Turtle and Crocodile Eco Tour from Huatulco with Mangrove Boat Ride

This tour was really a mixed bag. A couple of parts were excellent, others were really poor. The biggest Issues were poor communication, organization and time management. We have done many tours in different locations in Mexico and several on this trip in particular and this was the first tour that we have done that we would hesitate to recommend. We were picked up late, though that is fairly common, but then when we stopped for a quick photo op at the Zipolite beach sign, we ended up being stuck there in the sun on the nudist beach without water or our personal effects for over an hour and a half waiting on the guide finding missing participants in part because of poor instructions. A proposed 10 minute stop at the cosmétic shop turned into close to 40 minutes. The restaurant was very slow to serve and the food was tasteless and pricy. We also suffered some very uncomfortable and dangerous driving in what appeared to be an attempt to make up time. That said, in the end, we learned a lot and really enjoyed both the crocodile sanctuary and the coffee and chocolate shop. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend those two parts. We never did get to the turtle sanctuary for which our ticket said the 100 peso charge was included in the ticket price, but we were still asked to pay the extra 100 pesos for the crocodile sanctuary. No explanation was given for why we did not visit the turtles. The rest of the tour we would give a pass.The ticket also said that water and soft drinks would be provided, but the guide said he didn’t know anything about offering and refreshments. I wouldn’t ask for my money back, but I don’t feel it delivered on what was promised.

Highlight was the mangrove boat ride, was beautiful, lots of birds from a birders point of view was great. Knowledgeable boatman. The park area walking tour pleasant. Snack and drink break was welcome, would have been nice if water or refreshments offered at beginning of tour. Turtle Centre Informative and a nice break out of the sun. Would have been nice to stop in Manzute on the way through, looked like a great village to explore and had a beach as well. The stop to Zipolete brief as it should be, some laughs. Our dinner at Puerto Angel was a great wind up to the day, great food, relaxing restaurant over the harbour. Note if you get car sick, bring your graval as it is a very winding trip.

Our guide, Carlos was fantastic. Knowledgeable, attentive. This was a great day. We learned so much about each place we stopped. Carlos gave us great detail on plants animals birds and culture.

Lots of crocodiles in their natural habitat. Very educational. The guides were great and did their best to make sure we all had a good time. Enjoyed the stops that we took to see the coast and different beaches. The open air restaurant had wonderful food. One concern was that one of the beaches was a nude beach and our group had children with us. Might have been a good stop to miss when there are kids. The turtle facility was interesting but not as interesting as the animal refuge.

Great trip good guide, very informative, everything was more than expected and on time, take bug repellent although we didn't need it, sun hats or sun umbrella, the driver gave me an umbrella as I'd forgotten my hat.

Would not recommend! According to the tour description, we suppose to visit the National Mexican Turtle Center, cruise through the mystical mangroves, have lunch and visit a local workshop and learn the processes behind natural cosmetics. Trip should start at 9am and take 7 hours , so we expected to be in our hotel around 4pm. We were leaving next morning, so it was important to us. First the bus was 45 minutes late and we were the first ones to be picked up! When finally, everyone was picked up from different hotels, we were on our way. It was a long but beautiful ride. We expected to be taken to Turtle Center or to mangroves, but instead out driver / tour guide Jose decided to take us to nude beach. He dropped us off on a sand and told us to walk to the very end of the beach. Before we realized what is going on, he was gone with the bus and we walked good 300 meters close to 1000 feet on hot deep sand. I have lower back and knee problem and walking on a sand is absolutely prohibited by my doctor. Should I know I will be expected to do it, I would never take this tour. It was not a part of tour description! When we finally made it to the end of the beach, Jose kept us there for an hour and distributed business cards of nude hotel. It was after 12 noon when we finally moved towards the Turtle Center, where we spend more than an hour, even though it was not much to see. By that time, we were hungry and hoped for a lunch stop. After all, we had breakfast at 7 am! But Jose had another plan. He stopped the bus in front of the liquor store. A few people went in to taste liquor, but most of us stayed on a bus hoping we will be on our way. Jose kept us in front of this store for a good hour! It was 3:30 when we finally moved towards mangroves. We thought we will now have lunch, but were told to place an order in a restaurant and walk to the boat for 1.5 hour long tour. We were hungry and very tired. The boat trip was about 10 min. long. The rest of it we were walking grounds. By the time we finally arrived back to the restaurant, it was 5 pm. The food was cold, because it was prepared in advance. We left restaurant after 6pm and ended up in our hotel around 8 pm instead of 4. We never got to the workshop where they make natural cosmetics, something I was looking forward to. Very disappointed!!!

Our guide didn't speak English so we missed the whole Mangroves tour. We also were forced to pay the entrance fee again even though it says it was all included. No water or soft drinks were included like it said either. Also found out what the other people paid in Peso's and were astonished at the mark up! Wow.

Everything on this tour was entertaining and exciting. Our tour guide Pepe was very knowledgeable about the places we stopped and about the native culture in general. The highlight has to be the mangrove boat ride and seeing the crocodiles up close. I would reccommend this tour to all my friends and others

I like this tour, friendly guide providing good information

The trip was very nice we enjoyed ourselves at the little zoo and saw the crocs ,we liked the sea turtles and I did enjoy going to the natural cosmetics factory we would definitely rate this very high five stars