Huatulco from Zipolite
The state tourism office describes Huatulco as 9 bays and 36 beaches along about 35 km of coast. The bays are Cacaluta, Chachacual, Chahué, Conejos, Órgano, Maguey, San Agustín, Santa Cruz and Tangolunda. The figures describe the destination as a whole. They do not mean that every beach lies inside the national park.
For a visitor staying in Zipolite, Huatulco is a day trip to the east. A hotel in Zipolite puts the Huatulco airport (HUX) at about 1 hour by car. The airport and the bays are not the same place, so a trip to a bay is a separate leg. This page is not a full Huatulco guide. It covers what you need to decide whether and how to go.
The national park: fee, hours and access
What the park authority lists.
Fee
The park authority lists MXN 125 per person and day. Free entry applies to children under 12, older adults, retirees and people with disabilities, with valid proof where needed. Students and teachers with a card get 75 percent off. Mexican visitors and foreign residents of Mexico with proof get 50 percent off. The listing carries no tariff year, so confirm the fee when you go.
Hours
The park is listed as open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Approved research and autonomous night diving are the stated exceptions. Check with your operator about parking and any booking requirement.
How you get in
For boat trips the authority points to the Santa Cruz dock or to authorized tour operators. Land routes are named as Zanate, Cruz del Monte and Sabanal. Boat tour prices are set by the operator, so check whether the park fee is included or comes on top.
Our picks: starting in Huatulco
A boat tour of the bays and a day trip to Zipolite.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Day trip to Zipolite's clothing-optional beach
Hotel transfer, a bilingual guide and driver, beach club entry and MXN 250 off the brunch bill per person. Other food and drinks and tips are extra; for guests aged 18 and over.
Check availability →
Huatulco bays boat tour with snorkelling
Hotel transfer, water and soft drinks. The national park ticket is not included.
Check availability →Tours and day trips from Zipolite
Boat trips, snorkeling, turtles and coast excursions, with live prices and availability.
Getting from Zipolite to the bays
By car it is about 1 hour from a Zipolite hotel to the airport, and the bays are a further leg from there. Taxis and private transfers are the simplest option. By public transport the usual chain runs through Pochutla. A travel report from December 2025 lists a colectivo from Zipolite to Pochutla for MXN 40 and about 35 minutes, paid in cash, then a van from Pochutla toward Huatulco for MXN 50 and about 55 minutes, with road works. Those are dated examples and not fixed prices.
The report also notes that Pochutla has its own minivan stop toward Huatulco. A direct public line from the airport terminal to Zipolite is not listed. The last local departure back is not listed, so work it out before you leave Zipolite and decide whether you can return the same day. The getting there guide has all the routes and prices.
Whale season and other timing
What to know before you pick a date.
The approved whale watching season for the Huatulco national park and other listed sites ran from 15 December 2025 to 21 March 2026. Check the 2026/27 dates before you plan around whales, and treat a sighting as a possibility, not a promise.
The rainy months bring heavy rain and a risk of storms from the eastern Pacific hurricane season, which officially runs from 15 May to 30 November. The weather guide shows the rainfall by month. After a storm warning, such as the one for Hurricane Polo on 21 September 2026 with forecast waves of 2 to 3 m and possible rip currents, the sea along this coast can be rough. Ask the boat operator whether a trip is running.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Park fee | MXN 125 per person and day, with listed reductions |
| Park hours | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily |
| Boat access | Santa Cruz dock or authorized operators |
| Whale season 2025/26 | 15 December 2025 to 21 March 2026 |
| Airport to Zipolite | About 1 hour by car |
| Boat tour prices, parking, return times | Confirm with the operator |
Is Huatulco worth the day?
A short comparison with the nearer coast.
Huatulco suits a boat day, snorkeling or a change of scene from the Zipolite coast. If you have only a short stay, the beaches nearer to Zipolite need no transfer: San Agustinillo, Mazunte and Punta Cometa are all close.
Huatulco: frequently asked questions
How far is Huatulco from Zipolite?
A Zipolite hotel gives about 1 hour by car to Huatulco airport. The airport and the bays are not the same place, so the exact trip depends on the bay you pick. Allow extra time.
How much is the Huatulco national park fee?
MXN 125 per person and day, as listed in October 2026. Children under 12 are free. Students and teachers with a card get 75 percent off, and Mexican visitors and foreign residents with proof get 50 percent off. Confirm the fee at the time of your visit.
Is the park fee included in a boat tour?
That differs by operator. Ask before you book, and keep cash for the fee in case it is not included.
Are all the bays inside the national park?
No. The figures of 9 bays and 36 beaches describe the destination. They do not mean that all beaches lie inside the park.
Can I do Huatulco as a day trip from Zipolite?
Yes, by car or taxi. With public transport you change in Pochutla and the day gets long. Work out the return before you leave.
When is whale season?
The approved 2025/26 season ran from 15 December 2025 to 21 March 2026. Check the 2026/27 dates before you plan, and note that sightings are not guaranteed.