Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands, Riviera Nayarit
Hi friends, I want to dedicate this article to the gorgeous and unique Marietas Islands National Park in the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.
This jewel of the Mexican Pacific is famous for its beautiful “Playa Escondida,” although it is not the only treasure it hides.
The beauty of the Marietas archipelago is undeniable and I want you to witness it.
The Marietas Islands National Park is an archipelago located on the northern tip of Banderas Bay, about 9 km from Punta de Mita and one hour northwest of Puerto Vallarta.
It comprises two islands that were formed approximately 60,000 years ago as a result of volcanic activity in the area.
These two islands are Isla Redonda, the site where the spectacular “Playa del Amor” is located; and Isla Larga, which is also home to the beautiful Nopalera beach.
For the record, Playa del Amor (Love Beach) and Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach) refer to the same beach.
The set is completed by other rocky mounds of lesser importance and a marine portion located at the northeast end of each island.
Islas Marietas Natural Protected Area covers 1,383 hectares, of which 1,305 are open to tourism.
Each of the islands offers different scenery. However, they do share the same virgin environment that is preserved intact, thanks to the null human presence in the area.
Thus, this gift of nature has not lost its magic and originality.
If you love nature and movie-like landscapes, you should not miss a trip to the Marietas Islands.
What is the importance of the Marietas Islands?
In addition to their enormous scenic beauty, the Marietas Islands are a habitat where many marine species from the central and southern Mexican Pacific region coexist with others from the Gulf of California.
Because of their importance, they were declared a RAMSAR site in 2004, a Biosphere Reserve in 2008, and a Protected Natural Area in April 2005.
In other words, they are a space humans must care for and respect.
For this reason, they now promote responsible tourism in the Marietas Islands, limiting the daily capacity and carrying out activities that do not threaten its natural wealth.
As a tourist visiting this national park, you will be able to discover unique natural scenery and singular beauty.
The Marietas Islands are considered an important transit, reproduction, and refuge site for resident, migratory, marine, and continental bird species.
At the same time, this protected area is home to an enormous diversity of coral species and the largest quantity and variety of reef fish in all of Banderas Bay.
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Many of the marine species and birds that inhabit this archipelago are in danger of extinction. For this reason, it constitutes a fundamental space for the reproductive processes of all these species.
The humpback whale, the olive ridley turtle, and several types of birds are just some examples of this.
Today, Islas Marietas National Park protects 43 species of flora and fauna that are in a high-risk category, 91 species of birds, 7 species of marine mammals, and 110 varieties of fish.
What species can be seen on the islands?
Taking a trip to the Marietas Islands means coming face to face with the best of the Pacific Ocean.
With a little luck, you can see sea turtles, giant manta rays, octopuses, humpback whales (during whale watching season), dolphins, roosterfish, angelfish, dorados, pufferfish, parrotfish and much, much more.
In other words, a universe of color and life awaits you underwater.
Among the bird species, I can mention the brown gannet and the famous blue-footed booby, just to mention a few.
By the way, the latter is clearly distinguished by its white feathers, black wings, yellow eyes, and blue feet.
A curious fact about this friendly bird is that it can only be found in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador and the Marietas (hence they are known as the Mexican Galapagos).
Getting to the Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands
Access to the Marietas Islands is only by sea and by hiring one of the authorized tours that depart from different destinations in Banderas Bay.
Sayulita, Punta de Mita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nuevo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, and Yelapa are the usual departure points.
Of all these places, Punta de Mita is the closest to the Marietas Archipelago.
By the way, you can take the opportunity to explore the fabulous Banderas Bay, one of the largest natural bays in Mexico.
This majestic Bay bonds the states of Nayarit and Jalisco and is full of pristine beaches, magical towns, and acclaimed tourist cities, such as Puerto Vallarta.
Generally, tourists who visit the Marietas Islands do so as part of a trip through this area. So don’t hesitate to do the same and explore these Mexican lands to the fullest.
