Honest Bays of Huatulco Tour Review
TL;DR
A full-day boat tour that shows you Huatulco’s coastline – but maybe not in the way you’d expect.
If you’re planning a trip to Huatulco, chances are you’ve already come across the Bays of Huatulco boat tour. It’s advertised everywhere – and for good reason. With nine bays, 30+ beaches, and crystal-clear water, it sounds like the obvious thing to do.
However, once you start looking more closely, it becomes a bit confusing. Which tour should you book? Which bays do you visit? And is it really worth a full day of your trip?
We had the exact same questions, so we booked a full-day tour of the Bays of Huatulco to see what it’s really like.
In our review, we’ll walk you through the actual itinerary, what surprised us (good and bad), and what we wish we had known beforehand – so you can decide if this tour fits your travel style.
Because while this is the main activity in Huatulco, it may not match your expectations.
Bays of Huatulco Tour Review
We chose this Full Day Tour of the Bays of Huatulco as it’s the best rated most affordable tour we found online:
Huatulco Bays Map
Bays of Huatulco Boat Tour Itinerary
This is the itinerary for the Full Day Tour of the Bays of Huatulco that we took. Your tour might vary due to weather conditions or other circumstances.
1. Sailing along the Bays of Hutulco
We were picked up at our accommodation on time and brought to the marina, where we boarded our boat.
We started to sail west, driving by the beautiful bays and beaches like La Entrega, Maguey, El Organo and Bahia de Cacaluta.
During the drive, we heard stories about pirates, coups, and of course, the movie "Y tu mama tambien”.
2. Bahía Chachacual
Our first long stop of the day took place at Bahia Chachacual, a beautiful deserted beach. The only infrastructure is beach chairs and umbrellas, which you can rent from the locals (300 pesos). You can also buy drinks here.
We opted to go snorkelling here and saw some fish and coral.
We spent a total of two hours at this beach, which is not too much if you want to go snorkelling and relax for a bit.
3. Huatulco National Park
Next, we drove through Huatulco National Park, where we saw a cool blowhole, also known as the Bufadero and a rock formation that looks like a face called Rostro Mixteco.
4. Bahia Maguey
Our last stop of the day was Bahia Maguey. Here, we had two hours to have lunch, snorkel, and relax a bit more.
The bay is lined with restaurants. We were recommended a communal restaurant by our guide, but theoretically, we could have chosen one of the other spots as well. The seafood here is fresh, but we found it very pricey.
The western part of the beach is quieter, with no restaurants and is nice for snorkelling.
At the end of the tour, we returned to the marina from where we were shuttled back to our hostal.
Bays of Huatulco Tour – Our Honest Opinion
Overall, we enjoyed the day trip, but there are a few things worth knowing before you book.
In terms of structure, the tour is fairly standardised. There are only two real stops, and from what we saw, most group tours follow the exact same route and schedule. That said, it didn’t feel overcrowded. There were other boats around, but it was far from chaotic.
If we could change one thing, we would swap Bahía Maguey for a second, more remote bay. Maguey is convenient and lively, but it lacked the untouched feel we loved at Chachacual.
Note that personally, we didn’t see any dolphins, turtles, or whales. They can appear, but this is one of those things (like all wildlife encounters) that simply can’t be guaranteed – so it shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
The biggest downside is that the online description is a bit misleading. You only drive by Bahía de Cacaluta – even though it’s one of the most famous bays (thanks to “Y tu mamá también”), you don’t actually stop there. If that beach is high on your list, this tour might feel a little disappointing.
If you’re set on visiting more remote spots like Bahía de Cacaluta, a private boat tour is the better option – but you’ll pay significantly more for that flexibility (here’s an example of a private tour if you want to compare).
One thing we did appreciate: our boat was noticeably more comfortable than others we saw, which made a difference over a full day on the water.
What Other Travellers Say About the Bays of Huatulco Tour
⭐ Rating: 4.2 / 5 (227+ reviews)
Amazing day in the water from whales to snorkeling We are traveling on the Princess Cruise Ship and decided to take this tour and we are so happy we chose it. We had the best day of our entire trip. Visited the most beautiful bay (India Bay) the water is pristine. We enjoyed snorkeling and swimming there. Then we visited a different bay for lunch which was delicious and swimming. Got to see three humpback whales (bonus)!!! Our guides were so friendly and professional. They provided us with drinks on boat and guided our snorkeling trip. They also made sure we returned on time before our cruise departure time. I highly recommend this tour. Excellent communication from before the trip and excellent service throughout the trip. Five stars all the way!!!!
– Barbara (see more reviews)
Bays of Huatulco Tour Include?
The Bays of Huatulco Tour includes:
- Pick up/drop off in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
- Soda/Pop/Bottled water
We did get a beer about which we (as Germans) would never complain.
Conclusion: Is the Bays of Huatulco Tour Worth It?
Yes – but with the right expectations.
This boat tour is not a hidden-gems kind of experience. It’s a well-trodden route with fixed stops, and you won’t see every one of the nine bays up close.
However, hopping the bays is the main activity in Huatulco, and if you want an easy, cost-efficient way to experience the coastline, it’s a solid choice. Booking online is straightforward and saves you the hassle of negotiating locally.
Where We Stayed in Huatulco
We decided to stay in La Crucecita as this is where you can find the most affordable hotel and food options.
Specifically, we stayed at Hostal Azul y Blanco, which we can fully recommend. The location is very central, there’s a communal kitchen, and it’s super clean. They have dorms and private rooms.
The thing we loved most was the cosy rooftop terrace with hammocks.
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