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 News from Around Banderas Bay | September 2007 
Day Trippin' at the Marietas Islands
 Owen Neill - PVNN
You wake up in the morning a little uncertain of your surroundings. A memory of the night before flashes through your mind... dancing, walking on the beach, one too many margaritas while clubbing at many of the fine Malecón bars before ending up dancing the night away at a fantastic blues spot in Old Town.
The slight pounding in your head is telling you that yes, it was one of those fabulous Mexican nights, and yes, your holiday is off to a rousing start.
We had booked into one of our favorite private rentals, a larger condo suite three blocks up Aldama. Right in the mix of downtown and offering a commanding view of the bay, this was to be our home base for the next two weeks. A nice deck with the morning breeze and a cinnamon coffee was all I needed to settle in.
The first day, we always like to get out on the water. This time we decided to take a day trip to the Marietta Islands and since they lie just outside the bay on the northern side, a panga with a sun canopy would be more than sufficient for our small party.
There are many locations to rent a boat around the bay, but this time we decided to set off from the Marina in Nuevo Vallarta. This would allow us more snorkeling time at our planned destination for the day - Las Islas Marietas.
We found a well-equipped, full-sized panga with a sun shade. The captain, a middle aged local man who had spent most of his life in the bay, promised a day to remember and a few surprises along the way. We set out about nine o'clock in the morning.
The boat was very comfortable. There was room to move around and cushioned seating from stem to stern. The sun shade covered a good portion of the boat, which was a good thing because it was a hot day out on the water.
I sat under the shade with a cold Pacifico perched between my legs and enjoyed the amazing view for most of the hour-long ride out. (Really starting to relax now...)
As we passed the end of the bay, we could see sunbathers enjoying the beach at Punta de Mita. Tomorrow, we plan to take the bus up from town and spend the day there, but now my thoughts are on what great creatures I might see this day.
As we approached our dive spot, I started to suit up. I have learned from past experience to bring my own snorkeling gear, as being the large gringo type, I can be a tough fit, Our captain explained where it was safe to snorkel on the back side of the island, then anchored the boat.
He also pointed out where to enter the rocks to a erosion cave. The opening is large with a 20 foot ceiling and continues into the rock for about 300 feet to a beach located in the middle of the rock. The length of the beach is a mere 200 feet with the rock ring surrounding it as high as 60 feet. One can only imagine how many years nature had taken to create such a sight.
There are a few other caves to explore, but you can take a trail to the top of the rock, dive off and land in the water right at the opening to the erosion cave. So, to impress our captain, I pulled a cannon ball off the top of the rock top. Apparently it worked because I heard his laughter as I re-emerged from the water.
Sheltered from the open ocean, the Marietas Islands are a marine life haven. The ocean is deep here and the mix of sea life is abundant. Here you can see Giant Manta Ray 10 to 15 feet long, whale, dolphin, and assorted colorful schools of fish. Remember to bring your underwater camera, the water is clear here so you are sure to get some sensational shots.
If you want to attract even more fish here is a little tip - peanut butter. Say what? That's right, Peanut Butter. The oils drive them crazy and draw them in from a good distance. Try it. I bring along the small condiment packages and they fit well in a side pocket.
We spent several hours in and around the largest of the three islands. After a fine lunch that included some homemade ceviche made by the captain's mom, (God Bless Moms), we took the long way back - heading straight across the open bay to Los Arcos.
We had lots of time left in our day, so a comfortable pace was set by the captain, who, of course, kept a keen eye out for any whales or dolphins. The afternoon was hot and the ocean still, so when we arrived to the dive area a swim was all we needed to cool off.
The water clarity in this area is not as good as it was at our previous dive site, but we were plenty content with our earlier dive, so we set off slowly across Banderas Bay. From this vantage point, we had a real good look at Puerto Vallarta and the chance to take some great panoramic pictures.
The boat trip ended as it had begun - at the Nuevo Vallarta Marina pier. The captain, happy with his tip, was off for a family BBQ in town and offered us a ride to the Malecón. Wow - what service!
Our day, filled with the sights and sounds of the Bay of Banderas, was certainly one to remember. We left with smiles on our faces and a camera full of shots to show our friends back home, in hopes to get more of them to visit this amazing area called Puerto Vallarta.
 Born in Castleblainey Ireland, Owen Neill is a Canadian businessman who lives in Edmonton Alberta with his wife Jacqueline and their five children. A frequent PV visitor with aspirations of moving to the Puerto Vallarta area soon, Owen loves to share his adventures with his family, friends and fans. Covering everything from the day trips he's taken to hidden destinations in the Banderas Bay area to the driving tours he's enjoyed, Owen's articles will give you a glimpse at a side of Puerto Vallarta that is often overlooked by the average sun-seeking tourist. |
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