Secrets Huatulco Review: Oceanfront Suites in a Quiet Bay

Last Updated on December 23, 2025

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How does Secrets Huatulco stack up?

Pros: 

• Oceanfront suites, either with a balcony or patio (the latter have a swim out or spa tub).  Balconies have glass railings for unobstructed views.

• Set on a calm bay perfect for swimming and kayaking; while the beach has public access and a small beach restaurant, few people other than resort guests use the beach

• Buzzy activity pool with a swim-up bar and morning water aerobics is balanced by a quieter “relaxing” pool. Both pools are heated December – March and a hot tub is heated year round

• No reservations or wristbands: dine at any of the restaurants without a reservation; the only exception is the teppanyaki table at Spice, the Japanese restaurant

• Free WiFi is strong in guest rooms, restaurants, pool area, and throughout the resort

• 9 restaurants and 7 bars, including a swim-up bar

• 24-hour room service delivered via touchless “secret box” (a passthrough compartment)

• Poolside and beachside drink service

• Parking is included (valet only)

Cons: 

• Secluded – a tour or taxi is needed to see area sights, restaurants, etc.

• Based on occupancy, it is likely that not all restaurants will be open daily; so you might miss getting to all of them if you don’t stay long enough

• Beach sand is coarse, which might disappoint powder-sand beach lovers

• Guest room bathrooms lack some privacy: a wooden wall slides open to access tub from guest room, while toilet room and front of shower room are semi-frosted glass

• Some swim-out and spa tub rooms have limited beach views because of landscaping, but offer more privacy; patio divider walls don’t extend into swim out pools

• While varied and enjoyable, the restaurants may not quite match the culinary standards found at resorts in more competitive, high-traffic destinations like Cancun

Sunscreen? Yes. Floaties? Also yes.
Skip the guesswork with my all-inclusive packing list! ⫸

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Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa Review

With many travelers seeking Mexico escapes outside of busy Cancun and Cabo, Secrets Huatulco presents all the same amenities in a less-touristed region.  

The resort, built in 2011, joined the Hyatt brand in 2022. While it is one of the older properties in the chain, it remains in generally good condition.

Secrets Resorts are known for their “Unlimited-Luxury” ethos, meaning limitless access to all  restaurants, bars serving top-shelf spirits, 24-hour room service, pool and beach wait service, daily maid service and restocked minibar, daytime activities, nightly entertainment including theme dinners, free WiFi throughout the resort, and more.

With seven a la carte restaurants and one buffet at Secrets Huatulco, you’ll only have to eat twice at the spots you like best!  Plus 24-hour room service is something many resorts reserve only for club-level guests.  I ordered it for a leisurely breakfast, but it would also be perfect for a romantic dinner on your balcony or late-night snack.

Add in the seven bars (serving cocktail favorites and inventive drinks of the day), activities like sea kayaking and archery, a full-service spa (for an additional fee), and the absolutely gorgeous bay views, and might start asking yourself why you’ve taken so long to get to this part of Mexico.

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Location

Secrets Huatulco is located in the easternmost of the nine bays of Huatulco.  It’s a half hour from the airport, past all of the other resorts that dot this part of the coast, set within the sprawling Huatulco National Park.  

A few minutes farther along the coastal road is the Copalita Archaeological Park, where some of the only seaside Mayan ruins can be found.  (Note that the park currently has limited opening hours.)

Secrets Huatulco is built into the hills above Conejos Bay, with room blocks set on terraces that step down to the pool and ocean.  There are no other resorts here. So although the beach is public, there is little activity beyond Secrets guests.

Huatulco itself is a popular destination for travelers from within Mexico as well as Canada and the US. Many “expat” retirees also move there for its sunny weather, good infrastructure, and affordable cost of living. 

Huatulco is much more of a planned community than other places in Mexico, with renewable energy sources, a water and sewage treatment facility, and dedicated green space to preserve the natural setting.

The top things to do here are taking a boat trip to see the Bays of Huatulco, visiting a coffee plantation, hiking to waterfalls, and joining baby sea turtle releases with conservation groups.

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Guest Rooms

All 399 guest rooms at Secrets Huatulco overlook the ocean.  Rooms are grouped into 6 buildings, 3 on either side of the central core of the hotel, on stepped terraces with views of the pools and beach.

