http://www.odditycentral.com/travel/playa-del-amor-the-hidden-beach-of-marieta-islands.html#more-33942

Playa del Amor – The Hidden Beach of Marieta Islands
By Spooky on May 3rd, 2013 Category: Travel

If it weren’t for the sound of the waves gently washing 
up on its fine sand beach, people would probably walk 
right past Playa del Amor without even knowing it was 
there. Located several meters inland on one of the 
Marieta Islands, the Hidden Beach is one of those 
unique natural wonders you definitely don’t want to miss.

The Marieta Islands archipelago, located off the 
coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico are believed to 
have formed centuries ago due to volcanic activity 
in the area. During the early 1900s, the Mexican 
Government took advantage of the fact they were 
completely uninhabited and used the islands to 
conduct military tests. After years of research 
and efforts to legally protect the archipelago, 
scientists led by the famous Jacques Cousteau 
managed to convince Mexican authorities to declare 
the Marietas a national park protected against 
fishing, hunting and any other harmful human 
activities. To this day, the islands remain 
uninhabited and only authorized boat service 
providers can take tourists to see their natural 
wonders up-close. Although the large explosions 
and bombings carried out for decades have greatly 
damaged the flora and fauna of this tropical 
paradise, some say they’re also responsible for 
the creation of one of its most amazing attractions – 
Playa del Amor, also known as the Hidden Beach of Mexico.

This magical place is only accessible through an 
eighty-foot tunnel linking it to the Pacific Ocean. 
Visitors have to swim their way through to this 
secluded paradise, but since there’s about six 
eet of space between the water and the rocky overhang, 
there’s no need for scuba gear or even them holding 
their breath. Playa del Amor is such an incredibly 
beautiful place that when the first photos of it 
were posted online, most people didn’t even believe 
such a place exists in real life. But just like the 
equally stunning Playa de Gulpiyuri, in Spain, the 
Hidden Beach is indeed a very real wonder of Mother 
Nature. If you’re still not convinced, I’ve posted 
some videos shot on location, as proof.

Hidden-Beach4

Photo: Modagaja
 Photo: Awonders
Photo: Vallarta Online
 Photo: In a Resort
Photo: Puerto Vallarta Day Tours


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http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hidden-beach-2

Mexico

Hidden Beach

Lover's beach, tucked away under the surface, provides 
a safe haven for romance

national park, hidden, secret, beaches, watery wonders, 
natural wonders 

A gaping hole in the surface of the lush green island 
exposes a secret beach, with ample shade, sun, and 
crystal-clear water.

The Marieta Islands are an archipelago, a chain of 
islands that exist as a result of volcanic eruption.
 The islands themselves are natural wonders, but it was 
 something else that caused the burrowed beach to be 
 shown the light.

Playa Del Amor, more commonly known as the Hidden Beach, 
is a structure of one of the Marieta Islands, located 
west of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the mouth of 
Banderas Bay. It is rumored that the hole revealing 
the Hidden Beach was a result of deliberate bombings. 
The Marieta Islands have always been completely 
uninhabited, leaving them vulnerable to be used by 
the Mexican Government. In the early 1900s, the 
government began using the islands as military 
testing sites. Test bombs are the known cause for 
many caves and rock formations on the island, possibly 
including the Hidden Beach.

In the 1960s, scientist Jacques Cousteau led a protest 
against harmful human activity on the islands. In 2005, 
the islands were finally named a national park, Parque 
Nacional Islas Marietas, making swimming, kayaking, and 
sunbathing the only legal human activity. Extensive 
military testing damaged flora and fauna on the island 
for decades, but many years of peace have replenished 
the islands' pristine waters and marine life.

The Hidden Beach is invisible from the outside, and 
is only accessible through a long water tunnel that 
links the beach to the Pacific Ocean. There is approximately 
six feet of space above water level, so visitors can arrive 
at the beach by swimming or kayaking. The islands are still 
uninhabited, but are frequently visited by tourists who come 
to enjoy the diverse marine wildlife and the unique tropical 
Eden of Playa Del Amor.

Edited by: michellecorona79, Martin, SiriJR, Allison (Admin), 
rustyDFW, EricGrundhauser (Editor), BRossow, williamdauphin, 
svonpohl, michelleferlito (Editor), Rachel (Admin), Dylan (Admin) 

======================
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/10/hidden-beach-mexico-secluded-beaches_n_3403184.html
 
 It's not often in this world that a beach is truly "hidden" 
 from the general public, certainly not a beach that's 
 roughly 22 nautical miles from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 

And yet Hidden Beach (aka Playa del Amor) has become 
something of an Internet sensation for its under-the-radar status. 
The beach on the Marieta Islands (the Galapagos of Mexico, 
according to some) is only accessible by swimming through 
a forty to fifty foot tunnel (with only about six feet of space 
above water to rock). The islands were reportedly formed by 
volcanic activities centuries ago, and was in the early 20th 
century, used by the Mexican government to conduct military tests. 
After an uproar by scientists--not to mentionJacques 
Cousteau--the Government deemed the islands a natural park. 
The islands are also a UNESCO site due to their abundance 
of fish and bird species. 

If you don't just want to sit and marvel at the fact that you 
may be all alone on a beach, you can also do some kayaking 
and snorkeling with Vallarta Adventures, among other outfitters. 

 Hidden Beach got you thinking about heading off to more 
 secluded beaches around the world? Check out some of our favorite below. 

 Hidden Beach, Puerto Vallarta


Located on the remote Marieta Islands off Puerto Vallarta,
 this beach was once a military practice site used by the Mexican 
 government in the early 1900s. 

Now, ecological tours that offer snorkeling and kayaking are 
the name of the game on "Hidden Beach."

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