Huatulco’s bays are the reason most people visit, but the surrounding Oaxacan coast hides remarkable variety: bohemian beach towns, cliff-diving at Puerto Ángel, Mexico’s best mole just 5 hours north in Oaxaca City, and a Zapotec archaeological zone within 15 minutes of the marina.
Quick comparison
| Day Trip | Distance | Transport (each way) | Entry | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copalita ruins | 12 km | Taxi ~MXN $100 | ~MXN $75 | 1.5–2 hours |
| Zipolite + Puerto Ángel + Mazunte | 60–68 km | Car or colectivos ~MXN $150 | Free | Half–full day |
| Puerto Escondido | 75 km | OCC bus ~MXN $150 | Free | Half–full day |
| Pochutla market | 15 km | Colectivo ~MXN $20 | Free | Half day |
| Oaxaca City | 270 km | OCC bus ~MXN $400 | Museum varies | Full day (long) |
| Tehuantepec | 160 km | Car ~2 hrs | Free | Full day |
All costs approximate, as of 2026.
Copalita Eco-Archaeological Park - 12 km east, 15 minutes
The most accessible day trip from Huatulco and easily combined with a morning visit before hitting the bays. Zona Arqueológica Copalita contains Zapotec ruins - a small pyramid, ceremonial platform, and ball court - positioned dramatically above the mouth of the Copalita River where it meets the Pacific.
The adjacent eco-park adds bird-watching trails through riparian woodland: boat-billed herons, kingfishers, and occasional crocodiles in the river estuary below. Entry to the archaeological zone is approximately MXN $75 as of 2026; the eco-park trails are included. Arrive when it opens (9 am) to avoid midday heat. A taxi from La Crucecita costs approximately MXN $80–100 each way.
Zipolite, Puerto Ángel, and Mazunte - 60–70 km west, 1 hour
Three very different villages strung along 8 km of Oaxacan coast, all reachable in a single day:
Puerto Ángel (63 km) is a small fishing port with two sheltered bays - Playa Principal and the calmer Playa Panteón - where snorkelling is good and the pace is much slower than Huatulco. Local fish restaurants along Playa Panteón serve grilled fish and caldo de mariscos from approximately MXN $80–150.
Zipolite (65 km) is Mexico’s officially nudist beach, a long stretch of powerful Pacific surf with a bohemian community of long-stay travellers and low-key guesthouses. Participation is entirely optional; the beach is public and free. Swimming requires care - the undertow here is notoriously strong. Stick to the calmer western end.
Mazunte (68 km) is the former centre of Mexico’s turtle-oil industry, now a community-managed ecotourism hub. The Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga (turtle museum and release programme, entry approximately MXN $50) is the main attraction, with sea turtles in tanks and explanations of conservation work. Punta Cometa - the southernmost point of Oaxaca state - has a 30-minute trail to cliffs above the Pacific, popular at sunset.
Getting there: car (1 hour on Highway 200) or colectivos from La Crucecita via Pochutla (approximately MXN $50–70 total, 1.5 hours with connections).
Puerto Escondido - 75 km west, 1.5 hours
The surf capital of Oaxaca’s coast and the most visited beach town in the region after Huatulco. Zicatela Beach is one of the world’s premier big-wave surf breaks - Mexican Pipeline produces barrels that attract professional surfers during the October–February swell season. Non-surfers can watch from the beach or the row of restaurants on the main strip. Playa Principal (the town beach) and Playa Carrizalillo (a sheltered cove, approximately 20 minutes by taxi from the centre) are calmer and suitable for swimming.
Getting there: OCC bus from La Crucecita (approximately MXN $120–150 each way, 1.5–2 hours). Car rental allows you to stop at beaches along Highway 200 en route. The drive is scenic - green hills above the Pacific coast road.
Pochutla market - 15 km north, 20 minutes
The commercial centre for the entire coast, Pochutla hosts a Thursday and Saturday market where Zapotec communities from the surrounding mountains sell produce, textiles, and traditional crafts. It is a working market rather than a tourist one - the mezcal selection, dried chillies, and handwoven huipiles are significantly cheaper than Huatulco’s resort shops. Colectivos from La Crucecita run constantly (approximately MXN $15–20, 20 minutes). Allow 1–2 hours.
Tehuantepec - 160 km east, 2 hours
The cultural capital of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a region where Zapotec matriarchal culture remains visibly alive. Tehuantepec women are known for their elaborate traditional dress - embroidered huipiles, gold jewellery, and elaborate headdresses - particularly during local festivals (velas). The Mercado de Tehuantepec and the Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo (now the Casa de la Cultura) are the main cultural stops.
The town is unpretentious and has very few tourists. If you visit during a vela (community festival, various dates through the year), you will see traditional Zapotec dancing and dress in a completely authentic context. Getting there: car via Highway 200 east (2 hours). No practical direct bus from Huatulco.
Oaxaca City - 270 km north, 5 hours by car
The day trip that most requires staying overnight. That said, if you leave Huatulco by 6 am via the Tehuantepec toll route (fastest option, approximately 5 hours), you arrive in Oaxaca City by 11 am - enough time to visit the Mercado Benito Juárez, the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, and eat at one of the city’s renowned mole restaurants (La Biznaga from approximately MXN $180–250 per main, Casa Oaxaca from approximately MXN $300–450) before returning.
OCC buses run from La Crucecita to Oaxaca City (approximately MXN $350–420 each way, 6–7 hours) - too slow for a day trip but viable for an overnight.
Planning tips
- Combine Zipolite + Puerto Ángel + Mazunte in a single drive - all three are on the same coastal road and take most of a day done properly.
- Puerto Escondido for surf, Copalita for culture - these are the two most focused day trips.
- Oaxaca City as an overnight makes more sense than a round-trip drive; bus accommodation packages from La Crucecita start at approximately MXN $800–1,200 per person including the bus and a basic hotel night.
- Rent a car for the western coast road - it gives you freedom to stop at hidden beaches between Huatulco and Puerto Escondido that buses skip.
Plan your trip: car hire in Mexico · tours in Mexico · travel insurance.