Islas Marietas & the Hidden Beach: How to Visit from Punta Mita

The Islas Marietas are the single most photographed thing near Punta Mita — a pair of small, uninhabited islands a short boat ride offshore, best known for the Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor): a sunlit cove tucked inside a collapsed crater, reachable only by swimming through a low sea tunnel. If you’re staying in a Punta Mita villa, it’s one of the easiest world-class day trips you can add to the week.

What the Islas Marietas are

The islands are a protected national park, formed by volcanic activity and shaped by the surrounding Pacific. They sit within a marine reserve, which is why access is regulated — and why the snorkeling and birdlife are as good as they are. The waters draw manta rays, sea turtles, and large schools of fish, and the cliffs are a nesting site for the blue-footed booby, the same seabird the Galapagos are famous for.

Because it’s a national park, visitor numbers are capped and the Hidden Beach in particular is tightly managed to protect it.

The Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor)

The Hidden Beach is the reason most people come. From the water it’s invisible — a circular opening in the top of the rock reveals a sandy beach below, open to the sky but enclosed by cliffs. Reaching it means a short swim through a shallow tunnel from the open sea, which is why access depends on the tides and on daily visitor limits.

• Access isn’t guaranteed. Entry to the Hidden Beach depends on conditions and the daily permit cap. Reputable operators will tell you in advance whether it’s likely to be open.
• The wider snorkeling is the real prize. Even on days the cove is closed, the reef, wildlife, and outer beaches make the trip worthwhile.

How to visit responsibly

Access to the islands is via authorized boat tours only, and the Hidden Beach requires a permit and, typically, a certified guide and life vest. When you book, choose an operator that holds the proper national-park permits, limits group sizes, and follows the no-touch, no-sunscreen-in-the-cove rules that protect the coral. Your villa concierge can arrange a licensed private or small-group tour and handle the timing around tides and permits.

Best time to go

The islands are a year-round trip, but a few things shift by season: calmer water and clearer visibility generally favor the drier months; humpback whales pass through the bay roughly December to March, and many boat trips turn into whale-watching along the way; and mornings tend to be calmer and less crowded than afternoons. For a fuller view of seasons and weather, see our best time to visit Punta Mita guide.

Where the Islas Marietas fit in a Punta Mita week

A Marietas trip pairs naturally with the rest of the area — a morning on the water, then back to the villa or a beach club for the afternoon. Our things to do in Punta Mita guide covers the boat trips, surf, golf, and dining around it. If you want to be closest to the marina and the islands, the Las Marietas community is named for exactly this view — but most of Punta Mita is within an easy transfer, so choose your villa by what suits your group and let the concierge handle logistics.

FAQs

Can you still visit the Hidden Beach at Islas Marietas?

Yes, but access is limited. It’s a protected national park with a daily visitor cap, and entry to the Hidden Beach depends on tides and permits. Book through a licensed operator, and treat cove access as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

How do you get to the Islas Marietas from Punta Mita?

By authorized boat tour — a short ride offshore. Your villa concierge can arrange a licensed private or small-group trip and handle the permit and tide timing.

Do you need a permit or guide for the Hidden Beach?

Yes. The Hidden Beach requires a national-park permit and typically a certified guide and life vest, with strict rules to protect the reef.

When is the best time to visit the Islas Marietas?

It’s a year-round trip. Water tends to be calmest and clearest in the drier months, and humpback whales pass through roughly December to March.

Staying in Punta Mita and want the islands on your itinerary? Browse our villas or inquire directly — our concierge arranges licensed Marietas trips and the rest of your week around your dates.

Staying nearby? Many of our ocean-view villas look out toward the Marietas Islands — see Casa Vista Marietas or Villa Argo in the Marietas community.