The rooms (all called suites) have either a balcony or patio, with two double beds or one king.  The patio rooms have an outdoor hot tub or a swim-out to a semi-private pool.  Club level room options include king or double suites, suites with hot tub or swim-out, one-bedroom swim-out suites, and two-level loft suite swim-outs.

The rooms are spacious, all 500-square feet or larger, with a desk, couch, and mini fridge. The decor might appear a bit dated, partially because of dark wood panels and furniture in the guest rooms.  But the double sliding balcony doors and glass panel balconies let in tons of light and offer views of the pools and bay below.

Outlets fit North America Type A/B plugs and run on 120v, the same as the U.S. and Canada. The alarm clock in my room had a USB outlet, but I recommend bringing a USB adapter, along with necessary charging cables.

All rooms have double vanity sinks, a shower room with separate soaking or jetted tub and rainfall shower, hair dryers, a lighted makeup mirror, and complimentary toiletries. Large closets contain a safe, robes, slippers and shirt and pants hangers.

Minibars are stocked with sodas, juices, and beer as well as a few complimentary snacks like Peanut M&Ms and peanuts. A hot drink station has a Nespresso machine, teabags, and coffee pods.

The highest floor of each building has the best views, while patio-level room views can be a bit obstructed by landscaping.  I stayed in room 3303 (Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean Front King) and thought it had some of the best views of the bay.

For swim-out fans, I noticed that the pool waitstaff often brought drinks to the swim-out rooms on the two lowest level buildings.

Inside your door, a switch for a green or red privacy light signals to staff staff whether you want maid service, minibar refill, etc., or if you wish not to be disturbed.

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Arrival Experience

The closest airport to Secrets Huatulco is HUX  (Bahias De Huatulco International Airport), about 25 miles or 30 minutes by car.  Transfers can be booked directly through the resort or from a car service like Welcome Pickups.

Check flights to HUX |   Book Welcome Pickups

On arrival, you’ll be swept into the breezy, gleaming, two-story lobby for check-in.  Club-level guests and World of Hyatt members with Explorist status or higher receive check-in at the Club Preferred Lounge.

The resort also has a vacation timeshare option, so keep an eye out for someone to swoop in following your check-in.  They’ll offer excursion coupons if you book a breakfast meeting to hear their timeshare spiel.  When I visited, it was in the Castaways restaurant on a hill overlooking the bay, which for breakfast is usually reserved only for Club-level guests.

A note on timeshare meetings: be aware that they will stay for your entire meal!  If you want to avoid this, try saying you will return later after you figure out your activity schedule.  

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Club Level Amenities and Loyalty Upgrades

Club-level rooms include personalized check-in and out, as well as Preferred Club Lounge access daily from 7AM – 11PM.  The lounge, although quite small, had a continental breakfast daily, desserts and hors d’oeuvres throughout the day, and top-shelf liquors.

Club privileges also included a la carte breakfast at Castaways when I visited.

Loyalty upgrades were a bit hit-or-miss; they did honor the benefit upgrade accorded by status level, but adding Hyatt suite night awards did not net an additional upgrade.  (From checking Facebook groups, this is a common issue at Secrets.  Perhaps it will improve the longer the resort chain is part of Hyatt.) 

Early check-in and late check-out were honored according to standard status benefits.

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All-Inclusive Dining

Secrets’ “Unlimited-Luxury” ethos includes all-inclusive dining, drinks, and snacks as well as 24-hour room service. 

If you haven’t stayed at an all-inclusive before, the portions are usually smaller.  Plan to order something in each course and share so you can try more dishes!

Dress Code

Most restaurants have a “casual” to “casual elegance” dress code, while Bordeaux specifies formal resort attire.  Visit the Secrets site for more restaurant details including the dress code for each.   

Restaurants

Secrets Huatulco features seven a la carte restaurants and one buffet. Here are my recommendations in in order.

• Oceana – Fresh seafood and dishes like grilled fish, ceviche, shrimp and lobster (in season) for dinner. This restaurant has both indoor and terrace seating and is located up the steps next to Castaways.  Everything was good here, but the ceviche was especially delicious.

