Marietas Islands Snorkeling Tour: Small Groups, Marine Guides
Hidden Beach has a 116-visitor daily limit and no guarantee of entry, but the snorkeling around the islands happens regardless.
This snorkeling activity takes you from Marina Vallarta to the Marietas Islands National Park in a small group led by a marine biologist or naturalist guide. You'll snorkel in one of Mexico's most protected marine reserves, see blue-footed boobies and other seabirds, and learn about the ecosystem and conservation efforts. Hidden Beach access is weather and permit-dependent with a 10-to-65 age limit and mandatory helmet and life jacket. If your group doesn't get a spot, you'll stay aboard the boat while others visit. The trip runs 4 to 5 hours and includes mask, fins, bottled water, box lunch, and a guide in English or Spanish.
Step-by-step itinerary
Marietas Islands snorkeling and beach visit
- Meet certified guide at office
- Travel to Marietas Islands by boat
- Snorkel and explore islands' wildlife
- Visit Hidden Beach if conditions allow
- Marina Vallarta 15m
- Marietas Islands 3h
What’s included
- Mask, fins and snorkel gear.
- bottled water.
- box lunch with sandwich, granola bar, snack and fruit.
- 30-foot panga boat.
- marine biologist or naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
- attempt to access Hidden Beach if conditions allow (no guarantee).
Times
- Tuesday to Sunday 08:30
Last departure this season: 6 Dec
Another time? ›Before you book
Operated by ECOTOURS VALLARTA
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
You meet your guide at Marina Vallarta for check-in, then board a 30-foot panga: a fast, stable boat built for small groups. The boat holds no more than 10 people, which is the whole point: it keeps the snorkeling focused and the experience personal instead of crowded. Your guide is a marine biologist or naturalist who talks through what you're seeing as you move between the islands' reefs and coves: the fish species, the seabirds nesting on the rocks, why these waters are protected and what that protection means for the animals living here.
The snorkeling itself is the main event. You're in the water with your own mask and fins, moving through the reefs at your own pace while the guide points out what's around you. The Marietas Islands are a national park, so the marine life is abundant and the water is clear. Between snorkel sites, the boat moves you to different spots around the islands, and you'll see blue-footed boobies and other seabirds from the deck. Lunch (a sandwich, granola bar, snack and fruit) comes partway through the day.
Hidden Beach is the wildcard. It's a small cove accessible only by swimming through a rock tunnel, and the Mexican government limits it to 116 visitors per day total. Your guide will try to get your group in if weather, ocean conditions, and the day's permit allow it, but there's no guarantee. If spots run out, a raffle on board gives everyone an equal chance. Those who don't get in (or choose not to) stay on the boat with the captain for about 30 minutes while others visit. The beach itself is for walking only (no snorkeling or swimming there), and anyone who goes wears a helmet and life jacket and gets 10 minutes on the sand. If Hidden Beach doesn't happen, you still have the full snorkeling experience around the islands, which is why the operator calls it an unforgettable way to explore the park whether or not you set foot on the beach.
Is this one for you?You're snorkeling in a small group with a guide who knows the ecosystem, not a crowded boat where you're one of 30. This suits anyone who wants to actually see what's underwater and understand it, rather than just check the islands off a list. The trade-off is that Hidden Beach access is not guaranteed (it depends on the day's conditions and permits), but the snorkeling around the islands happens either way.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the difference between this snorkeling trip and others leaving Puerto Vallarta?
This trip keeps groups to 10 people maximum and is built around snorkeling and the islands themselves, not a packed boat hitting multiple stops. Your guide is a marine biologist or naturalist, so the focus is on what you're seeing underwater and in the ecosystem, not just the number of sites you visit.
Can I guarantee I'll get into Hidden Beach?
No. Hidden Beach access depends on weather, ocean conditions, swimming ability, and the daily permit limit of 116 visitors across all tours. Your guide will do the effort to get your group in, but it's not always possible. If your group doesn't get a spot, a raffle on board gives everyone a fair chance, and those who don't enter stay on the boat while others visit.
What do I need to bring, and what's provided?
The tour includes mask, fins, snorkel gear, bottled water, and a box lunch with a sandwich, granola bar, snack and fruit. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. A helmet and life jacket are mandatory for Hidden Beach if you enter.
What marine life will I see while snorkeling?
The Marietas Islands are a national park with abundant fish species and healthy reefs. You'll also see blue-footed boobies and other seabirds from the boat and the islands themselves. Your marine biologist guide will identify species and explain the ecosystem as you snorkel.
Who shouldn't book this trip?
Children under 8 are not allowed. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers, those with spinal injuries, or those with poor cardiovascular health. You need to be able to enter and exit the boat using a ladder, and a high level of physical fitness is required. For Hidden Beach specifically, the age limit is 10 to 65 years old.
Marietas Islands Snorkeling Tour: Small Groups, Marine Guides
4h–5h · EN · ES
from US$ 135 per person
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