Hidden beach in marietta islands in mexico. Hidden beach in Puerto Vallarta (Mexico). Reynisfjara beach - Vik, Iceland

Holidays on the Pacific coast of Mexico are not much different from holidays in other Spanish-speaking countries. Similar architecture, beaches, cuisine. Daytime half-asleep pastime and bustling nightlife. But I happened to visit a place that completely stands out from the general template picture. This Hidden Beach in Puerto Vallarto, Mexico, whose photo caught my eye shortly before choosing a vacation spot. I was so fascinated by this phenomenon that the decision where to go for the next impressions formed by itself.

Even before the trip, I knew that the locals call this natural wonder Playa de Amor(Beach of Lovers). This is due to its popularity with couples looking for privacy, due to its secluded location, hidden from prying eyes in the rocks. For the same reason, it received its common name Hidden Beach. It is located on the Marieta Islands, which are located in the Pacific Ocean to the west of the resort town of Puerto Vallarto.

What is its uniqueness

This natural ensemble resembles an amphitheater or a stadium, only on the site of the arena is sand beach, washed by the purest water, and rocks rise instead of stands. To get to the beach, you need to swim through a low natural tunnel, and this passage is available only at low tide. The stone vaults surrounding the beach serve as a natural conditioner, and thanks to them the air temperature here is always somewhat lower than around the island. This, however, does not apply to water temperature. It is as warm as anywhere else in these latitudes.

Unlike many other mysterious places, the origin of the beach of lovers is not associated with any romantic legend. Moreover, it is banal and prosaic. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mexican military used Marieta Islands as a testing ground and tested explosive ammunition on them. It is believed that it was a series of powerful explosions that caused the rocks of the island to take such unique forms. After the island was no longer tested, the air and the ocean completed what man had begun and finally shaped the look of the beach, which is known throughout the world. The famous islands of Marieta and, in particular, the Beach of the Lovers became already in the late 60s. The first who drew attention to the nature and unique ecosystem of the islands was a famous explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Thanks to his authority, as well as increased public attention, the Mexican government has awarded the islands a protected status. Now the islands attract professional explorers and ecotourists.

Unforgettable sensations will be left behind by scuba diving, both with scuba gear and without equipment.
Marieta Islands are the habitat of unique marine animals. Here you can meet dolphins, manta rays and even humpback whales.

The main attractions around the Hidden Beach in Puerto Vallarta

In the very Puerto Vallarta there are also many places that I would recommend to pay attention to the traveler.

• Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It attracts many believers and tourists. It is famous for its unusual openwork dome, repeating the crown. Interestingly, this is a version of the original dome restored in 2009, which was destroyed in 1965 by an earthquake.
• Embankment Malecon. Pedestrian zone 800 meters long on the shores of Banderas Bay. The place of the evening promenade of locals and tourists. It is saturated with restaurants, cafes, and is also replete with all sorts of original artists who arrange their performances on the street.
• Archaeological Museum. Small in size, but rich in exhibits. Here you will get acquainted with artifacts related to the culture of the peoples who inhabited the territory of modern Mexico from 5000 BC to 5000 BC. e.
• Botanical Garden. It is not located in the city itself, but it can be easily reached by bus, and it will take no more than 40 minutes. Located in the picturesque foothills on the territory of 8 hectares. The park itself is divided into sections, each of which is dedicated to a particular type of plant. Separately, I recommend paying attention to the aloe garden, as well as the plot with orchids.
• Zoo. Located in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and tropical jungle. I would call a feature of this zoo that its inhabitants merge with the external environment, forming a complete picture of wildlife.

Botanical Garden

Entertainment

Since the territory on which the hidden beach is located is protected, tourists should not rely on recreational activities such as fishing or spearfishing.

• But you can fully enjoy the views of the deep sea, having carried out a dive both on the beach itself and near the island.
• In addition, you will be offered walking tour around the island and kayaking trip around, which will allow you to see pictures of the wildlife of the archipelago up close and at a distance.

Fantastic Hidden Love Beach on the Marieta Islands in Mexico - video

Beautiful video about this wonderful beach. Enjoy watching!

How to get there

You can get to the Marieta Islands from the city of Puerto Vallarta. You can do this in two ways:

• buy a tour ticket and go to a hidden beach with an organized tour group;
• hire your own boat owner that will take you to your destination.

In any case, the owner or organization that will undertake to help you get to the islands must have permission from the Secretariat of the Environment. Since the archipelago is located at a small distance from the city (22 miles), a one-way trip will take no more than one hour.
I happened to visit the hidden beach as part of an excursion group, since I did not have a large budget. And I can only imagine how much more opportunities are provided by independent sailing.

There are still a lot of amazing places in the whole world that you just need to visit. For example, it will also be no less interesting for travelers. And how to choose the right suitcase for travel, read the following article.

If one of the readers has experience of such a voyage to the beach of lovers, it will be interesting to read about your feelings in the comments.

