Islas Marietas National Park facts for kids

The famous "love beach" (Playa del Amor), also called the "hidden beach" (Playa Escondida). This beach is a popular place for visitors.

The Marieta Islands (also called Islas Marietas in Spanish) are a group of small islands in Mexico. They are found off the coast of Nayarit state. These islands are about 7.9 kilometres (4.9 mi) southwest of Punta Mita. No one lives on them.

Many tourists love to visit these islands. They are popular because of the amazing sea creatures living there. The Mexican government protects the islands. This means no fishing or hunting is allowed. The water around the islands is usually between 70 and 110 feet deep.

Discover the Marieta Islands

The Marieta Islands were formed thousands of years ago. This happened because of volcanoes. No people have ever lived on these islands. You can reach the islands by boat. It's about an hour from Puerto Vallarta. Or, it's a quick 15-minute ride from Punta Mita. Hundreds of tourists visit every day. However, visitors are not allowed to walk on most parts of the islands.

How the Islands Changed

In the early 1900s, the Mexican government used the islands for military tests. Since no one lived there, they conducted many bombings. These big explosions created caves and unique rock shapes. Later, a famous scientist named Jacques Cousteau spoke out. He led a huge international effort in the 1960s. Because of this, the government decided to protect the islands. They became a national park. This means fishing, hunting, and most human activities are now forbidden.

The Hidden Beach

The famous "hidden beach" or "beach of love" (Playa del Amor) is a special spot. It's inside a kind of open crater. You can only get to it when the ocean tide is low. This amazing shape was created by the bombings in the 1900s. Over time, the ocean also helped shape it through erosion.

Amazing Plants and Animals

Many kinds of birds use the islands for breeding and finding food.

The Marieta Islands are home to 44 different kinds of plants and animals. Because of this, the national park is a special Ramsar site. It is also a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve. This means it's recognized worldwide for its important nature.

Bird Life and Reproduction

Many seabirds use the islands to lay their eggs and find food. These include the unique blue-footed booby. You can also see red-billed tropicbirds here.

Underwater World

The waters around the islands have many different types of coral. These corals provide a home for lots of colorful reef fish. The island ecosystem also has dolphins and manta rays. You can find many tropical fish too. Eels and several kinds of sea turtles live in the reefs and caves. During the winter, humpback whales visit the islands. You can often see them swimming and playing.

Visiting the Islands

A humpback whale breaching near the islands.

The government's protection has helped the marine life grow. This makes the islands a great place for snorkeling and scuba diving. People on whale watching tours often see amazing creatures. They report seeing sea turtles, manta rays, octopus, and wild dolphins. Of course, humpback whales are a big draw in winter. Thousands of tropical fish also swim around the islands. The islands are also home to thousands of birds, like the blue-footed booby.

Tour Rules

Currently, the Mexican government allows only a few companies to take visitors to the islands. They need a special permit from SEMARNAT. Visitors can only land on one specific, secluded beach. Small boats from Punta de Mita offer tours. These tours let you see the amazing wildlife. From December to March, you can see gray and humpback whales. They travel from Alaska to have their babies off the coast of Nayarit.

Visitor Numbers

Studies from the University of Guadalajara looked at how many visitors the "hidden beach" could handle. They estimated about 116 visitors per day without causing harm. The whole park could handle 625 visitors daily. However, in 2016, the actual number of visitors was much higher. More than 2500 people landed on the beach each day. During Easter holidays, over 250 boats arrived daily. Some boats carried as many as 400 tourists. This huge increase was due to new interest in the islands. In 2012, only 27,500 tourists visited. But by 2015, this number jumped to 127,372.

Protecting the Islands

The beautiful beaches of the islands were a very popular place for tourists to visit.

In May 2016, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) made an announcement. They said the islands and their beaches would be closed to the public starting May 9.

Why the Closure Happened

The main reason for closing was the huge increase in tourists. One big problem was that the coral in the area was being destroyed. Scientists believe this was due to several things. Global warming played a part. Also, boat oil from too many tours was in the water. And anchors dropping up to 250 times a day caused physical damage.

The islands are made of two types of volcanic rocks. The inside rocks wear away quickly. The outer "shell" rocks are stronger. But the island is still affected by erosion. Studies in 2014 estimated the island might only last a few thousand more years. However, human activity was speeding up this erosion. Officials warned that "Excessive tourism could lead to a more rapid destruction of this sanctuary."

Another issue was more trash and oil pollution. This harms the coral and larger animals. Even humpback whales were negatively affected by the pollution.

When the closure was announced, some rumors spread online. People thought the islands had been sold to foreign companies. Roberto Sandoval, the governor of Nayarit, said these rumors were false. He stated that the islands are part of Mexico's national heritage. They would remain an important symbol of Riviera Nayarit.

Helping the Islands Recover

Mexican authorities have plans to fix the damage to the islands. These plans aim to repair past harm and prevent future human interference.

Coral Restoration

One part of the plan is to "replant" coral. This helps replace the coral that was destroyed. New coral is attached to existing coral. It then grows for 3 to 4 months.

Managing Visitors

Another big effort focuses on limiting harmful human impact. This will happen when the islands reopen to tourists. The CONANP is considering new measures. They might place a special floating dock in the bay. This would control how many ships arrive. They are also thinking about placing buoys around the sensitive areas. This would help manage the number of visitors.

• The Marieta Islands National Park in Mexico
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See also

• Islas Marías