Huatulco offers a picturesque bay with five star hotels among nine secluded bays of cerulean waters, powdery white sand and unique, private landscapes spanning 21 miles. The surrounding vegetation ranges from lush forests sheltering herons, pelicans and falcons to mangrove swamps quartering skunks, raccoons and armadillos.

Location: Oaxaca State, on the Pacific coast, southwest Mexico
Distance from Mexico City: 370 miles southeast
Population: 50,000
Closest major airport: Bahias de Huatulco International Airport (HUX)
Time zone: Central Standard Time

The nine bays from east to west include Bahia Conejos, Bahia Tangolunda, Bahia Chahue, Bahia Santa Cruz, Bahia El Organo, Bahia El Maguey, Bahia Caculuta, Bahia Chachacual and Bahia San Agustin. Currently, only two of the bays are fully developed - Bahia Tangolunda and Bahia Santa Cruz. Chahue is currently under development and growing. Conejos, Tangolunda, Chahue and Santa Cruz are all accessible by car. The rest are enjoyed from boat trips which are easily arranged for at the harbor.

Huatulco offers activities for travelers of all ages and interests. Families can enjoy a wide variety of beach front hotels for a special getaway while golf enthusiasts and singles can try the majestic Golf Club and high-energy discotheques in Tangolunda Bay. The Tangolunda Golf Club is one of the best golf courses in Huatulco, featuring 18 holes, par 72, and a course measuring 6,851 yards.

Some of the best ways to explore Huatulco is via sea excursions, horseback riding and dune buggy. Several water sports such as coral reef diving, water skiing and sailing in San Agustin Bay and Isla Blanca are also available, along with exciting trips to coffee plantations in the mountains. Bicycles for rent in Santa Cruz and La Crucecita are ideal for experienced cyclists interested in long-distance rides and gorgeous sightseeing. More adventurous travelers can head to Huatulco«s whitewater rapids in Rio Copalito for a thrilling ride.

Like all of Mexico's major resorts, Huatulco Bay offers several places to have a drink or go dancing, including the Magic Circus and Polson discotheques. La Crucecita features a number of French restaurants at affordable prices; Tangolunda and the Casa Real, at the Sheraton Hotel, offers Oaxacan and European specialties; and the Cavendish restaurant bar in the Punta Tangolunda Mall is known for its Caribbean delights.

Shopping is another popular diversion in the city, with several places carrying craftwork from different parts of Oaxaca. The most popular place to find local artwork is the handicrafts market in the Plaza de Bahia de Santa Cruz, while shops in La Crucecita and Tangolunda, including Plateria Malti, La Placita and El Arte Mexicano, carry fine art and trendy clothes.

Huatulco is a vacation paradise surrounded by wonderfully lush vegetation and dreamy Pacific beaches. The city is an ideal place for enjoying nature's adventurous marvels and man's ingenious creativity.