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
- Reach Playa del Amor only by boat with a permitted tourism provider; do not travel there independently. Current federal rules limit each group to a 30-minute total access window from disembarkation, including swimming through the tunnel and entering and leaving the beach; time on the sand is shorter. Vallarta Adventures lists a more conservative 15–20-minute beach visit. Its tour requires ages 10–65 and the ability to swim about 120 m (394 ft); life jackets and helmets are required. Access may be denied when sea conditions are unsafe. Follow guides and park rangers.
- Admission
- CONANP currently lists a protected-area entrance charge of MXN 125 per person per day, with exemptions and discounts for eligible visitors. Vallarta Adventures separately publishes a MXN 190 per-person conservation fee for its tour, in addition to its tour price and any dock fees. The official and operator pages do not reconcile these amounts; do not assume a combined total; confirm all charges with CONANP and the authorized operator before booking.
- Time needed
- Vallarta Adventures lists a five-hour tour and asks guests to check in 45 minutes before departure; the total includes boat travel and other park activities. Federal rules cap each group’s entire Hidden Beach access window at 30 minutes from disembarkation, including the swim through the tunnel and entering and leaving the beach, so time on the sand is shorter. Vallarta Adventures’ booking page gives a more conservative 15–20-minute beach window. Tour duration and departure point vary by operator.
- Best season
- CONANP recommends the protected area year-round, but warns that rainy-season days can bring poor sea conditions. Entry to Playa del Amor may be refused when conditions are unsafe; check the forecast and operator confirmation, and do not treat a reservation as a guaranteed beach landing.
- Opening hours
- CONANP lists the national park Tuesday–Sunday, 08:00–18:00, and Playa del Amor Wednesday–Sunday, 08:00–17:00. Access is by authorized boat tour, subject to permits and sea conditions; operator schedules and temporary park controls may differ.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-15
- Facts checked
- 2026-11-01
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