The Hidden Beach: a Small Paradise Below The Island
Generally, beaches are considered to be a romantic location. However, Playa Del Amor or Hidden Beach seems to beat them all, as it is a small paradise hidden by the rocks of the Marieta Islands in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This is one of the few places in the world, where a man-made mistake combined with the beauty of nature resulted in a breathtaking scenery.
The main reason why the Hidden Beach, or Playa Del Amor, is such an interesting location, is that it’s literally hidden. The only way it can be seen is from up above. And the only way to get to the beach is through a water tunnel connecting the beach to the Pacific Ocean.
Most of the Marieta Islands were never inhabited, thus leaving room for a nature to follow its course and create a fairy tale-like place. At the beginning of the 20th century, Mexicans began to create and test bombs to prepare for World War I and the only way to test them was by detonations in the ocean. It is believed that some of the bombs landed on the small Marieta Islands, including the Hidden Beach.
Although these pieces on information have yet to be verified, it’s the only logical explanation for the perfect round hole formed right in the center of the island. Even more interestingly, it seems that the small piece of land with water has formed below the land long before the bombing.
With a distance of 6 feet between the beach and the top of the island, Playa Del Amor is the ideal place for swimming and kayaking. Due to the massive hole that remained intact for over a century, there is enough sun and shade for laying on the sun or for taking a nap.
Since 2005, the Marieta Islands have been officially declared as a National Park, known as the Parque Nacional Islas Marietas. Even though islands cannot be inhabited, they can be visited any time by tourists, who dream of a unique getaway in nature.
Submitted by Hamid Bagha. Thank you.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Playa del Amor (Hidden Beach), Islas Marietas National Park, Nayarit, Mexico
- Coordinates
- 20.70398, -105.56672
- Access
- Boat access is only through permitted tourism providers. For the Vallarta Adventures Hidden Beach tour, participants must be 10–65 and able to swim about 120 m from boat to beach; actual distance varies with sea conditions. Beach entry is limited to 15–20 minutes and is not guaranteed if conditions are unsafe. Life jackets and helmets are required through the passage. Other providers may have different rules; obey the guide and CONANP rules.
- Admission
- CONANP currently lists a protected-area entrance fee of MXN 125 per person/day (with listed exemptions and discounts). Vallarta Adventures separately lists an additional MXN 190 conservation fee per person at check-in, plus its tour fare and dock fees. These published amounts do not reconcile as a single total; confirm all charges with CONANP and the licensed operator before booking.
- Time needed
- Vallarta Adventures lists a 5-hour excursion and asks guests to check in 45 minutes before departure. The Hidden Beach stay itself is limited to 15–20 minutes; total outing length varies by operator.
- Best season
- CONANP recommends visiting year-round, but warns rainy-season days may have poor sea conditions. Entry to the beach can be cancelled when conditions are unsafe; do not treat a tour booking as a guarantee of beach access.
- Opening hours
- CONANP lists the protected area Tuesday–Sunday, 08:00–18:00, and Playa del Amor Wednesday–Sunday, 08:00–17:00. Operator schedules, weather and protected-area controls also apply.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-27
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-11
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