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
- Access
- Guided boat excursion and swim through a rock passage; sea conditions can prevent beach entry. Vallarta Adventures requires ages 10–65 and ability to swim about 120 m; life jacket and helmet required
- Admission
- Paid tour; Vallarta Adventures collects an additional MXN 190 conservation fee at check-in. Confirm tour price and any dock charges when booking
- Time needed
- Vallarta Adventures excursion: 5 hours, plus check-in 45 minutes early; beach access itself limited to 15–20 minutes
- Best season
- Park authority recommends year-round visits; rainy-season sea conditions can prevent access
- Opening hours
- Playa del Amor: Wednesday–Sunday 08:00–17:00, subject to access conditions
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-17
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