Santa María Huatulco is one of the most traditional of the little towns that make up the greater Huatulco region. Those who come for the adventure of the natural landscape, or the overt indulgence of the nine famous bays of Huatulco, will come here for the charm of a little traditional town. In Oaxaca, that means the place is replete with magnificent food, as well as artisan works of sometime staggering quality.
Santa Maria is the most inland of towns along the Huatulco coast. Once you get used to how the taxi system works, you should have no trouble getting from town to town, and Santa Maria is no exception. People come for a special Sunday agro-ecological market. But the traditional municipal market may be just as much fun. Still close to the sea, food is obviously inclined that way. But after all, this is now inland Oaxaca. You\'ll find lots of traditional, dark and evocative foods here too.
The Santa María Church, far on the north side of the church, was long the civic as well as spiritual center of the town. Dedicated to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, some parts of the church were actually begun in the 17th century. Most of what we see today dates from the 19th. There is a portrait of the Virgin atop the colonial-era altarpiece inside and this is well worth considering.
From La Crucecita or the main hotel area of Tanglolunda, the trip to Santa Maria Huatulco takes about 30 minutes. The airport is just about half way between the two places.