Trips

One of the most idyllic places in the world with crystal clear waters and a sandy beach was created by a bomb blast.

Secluded beach on the Marieta Islands in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico formed decades ago when the Mexican government used it for target practice in the early 1900s.

The Marieta Islands, which are located a few kilometers off the Mexican coast, used to be the site of military trials, as they were uninhabited. Even before the First World War, these controlled bombardment led to the appearance of many caves and other unique rock formations on the Marieta Islands.

Now a hidden beach officially named "Playa De Amor" (" love beach") became world famous thanks to social networks.

The islands themselves were formed thousands of years ago as a result of volcanic activity. The hidden beach was the result of all these factors combined with the erosion of the surrounding rocks caused by local weather conditions.

Hidden beach in Mexico (photo and video)

To get to the secluded beach, tourists need swim through a short tunnel, which opens onto a delightful beach surrounded by wildlife. You can find several tour operators that provide day trips to this natural wonder.

The islands are approximately an hour by boat from the coast of Puerto Vallarta and are visited daily by hundreds of tourists, although by law no one can set foot on their territory.

The archipelago was proclaimed national park Parque Nacional Islas Marietas in 2005 to protect it from fishing, hunting and other human activities. The only things allowed near the islands are snorkeling and kayaking. Tourists can admire amazing marine life here, including humpback whales, dolphins and manta rays.

Unusual beach in Mexico

How to get there?

Direct flights go from almost all major cities to Puerto Vallarta in Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Puerto Vallarta International Airport. You can get to the hidden beach on the Marieta Islands by booking a boat in advance or on the spot with the residents.

Best time to visit

The weather in Puerto Vallarta remains virtually unchanged throughout the year. However, after the winter rains, the water on the beach becomes especially clear.

The best beaches in Mexico

1. Tulum (Tulum)

One of Mexico's most popular swimming spots is on the sandy beaches in the city of Tulum, home to an ancient Mayan temple.

2. Puerto Vallarta (Puerto Vallarta)

Despite its popularity, Puerto Vallarta has retained its small-town charm.

3. Playa del Carmen (Playa del Carmen)

The beaches of Playa del Carmen are among the most popular on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Playa del Amor (Playa del Amor), better known as hidden beach, is a unique feature of one of the Marieta Islands, located at the mouth of Banderas Bay, west of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. This is something incredible, similar to an alien terrain from a science fiction movie: an oval shape with the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean falling inside it. The Marieta Islands are an archipelago, a chain of land formations formed by underwater volcanic eruptions. They are considered natural wonders in their own right, but the picturesque Hidden Beach of Playa del Amor is their gem, attracting crowds of tourists.

How the hidden beach Playa del Amor was formed

An interesting fact: there are rumors that the hole in the ground, due to which the Hidden Beach was formed, did not appear naturally, but as a result of deliberate explosions carried out by man. The Marieta Islands have always been completely uninhabited, making them ideal targets for military testing by the Mexican government. Since the early 1900s, weapons have been constantly tested on these islands, at a safe distance from Mexican citizens. But, as we can see, military tests were not as safe for preserving the topography of the islands. The test of powerful bombs was the main reason for the formation of many caves on the islands, including the Hidden Beach of Playa del Amor.

In the 1960s, renowned ocean scientist Jacques Cousteau held protests against harmful human activities on the Marieta Islands. Therefore, in 2005, these picturesque islands at the mouth of Banderas Bay were finally recognized as the Parque Nacional Islas Marietas National Park, which naturally contributed to the development of tourism in this area. People come there to swim, sunbathe, go kayaking or other forms of outdoor activities. Extensive military testing over the decades has caused significant damage to the flora and fauna on the islands, but in the many "peaceful" years, marine life on the Marieta Islands has recovered again.

Almost invisible from the outside, but it is perfectly visible from the air. From the surface of the island it is impossible to get to it without special equipment, but at the same time it is perfectly accessible through a long tunnel through the water that connects to the Pacific Ocean. The height of the tunnel above the water level is approximately 1.8 meters. So visitors can get to the beach by swimming or by boat. The Marieta Islands remain uninhabited, but they are frequented by tourists who come to enjoy the variety of marine wildlife and sunbathe on the unique, hidden from view, Playa del Amor.

If you want peace, prepare for war. So goes the old saying. And the person stubbornly follows it. Therefore, most countries of the world regularly conduct military tests. Naturally, these actions are accompanied by destruction. But sometimes nature can even make an amazing place out of destruction.

This happened on the island of Marieta off the west coast of Mexico. As a result of military tests, a small but insanely attractive beach was formed here. It is hidden from prying eyes in a cave, so it is called unpretentiously - Hidden Beach. It is located 34 km west of the city of Puerto Vallarta.

