Playa Cacaluta

Located near to Huatulco, Playa Cacaluta is one of just a handful of beaches in the vicinity that doesn’t see large numbers of sunworshippers congregating on its white sands. Coming from the Zapotec words for “the place of the blackbird”, the jungle surrounding the beach is a haven for birdlife and also contains several small lakes.

Wild and undeveloped, visitors to Playa Cacaluta won’t find any facilities on offer – but this is probably precisely why you have come. Instead, there are the simple pleasures of lying on the curving one kilometre of sand to the sound of the gentle waves, or splashing about in the stunning turquoise shallows. It even has royal approval, since on a visit in the 1990s, Spain’s King Juan Carlos declared it his favourite in the region. The waves here can be strong though, so swimming should only be tried by those with experience in the sea.

Since the road doesn’t reach the beach, you’ll need to be prepared for a walk through the jungle of around 30 minutes, making your arrival at Playa Cacaluta all the sweeter. The beach can also be accessed by boat from Huatulco, giving you views of the small island immediately offshore from both the sea and the land.