Mexico
Marietas Islands
A hidden beach inside a bombed-out volcanic crater, accessible only by swimming through a tunnel.
You swim through a tunnel in the rock. The light shifts from blue to green. You surface inside a crater open to the sky, waves lapping at a hidden crescent of sand that should not exist — the ceiling collapsed decades ago when the Mexican military used the island for bombing practice, and the Pacific flooded in.
The Marietas Islands are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve off the coast of Nayarit, formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. The Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor) is the archipelago's signature feature — a sinkhole beach inside a collapsed volcanic crater, accessible only by swimming or kayaking through a short tunnel when tide conditions permit. Visitor numbers are strictly limited (116 per day) to protect the fragile marine ecosystem. The surrounding waters support humpback whales (December to March), manta rays, dolphins, and extensive coral formations. Snorkelling and diving around the islands reveal tropical fish, sea turtles, and blue-footed boobies nesting on the cliffs above. Tours depart from Punta de Mita or Sayulita. The limited access means advance booking is essential, but the restriction preserves the experience — arriving at the Hidden Beach feels like discovering something that should have remained secret.
Couple
Swimming through a tunnel to emerge on a hidden beach inside a volcanic crater — it is difficult to design a more cinematic romantic moment.
Friends
The tunnel swim, the snorkelling, and the whale-watching make the Marietas a group adventure that delivers genuine shared wow.
- The Hidden Beach formed inside a crater from early-20th-century military bomb testing — the ceiling collapsed, revealing the sea.
- Access requires swimming through a short tunnel when tide conditions allow — only small groups can enter.
- Humpback whales are visible from the islands between December and March.
Post-excursion ceviche tostadas at the Punta de Mita harbour, washed down with cold Pacífico.
Aguachile — raw shrimp in lime and chilli — from the palapa restaurants on the mainland shore.
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