Tangolunda

Tangolunda National Park is a protected area in Oaxaca state, established by presidential decree on February 26, 2024, encompassing 110 hectares of the former Grupo Salinas golf course property in the Bahías de Huatulco resort area. ^[1] The park is administered by CONANP and protects a forested inland property situated between existing marine and terrestrial protected areas in the Huatulco zone. The designation prohibits golf, fishing, agriculture, logging, and mining, with the federal Environment Ministry mandated to manage, preserve, and restore the park ecosystems while permitting low-impact ecotourism and scientific research.

The former golf course property and surrounding coastal dry forest of the Tangolunda area support wildlife typical of the Oaxacan Pacific coast, including iguanas, coatimundis, and various lizard species. Adjacent Tangolunda Bay supports tropical Pacific fish communities. Sea turtle nesting occurs on beaches throughout the broader Huatulco area. The restoration of native vegetation within the park boundaries is expected to improve wildlife habitat over time.

The park's terrestrial zone is expected to include remnants of tropical dry forest typical of the Oaxacan Pacific coast, including species such as copal trees (Bursera spp.) and other coastal dry forest species, though the former golf course landscape requires ecological restoration. The dry forest is highly seasonal, largely leafless during the dry season. Active restoration of native coastal forest vegetation is a management priority under the national park decree.

Tangolunda is situated on one of the most ancient geological terrains in Mexico. The underlying rock of the Huatulco area is composed of Precambrian metamorphic and granitic rocks of the Oaxacan Complex, rocks over 1 billion years old that form some of the oldest exposed geological material in North America. ^[1] These ancient, erosion-resistant rocks underlie the coastal zone of the Bahías de Huatulco. The former golf course terrain includes modified topography and three artificial lakes created during the golf course operation.

Tangolunda has a hot, semi-arid tropical climate with a strong seasonal rainfall pattern. Mean annual temperature is 28 to 30°C. Annual precipitation is 800 to 1,000 millimeters, concentrated entirely in the June to October rainy season. The dry season from November to May is sunny and dry—the primary tourist season. Pacific tropical storms occasionally affect the coast from July to October.

The Bahías de Huatulco coast was inhabited by Zapotec coastal communities who exploited marine resources. The bay name Tangolunda derives from the Zapotec language. The Spanish colonial port of Huatulco served as one of Mexico's first Pacific trading ports in the 16th century. In 1984, FONATUR began developing the Bahías de Huatulco as a master-planned resort. The former golf course on the Tangolunda property operated for several decades under a concession agreement before the government converted the land to protected status in 2024.

The property that became Tangolunda National Park was historically part of the FONATUR-managed development zone for the Bahías de Huatulco master-planned resort. A golf course concession was granted to Grupo Salinas to operate on the 110-hectare property. When the concession expired in early 2024, President López Obrador signed a decree on February 26, 2024, converting the property into a national park, noting it sat between two existing natural protected reserves. ^[1] CONANP is mandated to manage and restore the park ecosystems.

As a newly established park on a former golf course site, Tangolunda National Park is in early stages of ecological restoration and visitor infrastructure development. The park decree permits low-impact tourism, environmental education, and scientific research. ^[1] The broader Bahías de Huatulco resort zone offers snorkeling, kayaking, and coastal tours, and sea turtle nesting observation is available on nearby beaches through CONANP and resort operators.

Tangolunda is within the Bahías de Huatulco resort zone, approximately 3.6 kilometres from La Crucecita ^[1]. ^[2] Huatulco airport has direct flights from Mexico City, Guadalajara, and international connections. Visitor services for the broader Huatulco area are available in La Crucecita and Santa Cruz Huatulco. Specific visitor access arrangements for the national park are to be defined by CONANP as the park develops.

The primary conservation objective at Tangolunda National Park is the restoration of native coastal dry forest ecosystems on the former golf course land, returning a developed property to natural habitat. The decree explicitly prohibits all extractive and development activities. ^[1] The park's location between two existing protected areas creates an ecological corridor opportunity. CONANP engages with resort guests and the broader Huatulco community in conservation through interpretive programs.