Bahias de Huatulco Trip Report

[roni]

Originally Posted by Ginger[B

]Nice pics! Maybe we need to think about getting to that side of Mexico...I think it's cheaper for us to go that side, no?[/b]

Perhaps I'll do some digging....

How's the water on that side, though? Is it warm as the Caribbean? Is the snorkeling as good? Is it as clear? I feel another road trip coming on.....

A bunch of us need to wrangle up a few months off, a writer, a photographer, a humorist, a videographer, a web developer and we need to do a documented road trip with resulting products that can be translated into dollars through sales. Oh, we'll need a RV or three also.

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by roni

A bunch of us need to wrangle up a few months off, a writer, a photographer, a humorist, a videographer, a web developer and we need to do a documented road trip with resulting products that can be translated into dollars through sales. Oh, we'll need a RV or three also.

I'll cover the photography and web developing.....


But we need a financier....

[roni]

Originally Posted by Ginger

I'll cover the photography and web developing.....


But we need a financier....

Anyone have a sugar daddy or momma?

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by CalifGuy

Unless you are into Billfishing I would not bother with Cabo, it's like a weekend getaway place for the LA crowd and if you think the timeshare sharks are bad in Playa you haven't seen anything yet.

Califguy

I'd use it mainly as a staging post to dive Revilaggiedo and Socorro islands.

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by Ginger

I'll cover the photography and web developing.....

I could be your assistant and provide the underwater photography... and I'd try refraining from instigating...

[Rissask]

Here is that Tomzap site about Huatulco CalifGuy was talking about, it was fairly informative and really the only decent site I found for the area:

http://www.tomzap.com/huatulco.html

Also the only reputable dive shop in the area is Hurrican Divers:

www.hurricanedivers.com

The prices ARE cheaper there, I have to say (although our dollar is doing quite well so we noticed money went farther in Playa too in March).
But the price of airfare to get there is higher from here so that does offset it a bit- I think regular airfare from here is over $800 Cdn per person whereas it is around $600-700 for other Mexico destinations.
But you can rent a room at a mid-range little hotel in La Crucecita like the one we checked out, Mision de los Arcos, and it was only $70 US a night! And a beautiful hotel with a beach club at Chahue Bay.
Great prices on hotels and food.

But, sadly, no beautiful people to ogle and not a single topless woman on the beaches. BUT, not any people at all, at a few we went to, on the other hand, either!
PDC is much more international and sophisticated, if that is important to you.

Ginger- the water and beaches were spectacular. No comparison with Cabo or PV at all. They were better than Manzanillo and a tiny bit clearer than Ixtapa, and the sand was light to white, which helps with visibility- just more coarse. While we were there, the ocean was SO calm- the bays are so protected that there is very little surf, at least this time of year, at most beaches. Good for swiming, especially kids.
But not good if you wanted to take surf lessons from Aussie Adam Bolton at Bocana! Damn. (What a cutie he was!)

The snorkeling was VERY good, the only thing better in PDC is the visibility is better there maybe.
And lots to beachcomb- shells....and cute hermit crabs! We did have a scorpion on our balcony twice, but they are non-poisonous ones around there mainly (we were told!)

There were more bugs (not skeeters or stinging insects though), but less wind.

More heat...but less rain.

Mountains....but the hills are dry and not lush and pretty (unless you go another time of year.)

That is one area Ixtapa kicked ass- sunsets every night over the ocean- in Huatulco you are around the bend so the sun sets over the mountains to your right...too bad.

Time share guys- never saw a single one in the whole two weeks. There are the ubiquitous salespeople on the beach but they never bother us, and we bought food from them a few times. They are not agressive whatsoever, and the people in the area are very friendly. There is certainly more of a language barrier, so learning some Spanish will help immensely there.

Like I said, each has their advantages over the other...we like them both about equally, they are just different. Like the French separatists in our country- they don't think they are better, just 'different'!

Originally Posted by CalifGuy
Unless you are into Billfishing I would not bother with Cabo, it's like a weekend getaway place for the LA crowd and if you think the timeshare sharks are bad in Playa you haven't seen anything yet.

Califguy

Drat! My husband really wants to go there next winter, with another couple- the guy has been there twice and they love it, because he doesn't like it too hot....and he is a big fisherman. Oh well.

[CalifGuy]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Drat! My husband really wants to go there next winter, with another couple- the guy has been there twice and they love it, because he doesn't like it too hot....and he is a big fisherman. Oh well.

Rissask, if your husband and friends are into sport fishing (or golf) Cabo is the place to go, it's just not my cup of tea. Cabo San Jose, just a few miles northeast is a little less touristy and more to my liking, but don't expect to find too many inexpensive hotels. I think the proximity of Cabo to So.Calif. keeps the prices high. There are less touristy cities/towns on the peninsula where prices are much more reasonable than Cabo.

Also, as DaddyB pointed out, Cabo can be a stepping off point for some great dive locations.

BTW great pics!

Califguy

[Rissask]

Thanks Califguy!

We were actually planning on staying with our friends for the first week at an AI (they won't go the non-AI route, unfortunately) and then staying on a second week and getting a cheaper non AI hotel...hopefully we can do that.

They stayed near San Jose del Cabo (thought that was what it was called??) last year but said this time they want to stay closer to Cabo San Lucas, I think?

Yes the boys both want to catch a marlin or sailfish. That is their prime motivation. They golf at home here but it is too pricey in Mexico usually, plus why golf with an ocean to play in! hee hee

Although if there is good diving there we might take our scuba cert there then, we were going to have to wait until Thailand, so that is a thought.Or, I can work on them to try and get them to go to PDC and stay in town, or maybe to Zihuantanejo.

[CalifGuy]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Thanks Califguy!

They stayed near San Jose del Cabo (thought that was what it was called??) last year but said this time they want to stay closer to Cabo San Lucas, I think?

You're correct, it is "San Jose del Cabo", it's been awhile since I've been there. You will have fun regardless, it is still Mexico after all.

As for dive cert., I don't think you could find a better place than Playa to get yours. I was certified in the Virgin Islands, but my 1st ever resort dive was Paamul many years ago.

Califguy

[sctx]

Originally Posted by roni

Anyone have a sugar daddy or momma?

we could suck up to Mr Holmes

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by CalifGuy

You're correct, it is "San Jose del Cabo", it's been awhile since I've been there. You will have fun regardless, it is still Mexico after all.

As for dive cert., I don't think you could find a better place than Playa to get yours. I was certified in the Virgin Islands, but my 1st ever resort dive was Paamul many years ago.

Califguy

Thanks. We will see. My first plan is to convince them to go to Zihuantanejo still...and to try staying in a non- AI since their kids are being left at home!

I know Playa would be best, that is where we did our Dicover Scuba last March and the dives were great...the plan was to get certified in PDC this past xmas but we changed our plans.

But I do hear that there is a great reef off the coast by Ixtapa/Zihua and the diving is supposed to be really good there! So we will have to check that out.