Islas Marietas National Park

Islas Marietas National Park is a pair of uninhabited volcanic islets in the Bahía de Banderas, off the coast of Punta de Mita in Nayarit, protected as a national marine park since 2005. Visitors arrive exclusively by authorized boat tour, motoring past sea caves, arches, and steep basalt cliffs before anchoring near the park's signature feature: Playa del Amor, a hidden beach reached by swimming or wading through a short tunnel carved by wave action, open to the sky above. Snorkeling around the islets reveals parrotfish, sea turtles, and, from December through March, migrating humpback whales that pass close to the boundary. The islands themselves are a nesting sanctuary for blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and other seabirds, visible from the boat as it circles the perimeter (landing on the main island bodies is prohibited outside the designated beach zone). A full outing typically runs four to six hours round trip from Punta de Mita or La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, including snorkel time, a swim to the hidden beach, and often a stop for fresh ceviche on the boat. Mornings offer the calmest seas and best visibility for snorkeling; afternoon winds can chop up the crossing. Access to the hidden beach is capped daily by CONANP to limit erosion, so early tour departures secure a spot before the daily quota fills. The park closes entirely on Mondays and Tuesdays to allow the ecosystem to recover from weekend visitor traffic.