Huatulco Gateway
The Barra de la Cruz and Salina Cruz end of the Oaxaca & Salina Cruz zone starts at Bahías de Huatulco International Airport (HUX). This is the logistics page for the connection: where to sleep, where to eat, how transfers and rentals work, and where to find a surf shop.
Getting There
Bahías de Huatulco International Airport (HUX) is the standard arrival point for Barra de la Cruz, about 29 miles and 45 minutes east, and for the Salina Cruz camps, about a 2.5-hour transfer that is typically arranged by the camp itself (reported on the Oaxaca & Salina Cruz zone page). American Airlines flies direct from Dallas-Fort Worth on a seasonal window, roughly March to April, Volaris has run seasonal Chicago service, and the domestic feed from Mexico City is strong (reported).
No visa is needed for tourism on a US or EU passport. The FMM tourist permit is single-entry, the officer sets the number of days up to a ceiling of 180, and it cannot be extended (reported on the Mexico entry page). Flying in, the MXN 983 fee is already inside your ticket, and the airline or a counter hands you the paper FMM: fill it in by hand and keep the exit half for check-in. Rules depend on your passport, so check the official source before you book. The full list is in Getting Into Mexico.
Getting Out of the Airport
- Barra de la Cruz: about 29 miles, 45 minutes east of the airport (reported on the zone page).
- Salina Cruz camps: about a 2.5-hour transfer, typically arranged by the camp itself (reported).
- Taxi and transfer: airport taxis and local transfer services are listed below.
- Rental car: local rental offices are listed below. International rental brands are left out.
Other Gateways for This Zone
- Huatulco (HUX): the standard arrival for Barra de la Cruz and the Salina Cruz camps (this page).
- Puerto Escondido (PXM): the closest airport to the Puerto Escondido hub. See the Puerto Escondido Gateway.
- Oaxaca City (OAX): the drive-down route to the coast takes about 2.5-3 hours on the new autopista (reported on the zone page).
For the full route notes, see the Oaxaca & Salina Cruz Getting There section.
Stays
La Crucecita and the Bays
- Hotel Olas HuatulcoLa Crucecita Hotel with a high rating from nearly 200 reviews. About 3 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 190 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hotel Boutique Bindani'Huatulco Boutique hotel with a top rating from over 100 reviews. About 2 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hostal Azul y BlancoLa Crucecita Hostel-style hotel with a high rating from nearly 400 reviews. About 2 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 380 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Delphinus InnLa Crucecita Hotel with a solid rating from over 650 reviews. About 2 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4 from about 660 reviews. Google Maps listing
Near the Airport
- Hotel Aeropuerto Express HuatulcoHuatulco Hotel near the airport, with a modest rating from a small number of reviews. About 1 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 3.9 from 17 reviews. Google Maps listing
Few places to stay sit near the airport, so most travelers sleep in La Crucecita or the bays and transfer in.
Where to Eat
Seafood and Local Cooking
- Restaurante La ChicatanaLa Crucecita Mexican restaurant with a high rating from over 1,200 reviews. About 2 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 1,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Blu HuatulcoLa Crucecita Fusion restaurant with a high rating from over 300 reviews. About 2 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 330 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Restaurant MacuilSanta Cruz Huatulco Seafood restaurant with a high rating from over 150 reviews. About 1 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 160 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Bladu’Yú RestaurantLa Crucecita Mexican restaurant with a high rating from nearly 700 reviews. About 2 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 690 reviews. Google Maps listing
Coffee and Bakeries
- Casa del CaféSanta Cruz Huatulco Coffee shop with a high rating from over 300 reviews. About 1 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 310 reviews. Google Maps listing
- West Park CaféLa Crucecita Breakfast restaurant with a high rating from nearly 500 reviews. About 3 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 500 reviews. Google Maps listing
- La Panadería de NavarroLa Crucecita Bakery with a high rating, from a small number of reviews. About 3 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 35 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Airport Taxis and Transfers
- Taxi HuatulcoHuatulco Taxi service with a high rating from nearly 190 reviews. About 14 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 180 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Taxi Aeropuerto HuatulcoHuatulco Airport taxi service with a solid rating from over 80 reviews. About 1 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from 83 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Oscar HuatulcoSanta María Huatulco Transport service with a top rating, from a small number of reviews. About 14 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 29 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transfers to Barra de la Cruz and the Salina Cruz camps are typically arranged by the camp itself (reported on the zone page), so ask your camp before you book a taxi.
Car Rental
- Mex Rent a CarHuatulco Local car rental with a high rating from over 200 reviews. About 1 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 220 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Mobalo Renta de AutosLa Crucecita Local car rental with a high rating from over 120 reviews. About 13 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 120 reviews. Google Maps listing
- HUXCAR RentalLa Crucecita Local car rental with a high rating from nearly 70 reviews. About 12 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 69 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Xplor Car RentalSanta Cruz Huatulco Local car rental with a high rating from nearly 70 reviews. About 14 km from Huatulco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from 69 reviews. Google Maps listing
International rental brands are left out. Check your insurance and licence rules before you drive.
Board & Luggage Storage
We found no dedicated board-repair business in Huatulco that we could place with confidence, and every luggage-storage listing we found belongs to a network, which we leave out. Ask your hotel to hold board bags.
Surf Shops
- Huatulco Surf CompanyHuatulco Surf shop with a top rating from nearly 60 reviews. About 5 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 58 reviews. Google Maps listing
- CafésurfSanta Cruz Huatulco Surf shop with a high rating, from a small number of reviews. About 1 km from La Crucecita in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from 22 reviews. Google Maps listing
We found no dedicated board-repair business in Huatulco that we could place with confidence, so sort out repairs before you travel or ask a shop. Every luggage-storage listing we found belongs to a network, which we leave out, so ask your hotel to hold board bags.
Getting Out to the Zones
Oaxaca & Salina Cruz: see Getting There. For the other airport on this coast, see the Puerto Escondido Gateway.
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for Barra de la Cruz and Salina Cruz?
Huatulco (HUX) is the standard arrival point for both, with Barra de la Cruz about 45 minutes east and the Salina Cruz camps about 2.5 hours away (reported on the zone page).
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
No visa is needed for tourism on a US or EU passport. You get an FMM tourist permit on arrival, up to 180 days at the officer's discretion, and it cannot be extended (reported on the Mexico entry page). Check the official source for your passport.
Are there direct flights to Huatulco?
American Airlines flies direct from Dallas-Fort Worth on a seasonal window, roughly March to April, and Volaris has run seasonal Chicago service. Domestic feed from Mexico City is strong (reported on the zone page).
Who arranges the transfer to the Salina Cruz camps?
Typically the camp itself, so ask before you book a taxi (reported on the zone page).
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