Private SAFARI to Marietas Islands including Hidden Beach & Surf
Description
It is an adventure SAFARI, organized by local people, for small groups of less than 10 people per boat. From groups of 4 people the Tour can be Private for you and your guests. Entrance to Playa Escondida : We will swim approx. 80 meters (6 to 7 minutes round trip) crossing the Marine Tunnel that will take us inside the crater. Snorqueling will be at Skull Reef. Everyone falls in love with the blue-footed Bobo Bird during bird watching. We will visit the idyllic Secret Beach, which is only accessible a few months of the year due to changing sea currents. We will visit the second crater known as ̈Stone Bridge ̈, when the tide drops it is possible to visit a Marine Geyser and get wet with its. Whale Watching (Dec to March) is a great event. (Optional) Experience a beginner surfing lesson on a beach with friendly waves and enjoy our Traditional Shrimp Ceviche & Beers Sea View.
Tour Options
Itinerary
1st Stage: Isla Redonda, to enter Playa Escondida. We will swim approx. 80 meters from the boat to the interior of the crater, in the company of our guide and wearing life jackets, to enter through the underwater tunnel and finally arrive at Playa Escondida. If the tide is not high, it is possible to enter the 2 caves that are right there in Playa Escondida.
2nd stage: Snorkeling in the Calavera Reef area to learn about the marine life that inhabits this marine sanctuary. We will put on our snorkeling equipment and life jackets to carry out the activity in the company of our guide.
3rd Stage. Visit to Secret Beach. Thanks to a natural phenomenon in the change of sea currents, it will be possible to visit this beach, which remains inaccessible for much of the year. We will swim about 10 meters to enjoy what many consider the most beautiful beach in the bay, framed by extravagant rock formations and truly beautiful arches.
4th Stage: Second Crater on Isla Larga, called ¨Puente de Piedra¨. We will bring the boat closer until we arrive just below the arch of this impressive crater. It is a place where time seems to stop, ideal for making a wish.
5th Stage: Bird Watching. Both in our passage through Isla Circular and Isla Larga, inhabit various species of birds, of which the best known is the Blue-footed Booby Bird. We will go around the islands to see the different species of birds and their nesting areas.
6th Stage: Whale Watching. From December 10 to March 23 it is possible to go whale watching and see the babies with their mothers enjoying this marine sanctuary. This area is the entry and exit point for their migration to our bay.
7th Stage: Marine Geyser. To the north of Isla Larga is the "Blowhole" La Bufadora. Our boat will prepare to receive a great jet of sea water.
7th Stage: Gastronomic Experience - Acapulqueño Shrimp Ceviche: We will prepare, with boiled shrimp, orange juice, oregano, olive oil, avocado, ketchup, tomato, onion and serrano peppers. If any of the guests have any dietary restrictions, we can prepare various options so that they can enjoy something according to their preferences.
9th Stage (optional with a special cost of 30 usd per person): Enjoy a Surf class on the best beach with friendly waves, famous for its small long waves, ideal for learning and catching your wave for the first time.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- On some occasions it may be possible that the start of the Tour must take approximately 1 hour, this is because the tide level may be high, so in order to swim through the tunnel it is better to wait for the tide to go out. We will always notify you 1 or 2 days before your trip.
- The activity is suitable for children over 10 years old and Adults under 65 years old.
Reviews(80)
Our trip to Hidden Beach and the Marietas Islands with Oceanus was absolutely fantastic and one of the highlights of our holiday. From the moment we boarded, the crew were friendly, professional, and made everyone feel welcome. The boat was comfortable, well-organised, and the atmosphere was fun throughout the journey. The visit to Hidden Beach was truly unforgettable. Seeing this incredible natural wonder in person was breathtaking, and swimming through to the secluded beach was an amazing experience. The beauty of the Marietas Islands and the surrounding crystal-clear waters was simply stunning. The guides were knowledgeable and safety-conscious while also ensuring everyone had a great time. We appreciated the information they shared about the islands, marine life, and conservation efforts in the area. We finished off on our return to the port with a lovely shrimp dish cooked by one of the guides, Eduardo, sitting on the beautiful beach drinking a cold beer. Everything was exceptionally well organised, from check-in to the return trip. The entire experience exceeded our expectations, and it was clear that Oceanus takes great pride in providing a first-class excursion. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Puerto Vallarta. If you’re looking for spectacular scenery, adventure, excellent service, and memories that will last a lifetime, this trip is a must-do.