• Tamarindo – Traditional Mexican cuisine such as tacos, enchiladas, and regional specialties for lunch and dinner. For dinner, don’t miss their traditional Oaxacan dishes like tetelas, tlayudas, and mole. 

• Bordeaux – A French fine-dining dinner restaurant serving classic French cuisine and with an award-winning wine cellar (for an additional fee). Enjoy dishes like duck confit, vichyssoise, and filet of beef.  (A warning: the creme brulee was unfortunately overcooked.) This is the most romantic of all the restaurants.

• Castaways – Lunch and dinner restaurant offering an assortment of grilled steaks and specialties in an open-air setting overlooking the beach.  It’s also open for breakfast for Club level guests. The battered fish tacos from the lunch menu were my favorite meal of my stay!

• Spice – Asian cuisine including sushi, sashimi, and stir-fried dishes for dinner. The restaurant features a teppanyaki table – be sure to book this upon arrival to ensure you get a spot.

• Market Café – An international buffet open for breakfast and lunch with a wide variety of options, from fresh fruit and pastries to made-to-order omelets and a rotating selection of international dishes.  I actually preferred this over the Club breakfast at Castaways, and really enjoyed the fresh salads and desserts with lunch.

• Coco Café – A 24-hour café serving premium coffee, pastries, and light snacks. The Irish coffee frappes here are fantastic!  It’s located upstairs near the theater.

• CinCin – Italian cuisine featuring classic dishes like pasta, risotto, and seafood specialties. The service here was great, but the food wasn’t out of the ordinary; if your time is limited, I’d choose other restaurants over this one. 

• Barefoot Grill – This is the poolside outdoor restaurant that serves casual fare including hamburgers, guacamole, and hot dogs.  Honestly, I would skip this and head to the Market Cafe, unless you really don’t want to lose your spot at the pool. 

Bars

Secrets Huatulco features seven bars, all serving unlimited drinks with top-shelf liquors.  Keep an eye out for the “drinks of the day” – one with alcohol and one without – which are posted daily on the activity schedule and the resort’s app.

• Marlin – swim up bar in the activity pool.  This is always busy, so plan on arriving early or late in the day to get a spot (open 10AM – 6PM)

• Sky Bar – located on the top floor, this open air lounge is located on the central bridge to the elevators and has sweeping views of the property.  Open from 5PM – 11PM, it’s the best place for a sunset drink!

• Barracuda – pool bar open from 10AM – 6PM.

• Rendezvous – small counter bar located in the lobby.  I thought they had the best pina coladas – check it out for yourself and let me know!

• Desires – this music lounge and sports bar opens late for drinks and dancing.

• Showtime – theater bar open during live shows.

• Sugar Reef – outdoor lounge located over the Oceana restaurant with views of the beach and bay.

Room Service

Secrets “Ultimate-Luxury” includes 24-hour room service.  There are menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as overnight.  For an extra charge, you can even order “special occasion” treats like chocolate covered strawberries, petit fours, champagne and more delivered to your room.

Order in the Hyatt All-Inclusives app and your selections will be delivered to a two-sided compartment in your room for contactless service!  (Be sure to turn on the red “do not disturb” light to indicate to use the compartment.)  After your meal, place the used dishes back in the box and schedule pickup in the app.

You can also order additional minibar items through the app to be delivered, in addition to the regular daily replenishment service.

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Pools at Secrets Huatulco

Secrets Huatulco has two sparkling pools that are open from 7AM – 8PM.  The activity pool on the lower level is busy, with daily aqua aerobics classes, water volleyball, and a swim-up bar.  It can be tough to get chairs here near the bar, as they usually fill up early in the day.

The activity pool has a hot tub built into the middle of the pool on the highest level. A series of small decorative pools cascade down to the main section of the activity pool.

The quieter “relaxing” pool was my preferred spot – specifically, the corner where palm trees offer extra afternoon shade. 

Beach and pool towels are available from a station at the exit of the elevators. Each pair of lounge chairs shares an umbrella and side table.  (Unfortunately, the umbrellas don’t tilt, but they are large.) Restrooms and rinse showers are located by the activity pool and by the relaxing pool.

When I visited during low season, there were plenty of chairs and no issues with other guests “reserving” spots by leaving towels and other items.  The resort’s official policy is that items left unattended for longer than 30 minutes will be removed and sent to lost and found.

