Snorkeling in Huatulco: An Incredible Underwater Adventure

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Wondering about snorkeling in Huatulco?  Situated on a sunny stretch of Mexico’s southern Pacific coastline and dotted with 36 sheltered beaches, a wealth of dive sites and extraordinary sea life, this region offers some of the best snorkeling in Mexico.

In fact, taking a snorkeling tour is one of the top things to do in Huatulco for people who love outdoor adventure. 

I’ve been exploring the state of Oaxaca since my first visit in 2003. Between living in Puerto Escondido and researching Mexico’s Pacific Coast for Fodor’s Oaxaca Travel Guide and Lonely Planet’s Mexico from the Source, I’ve spent many months in that Bahias de Huatulco region.

It’s one of my favourite places to snorkel! This detailed guide offers tips on where to find the best snorkeling in Huatulco whether you’re looking for a guided tour excursion or just planning to snorkel from shore.

Underwater Life at Huatulco National Park 

I’ve enjoyed snorkeling everywhere from the Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park to Santorini, Greece.

While the Pacific Coast of Mexico is not as well known for its underwater attractions, much of the coastline around Huatulco is protected from development and well worth exploring.

Declared a national park in 1998, Bahías de Huatulco National Park or Huatulco National Park is one of the largest protected areas in southern Mexico.

This helps support rich marine life and healthy reefs which make for good snorkeling and scuba diving.

Marine Life in Huatulco

On a Huatulco snorkel tour, you can expect to see olive ridley sea turtles as well as several species of fish including parrotfish, needle fish, grouper, snapper, angelfish as well as manta rays and eagle rays.

You may even see a seahorse, one of the world’s cutest fish breeds. They inhabit the waters of the Pacific and are often seen around Huatulco.  

It’s also possible to snorkel directly from the shore of several of Huatulco’s top beaches.

While you won’t see as much marine life as you would on a snorkeling tour, snorkeling from the beach is still a memorable (and inexpensive) experience.

Choosing the Best Huatulco Snorkeling Tours

There are several types of snorkeling tours in Huatulco.

You can choose from a 7-hour or a 4-hour tour of the Bays of Huatulco, on either a private tour or a group tour (colectivo) where you’ll be sharing a boat with other people.

The advantages of taking a boat tour include:

• Being able to snorkel in remote bays such as Bahia San Agustin, Bahia de Cacaluta and Chachacual Bay, home to Playa La India, known for its incredible white sand. Many of Huatulco’s bays are difficult to access without a boat as you need to hike through the jungle or drive down a dusty trail to find them.
• Boat tours include free time for lunch, water sports and relaxing at beach restaurants.
• A guide can help identify marine life you might miss on your own.
• Snorkel gear is provided.
• You’ll enjoy panoramic sightseeing. Highlights include El Faro (lighthouse) and impressive rock formations such as “Bufadero” a large blow hole on the coast.

Group Tours

Full day group tours generally take 7 hours and begin at the Santa Cruz marina. They pass by La Entrega beach and travel along the shore so you can see famous rock formations such as the blowhole “Bufadero”.

The tour boat will pass through the waters of the Bahias de Huatulco National Park where you may see dolphins, sea turtles and even the occasional whale during the migration season.

The snorkeling portion of the tour usually includes a stop for snorkeling at Chachacual, home to the two beautiful beaches of Playa Chachacual and Playa La India. The lunch stop is at Maguey Beach, also known for its snorkeling.

Scroll down for more specifics on snorkeling at these beaches.

Check rates and availability of a Full Day Tour of the Bays of Huatulco on Viator.com. 

Private Tour

If you’re travelling with a family or group of friends, it’s worth considering a Private Tour of the Bays of Huatulco. 

Not only will you get picked up and dropped off at your Huatulco hotel but a private tour will include a visit to Playa San Agustin, the furthest beach in Huatulco’s bays.

You’ll also have more flexibility and can spend more time at La India Beach.

