Marietas Islands And Hidden Beach Tour From Puerto Vallarta

My wife and I have wanted to visit the hidden beach during our previous cruise stops in Puerto Vallarta so we were excited to finally have an overnight cruise stop that would allow us to take this tour out to the hidden beach. The weather was great and the ocean was calm, we thought everything would be perfect for our visit. But the one thing we did not think to check was when high tide would be. We made it out to the island but we arrived less than a half hour after high tide and the opening to the hidden beach was inaccessible. The tour guides told us we would go snorkeling and come back to try to access the beach. The snorkeling was good, we saw lots of fish and the water was relatively clear. After about 30 minutes of snorkeling they loaded us back in the boat and we went back to the hidden beach entrance, but the tide doesn't go down that quickly and the entrance was still inaccessible. At this point the trip really broke down, the guides started asking the passengers, which was six unrelated couples what we wanted to do, 1) sit and wait to see if the tide would go down enough; 2) go to another beach on the other island close by; 3) do more snorkeling; or 4) go back to port. As you can imagine everyone wanted to do something else. So the guides took us around the other side of the island to show us a area like what the hidden beach would be but that was open to the sea and then took us over to the other island to where there was a beach. But rather than let us go to the other beach like they said they were going to do when we headed this way, they then asked everyone again what they wanted to do with the four choices, and more people wanted to try for the hidden beach, so back to the hidden beach it was. But the tides take 6+ or so hours from high to low tide and our tour was not that long, so there was still no way to access the hidden beach. The guides took another vote and since 8 of the 12 wanted to go back to port, they drove us back to port early. After getting back and rechecking the tour operator's web page for the tour, it actually says, "To reach the Hidden Beach, visitors swim through a cave tunnel at low tide, emerging onto a secluded stretch of sand about 80 feet long, surrounded by rock walls." They call out that it needs to be "low" tide on their website, so why would they run the tour when it would get us to the hidden beach at high tide? The tide levels are known ahead of time, anyone can look them up on the internet, Vallarta Adventures would have known before taking anyone out there on our morning that we were not going to be able to make it to the hidden beach. In fact the guides told us when we arrived that we arrived 30 minutes after high tide. My wife and I felt scammed by the entire process, if they know it needs to be low tide, why take us out there during high tide? Probably, because no one would book the tour knowing there was no chance they would get to go to the hidden beach. The long trip is only worth it if you can go to the hidden beach, as there is just as good, if not better, snorkeling closer to Puerto Vallarta that would cost less. I would not recommend anyone take this tour, unless they check the weather forecast and specifically check the tide tables for the day they are planning on visiting the hidden beach and make sure that they will be arriving close to low tide.

Seriously, I cannot even explain how amazing this experience is! We journeyed to the archipelago and saw the the beautiful volcanic rock formation. It was ok dangerous conditions to snorkel, but the guide was very informative of the history and pointing out the blue footed booby birds. The snorkeling at the hidden spot was amazing! We also very much enjoyed the paddle boards and banana boat. Lunch was fabulous. This company has high quality standards, which shows with the food , unlimited drinks, and staff!! Such an amazing experience!!

Very disappointing. We booked this tour mainly for Hidden Beach, but it was closed due to water conditions. We understood there would be a backup tour, but it was only about 10 minutes and mostly just watching waves hit rocks. The snorkeling was also very cloudy and we barely saw any fish. Definitely did not feel worth the price.

Great experience. The guides keep the party going the entire time and the drinks keep coming. Had a blast!

I wanted to give a formal thank you to your crew on the hidden beach excursion. My boyfriend ended up with severe cramping, chest pain, and low oxygen levels (it turned out he had a massive but undiagnosed electrolyte imbalance we didn’t know about, he was pretty sick) and the team we were with was amazing. I am a nurse and when I decided we probably needed to get him back to the pier, they didn’t hesitate to make it happen. We met the med boat and they had an ambulance waiting. He got great care and we made it home safely a few days later. We also really appreciated that they made sure to let the other people on the boat know they would get to go back and finish their snorkeling after we got dropped off. We were concerned about that and thought it was great they made that happen even though it meant they would be out longer. Very impressive and great customer service and care. I wish I remembered their names but it was the morning excursion on Saturday the 14th. Please pass on our thanks and appreciation. We very much recommend Vallarta Adventures. As an aside, the two young ladies who were the photographers took some great pics (before my boyfriend really started to feel unwell) and made me feel like I was in a professional photo shoot. Super fun, well organized, professional excursion.

