Snorkeling Marietas Islands Eco Tour
Seems that everyone has heard about the hidden beach in Puerto Vallarta, but there is so much more to discover at Las Marietas Islands. Aptly referred to as "the Galapagos of Mexico", the Marietas Islands are a protected haven for rare marine birds and host to an abundance of tropical reef fish. There is no better way to explore the most diverse underwater ecosystem than with the industry leader of ecotourism in Puerto Vallarta. Join our expert biologists on this unique Marietas Islands Snorkeling & Marine Birds Eco Tour for an unforgettable Puerto Vallarta vacation experience.
Snorkeling Marietas Islands
Needless to say you can find some of the best snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta around the few uninhabited volcanic islands that make up the Marietas underwater paradise. The amazing rock formations and networks of caves provide natural protection for a diverse variety of coral and tropical fish.
With the help of our expert snorkeling guides, you can hope to spot
- Cortez Chubs
- Giant Damselfish
- King Angelfish
- Manta Rays
- Moorish Idol
- Panamic Seargeant Majors
- Rainbow Wrasse
- Various Eels
- ...and maybe even Sea Turtles!
Thanks to the protection of UNESCO and other environmental protection organizations, the Marietas Islands are a vital mating, nesting, and migration area for over 90 species of birds. During this excursion, you can learn about the very special and fragile ecosystem that creates this level of diversity. Our expert biologist guides will help you identify the colonies of seabirds that feed and nest here such as;
- Brown Booby
- Egrets
- Frigates
- Herons
- Pelicans
- Red-Billed Tropicbirds
- Sea Gulls
- Swallows
Puerto Vallarta Hidden Beach Marietas Islands
If you have been on any social media site in the past few years, then most likely you have seen the photo of Mexico's Hidden Beach that went viral.With that, the desire to visit Puerto Vallarta's Hidden Beach went viral as well.This is great for tourism, but terrible for the fragile ecosystem that Marietas Islands supports.Accessing the beach and exploring the caves is truly magical and when possible we want to share it with you, but not while compromising the ecosystem.
The government has placed stricter regulations and limitations for how many people are able to visit the beach.As a responsible ecotourism agency managing small groups, we have been granted special permits to access the hidden beach, but this does not mean we will have access on every tour.
There are a few conditions that can affect our ability to access the beach such as;
The beach access is currently closed all Mondays & Tuesdays, so no Tuesday departures
CONANP determines that there are already too many guests on the beach that day
Recent damage was reported and beach closes unexpectedly
The tide is too high to access the beach through the swim-through tunnel
Water conditions are too rough or currents too strong
Beach access or not, if you want to truly experience the most of this Mexico National Treasure with the best eco tour guides in Puerto Vallarta, we can guarantee you that this Marietas Islands snorkeling tour is the one for you.
Marietas Islands Snorkeling & Marine Birds Eco Tour Details
Marietas Islands Snorkeling & Marine Birds Eco Tour Includes:
- Maritime Transportation in small boat or zodiac
- Fluent English-speaking naturalist guide
- Snorkeling equipment & instruction
- 2 Hours in the Marietas Islands
- Deli style lunch on the boat back (baguette, fruit & granola)
- Water & Soft Drinks
Departures: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:00 AM from the Eco Tours Office in Marina Vallarta. Start times vary depending on the season. Exact instructions will be sent with your confirmation voucher.
Length: Approximately 5 Hours.
Marietas Islands Snorkeling & Marine Birds Eco Tour Recommendations:
- Eco-Friendly sun block
- Bathing suit (under your clothes as there are no facilities) and towel
- Shorts
- Sandals
- Light jacket
- Camera (underwater if possible)
- Sun Hat
- $5 Marine Park Protection Fee
- Money for tips, fees & souvenirs
Children: Kids as young as 10 are welcome, however they must already know how to swim in order to participate in the snorkeling portion of the tour. Also consider it is over an hour boat ride to Marietas Islands and there are no bathrooms on board the boat or at the islands.
Cruise Ship Passengers: Not all cruise ship itineraries will allow for the early morning departure. Please contact us to verify your ship’s itinerary prior to booking. Private tours with a maximum of 10 guests can be arranged with departures any time of the day.
Restrictions: Minimum age limit 10 years old, maximum age limit 65 years old. For safety reasons expecting mothers, people with high blood pressure, or people with back, heart, neck or knees problems should not participate. Although we provide life-vests, all participants must know how to swim in order to participate.
Insider Tip: There are several different excursions that can take you out to Marietas Islands depending on your travel style. There are big boat party cruises with booze, eco sailing geared for a relaxing ride, dive shops geared solely on diving and snorkeling, and finally, this eco-tour geared for nature lovers. If you are a nature lover or a fan of ecotourism in general, this is your best bet.
Reserve Your Marietas Islands Snorkeling & Marine Birds Eco Tour Now
Adult:
Retail:
$00.00Real Deal: $00.00
Children:
Retail:
$00.00Real Deal: $00.00
(The balance of $00.00 in cash or $00.00 in credit card per person must be paid the day of the tour)
