Guides / Islands & beaches
Marietas Islands and Hidden Beach: what you should know
What the Marietas Islands are, how access to Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor) works, what to see in the national park and how to visit from Puerto Vallarta.
Marietas Islands · Banderas Bay · Updated October 2026

Fact sheet
- Where
- Off Punta de Mita, Nayarit
- From Vallarta
- About 1 h by boat
- Status
- National Park, UNESCO Biosphere and Ramsar site
- Hidden Beach
- Limited access, swimming through a tunnel
- Required
- Reef-safe sunscreen
The Marietas Islands are a small group of uninhabited islands at the mouth of Banderas Bay, off Punta de Mita in Nayarit. They're a National Park, a UNESCO-recognized Biosphere Reserve and a Ramsar site, and they hide one of Mexico's most famous beaches: Hidden Beach, or Playa del Amor.
What you'll see
Volcanic rock arches and caves, clear water for snorkeling and lots of birds: the islands are a nesting ground for the blue-footed booby, among other species. In season, humpback whales and dolphins are often spotted on the way.
Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor)
It's a sandy beach inside a crater open to the sky, surrounded by rock. To get in you swim through a short tunnel, with a life jacket and in small guided groups, and only when the tide allows.
Access is limited to protect the site: there's a daily visitor cap, maximum time on the beach, closing days and age and health restrictions, and only permitted operators may take visitors. The park sets these rules and they change over time, so confirm them with your operator before booking.

How to visit
You arrive by boat: from Puerto Vallarta the ride takes about an hour, and much less from Punta de Mita. Private boats can't land passengers; you visit with an authorized tour.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen (it's mandatory in the reserve), a swimsuit and be ready to swim. Taking sand, shells or anything else from the site isn't allowed.
How to go
If you'd like to go with us
Right now our Marietas Islands tour has no fixed departures: message us on WhatsApp and we'll tell you if there are dates. For a similar day of beach, kayak and snorkel, our Madagascar & Ánimas tour runs Tuesday to Sunday.
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Want to go?We reply 9 am to 5 pm
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