This was everything we could have hoped for, very friendly crew on a small private boat and the Hidden Beach did not disappoint. The e swim in is interesting and not for the faint hearted, you need to be a strong swimmer, but so worth it when you get there. We also had the shrimp lunch which was divine.
This tour was so worth it. We got to see hidden beach all to ourselves as no one else had arrived yet. Eduardo was a great host on the boat and made the experience super fun while teaching us about the nature and history of the area. Our tour coordinator Eduardo (other Eduardo). Took into account our food preferences for lunch and even helped us with arrangements for transportation back to Puerto Vallarta after the tour. Truly above and beyond service and experience!!
There was a cartel uprising in Puerto Vallarta and as the boat captain had family there, the excursion was terminated early. Completed 2 of 7 activities. No communication from Viator
My husband & I (both of us in our 60's) did this excursion on January 8, 2026 and really enjoyed the experience. Our experience was such that we were on a very small boat with only one other tourist, the Captain, and his assistant, making it very personal and intimate which we liked. If you want to gain access to the hidden beaches, and enjoy the snorkelling part of the trip - one needs to be agile enough to hop off the boat into the water, swim a significant distance (about 80 metres there and back). Thankfully we are fit enough to do this and enjoyed this active part of the trip. One of our main interests on going on the trip was to see the Blue-Footed Booby birds which we were able to do. Unfortunately, one is not allowed to explore the islands on foot - so we had to settle for seeing them on the cliffs from the boat. Eduardo - the Coordinator for our trip was very attentive and communicative - quickly responding to all of my questions for the trip and arranged for us to have a delicious lunch at a local cafe in Punt de Mita following our trip. The young man who was our guide on board and in the water - was very attentive to us. I have to say I was surprised, that there was no safety protocol when we boarded the boat - for example - not shown where the life jackets were. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable adventure!!
My friends and I booked this excursion for a bachelorette trip and had so much fun! Our guide was extremely kind, patient and knowledgable. One of my friends was hesitant to swim to shore and Daniel strapped her to him and safely brought her to the island. He also took the best pictures of us in the limited time we were allowed on the hidden beach. After swimming to the 2nd beach, another friend got her hair tangled on a necklace and Daniel spent so much time and effort to get it untangled. We felt so cared for and safe under his guidance. The ceviche lunch onshore at the end was also delicious. Eduardo also made sure to have gluten free tortilla chips and beer for one of my friends. We also were able to see some dolphins and a whale!
My husband and I had a wonderful time and definitely recommend booking with Oceanus. Eduardo is an awesome guy and coordinated everything seamlessly. Our boat Capt and guide were so friendly, fun, and loved seeing all the whales, wildlife, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors just as much as us. Super special experience to visit the hidden beach then also be RIGHT next to the majestic humpback whales!
Fantastic trip. Eduardo was very responsive to questions prior to the trip. Hidden beach, whales, and snorkeling was great! The small group (4 for our trip made it very special and was well worth it). The Ceviche at the end slapped! 10/10.
The detailed description was excellent. and the tour guides themselves were amazing. We were able to see several pods of whales, nursing calves, and their activity. It was an overall delightful experience and I would recommend it to others.
Had a great morning with Lalo and Daniel! The tour was about 3 hours long and was 3 hours of fun! Hidden beach is just a cool experience like no other. It’s not to be missed! All fees to the islands are included with your tour costs. Our Captain Lalo and first mate/guide Daniel did a great job showing us all the sights around the islands as well as information about the sights. Lalo also found multiple pods of whales to watch including a mating pod and a mother and baby whale. He was an excellent, safe captain! It was amazing how close he was able to get to the blowhole without putting us at risk! Daniel showed us all the nooks and crannies around the islands. He was very helpful with my wife who is not a strong swimmer. He was also a great photographer and knew all of the best spots for pictures. The snorkeling was just awesome even though they told us that it wasn’t the best spot due to the conditions. We saw so many schools of different fish and a variety of different fish as well as a stingray. The boat is not a luxury boat but feels very safe and fits a small group of people. We only had 8 people in our group. We also got to meet Eduardo, the owner who provided a great lunch and information on the beach after the tour. Great customer service from Eduardo! We would certainly take this tour again! You can’t go wrong with Oceanus Lifetime!