Check rates and availability of a  Private Tour of the Bays of Huatulco on Viator.com. 

Scuba Diving in Huatulco

If you’re interested in diving, another option is to take a tour with Hurricane Divers, a leading PADI Dive Center in Huatulco. diving courses and diving tours.

new to scuba diving? You might want to try their Discover Scuba Diving program.

It includes 20 minutes of online instruction on the basics and the opportunity to go on real dive with your instructor.

Huatulco’s Unpolluted Water Offers Prime Snorkeling in Mexico 

When it comes to clean, non-polluted waters, Huatulco offers some of the best snorkeling in Mexico.

The beaches in Huatulco  consistently receive high marks for cleanliness by SEMARNAT, the government agency that monitors the water quality of the beaches in Mexico.

Three times a year they publish water quality results measuring the enterrococcus fecal bacteria levels. A score of more than 200 per 100 milliliters of water means swimming is unsafe and the waters are too polluted for human health.

Under its Clean Beaches Program, the agency monitors 15  beaches and 17 sites within the three main tourism areas of Oaxaca. Generally, the beaches in Huatulco receive the best score for cleanliness.

That’s important if you’re planning on spending a lot of time in the water.

Importance of Safety 

Anyone who has read my post the Beginner’s Guide to Snorkeling Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Museum, knows that although I love the ocean, I’m not the most confident swimmer. 

When deciding on a snorkeling excursion, it’s extra important to choose a safe tour operator.

When booking a snorkeling tour in Huatulco look for modern boats with canopies for shade as well as life vests, mobile phones, safety equipment and first aid kits.

If you’re taking a full day tour, the boat should be large enough to handle the larger waves of the Pacific Ocean in the distant coves.

If you’re not an experienced swimmer, study what to do if you find yourself caught in a rip current BEFORE you go.

Snorkeling Tours to Chachacual Bay

A top place to snorkel in Huatulco is at Chachacual Bay, home to the two beautiful beaches of Playa Chachacual and Playa La India.

During my half-day Private Group Snorkel Tour, we stopped at the pristine waters of Chachacual Bay. The waters were teeming with a fascinating type of sea creature  — sardines!

Compared to swimming with dolphins, swimming with sardines probably doesn’t rank high on the lifetime bucket list for most people.

But, as I plunged headfirst into a school of thousands of the graceful acrobats, I discovered that the tiny silver fish has its own special charms.

They shape-shifted from a shadowy cloud into a shimmering ribbon of silver that swirled around my body like a wisp of fine silk.

Then, moving in unison, they morphed again – this time into a blanket that blocked out the sunlight and threw the coral reef into darkness. 

It was really a magical experience. 

While many boat tours include a brief stop at Chachacual Bay. If you’re looking to experience more time at this tranquil beach, I recommend taking a private boat tour to Chachacual Bay.

While more expensive than the larger boats, a private boat tour (up to 8 people) allows you to spend more time at this quiet, pristine beach rather than at the busier beaches usually included on full-day group tours.

The privacy and flexible arrival and departure times makes this an especially good option for families or couples.

Check rates and availability of a Private Snorkel Tour to Chachacual Bay on Viator.com.

Snorkeling at Cacaluta Island in Cacaluta Bay

Another popular place for snorkeling in Huatulco is Cacaluta Bay. Here a coral plate stretches for 300m at depths of between 2 to 12 metres.

The marine life is so abundant and the coral so colourful around Cacaluta Island, it’s known as Las Jardines or the gardens.

“Watch for strings of gas bubbles escaping from between the rocks on the bottom” said our guide as we anchored in open water. “You may find sea turtles and Nurse Sharks resting in the gaps in the coral.”

Deciding to drip-dry for a few stops, I soaked up the panorama of sun and sea. Manta rays leaped above the water’s surface and plumes of crystal spray shot out of a nearby blowhole.

