and a high quality 18-hole golf course.

Huatulco is not going to become the next Cancun or Acapulco. It is being carefully managed to cater for those people who are looking for a higher quality resort with less of a "manufactured" feel, without driving customers to the ultra-exclusive end of the market, like those in Costa Alegre and Punta de Mita.A vacation in Huatulco will revolve around relaxation, eco-tourism and a few of the less taxing water sports like snorkeling and localized sailing. Limited night life is available, but its nowhere near as prominent as it is at other more popular resorts.
When the high-speed road between Huatulco and Oaxaca opens (has been overdue for some time), access to the magnificent colonial city of Oaxaca and then nearby archaeology parks of Monte Alban and Mitla will mean that visitors will be able to combine the best of Mexico's coast attractions with the best of its colonial and archaeological heritage as well as opening up additional opportunities for more nature and adventure travel experiences.Huatulco is the place you come to relax, unwind and start to recover from the stresses of everyday life. This is not the place to stay if you're on a tight budget, but neither will it cost as much as the exclusive resorts further up the Pacific coast.