We did the hidden beaches and horseback riding in Puerto Vallarta with Phillip (guide), Charlie (boat driver), and Franco (photographer). The beach where we ate lunch was tucked away, and so beautiful! The amenities were clean and the lunch was fantastic grilled meat and veggies. The waters were rough the day we went so we weren't able to snorkel. We visited another village where we made tortillas and took a 15 minute horse ride through the village and a river. It was just the right amount of time. We hiked to a waterfall, and there were lots of opportunities to buy tequila, fruit, and souvenirs. The views were amazing! If you pick up the iguanas on the beach they charge you $6, so beware. Phillip was a great guide. He grew up in the US, so communication was super easy, and his personality was friendly and humorous. The crew took great care to keep us safe, and even went out of their way to boat out to the whale breaches we spotted. Would definitely recommend!

Well worth the trip! We enjoyed everything from the ride out to the crew who was so friendly and informative! We watched whales on our way out even stopped to watch them play and take pictures. All while the crew went over facts about them. When we arrived at the entrance to the beach the cave was still underwater from high tide but it was no problem, the crew redirected and we did our eco tour and snorkeling first. Once we returned we were cleared to enter. Being a decent swimmer is a definite need. Not so much for the distance but for the strength and knowing how to work with the current. Even with a life jacket it’s a pretty decent swim. You are strictly limited on your time but it is a protected area so to be able to enter at all is a privilege. Once inside you have time to briefly explore and take pictures. The formations , the beach and the birds are beautiful! And as far as the smell of bird poop it does NOT! And even if it did, it’s their home not ours! A big thank you to Phillipe and his crew for a great experience!

This was the Marietas Island Eco Adventure. The crew made this experience so much fun. Capt. Henrry was incredible. He was fun entertaining and made the trip special. A big shout out to his crew. Luis, Marvin, Armando, Franchesco, and Francisco. A special thanks to all of you for making this a memory I will never forget. The snorkeling, food, and especially your warm hospitality and dancing/entertaining performances you did were amazing. Thank you again and please have a wonderful Holiday season.

Booked what looked like a cool excursion. 7am departure. 6:30am check in time. Got an uber from Sayulita at 5:50am and got there right at check in time only to be told that the trip was canceled and we should have received a message. We received no message. The guys who came in right after us to check in for the same excursion did not get a cancelation message either. Instead of being able to cut out losses and just get a refund and an uber back, Elena said we had to wait until 7am for the “internet specialist”(?) to get here so to tell us what our options were for refunds/other excursions. So not only did I waste time waking up early on vacation and paying for a 40-minute uber here, I also have to waste time and wait 30 minutes for my refund and to find out my options. Their own website even says that if access to the beach is denied, they will do snorkeling. That was not presented as an option to us. Waited until 7 then Elena handed me a headset? I wasn’t waiting to talk to a real person. She handed me a phone to talk to someone else? Seriously? If you knew you were going to cancel the excursion, let us know in advance. If two parties on the same excursion didn’t get your cancellation message, then you didn’t send it.

Do not recommend if you don't like to swim in the ocean and wear a helmet to get to your destination also if you don't want to snorkel in bumpy waters. Plus I did the but 2 excursion get one free. Lol not free lol go online and book for cheaper through the Internet not at your resort also they took me back to the port hours earlier since I didn't do the activity but I paid for the full 7 hours. I feel like I got screwed on that other than that the island where neat to see that I did see from the boat. This excursion needs a deeper explanation of what your getting yourself into.

This is one of those tours that sounds incredible on paper, but the way it was handled left us shaken and disappointed. Our Zodiac (inflatable raft) was oversold and overcrowded, four of us sat sideways in the very front. The surf that day was extremely rough, and instead of adjusting speed, the boat flew over waves at 30+ mph. Each hit launched us into the air; my wife thought she injured her back, and I was badly jarred as well. For 45 minutes it felt more like a punishment than an adventure. By the time we arrived, my wife was so seasick she couldn’t attempt the 100-yard swim into the cave. I stayed behind with her, but the guides seemed visibly annoyed. Those who did go said the swim was rough, helmets smacked the rocks, and it was harder than expected. Multiple passengers were sick over the side, and the tour was cut short. At the end, the guide said, “I can’t control the ocean.” Very true, but a responsible operator can control boat capacity, vessel choice, and speed in unsafe surf. A sturdier boat would have handled better, and better judgment could have protected everyone’s safety and enjoyment. Playa del Amor is a stunning natural wonder, but if you book, use caution. Ask what kind of boat will be used, how many people they allow, and be aware that conditions can make this a very tough ride. It’s not for everyone, and it shouldn’t be oversold as casual or easy.

What an amazing trip! Worth the price! We had a great captain and great guide. We were one of the first groups that got to enter the hidden beach for the day. It is breathtaking. The swim in was a bit intense but they provided safety gear and ensured that everyone in our group made it in and out safely. Snorkeling near the island was amazing and we even saw dolphins and a whale on our trip! Vallarta Adventures was well organized and we would certainly book another excursion through them!

You are considered as a walking wallet in this tour with really poor organisation. The group was too large arriving at the island from what we heard from the guards (not the first time he told our host apparently), so we wasted 30 mins by splitting the group in 2 and waiting for each group to do the first and only activity we had. You swim to the pretty hidden beach, to be shot by a photographer, you cannot bring your own camera, GoPro or anything. After that, there were jellyfishes at the snorkeling spot (50 meters next to the hidden beach) so we could not do it. After that, we did some rushed bird watching and explanation about the island before going back. Did we do the hidden beach activity even though there were jellyfishes and not the snorkeling because they take pictures of you that they sell 100$ ? Maybe, or maybe we couldn't do the snorkeling because we wasted 30 mins with the poor organisation. With the port fees, the conservation fees, the photos price, the tips and the activity price, you have to pay US$250. No refund, even partial was accepted for the cancellation of the snorkeling.

We had heard so much about this “Hidden Beach”, and the photos we had seen were spectacular, so we booked a trip. Maui was the best guide. We saw humpback whales in the morning and afternoon, and one welcomed us with a beautiful show just as we pulled up to the island. The crew knew what they were doing, and were super organized - everything ran extremely smoothly. #1 Tip: Even with life jackets, YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD SWIMMER. From the time you jump in the water, until you need to be back on the boat, you have a total of 30 minutes. The guides swim with you the whole way. You’ll swim under the arch (it’s pretty low, and you will be wearing a helmet), and the quicker you get to the beach, the more time you have to explore. You can’t take your camera, or anything else, onto the beach, but 2 very fun, very professional photographers will be there to do a photo shoot with you. We bought the photo package, and I’m very glad we did. The photos were great - they captured the experience perfectly. We were supposed to go snorkeling, but there were jellyfish in the water, so instead, we toured around the islands, and Maui gave us a fabulous history of the island, along with information about its abundant bird life. We were given some light snacks on the boat, and then we headed back. Overall, a fantastic day, and we were back in town early afternoon.

Danny and the ENTIRE crew made this a very informative and FUN experience! 100% recommend, even if you don't actually snorkel. Whale watching was good too.

My husband and I did this tour on Feb 18th from the Puerto Vallarta port (it was called "Island Discovery" when we booked it). First off, the wicket to purchase the port access tickets didn't open until nearly 7:15am, but our reservation email said we had to check in at 7:00am, so we woke up around 5:30am at our resort in Mismaloya to be there by 7:00am. The reservation email also said that the tour would begin at 7:30am, which it didn't. There was a cruise ship that came in late to dock, so we didn't leave until about 8:30am (see photo). The Vallarta Adventure employee said not to worry, the tour wouldn't be cut short as a result but it was. We left at 8:30am and returned at 12:30pm (see photo), which is a 4 hour tour, not a 5 hour tour as advertised. They have this advertised as a beach and snorkeling tour, which isn't accurate. The hidden beach part is pretty cool, but first off, it doesn't look like the photos they show on their web site. Once everyone gets in there, they shed their life jackets and helmets, cluttering up the hidden beach, which makes your photos not as nice as they have shown on their web site. Also, a big part of this tour is the two photographers taking photos of everyone in the beach area, making it difficult to enjoy the beach and the water without feeling like you're constantly in someone's photo. Not to mention, you only have 30 mins (strict) to swim in, take your photos and see the beach, and swim back out from the time the authorities there give you the helmets. So the swim in is frantic, rushed, fairly difficult with the tides, and the tour guides make you feel like you're holding up the show a bit. Oh, and the smell of the droppings from the resident birds on the island all over the rocks you're swimming past and under is ABSOLUTELY FOUL, which they don't mention. So that's the hidden beach part, which amounts to 30 mins front to back of the entire tour. Next, we went "snorkeling", which involved about 8 mins of snorkeling in dark, murky waters, where we saw precisely zero fish. Once people started heading back towards the boat because they had personally decided there wasn't anything to see, the guides started ushering everyone back to the boat, again in a big rush. So I'm not kidding when I say we were in the ocean "snorkeling" for 8 minutes. The rest of the 4 (not 5) hour tour involved driving around on the boat hearing about the local birds and fish around the islands and the trip from PV to the islands and back. This is NOT a beach and snorkeling tour. It's a boat tour with a 30 minute rushed beach visit. In addition, they wouldn't let us apply sunscreen even after we would no longer be in the ocean, so I ended up with a sunburn on my forehead and my lower thighs below my shorts line. And finally, we spent probably 20 minutes dealing with authorities, since our crew were getting fines for being too close to the rocks and some other infraction. All in all, not at all impressed by this tour at all. I wish we hadn't wasted $205CAD per person and several hours away from our resort for this tour. Don't book this is you're interested in an actual beach and snorkeling tour, because this isn't it. I would appreciate at least a partial refund for this tour, because it is definitely not as advertised and it was cut an hour short. I think this tour would have been worth about $80CAD per person, not $205.

We’ve been using VA for years and have done multiple different tours. They are a great, solid, well organized company. Their website gives great information so I’m going to list a few things I didn’t see and wish I knew. We did the Island Discovery Tour which is just a tour of Las Marietas and the hidden beach there. You’re on a speedboat (20-25 passengers) and not one of their bigger catamarans. You can’t put on sunscreen after departure due to the sensitivity of the ecosystem and there is no shade. They do offer snacks (apple, banana, granola bar) after the activities but no water or alcohol. They do offer towels which was unexpected. I definitely recommend this tour and love swimming thru the tunnel to get to the hidden beach. Our tour guides: Felipe, Chema, Angie and Captain Dan were great. The tour is in Spanish and English. My only con are the photos. They took too many of each couple. We would’ve been happy with 2 pose requests but felt like we did 6-7 each time. Also the cost of photos is so ridiculous. Our whole digital set for a family of 4 was $150! We would’ve liked a few and probably overpaid a little but only bargained down to $110 for the whole set. I suggest you bring your own camera/phone. Highlight we did see some whales at the end. Our tour was a little longer than 5 hrs prob closer to 6.

Wow! What can I say? We had such a wonderful time. This was such a great trip. My mom and I were greatly taken care of! Maui, Ruben, Yobani, and all the staff made us feel welcomed, comfortable and safe! Thank you so much! I will refer all of my friends and colleagues here! We can’t wait to book for next time! Thank you!!!!!

Amazing tour, great service by Daniel, Jaja, Fideo and Martin. Exclusive location, best snorkeling I've done. Don't bother bringing a camera. The two professional photographers get great shots at a good value.

My husband and I went out on this excursion for my birthday and it was the experience of a lifetime. The ride there was rocky but it was evident that our captain Felix aka Happy was very skilled and was able to take the best route to get us there safely and quickly. Once I jumped in the water I immediately got scared to swim the 100 meters into the cave but our tour guide Moses was kind enough to help me with reassuring words and a little help so have this once in a lifetime experience. Oh I forgot to mention we saw humpback whales!! They were so amenable to let us stop and whale watch, how cool. I am thankful for Moses, Felix, Greta & Yaya for helping me have the best birthday!

Vallarta adventures is a scam. They have offers in their page and when you purchase them you have to be very careful as they change the rules once you have paid. I tried purchasing a 3X2 in their website which I thought I had bought only to receive an email that I had a 2x1 that applied only to locals and requesting I pay the full price. I like transparency and this company doesn't offer that.

My experience with Puerto Vallarta Adventures on the Hidden Beach Discovery tour was fantastic! Our boat captain was not only skilled but also made the journey smooth and enjoyable—I didn't experience any seasickness, which is rare for me. The snorkeling was only okay, but the highlight was definitely the hidden beach. It was like stepping into a paradise! The tour overall was well-organized, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Puerto Vallarta. Additionally, I must mention that we encountered an issue on our end, and I must say customer service was excellent to deal with. Their professionalism and promptness in resolving the issue were commendable.

Been to hundreds of excursions and this is by far the worst my family has taken. Why? First, the boat showed up 45 minutes late, no big deal. But the ocean had 7-8 foot swells and the driver went full bore and several people got sick and my partner got injured After visiting the hidden cave the drivers berated remaining passengers who wanted to go snorkeling which is a part of the tour. Never seen anything like this anywhere. Hating your customers and berating a polite boat full of paying customers.

