The Marietas with kids

Can children go to the Marietas Islands?

Yes. Children can visit the islands, snorkel and land on Playa La Nopalera. Only the Hidden Beach swim has a minimum age, usually 10.

The park itself has no age limit. The CONANP rules apply to everyone: life jacket in the water, no littering, no touching wildlife, eco-friendly sunscreen only. Children under 12 are exempt from the 125 MXN park fee, so families save a little there.

The limits come from operators and from the Hidden Beach itself. The swim through the tunnel asks for confident swimming in open water, and the guides will not take a child who is not ready, even at 10 or 11. If you are not sure about your 10-year-old, they probably are not ready yet.

What are the age limits on each Marietas tour?

The Hidden Beach tours set 10 as the minimum. The Playa La Nopalera day and the private safari list no minimum age. Los Arcos takes ages 8 and up.

Here is what each tour page says about ages and access:

If a tour lists no minimum age, still message the operator with your children's ages before booking. Small boats have limited space for car seats or strollers, and the Punta de Mita safari asks guests not to bring strollers at all.

What can kids under 10 do at the Marietas?

Snorkel in a life jacket, kayak or paddleboard with a parent, land on Playa La Nopalera, and spot boobies, dolphins and, in winter, whales.

Playa La Nopalera is the family beach of the park: open, with no tunnel, and with calm shallow water on most days. The snorkel and kayak boat day lands there and adds waterslides, kayaks and paddleboards, plus breakfast and a fajita lunch. The open bar is for the adults, but the slides are what the kids remember.

Birds make the boat part fun. The islands hold the biggest brown booby colony in Mexico, and the blue-footed boobies, with their bright feet, are easy to point out from the boat. Ask the captain to slow down by the rocks.

Under-10s miss the crater, but they do not miss much of the day. The adults who swim in get 15 to 20 minutes on the sand; the families at Playa La Nopalera get a lot longer.

Waterslides, kayaks and a landing on Playa La Nopalera. No tunnel, so younger kids can join the whole day.

★ 4.8 · 6 hours · from $119

Explore the snorkel and kayak boat day → Tour details

Is a private boat better for families?

Often. The private safari from Punta de Mita takes up to six people for $368, crosses in about 15 minutes and goes at your pace.

The private snorkeling safari gives you the boat, a bilingual local guide, snorkel gear, drinks and a stop at Playa La Nopalera in three hours, with port and park taxes included. It is listed as wheelchair accessible. With six people, the price works out at about $61 each, which is less than a seat on either shared Hidden Beach tour.

A private boat also solves the small problems: a toddler who needs to stop, a teenager who wants another snorkel, a grandparent who would rather stay on board. The Hidden Beach is an extra on this trip, not included. If your older children want the crater, ask the operator about a permit before you book.

Do kids wear life jackets at the Marietas?

Yes. Everyone wears a life jacket in the water at the Marietas, whatever their age or swimming ability. It is a park rule.

CONANP makes the vest mandatory for all water activities in the park, and guides enforce it. For kids this is a help, not a nuisance: they float on the surface with their face in the water and never have to tread water. The tours on this site include life jackets.

Ask for a child size when you board, and check the fit: it should not ride up over the chin when you lift the shoulders. If your child is very small, bring your own approved vest. On the Hidden Beach swim, older kids also wear a helmet for the tunnel roof.

How do you avoid seasickness on a Marietas boat?

Choose the shortest crossing, from Punta de Mita, go in the morning, sit low in the middle of the boat and keep eyes on the horizon.

The crossing from Puerto Vallarta takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours each way; from Punta de Mita it is 15 to 20 minutes. For a child who gets sick in the car, that is the whole decision. The departure guide compares the piers.

• Book a morning tour. The sea is usually calmer before the wind builds.
• Give a light breakfast, not an empty stomach and not a big one.
• Sit near the middle and towards the back, out in the fresh air, looking at the horizon.
• Ask a pharmacist or your doctor about motion-sickness medicine for children before the day.
• Skip the Hidden Beach tour from Nuevo Vallarta if anyone is prone to seasickness: the listing says it is not suitable.

Is Los Arcos a better trip for small children?

For under-10s, often yes. Los Arcos is close to Puerto Vallarta, takes ages 8 and up, and lasts 3.5 hours, with calmer water and a short ride.

Los Arcos are granite islands in a protected marine area off Mismaloya, south of town. The Los Arcos five islands tour includes a guide, the boat, snorkel gear, a life vest, food and drinks. You meet on the sidewalk in front of the OXXO by the white and green Mismaloya buses, not at the tour shop next to the bus stop.

It is not the Marietas, and there is no crater. What it offers is a short, cheap morning on the water that young kids can finish before they are tired. Many families do Los Arcos first and the Marietas a few days later, once everyone has their sea legs.

A 3.5-hour snorkel among the granite arches south of Puerto Vallarta. Ages 8 and up.

★ 4.7 · 3.5 hours · from $48

Explore the Los Arcos snorkel tour → Tour details

What should families pack for a Marietas tour?

Rash guards and hats instead of sunscreen, towels, a dry change of clothes, a light layer for the ride back, snacks, water and cash.

• Sun cover: long-sleeved rash guards for everyone, hats and sunglasses. Many guides ban sunscreen at the islands, so dress the kids for sun before you leave.
• Warm layer: a hoodie for the ride back; wet kids get cold on a fast boat, even in summer.
• Food: snacks and water, even when breakfast is included. The safari lists drinks but no meal.
• Cash: for the photographer, tips and any fees collected on the day.
• Leave at home: strollers, drones, single-use plastics and shoes for the water.

For the money side, see the park fee and bracelet post. For timing, the best time to visit explains why a winter morning is easiest with children.

Frequently asked questions