Perhaps with an eye to the problems faced by Cancun in the Yucatan, the next big oceanside tourism project in Mexico has developed more cautiously. Huatulco, on the southwestern coast of Oaxaca, allegedly takes its name from a piece of wood left by the serpent god Quetzalcoatl, and until the mid-1980s was little more than a fishing village. Development is designed to respect the environment, and its 22 miles of coastline encompasses nine bays for swimming, turtle protection projects and--unusually for Mexico--nude bathing. The pace of life is slow, but it is ripe for exploration.
Choose your lodging. Huatulco is striving to avoid the excesses of previous Mexican developments by limiting the maximum building height to six stories and keeping long stretches of shoreline protected from the clusters of hotels and resorts. Most of the all-inclusive, upscale resorts are located in Tangolunda Bay, but there are cheaper options in the town of La Crucecita. Online listings are available from the tourist board.
Take to the water. There are 36 beaches in the Bahias de Huatulco National Park, offering a variety of activities from white water rafting to scuba dives, kayaking, fishing and surfing. Equipment is available to rent on the beaches. Santa Cruz Bay has especially good coral reefs, if you prefer to explore the ecological reserves.
Come ashore. Although it boasts crystalline waters and white sandy beaches, Huatulco also has jungle, coffee plantations and the hidden archaeological zone Punta Celeste in the Botazoo Ecological Park, where you can learn about the Zapotec culture.
Take a break. Between kayaking and cultural enlightenment, allow time to simply relax reading a book on the beach, taking in a round of golf, or indulging in a spa treatment at one of the top-notch hotels. The traditional temascal sweat lodge is often a feature and provides an interesting alternative to a massage.
Dine in style. When people speak of Mexican cuisine, they often neglect to mention the regional differences. Huatulco offers traditional Oaxacan fare like shrimp in mezcal, a tequila-like alcoholic beverage made from the maguey cactus. Seafood and grilled fish are favorites, with shrimp especially popular served in a local stew.