Pool waitservice is included, and friendly staff made regular rounds to both pools for drink orders.  One server also took orders and delivered to the swim-up rooms on the lowest level that overlooks the pool.

“Balinese” beds are available to rent if you want to guarantee a spot for your beach or pool day – talk to the concierge to reserve. 

From December to March, the pools are heated for guest comfort. Note that there are no lifeguards on duty at the pools; although they are shallow (1.1m deep), it’s always best to swim with a buddy for safety. 🙂

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Beach: Playa Conejos

Secrets Huatulco’s lovely beach, Playa Conejos, is one of its best amenities.  While there is public beach access here, almost all beachgoers are Secrets guests.  

The direct beachfront surf is a little rough, but the left side of the bay is more protected with smaller waves for swimming.  It’s also possible to walk to the next beach over, Playa Magueyito, which is even more calm and secluded.

Before swimming, check with the lifeguards on duty to ask about the surf conditions for the day.

Beach loungers are shaded by thatched palapas, with beachside wait service for drinks.  Water sports usually begin at 9:30AM, Activities are scheduled each day like a kayak tour or sailing lessons.

If you’re used to white, powder-sand beaches, note that the sand here is golden and a bit coarse.  But the secluded cove and beautiful views make up for it, in my opinion!

A small beach shack restaurant, Restaurante Don Luis, is located at the public entry to the beach and has great ratings if you decide to venture “off-resort” for a meal.

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Daily Activities & Entertainment

Many daily activities are part of the all-inclusive experience here.  Get daily programming details on the resort’s welcome TV channel, the app, and monitors in the lobby and main concourse.

Typical activities include: 

• Land activities: tennis classes, pickleball, archery lessons, bingo, cooking lessons, painting class 

• Water activities: aqua aerobics, aqua zumba, kayak tours, sailing lessons, water volleyball

For an additional (reasonable) fee, mezcal tastings can be booked with the resort’s Master Mezcalier.  I skipped this since I’d already done a tasting in Oaxaca City. But if you don’t have other travel planned in the region, I recommend learning about this regional spirit!

Evening entertainment includes live music, karaoke, theme dinners, shows and more. When I visited I really enjoyed a poolside fire show following a theme dinner night.

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Spa and Fitness Center

For extra rejuvenation, Secrets’ spa and fitness center are located overlooking the beach, behind the Oceana and Castaways restaurants.  

The spa offers full-service treatments including revitalizing facials, a hydrotherapy circuit, and a menu of massages.  Indoor or outdoor couples massages are also available.

The fitness center is open from 6AM – 9PM and is equipped with treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, rowing machines, free weights and more. 

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Shops

The main concourse includes gift shops for souvenirs as well as things you might have forgotten to pack (sunglasses, bathing suits, cover ups, etc.).  You’ll also find a pharmacy with sunscreen, snacks, over-the-counter medicines, and even a few basic prescriptions like antibiotics. 

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Huatulco: More information on the region

Huatulco is a picturesque region on Mexico’s Pacific coast, known for its nine bays, 36 sandy beaches, and stunning turquoise waters. Unlike more crowded resort destinations, Huatulco offers a laid-back atmosphere and an emphasis on eco-tourism. The area boasts lush jungles, scenic mountains, and crystal-clear bays perfect for snorkeling, diving, and other water sports.

Popular activities include exploring Huatulco National Park, visiting the beautiful waterfalls at Llano Grande, and taking a boat tour of the bays. In town, guests can stroll through La Crucecita to shop for local handicrafts, dine at authentic Mexican restaurants, and experience local culture.

Read my full guide to Huatulco ⫸

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Booking Tips for Secrets Huatulco

World of Hyatt members will most likely want to book direct for status and points earning. There are frequently good deals from Apple Vacations that include airfare from many cities in the U.S.

In World of Hyatt terms, Secrets Huatulco is an Awards Category B resort. Off-peak points redemptions starting at 17,000 points per night can be found in late August, September and October.

Check below to see what will work best for your travel plans and budget!

🌴 Book Secrets Huatulco 🌴
Hyatt | Expedia | Apple Vacations | Cheap Caribbean | Luxury Escapes

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