Price Band: $
Tags: Â Beach, secluded, barefoot, economical
Oaxacan coast
Oaxacan coast
Oaxacan coast
Oaxacan coast
Price Band: $
Tags: Â Beach, secluded, barefoot, economical
In a nutshell:
Simple accommodations on a beautiful swimming beach near Pochutla, on Oaxaca’s coast. Very romantic and secluded hotel with great food and a warm welcome. Cabanas can sleep from 2 to 7 people, several with two bedrooms.
The thatched roof casitas of the Bahia de la Luna hotel are nestled around a beautiful bay that has one of the best swimming beaches in the area. The accommodations may be simple, but the location is stunning; it is incredibly private and secluded and yet only a short drive to the nearest town. You may share the pristine bay with sea turtles, manta rays, dophins or even whales, whilst a rich variety of birds and wildlife inhabit the hills behind the beach.
The casitas have either one or two bedrooms and work well for families. They have electricity, good ceiling fans and nice bathrooms with showers (though the water in the showers is not heated).
All meals are served in the delightful beachfront restaurant, where fresh fish and seafood are specialties and the prices are very reasonable for such beautifully prepared dishes. Lunch is offered a la carte and the three course set dinner menu changes daily, but dietary restrictions can be catered for.
This tiny hotel is reached by a steep and unpaved road that is just about accessible with a regular car (an SUV would fare better). The nicest way to arrive is by boat from Puerto Angel. Either way, the nearest airports are Huatulco or Puerto Escondido, both of which have regular connections with Mexico City. Road and water taxis can be arranged from the hotel, so if you don’t want to rent a car then you’ll still be able to get around.
There are some good sightseeing attractions nearby, including the National Turtle Center at Mazunte, and the ecological park la Ventanilla, where you can take a boat ride through the mangroves to look for crocodiles. Excursions to these and other places can be arranged at the hotel, along with fishing trips or boat tours of the nearby bays.
This is not a glitzy or fancy resort, but it is highly recommended as a barefoot and get-away-from-it-all adventure in this relaxed and scenic corner of Mexico.
The guest rooms at Bahia de la Luna are individual little thatched roof cabanas that are scattered over the hillside around the bay. Our photographs were taken at the end of the dry season in April; the vegetation is usually much greener. Each cabana has a private terrace, with a hammock for lazy siestas, and each also has a view of the ocean.
The interiors are rustic but pretty and functional. There is electricity throughout the day and night, and ceiling fans keep the rooms cool. The water in the showers is tepid (not heated), but in the balmy climate of southern Mexico most people find this acceptable.
There are no phones nor internet access in the guest rooms, but wireless internet access is available in the bar and restaurant. Valuables can be stored with the manager as there are no safes in the guest rooms. Each bed has strong mosquito netting, and the windows are well screened. Complimentary purified water is provided in the rooms and unlimited refills are available in the restaurant and reception area.
The one bedroom cabanas can accommodate two people and have either a queen or double bed or two single beds. The two Double cabanas are perfect for families; they have a queen or double bed plus two single beds.
The Casa Grande or Duplex Cabana is really two separate cabanas connected by a living area. Each of the cabanas is completely independent and can be rented separately. One has two double beds, and one has a double and a single bed. Taken as a whole, the Casa Grande can accommodate up to 7 people.
Most of the cabanas are on the hillside, access by paved roads and paths. There is parking by some of the higher cabanas, but for others you have to leave your vehicle at the parking lot and walk to your room. Some rooms are close to the beach and on level ground. Any guests with mobility problems should notify us when making their reservation so that the most appropriate casitas are allocated.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Ceiling fans, 24 hour electricity, water is unheated
One Bedroom cabana
Independent cabana, with either a queen, double or two single beds (6 cabanas)
Double Bedroom cabana
Independent cabana with a queen and two single beds in one room (with partition for privacy) and with one bathroom (2 cabanas)
Casa Grande
Casa Grande consists of 2 independent cabanas that connect via an outdoor living area. One cabana has two double beds and the other has a double and a single bed. Each cabana can be rented as a single unit (half of Casa Grande).
Casa Ivan
Beachfront casita with two bedrooms (one with a king bed, one with 2 single beds) and a sitting room that has two sofas that can make single beds.
There are six of these little casitas, and they are perfect for two people. They are individual little buildings, each with a thatched roof and a private terrace. They are in groups of two or three casitas together, and each has a view of the ocean, though sometimes through the trees and foliage.
The casitas have either one double, one queen or two single beds (the two single beds can be pushed together to make a king bed if preferred). Each casita has a private bathroom with toilet and shower. The shower gels and soap are sourced from the excellent local co-operative in Mazunte, and are made from natural ingredients.
There are two of these Double Bedroom cabanas at the Bahia de la Luna, and they are ideal for families. The interior is one large room that has two sleeping areas, one with a queen bed and one with two single beds. The sleeping are separated by the bathroom, which has three-quarter height walls and this adds a little privacy between the two sections.
