Huatulco

Don't let the colonial-style architecture fool you - most of Huatulco is just a few decades old.

The brainchild of Fonatur, Mexico's tourism development agency, the country's newest Pacific coast resort hopes to balance tourism and environmental preservation. About 60% of Huatulco (pronounced wah-TOOL-koh) has been set aside as an ecological reserve, and all new construction adheres to strict codes: no buildings taller than six stories and plenty of open space and natural vegetation in between.

The result, so far, is a resort with a very different feel. No, you're not going to find ancient ruins there, but you won't be overwhelmed with glitzy high-rises and rowdy crowds either. What you'll discover in the Bahias de Huatulco are nine gorgeous bays and 36 golden-sand beaches, many of which are strewn with craggy boulders and ringed by pristine coral reefs.

It's not surprising, then, that cruise ships have begun stopping at Huatulco as part of their sailings along the Mexican Riviera. Myriad water sports as well as eco-adventures to nearby coffee plantations and dense tropical forests mean there's something for most visitors to do - in addition to simply relaxing in deluxe seclusion.