Swim among colorful reef fish and marine invertebrates at the Marietas Islands National Park, with a chance to spot the hidden beach.
Explore the spectacular Marietas Islands National Park and discover a vibrant underwater world. Swim among colorful reef fish such as king angelfish, Moorish idol, giant damselfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and balloonfish, and observe corals, sponges, starfish, sea urchins, and other marine invertebrates. Above water, enjoy birdwatching opportunities with blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, herons, egrets, pelicans, and more. With a bit of luck, you may spot dolphins or sea turtles nearby. The Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor) is located on the "Round" island and is subject to strict controls and restrictions to ensure the conservation of the Park. Access is strictly regulated and no operator, including us, can guarantee entry. Closed on Mondays.
Private fast boat available upon request; pickup free of charge from the Paradise Village public pier (Nuevo Vallarta). Departures from Marina La Cruz have an additional $60 USD charge per boat.
Pickup availability under request for free on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Nuevo Vallarta. Pick up from La Cruz Huanacaxtle available only in private option.
“First time using this group. My wife had never been to the Marietas. Our crew were very hospitable and professional. On our trip we experienced whale, dolphins and a large turtle. The hidden beach was beautiful. It was a great excursion!”
20 months ago
“My husband and I had a fantastic trip to the Islas Marietas and Hidden Beach with Michael as our guide. He was an excellent tour guide with so much knowledge about the birds and marine life. It was interesting to learn from him. He worked hard to find a clear place for us to snorkel, but unfortunately the conditions weren't right for it today. Swimming in the ocean felt great, though, and we were lucky enough to be able to go to Hidden Beach since it is not guaranteed. It was beautiful and felt like an adventure to get there, swimming under the arch. What an amazing place! I should have brought a waterproof camera to get pictures there. I'm so glad we chose to do this tour! We weren't interested in a party boat with drinking and loud music. This was exactly what we were looking for! Fun, educational, and beautiful. Thanks Michael (and the other guy whose name I forgot)!”
13 months ago
“This experience was amazing! We did the Islas Marietas snorkel and birding tour. From booking to the end of the tour, everyone was so helpful. Honestly, as bird nerds we mostly wanted to see the blue-footed boobies while the others snorkeled but we did some snorkeling as well. Francisco and Martín were fantastic and made us feel comfortable the whole day. While others swam to hidden beach with Francisco, Martín took us on our own little birding tour around the island. We saw thousands of birds! Francisco was a fellow bird nerd so he helped a lot, but they also spotted 6 whales and a sea turtle for us. As complete amateurs we felt safe and had a blast the entire day! Muchas gracias boys! Great trip!”
6 months ago
510jimpVerified
Austin, Texas
“Overall we had a good experience, but the boat felt small/tight. A slightly larger boat would have been more comfortable. We enjoyed seeing whales on the way to the island and liked the secret beach. Another suggestion: boat should leave earlier to ensure as many passengers can go on the secret beach. Finally, the snorkeling was underwhelming - poor visibility, lots of jellies, cold water (which some were not prepared for).”
43 months ago
892aitanapVerified
“Amazing experience very fun and informative guide. Gorgeous views and perfectly clear water.”
2 months ago
Daniel HVerified
“This was our 3rd excursion with Eco Tours and we again had a great time. Highly recommend! This time we did the Marietas Islands snorkeling and hidden beach tour. Our guide, Cynthia was awesome, telling many interesting facts about the aquatic life around PV, helping time pass on the boat ride while we soaked up amazing scenery. Boat ride, driven by Rafael, went smooth on the way out but was wavy on way back causing a few to get sea sick; unlike Los Arcos or other tours, you have to go to the edge of the bay with rougher waters to/from Marietas Islands. In the way there we came across a pod of spotted /leopard dolphins who let us cruise close to them! Apparently seeing them is rare so it wasn't a cool treat! Marietas islands snorkeling was great with many beautiful fishes. There were other tour groups in the area so we were never secluded but they were spread out so it wasn't cramped. Hidden beach was open and beautiful. A truly unique experience my 13 and 10 y/o daughters made fine. Everyone wore mandatory life vests and helmets, ensuring the swim through the cave was safe. Very beautiful - great pics! Back in the boat Rafael drove us around the islands where we saw many birds, a hawksbill turtle, and amazing cliff views and pic-worthy scenery. Lunch was sandwiches; a mail ahead of anyone has dietary restrictions. Have 2 vegetarians which they made custom sandwiches for. Pro tip: though we started at their shop, they can pick up and drop off at the water taxi stand at the Paradise Marina and Yacht club pier so if you're staying in that area of PV get picked up here. Huge time saver for you!”
6 months ago
giorgionh2026Verified
“Me and my husband went on the Marieta's Island snorkeling and Hidden Beach Ecotourism with Maggie and Martin and it was absolutely fantastic. We snorkeled with brightly colored tropical fish, saw whales breaching, were lead by our guide into the Hidden Beach by our wonderful guide Maggie, a zoologist who shared her expert knowledge with us every step of the way. We had an inspiring, fun and adventurous experience and I highly recommend this tour!”
4 months ago
“Michael, the tour guide, and Alonso, the captain, were very helpful and kind as our private group of seven rode to the islands, and we had many snacks and drinks along the way. We saw many birds that were identified by Michael as boobies, terns, gulls, herons, and more. He is clearly very knowledgable. During the snorkeling there was a plethora of beautiful fish and coral. We were lucky enough to stop by the Hidden Beach which was breathtaking and had lots of caves. We finished it off with some ham and cheese sandwiches and an amazing view of some breaching humpback whales. (Icing on the cake, and your mileage may vary!!) One of our party was suffering from severe seasickness and both Alonso and Michael were super accommodating and helpful. We strongly recommend EcoTours Vallarta!”
7 months ago
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