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...