Marietas Islands & the Hidden Beach: Permits, Tours and What to Expect

A Marietas Islands tour is a boat trip from the Puerto Vallarta area to a small group of uninhabited volcanic islands off Punta de Mita, in the state of Nayarit. They have been a national park since 2005, run by Mexico's protected-areas agency, CONANP, and you can only visit with an operator that holds a park permit. The famous Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor or Playa Escondida) is a patch of sand inside a hole in the rock, reached by swimming in from the open sea, and it has its own, stricter access rules.

Those rules have changed several times and can change again with little notice, so this guide explains how the system works rather than quoting numbers that may be out of date. Before you pay for anything, confirm the current conditions with your operator or with CONANP.

What the Marietas Islands are

The park covers two main islands, Isla Larga and Isla Redonda, plus several islets and the sea around them, at the mouth of Banderas Bay. They are low, flat-topped and bare from the water, a few kilometres off the tip of Punta de Mita. Nobody lives there, there are no facilities, and landing on the islands themselves is not allowed: what you visit is the water around them, the snorkelling spots and, if your tour includes it, the Hidden Beach.

The Hidden Beach

The Hidden Beach sits inside a roughly circular opening in the rock, open to the sky and connected to the sea by a short passage under the cliff. Boats cannot get in. You swim, or are towed in a line by a guide, through the passage, wearing a life jacket, and the swim is only possible when the tide and swell allow it. The beach became so famous on social media that visitor numbers damaged it: in 2016 CONANP closed it for several months to let it recover and reopened it with a daily visitor limit, short time slots and a weekly closure day. Some version of that system has applied ever since.

Wildlife

The islands are protected mainly as a seabird colony. Blue-footed boobies nest here, along with brown boobies and other seabirds, and the rocky reefs hold tropical fish, rays and sea turtles. From roughly December to March humpback whales are in the bay, so a winter crossing often doubles as whale watching. Dolphins are common on the way out at any time of year.

Rules and permits: how access works

You do not need a personal permit. What you need is a place on a boat run by an authorised operator, and the operator handles the paperwork. Every visitor pays the national park access fee, which reputable operators either include in the price or collect separately; ask which before you book. Unlicensed boats that offer the islands cheaply from the beach are a real risk: if they are stopped, you lose the trip and can get the operator fined.

Visitor limits and closure days

There are two layers of limits. The park as a whole has a daily cap on visitors, and the Hidden Beach has a separate, much smaller one, split into timed groups. On top of that, the park has had a weekly closure day for rest and has closed entirely at times for maintenance, bad weather or by order of the Port Captain. The exact numbers, the closure day and the fees have changed over the years, which is why we do not print them here. Check them with CONANP or your operator in the week you travel.

How the swim to the beach works

• Life jacket on, always. It is mandatory for the swim in, even for strong swimmers.
• Small groups, short slots. Guides take a group in, you get a limited time on the sand, and the next group follows.
• Swell decides. If the sea is rough or the tide is wrong, the guides cancel the beach on the spot. A good operator tells you this before you book and explains what you get instead.
• Swimming ability matters. The swim is short, but you need to be comfortable in open water with waves. Operators may set age or fitness limits.

What is not allowed

Do not touch or stand on coral, feed fish or birds, or take anything away, including sand and shells. Walking on the islands is off-limits, and so is fishing in the park. Use mineral, reef-friendly sunscreen or, better, a long-sleeved rash guard. Your guide's instructions in the water are part of the permit conditions, not suggestions.

Choosing a Marietas Islands tour

The key decision is whether you want the Hidden Beach or not. Tours without it are easier to book, more flexible and often more relaxed; tours with it sell out early and depend on the sea. Here is how the main options compare.

Tour type	Hidden Beach?	Typical length	Best for
Snorkel and kayak around the islands	No	Half day from Punta de Mita, longer from Puerto Vallarta	Families, birdwatching, flexible dates
Hidden Beach tour	Yes, if the sea allows	Half to full day	Confident swimmers who book ahead
Whale watching plus Marietas	Usually no	Half to full day, December to March	Winter visitors
Private boat charter	Only with a permitted slot	You choose	Groups, photographers, fixed schedules

Departure points

Most group tours leave from the Puerto Vallarta marina or Nuevo Vallarta, which means a longer boat ride across the bay. Leaving from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle or Punta de Mita cuts the crossing to a short hop and leaves more time in the water. If you are staying in the north bay or in Sayulita, a Punta de Mita departure is the obvious choice. For where to base yourself, see our guide to where to stay in Puerto Vallarta.

Questions to ask before you pay

1. Is the operator authorised by CONANP for the park, and for the Hidden Beach specifically?
2. Is the park fee included, and is the Hidden Beach slot confirmed or only requested?
3. What happens if the beach or the whole park is closed on the day: refund, new date or alternative route?
4. How many people are on the boat, and are snorkel gear, life jackets and drinks included?

What to expect on the day

Mornings are usually calmer, so most tours leave early. On the crossing, keep watching the water for dolphins, rays jumping and, in winter, whale spouts. At the islands the boat anchors or drifts at designated spots, you snorkel or kayak along the rocks, and the Hidden Beach groups go in turn. Boobies sit on the cliffs within easy view of the boat, so bring a zoom lens rather than trying to get close.

What to bring

• Swimsuit worn under your clothes, a towel and a dry change.
• A rash guard or long-sleeved swim shirt instead of lots of sunscreen.
• A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch for the swim.
• Cash for the park fee if it is not included, and for tips.
• Seasickness tablets taken before you board if you are prone to it.

The best season

The dry season, from late November to April, brings the clearest skies and, in winter, the whales. Summer water is warmer and visibility can be very good, but storms and closures for weather are more likely from July to October. Our guide to the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta covers the months in detail, and the islands fit into a longer plan in things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

When you are ready to compare operators, departure points and durations, our Puerto Vallarta tours page lists Marietas trips alongside snorkelling and whale-watching options. For the official status of the park, start at the website of CONANP, the agency that manages it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to visit the Marietas Islands?

Not personally. You need to go with an operator authorised by CONANP, which manages the park permits and, for the Hidden Beach, the timed slots. Every visitor pays the park fee, either in the tour price or separately.

Can you always get into the Hidden Beach?

No. Access is limited to a small number of people per day, the park has usually had a weekly closure day, and the swim is cancelled when the sea is rough. Book a tour that confirms a slot, and ask what happens if it is cancelled.

How long is the boat ride to the Marietas?

It depends on where you leave from. From Punta de Mita it is a short crossing; from the Puerto Vallarta marina or Nuevo Vallarta it takes considerably longer, because you cross most of Banderas Bay.

Can you walk on the Marietas Islands?

No. Landing on the islands is not allowed in order to protect the nesting seabirds. Visits are by boat, snorkel and kayak, plus the guided swim to the Hidden Beach when it is open.