Marieta Islands, Volcanic island group in Nayarit, Mexico.
The Marieta Islands are a volcanic island group off the coast of Nayarit, Mexico, about eight kilometers from Punta de Mita. The two main landforms, Isla Larga and Isla Redonda, consist of jagged rock with caves, arches and a circular opening that leads to an interior beach.
In the early 20th century, military forces used the uninhabited islands as targets for bombing practice. French marine explorer Jacques Cousteau's campaign in the 1960s led to the area being placed under protection.
The name Playa del Amor refers to the hidden beach tourists can reach through a natural tunnel. The natural rock formations create nesting sites where visitors can watch bird colonies incubating and raising their young.
Access to the area requires a permit available only through licensed tour operators. Authorities limit daily visitors to roughly 116 people at the hidden beach to preserve the protected ecosystem.
The circular opening above Playa del Amor probably formed through military explosions in the first half of the 20th century. Visitors swim through the tunnel at high tide when water levels are sufficient to allow passage.
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