Disappointing experience and very misleading information when you book. When I approached the counter in Puerto Vallarta to ask for the tour they said that it will be the like the tour called "Islas Marietas" just adding the entrance to the hidden beach or Playa del Amor, this tour is advertidlsed with an open bar, lunch included plus the equipment for 3 other water activities and wet suits in a catamaran, the reality is that this is a tour in a rhib (the small plastic motor boat) that only takes you to the hidden beach and to 1 of the 2 snorkeling areas in the Marietas National Park, the snorkel gear it's awful, old and low quality, cheap and not fit for purpose, so it's hard to actually enjoy the activity, the activity supposed to include weat suits but is not true, the "light snack " it's just fruit and they never offer you water or any drinks (you definitely need to hydrate after the hard swimming to get to the hidden island). The price for the activity for 2 persons with discount for online booking was $4,988.88 mexican pesos which is around $300 USD. Is NOT worth it, and don't get me wrong, the personnel it's friendly and nice, but still not worth it, you have to pay the port fee ($32 pesos / $2 USD) and the fee for the conservation of the Marietas Park ($120 pesos / $7 USD) which is nothing but is not included on the ridiculous expensive price. On top of that you have photographers on your face 70% of the time, and the prices are ridiculous, we were offer the package of a metal picture, a photo album and the digital photos for $150 usd, if we didn't want one of the albums or the metal photo then we had the option of choosing one and the digital photos for $120 usd and if we just wanted the digital photos would be $100 usd, we refused to pay that much, but the couple seating next to us (me and my boyfriend) got the offer of getting only the metal photo for $35 usd, this couple was local (both from Mexico city), I wonder about the reason why we (me being Mexican and my boyfriend being English) were not offered that option, instead we were pushed to get the digital photos, the less we would have to pay would be $80 usd, the photographer rather to loose the sell before offering the individual product to us. The frustrating part was to find another tour going to the same place and doing way more activities, including the breakfast and lunch with an open bar and all the water activities equipment and gear for only $3,600 pesos for 2 persons, around $200 USD. People don't book with Vallarta Adventures, find those little kiosks or the small tour shop in the corner or on the streets, you will get a better value for your money in other places.

This was one of the coolest excursions we’ve ever done. Everyone that was a part of the Vallarta Adventures crew was incredible. The hidden beach was absolutely beautiful and I am so grateful that we all did it.

This was such an interesting tour. Swimming through the opening to get inside the island was a little unnerving just because of the waves & current, but it was so neat to be "inside" of it once we got there. We were only allowed 30 minutes inside, but that was plenty of time to take it all in and get pictures. After that, we went around the islands and saw all kinds of birds and the formations on the islands. We stopped to snorkel, and then had snacks and water on the boat. Some tips for this trip: If you need sunscreen, use the reef-safe kind and put it on at the port. It has to dry before you get to the island. Don't take water shoes; you can't wear them inside the island. Don't waste room taking towels; they provide them on the boat. If there is any chance of motion sickness, take something or wear a patch. I highly recommend a waterproof pouch to take your phone. But that's all you can take inside with you. You do have to wear a life jacket and a helmet.

The tour was cancelled and we were NOT notified. Waste of a day. Vallarta Adventures were great. Very disappointing.

Super fun time! We took a speed boat with only about 20ish people to the islands. Once we arrived we got our helmets on and swam to the beach! Then we did some snorkeling and on the way back to PV we stopped to see lots of whales. Definitely a fun tour, would highly recommend!

My boyfriend and I joined this trip as part of our weekend getaway, we primarily signed up for this one to see the hidden beach and although the waves were choppy, it was determined we could proceed. We are both pretty strong swimmers but with the high tide, it was a challenge to enter the cave. With the help of Daniel and team, I felt very safe through the whole journey. Once on the beach, we got the opportunity to explore and take pictures. The photographers on the trip took our picture although we did not buy a package it was just fun while we enjoyed the beach! After the beach, we swam back to the boat and we got a tour of the islands from Daniel who talked about the history of the islands, some of the birds we saw, and other interesting facts. He spoke in both Spanish and English so everyone on the tour could understand. Then we stopped for about 30 minutes to snorkel. Here you got some fins, goggles, and snorkels. We saw some coral formations and fish, most notably for me was the pufferfish. Then we hopped back in the boat and enjoyed a granola bar, fruit, and water. Including the 40 minute commute to the island, the whole experience was 4 hours. We had a great time but you do have to be a strong swimmer to get to the cave. The team ensured everyone was safe and everyone had fun. I would recommend Vallarta Adventures

There was a storm coming in the morning of our tour but they decided to take us out anyways. The water was very rough and the entrance to Hidden Beach was through a cave. The water was so high that there was only 3 inches of breathing room at rhe top and at times you had to stay under water until a wave passed, this went on for about 100 meters. On top of all that, our guide informed us that they are not allowed to help anyone who is drowning! This tour is dangerous and should not be allowed to operate when weather conditions aren't favorable!

We loved this experience! Luis and Julio are amazing, we learned a lot about the wildlife in the area. We saw cool birds, dolphins, sea turtles, and neat fish. The hidden beach was magical! Alejandro and Alejandra took wonderful photos. We would highly recommend this trip!

I’ve been to Puerto Vallarta 3 times, in 2018, 2021, and 2022. Each time I have gone we have done some kind of excursion through Vallarta Adventures and it never once disappointed! My fiancé and I had the pleasure of meeting Cesar on our trip July 2021 while snorkeling near Marieta Islands. He has the Vallarta staff were absolutely amazing! They are all so nice, helpful, and do everything they can to help you have a great time. We reached out to Cesar again when we went to Puerto Vallarta in March 2021. It was my birthday and Cesar and the Vallarta Adventure staff helped make it one of the most memorable birthday trips I’ve ever had! I highly recommend booking any one of the excursions available with Vallarta Adventure, you will not be disappointed!!

The crew was very nice and accommodating. It was safe and so much fun. It's worth swimming into the hidden beach. I would highly recommend it.

My husband and I did enjoy the opportunities the boat ride offered to see humpback whales passing through the PV harbor/bay. Be aware that if an 'actual' whale watch boat comes through, the Island Discovery boat has to give way. The photos of the beach are much more glamorous than the reality, and the water was very rough the day we did the tour - so we had significant difficulty swimming in life jackets and helmets to get through the stone/cave archway to the beach. The beach is a nature reserve, so you are not allowed to use fins, flippers, or water shoes, and the footing is very unsteady once you actually try to get up onto the beach - this is also the reason why time on the beach is very limited. We were not harassed at all for pictures, nor would we have taken/paid for them. When we got to the snorkeling area, there were multiple boats present and many people in the water; we declined to snorkel as we were utterly exhausted from the swim into/out of the cave/hidden beach, but those who did said it was murky and difficult to see much because of the rough water and large number of swimmers. Snacks provided were Nature Valley bars and overripe bananas, as well as bottled water. Not a trip we would book again, although we are happy to have seen what we did.

We were a group of 4 (friends and family) and booked the Island Discovery. Overall it was not money well spent. We were able to swim into the hidden beach (bit difficult for sure) and spent 15 minutes inside. We also spent 20 minutes snorkeling and it was average at best. The guide told us almost nothing about the wildlife and the life of whales. The sales staff advertise it as a 5 hour adventure but our tour was over in only 3 hours. I feel we could have spent more time snorkeling and looking at wildlife on the Marietas. This tour was over-sold and under-performed. Our cost for 4 people was about $700 Canadian, and I don’t feel we had good value for our money. As well, the guides spent more time trying to sell their expensive photo packages then talking about the Island and the nature. We decided not to book with Vallarta Adventures for any other tours while on vacation. We must say they the high speed rubber boat was quite jarring and the swimming into the hidden beach was quite difficult. I do agree that you should be a strong swimmer and don’t wear jewelry. Unfortunately My husband lost his wedding ring doing the swim and while getting some help from a stronger swimmer. But that is not VA fault, our mistake.

Very underwhelming experience. There are two main “attractions” to this tour. 30 min in the hidden beach and 30 min of extremely underwhelming snorkeling. The hidden beach is cool but the entire time to tour guides keep asking to take pictures of you and it wastes so much time. When you tell them you don’t plan to buy pics, they won’t take no for an answer. Picture prices are 1 pic for $40 USD or all for $80 USD…which they don’t tell you until after. Then you get rushed out of the cool part to super underwhelming snorkeling in life jackets. Definitely not worth the money or time.

Diego, Darin’s and Daniel kept it fun and safe for everyone. The snorkeling was great, seeing hundreds of fish and swimming through an arch. Hidden Beach entrance was a little scary using helmets, but timing was everything.