Things to do in the Marietas Islands National Park
Visiting the Marietas Islands is an adventure not to be missed for nature enthusiasts.
As I told you before, all activities here are based on respect, care, and non-invasion of the natural treasures of the National Park.
The entertainment options revolve mainly around water sports, so you can snorkel, see humpback whales on the way to the islands (from early December to late March), or swim to Playa del Amor beach.
But bird watching, for example, is also something to be enjoyed in this beautiful place.
If you like scuba diving, the Marietas Islands are one of your best options in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay.
This is possible, in part, thanks to the efforts of conservationist Jacques Cousteau, who fought for the islands to become a Marine Reserve.
For this very reason, the islands are a universe of marine life.
The small varieties of microorganisms in these waters attract small fish, which feed on them.
In turn, these small fish attract large species, such as sharks and dolphins. All this you will see as you descend through an underwater mountain range full of life.
Volcanic formations, tunnels, caves, and needles will accompany your diving expedition in the Marietas Islands.
When hiring a dive tour, make sure you hire a serious agency that respects the conservation measures of the park and is run by certified divers.
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Tours are available in Puerto Vallarta, Punta de Mita, and other locations in Banderas Bay. The best thing to do is to shop wisely and choose the ones that best suit your tastes and budget.
Maybe scuba diving is too much for you. Don’t worry, because, with a snorkel mask, you can also explore the area’s underwater life.
Just 10 meters from the islands some reefs are home to colorful fish and starfish (the latter cannot be touched or moved).
For the quieter travelers, relaxing on the sand of the Marietas Islands Hidden Beach will be the activity of choice.
Although you won’t spend much time there, you will undoubtedly be grateful for those glorious minutes in such beautiful scenery.
What to see in the Marietas Islands?
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Playa del Amor and Playa Escondida refer to the same place, and it is the most popular attraction in the Marietas National Park.
In fact, most travelers who take a tour do so to see this beach with their own eyes. However, other hidden treasures deserve the same attention.
Playa del Amor
The postcard of the Marietas Islands’ Playa del Amor is easy to get on Google.
But, being able to see this peculiar beach with your own eyes is priceless. That’s why, if you visit the islands, a stop here is a must.
Playa del Amor is commonly known as Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach).
Why? Because it is an isolated cavern surrounded by rocks. In other words, it looks like it is under the earth or inside a huge crater.
Its interior hides a small white sand beach bathed by the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.
This idyllic postcard has a whole history behind it. Many years ago, this section of the Islas Marietas National Park, was closed and could not be seen from the sea or the air.
Apparently, this opening was not the work of Mother Earth, but of man.
Since the Marietas Islands had no human residents, they became the ideal place to test explosives in the first half of the 20th century.
Although this could never be corroborated, it is believed that some of the fascinating caves and rock formations seen in the archipelago are artificial.
In the 1960s, French scientist Jacques Cousteau began a fight against the destruction of the islands’ ecosystem.
However, it took many decades before they were declared a National Park.
Ok, back to Playa del Amor, an oasis of crystalline waters and white sand that can only be accessed at low tide.
Although nowadays it is not as secret as it used to be, when you are there you will feel far away from everyday life, routine, and stress. Therefore, it has not lost its charm at all.
How do you get to this Hidden Beach? Swimming! Don’t expect the boat to drop you a foot from the sand. There is no way this is going to happen.
To visit this paradise, you will have to swim your way through a relatively easy tunnel.
While you will have to swim against the currents of the Pacific, a great reward awaits you there.
La Nopalera Beach
La Nopalera is another small beach of crystalline waters and soft white sand located within the Marietas archipelago.
Apparently, its name comes from the nopal plants that grow on the upper part of the island.
La Nopalera has several small caves and stone arches that add to its visual appeal. At the same time, its waters are visited by a diversity of fish, crabs, and other species.
The beach is not always accessible because it depends on the sea currents and the tide.