Hidden beach on the map

• Geographic coordinates 20.704155, -105.564975
• The distance from the capital of Mexico, Mexico City, is approximately 700 km.
• Distance to the nearest airport Puerto Vallarta 32 km

The island itself was formed during volcanic activity several thousand years ago. But the Hidden Beach is already the result of human impact, or rather a bomb explosion. At the beginning of the 20th century, on the uninhabited island of Marieta, the Mexican military conducted practice shootings and periodically detonated bombs. The landscape of the beautiful island was ruined. Nature, as always, patiently began to cover up the traces of the harmful influence of man.

By the way, this is not the only manifestation of such natural care. Even out of garbage and waste, she can easily make an attractive attraction. Read, for example, about the famous Glass Beach in California, and you will understand what perfect cleaning for a person means.

So, having played enough "in the war" and blowing up a bunch of bombs and TNT, the military left the island. The places of the explosions healed like wounds, but one place remained to gape like a big hole. It was close to the coastline, and so a beach formed inside. Over time, the traces of the explosion dragged on, soil erosion, wind and precipitation smoothed out the influence of man, and voila - we have one of the most beautiful sights in Mexico. Now the beach looks like a natural phenomenon.

Like the famous beach in the cave Benagil, here, too, turned out to be a beach under the arch of the cave. An oval hole measuring about 35 by 25 meters above the beach allows enough sunlight to pass through, from which the water, already amazingly clear, becomes even more transparent. The whole bottom is literally in the palm of your hand.

Sometimes this place is called Love Beach, due to the fact that young couples in love really liked it. Where, no matter how here you can feel yourself in solitude.

The hidden beach is called so for a reason - getting here is not so easy. To swim in the warm waters of this amazing beach, you have to swim through a small tunnel, which is only accessible at low tide. The unusual beach attracts not only travelers, but also various marine animals, among which a large number of fish, dolphins, and even ocean giant whales sometimes appear here.

With the influx of tourists, the Mexican authorities began to worry about the safety of the island of Marieta and therefore restricted access there. To visit the island you need a special permit. Usually excursions are organized to the island, but you can rent a boat and ride to the island on your own, the main thing is that the owner of the boat has access to the island.

Since 2005, the island and its famous beach have been part of the Islas Marietas National Park (in the original Parque Nacional Islas Marietas). By the way, the legendary French oceanographer (and indeed a comprehensively developed person) Jacques-Yves Cousteau always called for this. He conducted numerous studies on the island and fought to preserve its unique ecosystem. To be honest, he largely contributed to the military leaving the island in the 60s of the last century.

Fishing, hunting and any other human activity is strictly prohibited on the island, except for the contemplation of the amazing surrounding beauty. We have already said that there are many interesting species of fauna here. You can see humpback whales, graceful dolphins, huge turtles, octopuses and large manta rays, such as, for example, in Stingray City in the Caymans. The weather on the island is equally hot all year round, but winter is considered the best time to visit it. Firstly, at this time the purest water. Secondly, whales come here in winter, which is an incomparable pleasure to watch.

Interesting facts about Marieta Island and Hidden Beach

• Since May 2016, access to this attraction has been closed to the general public due to environmental threats. More precisely, because of the destruction of corals due to the abundant number of tourists. And also due to the fact that here up to 250 times a day the anchors of pleasure boats are lowered, damaging the corals.
• According to scientists from the University of Guadalajara, the Hidden Beach can be visited by no more than 116 people a day without causing damage.
• UNESCO has included this National Park in the list of biosphere reserves

hidden beach photo

Often nature hides the most beautiful and interesting places from prying eyes. One of these hidden wonders is the "hidden beach" in Mexico, not far from the city.

The beach is located on the Marietas Islands, which in 2008 were included by UNESCO in the list of the most important biosphere reserves in the world. They were awarded this status thanks to the unique caves, underwater tunnels and the biological diversity of the marine world - including dolphins and rare species of corals.

Any human intervention in the ecosystem of the islands, including fishing and hunting, is strictly prohibited. Recently, however, ecological tourism has gained wide popularity in these places, the organizers of such tours strictly monitor the observance of cleanliness. The main attraction, of course, is the "hidden beach".

In shape, it resembles a huge natural pool. The sandy part of the beach is located just under the hole, in the sun, and a low arch of the cave hangs over the water column. Due to this, the temperature here always remains slightly lower than on the surface, which is not bad, given the location of Mexico, where, due to the proximity of the equator, summer temperatures can reach +40 ° C.

This is a great place for diving and snorkeling, where you can admire rare tropical fish, sea turtles and coral reefs. An unforgettable experience is given by watching manta rays - giant stingrays that live in the waters of the bay.

You can get to these beautiful places only by water, on a rented boat. Therefore, some inaccessibility and seclusion of the beach attracts couples in love and just tourists who appreciate a relaxing holiday in the picturesque beauty.

It is curious that this place, which has already been ranked among the most unusual beaches in the world, is not at all of natural origin. The caves were formed from explosions as a result of military tests that were carried out in Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century.

Only at the end of the 60s, thanks to international protests initiated by the famous submarine explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau, the government decided to give the Marietas Islands the status of a National Park.

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