The trip back and forth to and from the island was pleasant enough. We were served light pastries for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch and cocktails or juices. The island experience was a disaster. Instead of using the dock for the large catamaran so we could easily get on and off the boat we were ported in an overcrowded dingy to the island beach were several fell into the water trying to get out in some very rough water. The island is a complete tourist trap. Once there we were bombarded with people trying to sell us everything from pictures with a pet iguana to illicit drugs to cheaply made hats and jewelry. They were very aggressive and would not take 'no' for an answer. I cant speak on the other tour offerings but stay far away from this one.

For the adventurous soul this tour is a different experience. You literally have to swim through rapid waters that push against you into a cave while the wild waters toss your body everywhich way. You get 30 minutes on the hidden beach and then you are back out swimming in the crazy waves back. The snorkeling was short and a bit less rapid. The lunch was a granola bar an apple and a banana. No water was given, luckily we packed some. I would not recommend for children under 12 or people who are afraid of water. Need to be a good strong swimmer. About 1/3 of our boat remained in the boat. And the ride there and back was in a motorized raft and was very bumpy.

This was quite an unexpected adventure! We took Zodiac boat out to Las Marietas National park . We then got into water to swim under the cave to arrive at the beach, our tour guide Silvino helped us at the Round island to manage the waves to make it thru the cave opening and then Voila! on to the beach for about 20 mins then back to the boat for ride to the Long Island. We had great pictures taken at the beach and while we snorkeled by the second island. Great sea life, and water was warm. Julio our boat captain and Mario his co-captain also led us around island to a great blow hole that doused us several times.

This tour was probably the most underwhelming one we've done with Vallarta Adventures. It is known as "Island Discovery" on their website/our email confirmation. The ride to the island was cool, it was on a speed boat and was about 40 minutes so if you get sick this might not be for you, or you will have to take something beforehand. Once we reached the Hidden Beach, you have to literally swim in open water (helmet + life jacket on) from the speedboat to the shore of the island for about 50 meters. If you are NOT a swimmer this will be extremely HARD because the water here is NOT kind. You are swimming through small waves non stop and even if you can swim, it's just a lot of energy and to be honest I can't imagine a child under 12 trying to get through this at all or an adult who has a fear of water. Once you reach the shore of the Hidden Beach, you can only stay for roughly 30 mins (maybe counting the swim there and back as well, so probably even less on the island). You can't take anything to the island, everything stays on the speed boat - you can take your phone if you have it in a waterproof case and if you're OK with the odds of it getting damaged on the way there during your swim. There's a hidden cave which was super cool, but not everyone in our tour got to see it as it wasn't really mentioned before hand, just one of the tour guides snuck a few of us in. Other than that, given the swimming we had to do to get there to stay such limited time, this was underwhelming. Like extremely. The highlight of the trip was snorkelling after a quick tour on the boat around the islands. Cons: -The biggest disappointment for us was trusting we would have good photos to choose from taken by their photographer on the island and WOW.....Absolutely not the case. The poses they made us do was us facing the opening of the island, which is NOT the background anyone wants here!!! When we got our photos the COLORS were off as well, they had a very blue tint and majority of them were SO blurry. We got NONE of the typical Marietas background. Just water as our background with a blue tint and blurry as can be. When we said we didn't want to purchase them, the person tried saying this was a unique opportunity because no cameras are allowed on the island so the photos are rare and yeah, sure...had the photographer actually used the right background and settings. The other photographer did take amazing photos of other people with the expected background. So be careful and keep this in mind. -On top of the tour fee, we had to pay 130 pesos per person at check-in for a conservation fee and their standard check-in fee. -They provide snacks..after snorkelling.. only a granola bar/fruit and water. -The snorkelling was supposed to be a "guided" experience where the guide tells/shows you around the marine life during, but it was SO crowded with other tours also snorkelling that this was impossible. You also almost get lost from your own group because it's so crowded and makes it stressful. -The tour says it's a 7 hour tour on our invoice....but it truly felt like a 4hr or 5hr max if anything? Seemed sketch. I would not recommend this tour, honestly do a snorkelling or scuba only tour and enjoy that activity as a whole for as much time as you can. Viewing the island was underwhelming itself and felt like a cash grab. It feels like we paid for a snorkelling + swim for your life in open water tour instead if anything.