Top Huatulco Beaches for Snorkeling from Shore

While taking a Huatulco snorkeling tour is the best way to see the most variety of fish, it’s possible to experience some rewarding snorkeling from shore in Huatulco.

Here’s a summary of the best beaches where you can simply step into the water and begin snorkeling.

1. Snorkeling at San Agustín Beach 

When it comes to variety of fish, abundant coral and calm waters, you don’t want to miss snorkeling in the Bahia San Agustin.

This western bay in the Bahías de Huatulco area has incredible, sapphire-blue waters and offers the best snorkeling in Huatulco.

Located an hour by boat and a 450 MXN Peso ($30 USD) cab ride one-way from the taxi stand at Santa Cruz Marina, San Agustín Beach is relatively deserted, apart from a few seafood palapas (thatched huts). 

It’s one of the best beaches in Huatulco for swimming and snorkeling.

It flanks Huatulco National Park, a 119 sq. km. ecological reserve at the base of the Sierra Madre Sur and is located 1.7 km past the Huatulco International Airport (HUX).

We often rent a car so we can spend the whole day here.

Check for the best car rental rates at Discovercars.com

If you take a full day boat tour, you’ll visit Bahia San Agustin as one of the first stops and anchor offshore.

With its sheltered calm waters and underwater visibility of up to 18 metres, even novice swimmers can spot florescent damsel fish, spiny black sea urchins and eels ducking through the crevasses of the coral reef.

You can rent snorkel gear (including mask, life vest and flippers) for 150 MXN pesos for the day from the stand beside Mar & Luz restaurant.

The tide pools teem with tropical fish. Much as with Playa Agua Blanca further south, the calm waters are a perfect place for young children to get comfortable in the water.

2. Snorkeling from the Beach at La Entrega

While this centrally-located beach is one of the most popular beaches in Huatulco, it’s got surprisingly good for snorkeling from shore.

The secret to success here (and good water visibility) is to arrive early in the morning mid-week. You’ll avoid the crowds of tour buses as well as boat traffic.

At the shoreline, there are quite a few rock formations just below the water’s surface. They attract all types of tropical fish.

Float in shallow waters bursting with blue-spotted coronet fish, sargeant majors and yellow-tailed sturgeon.

If you don’t have flippers, you should wear water shoes. The rocks can be sharp and/or slippery at the edges of the outcroppings.

If you’re on a cruise, La Entrega is the best beach for snorkeling from shore. It’s 60 MXN pesos ($4 USD or $5 CAD) taxi fare one-way from the Santa Cruz Marina near the cruise ship pier. There are lots of taxis waiting to return to the ship.

This beach has lots of amenities including showers, restaurants and public washrooms.

3. Snorkeling at Santa Cruz Beach

It’s even possible to snorkel right in the bay of Santa Cruz, one of the main beaches in Huatulco.

In addition to being home to the cruise ship pier, the Santa Cruz marina is where you book snorkeling tours, sightseeing tours and sports fishing expeditions for sailfish, marlin and tuna.

The closest hotel in the Santa Cruz harbour is the Holiday Inn Huatulco. It features clean rooms with balconies, a full service restaurant, a Starbucks and an outdoor swimming pool with a view. 

Check rates and availability at the Holiday Inn Huatulco, an IHG Hotel, on Booking.com. 

4. Snorkeling at Maguey Beach at Bahia de Maguey

Although water clarity is very good at Maguey Beach and there are no steep drop offs or strong undertows, this beach can get busy.

It’s a popular lunch stop for many boat tours so again it’s wise to arrive early in the day.

For the best snorkeling head to the rocks past Restaurante Las Hamacas (Google Map) at the southern end of the beach.

5. Snorkeling at Tangolunda Beach

It’s also possible to do some snorkeling from the shore at Dreams Resort & Spa and the Barceló Huatulco Resort & Spa on Bahia Tangolunda, one of Huatulco’s best beaches.

There are often quite a few fish in the sheltered waters in front of the rocks at the northeast end of the beach.

