Farsighted Fly Girl

The Pacific coast of Mexico captivates anyone lucky enough to experience it. I traveled the 17 miles of coastline that make up the nine bays of Huatulco and I'm still amazed at the raw beauty. The deep sapphire blue water holds untold treasures, from a coral reef to scores of sea turtles, which I glimpsed up close. I headed to Santa Cruz harbor and hopped aboard a little boat called Tequila. Sailing to the nine bays was an idyllic journey, with salty breezes and freshly picked  avocados for guacamole in St. Agustin. But the waters were choppy on the way back and after four hours of sailing, a big dose of sea sickness smacked me with a vengeance. My crew was unfazed though, and they quickly took over photographic duties for me. Sea turtles bobbed all over those choppy waves and I watched from a slightly steady corner as little faces popped up in the water. We saw whole families swimming by and solo adventurers floating along. Sea turtles nest along the beaches...

Located along the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Huatulco is cradled by the Sierra Madre mountains and the Coyula and Copalita rivers. The region's  pinnacle of natural beauty can be found in its nine bays, or the Bahias de Hualtulco.   I visited all nine bays on a motorboat one afternoon and I was stunned by the surreal vistas at every bay. They unfold along 18 miles of jagged coastline, with different color sands and different shades of water. San Agustin is the furthest out and the most difficult to get to. It is also the most beautiful. The cerulean loveliness of San Agustin's beach grabbed me right away. There were no tourists to be seen, just pristine sand,  a few rustic beach cafe shacks and a smattering of the 100 locals that live in the small village. The landscape is mostly undeveloped with flowers, cacti and animals covering most of the town. The San Agustin church sits on top of the hill overlooking the bay and I was rewarded w...

The beauty of Huatulco, Oaxaca is underscored by the fact that this quiet Mexican town boasts nine bays and 36 beaches. All of the beaches are unspoiled and uncrowded but playa La India, a crescent-shaped beach located in Chachacual Bay , wins the most attention for its serene loveliness and outstanding snorkeling. Accessible only by boat, La India stretches out with pearly sand and lush forest. I walked the beach from one end to the other and even though there were a couple of boats full of visitors, the peace and beauty of the spot was soothing. A coral reef surround La India so the snorkeling is very exciting, you're bound to see lots of jewel-toned fish and other sea creatures. But I preferred to just stroll the beach and listen to the waves. I couldn't leave La India without discovering the inspiration for the beach's name. According to locals, an indigenous couple lived on the beach before it was declared part of the national park system. The govern...

I believe in experiencing the culture of every place I visit. That's how you really connect with the essence of a location. So I was a little taken aback to discover that Huatulco's essence is buried in little, wiry, grasshopper legs. Located in Southern Mexico, along the coast of the state of Oaxaca, Huatulco pulses with Southern Mexican traditions. Munching grasshoppers or  chapulines , is one of those traditions. I was hosted by Secrets Huatulco Resort  and when an array of Oaxacan dishes was presented to me on my arrival, chapulines  were the first ones. As you can see from the photo above, they are toasted and seasoned into a mound of spicy critter snacks. Traditionally, chapulines are served with a variety of salsas, guacamole and totopos or tortilla chips or sprinkled on a taco. I was lucky that my first servings were small ones that once covered with guac and salsa, I could forget that I was munching grasshoppers.  I know the closeup above...

I'll be escaping Chicago's cold and snow this week with a press trip to Huatulco, in the Southern part of Mexico. Located on the coast of the state of Oaxaca, along the edge of the Sierra Madre mountains, Huatulco is famous for its nine lovely bays; one of them, Santa Cruz, is pictured above. Of course, I'l also be exploring as much Oaxacan history and culture as I can mange. Stay tuned for posts next week!