Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

A visit to Huatulco, Mexico – part 1

I recently spent a couple of days visiting the Cosmo Residences in Huatulco, Mexico – what a beautiful place.  Quiet, serene with the most outstanding beach and ocean views and the town was beautifully clean and welcoming of the ex-pat community.

Getting there … I was travelling ‘off  season’ so there was no direct flight (that is about to change in the next couple of months which is great news) I flew to Mexico City & then caught the Interjet flight to Huatulco.

When I was making my reservations through Carlson Wagonlit, my consultant Annette advised that I should allow  around 2 hours between flights, I thought was a little odd especially as I was only going with carry-on luggage, etc.  However – thank heavens I listened!

Mexico City airport, whilst easy to navigate it is HUGE!  Everything went smoothly through the very efficient & friendly Mexican customs and immigration process (I didn’t have to wait for luggage so you would need to allow time for that).  I then had to get from the International to the Domestic terminal which was quite a hike and then check in for the flight with Interjet.  Being on the late afternoon flight was far less stressful – I knew that I had plenty of time to do everything without breaking my neck. I had time to relax and enjoy a late lunch before catching my next flight.  So a word of caution when you plan your trip if you have to make a connection – don’t even think of ‘cutting it fine’!!

Interjet was a great airline – I had not travelled with them before – I was able to book on-line, friendly staff at check-in and onboard, spacious cabin & seats, generous luggage allowance, plenty of leg room plus complimentary beverages (including alcohol) and snacks.  I would highly recommend using them if you aren’t able to get a direct flight into Huatulco.

The 1hr 10 minute flight had me arriving in Huatulco just before 6pm.  Huatulco was a very efficient airport.  It is undergoing expansion – new terminal being built and the runway has been lengthened to accommodate larger direct flights from Europe & Canada scheduled to begin later this year.

I was met by the concierge from Cosmo – Barbara.  She drove me to the hotel that was to be my home for the next couple of days the Camino Real Zaashila on Tongalunda bay – the adjacent bay to Arrocito bay where Cosmo is situated.

The drive took approximately 30 minutes from the airport to my hotel.  The drive will be shortened with the opening of the new 4 lane highway that is under construction and scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Barbara dropped me off at the hotel shortly before 6.45 pm – letting me know that Shaun (the owner/developer) would be picking me up at 8 for dinner!

My room at the hotel (Camino Real) was upgraded!  The bell boy loaded me & my ca bag onto the golf cart and we went careening off into the sunset on a golf cart, winding around and down towards the beach.  In a couple of minutes I found myself being escorted into my room and the drapes being pulled back to show me a fabulous beach front view complete with my own private splash pool!  WOW – however, no time to enjoy the view or the pool – I needed to shower and get myself presentable for dinner!

Right on schedule,  Shaun picked me up and we went to dinner at the Viena Restaurante & Bar, owned by a couple of ex-pats (Austrian I believe). It was wonderful to sit on the raised patio, enjoying the much needed breeze as we enjoyed an excellent meal – it wasn’t Mexican but wonderful none-the-less!  Judging by the number of ex-pats at the restaurant it is obviously very popular with the ex-pat community.  Throughout the evening members of the ex-pat community would come over and say hello – Shaun is obviously known in the community – everyone enjoys living in Huatulco; it was fun to listen to each of them tell their stories; some were retired, some in the process of establishing businesses, some with young families, some living part time others living there full time – all obviously enjoying the lifestyle that living in Huatulco affords as well as the year-round almost perfect temperature.

Huatulco enjoys 6 months with no rain; in May the humidity starts to build as it signals the approach of  the rainy season – which lasts a couple of months.  It is not a constant downpour – a good storm once a day for a couple of hours – good time for a siesta. Nobody seems to be bothered by the approaching rainy season – they look forward to the ‘greening’ of everything – most of the surrounding area was certainly showing signs of needing rain – except of course for the golf course (5 minutes from Cosmo) which was a lovely shade of green where ever you looked!

Stay tuned for more  of my adventure in Huatulco…