Even small children can wade into the water to float with a snorkel mask and be amazed by the quantities of fish.

However, public access to Tangolunda Beach is at the western end of the beach. This means you’ll have to walk the entire stretch of the beach to reach the best snorkeling.

Bring your own chairs and shade as there are no public restaurants or amenities.

Snorkeling at Conejos Bay  

To a lesser extent you can also snorkel at Secrets Resort & Spa, where you’ll need to wait for low tide and cross over the rocks at the end of Conejos Bay to find the best snorkeling area.

Be wary of ocean conditions if you choose to swim here as the undertow and currents can be strong. 

Overall, Conejos Beach isn’t an ideal place to snorkel from the shore. Your best bet is take a boat tour.

Snorkeling in Huatulco: Tips and Gear  

Reef-Safe Sunscreen

According to the environmental protection organization Marine Safe and many other sources, “swimmer pollution” is a major cause of declining coral reefs in many parts of the world, including the Caribbean, the Red Sea, Costa Rica and anywhere humans get into the water on or near a reef.

Chemicals in sunscreen such as oxybenzone induce coral bleaching and are genotoxic which means it damages coral DNA. Oxybenzone is also toxic to algae, sea urchins, fish and mammals.

Concentrations of oxybenzone are growing around nearshore reefs are already within the range of being a significant environmental threat so it’s important to take action to reduce the chemicals in our ocean now.

To reduce your impact when snorkeling, try to use sunclothes to protect against UV exposure and reduce the amount of sunscreen you use. You can reduce the quantity of sunscreen you use by 90%  if you apply it only to your face, back of hands, neck and feet and use a biodegradable suntan lotion such as Badger SPF 35 Sport Sunscreen Cream.

Renting Snorkel Gear in Huatulco

While most tour operators include snorkel gear as part of their rental rate, the quality of the gear can vary widely.

You can also rent snorkeling equipment such as vest, mask and flippers for $150 – 300 MXN pesos ($9 USD to $20 USD) a day at most beaches.

Best Snorkel Masks

While most tours do supply snorkeling masks and fins, If you want to have the best and safest snorkeling experience, it’s wise to travel with your own snorkel kit.

At minimum, invest in a mask and snorkel. I travel with a custom snorkel mask that’s been fitted with prescription lenses. It cost $200 but has lasted me for years and is virtually indestructible.

Some people prefer to snorkel with a full-face snorkel mask for comfort, visibility and enhanced protection from water leakages. If you do, then you’ll need to bring your own.

If you’re considering purchasing a full face snorkel mask, consult this Guide to Buying a Full Face Snorkel Mask comparing different brands.

It’s important to invest in a good quality full face snorkel mask. Low-cost, poor-quality imitations have the potential for CO2 build-up. Head straps can be too tight and difficult to remove in an emergency.

Other Sightseeing Tours of the Bays of Huatulco

It’s also possible to see several species of dolphins on a boat tour of the Bahías de Huatulco.

It’s especially exciting to see spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins and other playful types of dolphins as you travel between the bays.

Another opportunity when taking a tour of Huatulco’s bays is seeing migrating humpback whales as they head south in December and return north in March.

Getting to Huatulco

Located in the southern state of Oaxaca two hours from Puerto Escondido, it’s 185 km south of Acapulco and closer to Guatemala than major Mexican cities.

Yet its isolation doesn’t mean you’ll be roughing it. Much like Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, Huatulco was developed by Fonatur, the Mexican government agency.

A massive injection of cash created an impressive infrastructure of wide boulevards, luxury marinas, beach amenities and a modern sewage treatment system.

Yet it remains surrounded by stretches of undisturbed wilderness.

With flights to Huatulco increasing, the region’s peaceful seclusion may not last long. But for now, the beaches and clear blue waters are free of crowds.And great for snorkeling!

Other Fun Things to Do in Oaxaca, Mexico  

This article was originally published in 2018 but was updated in 2024 with new images and information.

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