Marietas Islands — The 2026 Hidden Beach Guide
By Mr. Playas · Updated March 2026
The Marietas are a small uninhabited archipelago at the mouth of Banderas Bay, declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve and a national park. Inside one of the islands is Playa del Amor — the "Hidden Beach" — a circular crater of sand inside the rock, accessible only by swimming through a tunnel. Since 2016 access has been strictly capped to protect the ecosystem.
How many people can visit the Hidden Beach per day?
116 visitors per day across all operators, in groups of up to 15 with a permitted guide, with each group limited to 30 minutes on the beach. The cap is enforced by CONANP rangers. Outside the cap, you can snorkel near the islands but you cannot land at the Hidden Beach.
What the Tour Includes
A permitted Marietas tour runs 6–7 hours and typically includes: 90-minute boat ride from Punta Mita or Puerto Vallarta marina, the national park entrance fee, snorkel gear, life jacket and helmet for the swim into the Hidden Beach, the supervised 30-minute beach visit, snorkeling at the secondary reefs around the islands, and lunch on the boat (usually ceviche, fresh fruit, and an open bar).
A non-permit tour is cheaper but does not access the Hidden Beach — you circle the islands by boat and snorkel the exterior reefs. If the Hidden Beach is the reason you want to go, only the permitted tour is worth booking.
How to Book a Permit
Only ~10 operators hold daily access permits. Vallarta Adventures, Punta Mita Expeditions, and Eco Tours de México are the established names. Verify the permit before paying.
Dec–Apr the 116 daily slots sell out 1–3 weeks ahead. May–Nov you can often book 3–5 days out. Same-day permits are essentially impossible.
Some tours leave from Punta Mita marina (45-min boat ride to the islands), others from Puerto Vallarta marina (90 min). Pick PV if you want the option to combine with whale watching.
Permitted Marietas Islands tours
Authorized Hidden Beach access tours from Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita. Includes national park fee, snorkel gear, and lunch. Limited daily availability — book early.
Browse Marietas tours on ViatorWhat to Bring
- Biodegradable sunscreen — chemical sunscreen is banned in the marine park
- Confident swimmer skills — the entry to the beach is a 15-meter open-water swim with a helmet on
- Underwater camera (no GoPro rentals on most boats)
- A change of dry clothes for the boat ride back
- Tip cash in pesos for the crew
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can swim 15 meters in open water with a life jacket and you book a permitted operator, yes — the beach is unique on the Pacific coast and the permit system keeps it protected. If you cannot land at the Hidden Beach, the Marietas exterior is pretty but not $130 USD pretty.
No. Private vessels, kayaks, paddleboards, and drones are all prohibited inside the park. Access is only via permitted commercial operators.
Marginal. The 15-meter tunnel swim is done with a life jacket and helmet, but there is a current and the rock ceiling is low at high tide. Operators will turn you back at the entry if conditions are unsafe or if you cannot swim with the jacket.
Yes — December through March is humpback whale season in Banderas Bay, and the boat ride to the Marietas regularly produces whale sightings. Some operators sell combined Marietas + whale watching packages.