Marietas Islands (Islas Marietas)

According to Wikipedia, the islands lie about 7.9 kilometers southwest of Punta de Mita in federal waters within the Bahia de Banderas municipality and were formed thousands of years ago by volcanic activity. Wikipedia reports that a major international outcry led by Jacques Cousteau in the late 1960s led to protection from fishing, hunting and human activity; Pronatura Noroeste reports that the national park itself was decreed in 2005. The park is also recognized as a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve and was designated a Ramsar wetland on 2 February 2004.

The islands are best known for the Playa del Amor, called the Hidden Beach or Beach of Love, which sits in a sunlit crater and is accessible only at low tide. Wikipedia attributes its formation to bombing in the 1900s and subsequent erosion: in the early 1900s the Mexican government conducted military testing on the islands, and the explosions created caves and rock formations.

The islands host a variety of plants and wildlife, with blue-footed boobies and red-billed tropicbirds breeding and feeding there. Dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles and eels live in the surrounding waters, and humpback whales arrive in the bay in winter. The islands have many varieties of coral that support a large number of reef fish, which is why snorkeling and diving are popular.

The popularity of the islands has put pressure on them. Wikipedia reports that University of Guadalajara studies estimated the Hidden Beach could take about 116 visitors a day without degradation, while the whole park's carrying capacity was put at 625 visitors a day, and that visitor numbers rose from 27,500 in 2012 to 127,372 in 2015. The article notes that in 2016 more than 2,500 visitors landed daily, several times the limit. Because of such concerns, access rules have changed over time, so details such as permits and beach access should be checked with the park authorities.

The islands lie offshore and are reached by boat, typically from Punta de Mita or from Puerto Vallarta, and the boat ride across the bay is part of the experience. Sea conditions and season affect whether landings are possible.

Because the islands are a regulated protected area, trips are made with authorized boat operators. A private tour arrangement with a driver can cover the road transfer to the departure point, with the crossing handled by the operator.