The sights were beautiful and the cave was awesome to see but the price for 150$ to look over the cave for 30 mins and snorkel for 15 mins was not worth it. My boyfriend and I were looking forward to snorkeling all week and we did it for only 15 mins :( I would say what we saw was beautiful but water was not very clear, the snacks were mediocre. The guide was funny and the photographer was nice but the photos are very overpriced if you want pictures in the cave, be prepared for a haunting 90-80$ USD. (For 50 ish photos )I would say they would make more money with a cheaper price for photos allowing you to choose 5-10. Still a beautiful place to see just wish we could spend more time snorkeling.

The “Marieta’s” description needs to say that you will be JUMPING off a boat with no ramp or stairs (potentially into stinging jellyfish) and SWIM to land. I brought my 69 year old mom to PV. We absolutely loved the “Caletas” beach, “Rhythms of the Night”and “Dolphin Experience” tours! I attended the “Outdoor Adventure” solo because the marketing description and videos described this particular experience as active and for adrenaline junkies who can hike and ride a mule. The “Outdoor Adventure” is probably one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had in my life! When I took my mom on the Marieta’s tour, I was under the impression that it was a bird site seeing tour that ended on a beach where you would dock the boat and would have the option to snorkel. This tour takes you out to sea where you have to JUMP out of the boat or stay on the rocking boat if you don’t want to snorkel. There were about 5 people that I knew of that were throwing up! My mom has a rash on her body from the unsanitary life jackets that you have to wear when you JUMP off the boat and SWIM through the stinging jelly fish! Out of all of the experiences we did together or solo, the only experience that could be done with someone with a walking disability was the Dolphin experience on the platform. All of the other experiences require an individual to walk on cobblestone and dirt paths, jump or swim. The lead announcer JC or JZ not only unhelpful, but RUDE. The only crew member that was helpful and kind on the “Maritas” experience was Luis! Luis is a sweetheart! If you aren’t going to build accommodations for people with disabilities, create better marketing descriptions/itineraries, hire more crew members like Luis and Chai and try to train people like JZ to be more empathetic and patient for people with disabilities, fear of heights and sea creatures.

The guide and crew are very funny and informative. The history of the islands helps contextualize the significance of such a place. Our guide checked with us as a group to see if we spoke Spanish and/or English, before leading the group in English. Swimming to and from the hidden beach is a bit intense (no goggles, no flippers, only life jacket and helmet), but, after all, it is an adventure, and the crew keeps a watchful eye. Where we snorkeled had beautiful clear waters, fish, coral, and volcanic looking rocks. Thank you!

My wife and I are American and speak only a little Spanish. We went on the Hidden Beach trip and when we got there our tour guide provided about 4 minutes of instructions in Apanish and about 3 sentences in English. If you don't speak Spanish, I would recommend either using a different tour agency or not doing this excursion with Vallarta Adventures. You will feel very lost and frustrated.

Such a professional staff, very well trained and safe, and kept us entertained the entire time! Both tours we did were great — the extreme outdoor adventure was an incredible value for the money. Several zip lines, rappelling, and the guys moved around like monkeys! The roller coaster was our favorite, as we’ve never done anything like it…1600 feet long and it had us suspended, winding through the canopy of trees and into the water at the end…super refreshing! Noteworthy staff: JC, Lex, Piña, Tomás Crucero (Tom Cruise), Artur, Miguel, José, and I know I’m forgetting a few. This company is committed to safety and fun — and staff are very efficient and knowledgeable. The zip line guys have been through several hundred hours of training, which gave us peace of mind (my husband is also trained in ropes and climbing and verified their work every step of the way as thorough and well done). Highly recommend this company!

We did a private tour to the hidden beach and had the best time! Arturo was our guide and Marcos was our captain; both were fantastic! Arturo was very personable and knowledgeable. We first went to the hidden beach and then instead of snorkeling we chose to drive around the islands. While doing so, we saw other hidden beaches (we couldn’t go in this one) and saw a bird with blue feet. We also saw laughing seagulls! On our way back to the dock, Marcos saw whales and stopped our boat so we could get a picture. We had the best time and definitely recommend!

The island was beautiful and the crew was extremely informative about all of it. They ensured everyone stayed safe and together in our group. The boat ride out and back was fun and they stopped to let us observe and take pictures and videos of two different types of dolphins and a mother humpback whale with her new baby. It was amazing. The water was chilly but nothing anyone can do about that.

The crew at the activity was very nice and helpful. We were lucky to see a couple of whales on our way there and our way back.