Meet your guide upon hotel pickup in Huatulco and head downtown to La Crucecita, meaning ‘Small Cross.’ You’ll have water and soft drinks available aboard your air-conditioned minivan along the way. Start your sightseeing tour at the zocalo (main square), which together with the park, cathedral, handicraft stores and caf□s create the ambiance of an authentic Oaxacan town.
Stroll around the square and visit its famous Church of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which honors the patron saint of Mexico. Inside, your guide will point to the cupola where a 65-foot (20-meter) tall paining is said to be the largest of the Virgin in the world. Not to be missed is a stop at La Probadita, a locally owned boutique selling traditional Oaxacan products. Here, you’ll find all manner of keepsakes and also visit the weaver’s workshop to learn about pre-Columbian weaving.
La Probadita features a wide variety of mescal, an alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant, native to Oaxaca. Try a shot of mescal with salt made of maguey worms, paired with specialty snacks like quesillo (a type of Oaxaca cheese), chocolate and even chapulines (fried grasshoppers). These tasty local treats are fried in lime juice and salt ─ a fine contrast with the cinnamon-laced Oaxacan chocolates.
After sampling this local fare, hop back in your minivan for the return trip to your hotel.