On a recent Spring Break trip to Puerto Vallarta, my wife and I decided to go on a snorkeling adventure excursion with Eco Explorers out to the small chain of islands known as the Marietas. We'd heard so many good things about this outfitter (and the experiences out at Marietas) and we were eager to see it for ourselves. We knew we were not 100% guaranteed to get a spot at Hidden Beach (they only allow so many folks in each day), but we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best!
Our guide (Rodrigo) and boat captain (Martin) readied things aboard the smallish vessel and the eight of us climbed aboard and suited up in the required life vests. On our cruise out of the boat dock and through the port, Rodrigo shared some stories about the area, how the bay and islands were formed and what we'd expect to see once there. The waters were fairly choppy, but our boat handled the waves with ease and no one appeared to be seasick the entire trip out and back!
The weather was beautiful, tunes were cranking and we hustled n out to see if we'd get a coveted spot on the Hidden Beach. Arriving at the boat station where the rangers awaited, we were happily informed that we'd made the cut and would be swimming out to the beach! We donned helmets and jumped overboard for the 100 yard swim through the only narrow tunnel available to make your way to this secret paradise! The current made for a challenging swim (both in and out), but once inside the open views and quietness of the area made the efforts well worth it!
With only about 20 minutes to enjoy ourselves there, our guide Rodrigo showed us around the space and then gave us some time to wander on our own. Upon exiting the tunnel back out into open waters, we noticed the many birds nesting just on the cliffs above us...blue-footed boobies! Apparently there are only a few places on the planet where these birds exist and here were tons of them! Exhilarating to have this direct encounter.
We piled back into the boat to tour some of the other nearby islands in the chain, then we stopped at a calmer spot for a snorkeling adventure. Rodrigo was great with all the folks not terribly familiar with the ins-n-outs of snorkeling (my wife and I are pretty seasoned and brought our own gear), but in no time everyone was in the water and exploring the reef for fish and other marine wildlife. Rodrigo swam about with large flippers and a life preserver, making all of us feel safe and comfortable should anything have happened. After our explorations and sea life viewing, we once again piled back into the boat for a light (sandwich) lunch they provided plus clean water for hydration.
Fully satisfied, we headed back to port with fresh tunes blaring and an ever-watchful eye out for dolphins and whales. We did spot a few of each on the way back (as well as a slight diversion for a sea turtle hovering at the surface), but never got super-close.
Both my wife and I were extremely satisfied with the day and for how well we were taken care of. I would not hesitate for a second to both recommend Eco Explorers to others or even take them out again for another excursion in the future.