7 Bays of Huatulco by Boat: Dolphins, Whales & Cacaluta

Seven bays, one morning or afternoon: dolphins, a blowhole, and a pineapple stuffed with seafood

A boat tour of seven bays in Huatulco National Park where you'll spot dolphins, turtles and seasonal whales, pass the Bufadero blowhole, visit Cacaluta Bay (a filming location for Mexican films), snorkel at La India Beach, and stop for lunch at Maguey Bay. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours and includes a live guide in English or Spanish, bottled water and soda, and private transportation. You choose between a panga boat or a yacht. Snorkeling gear rental and national park entrance are optional add-ons.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Santa Cruz Baypass by
2. La Entrega Beach25m
3. Cacaluta Baypass by
4. Chachacual Bay1h
5. Maguey Bay2h

Explore Huatulco's bays and beaches

• Visit Santa Cruz Bay and hear legend
• Stop at Playa La Entrega and see blowhole
• Pass by Bahia de Cacaluta
• Swim and snorkel at India Beach
• Enjoy seafood lunch at Bahia Maguey

The experience

What makes this tour work is the sequence: you start at Santa Cruz Bay, where the guide explains the 16th-century history and the two centuries when English and Dutch pirates controlled the port. From there the boat moves through the bays one by one. You'll pass the Bufadero, one of the highest blowholes in the Americas. The guide will tell you it sounds like an earthquake when the swell is right. Cacaluta Bay comes next, the one you've seen in Mexican films and TV commercials. From the water the beach looks like a heart or a bird, depending on how you see it. Deers sometimes swim from the shore to the island to graze.

La India Beach is where you stop to snorkel in the clear water and swim. You can buy a fresh coconut there, plain or with rum. Then comes the Organ and Maguey bays inside the national park. The Organ has a stone face that nature carved into the rock: the guide points it out. Maguey gets its name from the green of its water, the same shade as the leaves of the agave plant. You'll spend about two hours here at the restaurant, where the specialty is a pineapple cut in half, hollowed out, filled with seafood in béchamel sauce and cheese, then baked in a wood oven. If seafood isn't your thing, there's a "four by four", sixteen shrimp cooked four different ways, or meat dishes and pizza.

You can book this as a panga boat or a yacht. Both follow the same route and stops. Snorkeling gear rental is optional, as is the national park entrance fee. The guide speaks English or Spanish. Pickup is included, and the boat carries bottled water and soda for the day.

What’s included

• A live guide in English or Spanish.
• bottled water and soda throughout the day.
• private transportation to and from your hotel.
• stops at five bays plus the Bufadero blowhole and Cacaluta Bay.
• snorkeling time at La India Beach.
• and a two-hour lunch stop at Maguey Bay restaurant where you can order fresh seafood, meat or pizza.

Options for this experience

2 options

Exclusive tour of Huatulco's 7 bays aboard a panga boatUp to 9 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 09:30Pickup is included

Exclusive tour of the 7 bays by yachtUp to 10 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00Luxury yacht for up to 10 people, with pickup included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 09:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Paraíso Huatulco

Is this one for you?Choose the panga boat if you want a smaller, more nimble vessel that can navigate tight spots and move quickly between bays. Choose the yacht if you prefer more space and comfort on the water. Either way, the route and stops are the same, so your choice depends on how you like to travel by boat rather than what you'll see.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, at 09:00 and 09:30. In Spanish, at 09:30.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Bufadero and why does the guide keep talking about it?

The Bufadero is one of the highest blowholes in the Americas, located near La Entrega Beach. When the swell pushes water through the rock formation, it creates a sound the guide compares to an earthquake. It's one of the most dramatic stops on the route.

Is Cacaluta Bay really where they filmed Mexican movies?

Yes. Cacaluta Bay is the filming location for the Mexican film "Y tu mamá también" and several television commercials. The beach is part of Huatulco National Park, and from the water it has a distinctive shape: some see a heart, others see a bird in flight.

How long do we actually spend eating at Maguey Bay?

You'll have about two hours at the restaurant in Maguey Bay. The specialty is a pineapple stuffed with seafood, baked in a wood oven, but the menu also includes shrimp cooked four different ways, meat dishes and pizza if you prefer something else.

Can I snorkel on this tour, and do I need to bring my own gear?

Yes, you can snorkel at La India Beach. Snorkeling gear rental is optional and costs $15 USD with a new mouthpiece. You can also bring your own.

Do I need to pay extra for the national park entrance?

The national park entrance fee is optional and costs 71 MXN. It's charged separately at checkout if you choose to add it.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes a live guide in English or Spanish, bottled water, soda, and private transportation. Snorkeling gear rental, the national park entrance fee, and meals are optional or separate. Lunch at Maguey Bay is your own cost.