Islas Marietas
Our first stop once we arrived at the Marieta Islands (accessible by boat from Sayulita, Puerto Vallarta, or anywhere in between) was the now famous “hidden beach” or “beach of love” (Playa del Amor). We went there first to beat the crowds and arrived with “only” 50 or so other people. By the time we left there were hundreds. The photos of this beach when it is empty are amazing, but the massive numbers of people really detract from its specialness. Our guide indicated that it has only become popular in the past 5-10 years thanks to the internet and before that it was very cool.
image of “Playa del Amor” not by me – the place is never this empty anymore
We headed around the backside of one of the bigger islands to snorkel. This was the spot:
We were by ourselves here, and snorkeling, especially under the arch, was great. Unlike our snorkeling experiences in Hawaii and Thailand, we could stay in the water for as long as we wanted without ever becoming a bit cold.
