Vacation Rental Description
Upscale resort. Concierge service. Fine dining. Magnificent surroundings. Exuberant vegetation. Chocolates on your pillow most nights.
The Pacific Ocean just outside. Rain forest jungle just outside. The rest of the world about a million miles away.
The Resort
Huatulco is the newest resort built by Fonatur (National Trust Fund for Tourism Development), Mexico’s government tourism development agency. It is located on the Pacific coast of the southwestern Mexican state of Oaxaca, at the foot of the southern tip of Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains, about 250 miles southwest of Acapulco. With mostly sunny days and an average annual temperature of 82F (28C), Huatulco combines comfort and contemporary luxury with a natural setting of rain forest, jungle, waterfalls and pristine rivers. It is the largest ecological reserve designated by the Mexican government, making it a truly a unique tourist destination which combines a very modern resort infrastructure within a large, undeveloped natural area. Huatulco features one of Mexico 's most abundant ecosystems, and a large part of this area has been designated as a national park.
The name Huatulco comes from the Náhuatl word cuaúhtolco, meaning “the place where the wood is adored,” since legend has it that the great civilizing god Quetzalcóatl left the inhabitants of the bay and port of Santa Cruz a wooden cross. The seat of the refined Zapotec culture, the region witnessed the movement of Spanish boats and violent pirate raids. Hernán Cortés used it to distribute the produce of his farms along the coast, which turned Huatulco into an extremely active port. This attracted pirates during the second half of the 16th century, including famous Francis Drake and Thomas Cavendish, causing the local inhabitants to flee. Thereafter the place was a fishing village, until the Mexican government began developing it as a planned tourist complex in 1983.
The Bays
Huatulco is truly one of the most beautiful areas on the Mexican Pacific Coast . It stretches from east to west along 18 miles of coastline and encompasses nine pristine bays, Conejos, Tangolunda, Chahue, Santa Cruz , Maguey, Organo, Cacaluta, Chachacual and San Agustin. So far, three major bays have been developed: Tangolunda, Santa Cruz , and Chahue.
Tangolunda Bay is home to luxury hotels (Camino Real Zaashila and Quinta Real being the best), two commercial centers, restaurants, and an 18-hole golf course.
Chahue Bay is the newest development. There are several restaurants with more under construction.
Santa Cruz Bay was originally a small fishing village. Upscale and palapa style restaurants line the beach. Santa Cruz also has several small shopping areas and the marina where you can rent a boat and visit other bays and beaches. You will also find the Playa La Entrega beach on this bay. The beaches here are excellent for swimming. La Entrega has a great coral reef just offshore for easy snorkeling.
The most eastern bay is Conejos Bay. It is not yet developed, and it is protected by steep cliffs. You will find there a small restaurant where you can enjoy simple fresh seafood, and a cold beer. You can walk across the short ridge and snorkel on Playa Maguey. There is a beautiful coral reef and there are rock formations. This small bay is lined with restaurants and palapas.
Oregano, Cacaluta (with high sand dunes), and Chachacual bays are undeveloped, accessed only by boat or hiking. According to the development plan, much of this area will remain in its natural state.
San Augustin is the most western bay. It can be accessed only by boat or dirt road. It is well worth the time to visit the remote fishing village here and Playa Coyote for a spectacular sunset. Its many reefs make it ideal for diving.
Facilities
Cable Satellite
Cleaning Service
Cooking Utensils
DVD
Jacuzzi
Kitchen
Linen Service
Microwave
Amenity Parking
Refrigerator
Shared Pool
Sterio
TV
The Camino Real Zaashila Hotel Amenities
- 984 feel long (300 metres) private beach - never crowded
- Two swimming pools - one of them is a 394 feet long (120 metres) free-form pool
- Pool for little children
- Outdoor jacuzzi
- Tennis courts
- Massage cabin
- Fitness center
- Gift shop
- Baby-sitting service (upon request)
- Reception hall
- Business center
- Meeting rooms
- Twenty-four hour room service
- Taxi service
- Currency exchange service
Camino Real Zaashila Hotel was voted one of the best in Mexico by Conde Nast Traveler
Activities
Adventure Sports
Biking
Boating
Playground
Cinema
Fishing
Gym
Horse Riding
Hunting/Rock Climbing
Kayaking
Mountain Biking
Night Clubs
Restaurant
Sailing
Shopping
Rafting
Tennis
Water Skiing
Water Sports
Besides enjoying Camino Real Zaashila’s secluded beach, pool, jacuzzi, tennis, massage etc., you can also book many fun things through the hotel travel agency or nearby La Crucecita town, including, but not limited to:
- Boat tour of the bays
- Snorkeling
- Scuba diving
- Deep sea fishing
- Jet skiing
- Four hour ATV tour through the rain forest jungle
- Rappelling the walls of Punta Celeste, Piedra de Moros, and the waterfalls of the Copalita river
- Rafting through the rapids of the Copalita River .
- Hiking
- Golf
- Horseback riding
- Tour to the coffee plantations where "Pluma", the best coffee in Mexico, is grown
- Tour to historic Oaxaca (by plane or bus)
- Surfing enthusiasts can visit Puerto Escondido, one of the top four world championship surfing places. It is just 50 miles away, and a rental car is about $100 a day.