For larger families, the hotel may be able to add a crib or an extra bed.
The rooms are very airy due to the high palapa roof, yet the interiors are well sealed from the outside. All windows are well screened with little in the way of gaps between the palapa roof and the walls, as there can be with some types of cabana.
There is a ceiling fan above each sleeping area, and bedside lights are provided too. Each bed has its own good quality mosquito net.
The Casa Grande consists of two separate cabanas connected by a living and dining area. Each cabana can be rented individually, as they are completely independent, and in this case the living area is not used.
One cabana has two double beds and the other has a double and a single bed. Each cabana has a private bathroom and a terrace with a hammock.
The Casa Grande is located on the hillside and enjoys lovely ocean views and breezes. The road down to the reception area passes this cabana, so guests can drop off their luggage before leaving their car in the parking lot. Access to the beach and restaurant is via the road or some steps.
There are two external doors to each cabana; one is the entrance to the cabana and provides the access to the private terrace. The second door (at the other side of the room) leads to the living area, and this door can be locked if the two cabanas are booked separately.
The living area is open sided but sheltered by the palapa roof. It is a large space, with a dining table and a kitchen. There is a refrigerator and an oven, so guests can prepare their own meals if they wish (we don’t really recommend this as it’s not so convenient to shop for food nearby, and the hotel restaurant is excellent).
Casa Ivan is a wonderful choice for a family of up to 6 people. It has a beachfront location, lots of privacy, and fantastic ocean views.
There are two bedrooms, one with a king bed and one with two twin beds, and the sofas in the sitting room could make a further two twin beds. There is just one bathroom, and it is accessed from the living room.
This casita has a full kitchen. We don’t really recommend that guests prepare their own meals as it is quite an effort to leave the property to shop for groceries, especially as the restaurant at the hotel is so good.
Casa Ivan has a large deck with an outdoor dining area underneath a palapa shade, and a hammock. Parents can relax on this terrace and still watch their children playing on the beach. The hotel’s restaurant and bar are just a few paces away along the beach.
With kayaks and snorkeling equipment available for guests’ use free of charge, children will have lots of fun whilst staying at Casa Ivan. This is the perfect choice for a vacation away from TVs and video games, with lots of fresh air and tropical sunshine.
Beachfront dining at Bahia de la Luna is one of the highlights of a stay here. Candlelit dinners are enjoyed just paces from the beach, with a surprising sophisticated style.
On our first night here we enjoyed an “amuse-bouche” of melon and jicama with chillies and lime, followed by an appetiser of mango and lettuce salad with a honey and balsamic dressing. The main course was a wonderfully tasty seafood curry, featuring the freshest octopus, tuna and shrimp. It was one of our favorite meals on our vacation!
Evening meals generally follow a set menu, but the chef can cater for most dietary requirements and preferences. A good selection of beers, wines and cocktails are available too, at reasonable prices. Our four course meal cost around 20 USD per person excluding beverages.
The continental breakfast buffet is included in the rate at Bahia de la Luna and service starts at around 8:30am. The buffet typically includes good coffee, tea, milk, freshly squeezed juice, fruit, bread and cereals. Additional items can be cooked to order at extra charge.
After an energetic morning on the beach, guests can retreat under the shade of the palapas and enjoy salads, sandwiches, ceviche or quesadillas. Complimentary wireless internet access is also available at the restaurant.
The beach at Bahia de la Luna is one of the best swimming and snorkeling beaches in the area. The ocean is calm and crystal clear, and the beach is virtually private; shared only a by few private homes.
During your stay, you may see turtles, manta rays, dophins or even whales. In any case, we also recommend a visit to the nearby National Turtle Center, where you can see most of the species of turtles in the world. Don’t miss it!
The hotel offers guests complimentary use of snorkeling equipment and kayaks, and beach towels are provided. There are also life vests available for children.
The nearest airports are Huatulco (40 minutes away by road) or Puerto Escondido (about 75 minutes away by road). Both airports have good connections with Mexico City, and there are international flights from Huatulco with Continental.
Taxis are available from both airports to either Puerto Angel or directly to the hotel. The nicest way to arrive at the Bahia de la Luna is by water taxi from Puerto Angel (arrange the boat transfers in advance, or ask at the main pier there). A road taxi from Puerto Angel costs around 10 USD, a water taxi costs around 20 USD.
Driving directions
If you are driving to the hotel, take the highway 175 that passes through Mazunte and San Augustinillo. The access road to the hotel is signed from this highway, between Puerto Angel and Pochutla. The access road is steep and unpaved. It is passable in a regular car with care, but taxi drivers may not want to take you all the way to the reception area. Sometimes they may drop you off by the beach. The hotel can arrange for transportation back to the airports or to the nearby towns with their regular driver, who is very reliable.
Bahia de la Luna
La Boquilla
Pochutla
Oaxaca
Mexico