If you’re dreaming of a sunny holiday down south but wondering how to travel on the cheap, Huatulco Mexico may be your perfect choice. With numerous local beaches, plentiful food options and affordable accommodation, you can enjoy a tropical escape without breaking the bank. Huatulco offers a safe and sleepy vibe, beautiful scenery and reasonable prices that make your travel dollars go further. Where to stay La Crucecita , the charming old town with friendly local flavour, makes a good base for your Huatulco holiday. In addition to having the best variety of affordable hotels, it’s got the highest concentration of local restaurants, street food vendors, shops and cultural landmarks, all within walking distance. Hotel offerings are smaller and simpler than what you get at the big resorts, but also without the big prices. Like most of Huatulco, La Crucecita feels secure at night and isn’t a party town with rowdy nightlife. Depending on your travel dates, rooms can be had for only $50 CAD per night (or lower!). Choose one near the Parque Central Zócalo (town square) if you want some local ambiance at your doorstep, or a few blocks away if you want a truly quiet place to lay your head at night. What to do The closest beach to La Crucecita, Playa Santa Cruz , is a popular first stop for first-time visitors. You can get there on foot by taking the Tourist Corridor, a pedestrian-only path that shortcuts between La Crucecita and the sea. Along the 25-minute walk you will see local children playing, possibly a coati crossing (think a stripey-tailed Mexican raccoon), vendors selling beach wear, souvenirs, snacks and more. If you’d rather not walk, hop into a local taxi instead. The taxi stand at La Crucecita is on the northeast side of Parque Central, on Bugambulia Street. You don’t need to call ahead, one will usually be parked there waiting for you. The ride to Santa Cruz should cost 50 pesos (under $4 CAD). A little further away, Playa La Entrega is a great place to visit for a morning, afternoon or both. This beach in a sheltered bay features shimmering turquoise waters, gentle waves, soft sand and coral reefs to snorkel over. Tourists and locals will bring their beach supplies, music players and a picnic and “camp out” for several hours at one of the several waterfront restaurants that offer chairs, tables and sometimes even hammocks. They don’t seem to mind you bringing outside food and drinks, but they would like you to buy a menu item or two during the time you sit there. A taxi from La Crucecita to Playa La Entrega will set you back 60 pesos ($5 CAD). Once you’ve had your beach fix, take an afternoon or evening to explore La Crucecita old town on foot. In the nearby Mercado 3 de Mayo (3rd of May Market) and nearby shops you can find all kinds of souvenirs, from playful trinkets and clothing to authentic local crafts like the distinctive polished Barro Negro (black clay) pottery. Local coffee beans, mezcal, weaving, colourful kitchenware, street art/murals and fresh fruit are also waiting to be discovered. Bicycle and motorbike rental shops will equip you with wheels to explore the outer reaches of Huatulco if you are feeling adventurous. Grab an ice coffee or ice cream to go, then find a shady bench in Parque Central to enjoy the warmth, atmosphere and do some people watching. Vendors, buskers and a churro cart usually arrive every sundown, adding to the mellow vibe of the area. You can also stroll to one of the nearby local restaurants and enjoy a drink at one of their upstairs patio bars while listening to some live music. The seven bays tour of Huatulco National Park will set you back around $70 CAD, but this day trip is well worth it if you love nature and want to enjoy more beaches and ocean views that can only be reached by boat. Large catamarans make the trip daily from Santa Cruz harbour, offering shade, restrooms, a snack bar and capacity for over 100 guests. The tour makes stops along Huatulco’s beautiful south coastline for wildlife watching (dolphins, turtles, tropical birds), mangroves, snorkelling, easy beach strolls and more. Bring a towel, swimsuit, water and a packed lunch with you, or plan to buy something to eat at San Augustin beach, the end destination and usual turnaround point. Tours are plentiful and can be booked from most hotels, as well as stores near Parque Central in La Crucecita. Before you commit, inquire what is included, and look for an operator that provides an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and snorkelling gear. Where (and what) to eat La Crucecita old town is your best bet for food selection and value. Roam the area and you will find dozens of eating spots, featuring all types of foods and price points. Unlike the resorts that ply buffets to captive audiences, eateries here compete for tourist attention and dollars, keeping selection and quality high. Street food vendors come out at dusk and can be found on the perimeter of Parque Central , and at two spots on Bugambulia Street : In front of Parque Las Ollas and Parque de Arena. Fare offerings include classic Mexican empanadas, tacos al pastor (look for the shawarma-like skewer of meat being grilled), fresh fruits and coconut, Argentinian BBQ sausages, ice cream, sweet-filled churros and more. Prices for most hand-held takeaway items are between 40 and 80 pesos ($4-6 CAD). Sit-down restaurants in La Crucecita are also plentiful, ranging from simple eateries with plastic chairs to air-conditioned dining rooms. For seafood lovers, several joints sell local catch like mahi-mahi, snapper, ceviche, octopus and shrimp, cooked in the traditional regional style. The famous Mole dish (say moe-leh ) is also worth a try. This intense, complex sauce made from numerous secret ingredients is a mainstay of Oaxacan cuisine and is usually paired with rice plus a meat entrée or enchiladas. If you’ve had your fill of Mexican fare, you can also find decent food from other cultures, including Italian pasta, French, Thai, Asian noodles and sushi, pizza and other international favourites. If you’re really looking to save money by self-catering (or just curious to explore a Mexican grocery store), buy some takeaway items from one of the two supermarkets on nearby Chahue Boulevard: Chedraui and Soriana Hiper. Before you go Order some Mexican pesos from your bank. While credit cards are widely accepted in Huatulco, smaller vendors prefer to take local cash for payment. US dollars are sometimes accepted but not as frequently as in hotspots like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. Get an English to Spanish translation dictionary for your smartphone and download an offline version so it works even when you have no Internet. Some shopkeepers and vendors in high-traffic tourist areas may speak English, but for some interactions assume you will need to bumble over a language barrier. Even better, brush up on some friendly phrases and survival terms. How to get there Starting in October this year, WestJet offers direct flights to Huatulco from Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto. Ready to plan your trip to Huatulco? Check our flight schedules and pricing: