You’ve probably heard about or seen pictures of a beautiful beach that appears to be inside a hole (it’s actually a crater). This place, known as “The Hidden Beach” or “The Love Beach”, is the main attraction of the Marietas Islands National Park. The Marietas Islands is one of the most popular places in Mexico internationally, accumulating more than 100,000 visitors during 2014. However, the growing demand to visit this natural work of art, has raised the concern of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp).
They claim that during Spring Break vacations the island has received up to 3,000 visitors per day. In addition, they declared that the area was in environmental deterioration caused by tourist overexploitation, since it was generating an ecological imbalance due to damage to the seabed, contamination and possible fuel spills from boats arriving to the islands.Without doubt, it is a wonderful site that we all deserve to witness, however, this is a call from nature to be more responsible tourists and that we can continue exploring all the wonders that Mexico has for us without causing damage to biodiversity in our visits.
On April 14, 2016 the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas declared the closure to the public of the Islands planned for May 9 of that same year. Currently, marine life has gradually recovered and it is now possible to visit the iconic Hidden Beach (if climate conditions allow it) in compliance with the conservation regulations we show you below:
Access to The Hidden Beach is limited to 116 visitors per day.
The use of sunscreen, suntan lotion or any other chemical that harms the marine flora or fauna is prohibited.
The time allowed for each visitor at The Hidden Beach is between 20 and 30 minutes.
Visitors are not allowed to take anything from the beach, neither sand nor rocks.
To visit the islands it is necessary to pay a conservation bracelet of $100 (Mexican pesos) per visitor (as of 2021).
We hope you found this reading interesting or useful information in case you plan to visit the Marietas Islands.
