All Huatulco Tours & Excursions in 2026

We thoroughly enjoyed this experience! As it turned out we were the only two registrants that day so Alberto gave us a private tour. It was fascinating to learn about all the ancient cultures that lived in the area and left behind such interesting and impressive structures. Alberto was extremely knowledgeable regarding both the archaeology and biodiversity of the Copalita park. Apart from everything we learned, it was also a beautiful and scenic hike (moderate exertion). Highly recommend!

There are moments in life when something long imagined suddenly becomes real, and when it does, it carries with it not only the wonder of the present moment but the memory of the child who first dreamed it. That happened to me on the Pacific waters off Oaxaca during an extraordinary ocean excursion with Oceanico Huatulco, an experience that brought together natural beauty, marine life, childhood memory, and the kind of awe that stays with you long after the day is over. When I was growing up, I watched the Jacques Cousteau television specials whenever they came on. Those programs opened a window into a world that felt remote, mysterious, and impossibly exciting. They gave me my earliest sense that the ocean was not simply a body of water but an entire universe of movement, intelligence, and hidden life. I was captivated by the great whales, the rays gliding beneath the surface, and especially by the unforgettable images of dolphins racing alongside a ship, as if they were celebrating the pure joy of being alive. At one point in my youth, I even managed to push my way through a crowd at Mystic Seaport just to shake Jacques Cousteau’s hand. That brief moment stayed with me for years as a kind of living connection to the world that had so fired my imagination. On this recent journey off the coast of Oaxaca, that old fascination came vividly back to life. From the moment we set out, it was clear that this would be no ordinary outing. Our marine biologist and guide, Scarlett, brought intelligence, enthusiasm, and generosity to the experience. She shared bilingual handouts describing the marine life we were likely to encounter and helped frame what we were seeing in ecological and seasonal context. Our captain, Luis, was equally impressive, steady and intuitive on the water, seeming to know exactly when to press ahead, when to slow down, and where the next treasured encounter might unfold. Together, they created an experience that felt both adventurous and deeply respectful of the marine world around us. The waters off Oaxaca were astonishingly alive. Early on, we saw two Bryde’s whales, elusive and shy, appearing just long enough to remind us how much of the ocean remains on its own terms no matter how intently we search. We also encountered at least twenty to thirty Olive Ridley turtles, an especially meaningful sighting because they are on the verge of their great annual nesting cycle, when thousands will soon come ashore on Oaxacan beaches for their mass egg laying. There was something deeply moving about seeing them in the water knowing what ancient instinct was preparing to unfold in the days ahead. As the trip continued, we also observed several schools of flying cow rays, a school of marlins leaping dramatically from the sea, and two smaller groups of eagle rays moving with quiet grace beneath the surface. As remarkable as those sightings were, the emotional center of the day came when we encountered humpback whales near the coast. We observed a mother, her calf, and a male escort moving northward from their winter grounds with calm and utter indifference to the half dozen small boats nearby. There was nothing performative about their presence. They were simply being what they are, immense and ancient travelers following a route older than memory. They cruised lazily through the water, surfacing with a kind of serene confidence, and for a while everything else seemed to quiet around them. Watching them was not just exciting, it was humbling. They carried with them a sense of continuity and mystery that no human being can fully explain. And then came the moment that completed the circle back to childhood. A pod of more than one hundred spinner dolphins appeared and transformed the entire scene. They raced in front of the bow, slicing through the water with effortless speed, weaving in and out of one another as if engaged in some joyous choreography. Some spun into the air, seemingly for the sheer exuberance of it. Others dashed alongside the boat or crossed just ahead of us in a blur of motion and sunlight. During this mating season, some were even coupling, which added another layer of immediacy to what we were witnessing. This was not a staged encounter or a fleeting glimpse from far away. This was real time, real ocean, real life unfolding in all its beauty and abundance. For me, it was the living version of those long-ago Cousteau scenes that had captured my imagination as a boy. What made it all the more meaningful was the sense that this was not simply a checklist of wildlife sightings. It was an immersion into a living marine ecosystem guided by people who clearly loved and respected it. Scarlett’s explanations enriched every moment, and Luis’s skill on the water made it possible for us to be in the right place at the right time again and again. The entire experience felt less like a tour and more like an invitation into a world that still has the power to astonish us if we approach it with patience, curiosity, and wonder. The ocean has always had that effect on me. It reminds us that the world is larger, older, and more intricate than our daily routines allow us to remember. Out there off the coast of Oaxaca, surrounded by whales, turtles, rays, marlins, and an unforgettable pod of spinner dolphins, I felt once again the same sense of amazement I knew as a child. The difference was that this time I was no longer watching from the living room. I was there, on the water, seeing it unfold before my own eyes. Some dreams take decades to reach us, but when they do, they arrive with a depth and fullness that make the waiting worthwhile.

Eduardo is personable, so knowledgeable and very engaging. The tour has nice variety. The views of the bays and their beaches were beautiful, and we especially liked the mezcal tasting and textile demonstration at the artesanal shop in La Crucecita. His van is very comfortable with individual seats, and Eduardo even provides drinks. Highly recommend. Cinco Estrella.