Like the Hidden Beach, it is located within the protected area and has a limited capacity and certain restrictions.
Only 120 people a day can access it and they must do so without sunscreen or repellents (although it is worth asking about biodegradable ones).
A life jacket is also mandatory to access the beach (any of the two beaches for that matter).
Isla Larga (Long Island) Rock Formations
Isla Larga (where La Nopalera Beach is located) also has other rock formations worth taking pictures of.
Among them are the Arco de Piedra, the Cueva del Muerto, El Amarradero, Los Escalones, and La Bufadora.
The latter is a marine siphon fed by an intense swell, which with the crashing of the waves produces a kind of snorting sound and an explosion of steam.
In addition to seeing all this, the island has rocky vaults or peculiar caves that attract attention.
This spectacle can be admired from the boats that border the islands.
Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands: Important Tips
Before booking any excursion to the Marietas Islands National Park you should take into account the following:
The entrance to the Hidden Beach is not guaranteed. On the one hand, tourist agencies must corroborate availability on the same day and, on the other hand, be aware of weather and tide conditions.
**This last factor cannot always be predicted, so there is not much to do but hope to get lucky.
A piece of advice I give to you is that before hiring a tour, make sure that the agency you choose is professional.
Pay attention to the package, what’s included, and if they offer refunds in case weather conditions don’t allow access to the beach.
The age allowed for the excursion is from 12 to 65 years old. Likewise, it is not recommended for pregnant women, or people suffering from heart or spinal column problems.
Another important factor to visit the Hidden Beach is to know how to swim and don’t be afraid of the water.
I’ve seen folks freak out and panic because the reality is, that once you’re there, it looks a bit intimidating.
As I already told you, the only way to get there is to swim your way through a tunnel of about 70 meters in which there are usually sea currents.
If you are a YouTuber or journalist who wants to cover a story about the park, you should know that drones are prohibited. Federal regulations and protection of endemic bird flight zones state so.
In addition to the tour price, tourists visiting the Marietas Islands must pay an additional 100 pesos (6 USD) per person, as a contribution to the protection of the environment.
How to hire a tour to the Marietas Islands?
In the towns and cities mentioned above you will find many travel agencies that offer tours to the Marietas Islands.
I suggest taking this excursion to the Marietas Islands by catamaran, starting early morning at the Puerto Vallarta Maritime Terminal.
The trip includes a breakfast with eggs, ham, pancakes, fruits, and yogurt, while you sail to your destination.
Once there you will be provided with snorkeling equipment, kayaks, and paddle boards to enjoy the waters of the Mexican Pacific.
After the activity follows a lunch and a ride on the catamaran around the Larga and Redonda Islands. After the tour, it is time to return to Puerto Vallarta. Arrival time is planned for 5-6 pm.
You can also book this excursion to Punta Mita and Marietas Islands
First, you will tour this beautiful town with 10 km of pristine beaches. After a stroll through its colorful streets, you will depart for the Marietas Islands.
Snorkeling equipment, a walk through the archipelago, and lunch are included in the final price of the excursion.
After returning to Punta de Mita, you will have the opportunity to relax for a while on the beaches.
Another excursion to the Marietas Islands by boat starts in Nuevo Vallarta and includes a stop at Playa del Amor.
Then follows a tour of the archipelago and some snorkeling in the arches of this impressive park. The trip lasts approximately 5 hours and includes a snack.
Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands: Conclusion
In conclusion, a trip to the Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands offers an unforgettable experience, blending adventure, natural beauty, and the thrill of discovering one of Mexico’s true coastal gems.
From the scenic boat ride to the captivating marine life and the secluded wonder of the beach itself, it’s an experience that embodies the charm of Riviera Nayarit.
Whether you’re snorkeling, birdwatching, or simply soaking in the stunning surroundings, this marine National Park promises memories that will last a lifetime.
Add it to your itinerary, and experience firsthand the magic that makes this spot a must-visit destination!
