The “walls of water” open to the public from December 21, 2022 to give way to a destination dedicated to recreation and contemplation of nature.
The Marías Islands are located off the coast of the state of Nayarit, in the Mexican Pacific. The archipelago is made up of the larger islands of María Madre (the largest), María Magdalena, María Cleofas, and the smaller island of San Juanito.
Juan Manuel Muñoz Gómez, governor of the Marias Islands, discloses the tourist offer that from the Wednesday December 21 and at scheduled times for your visit, you can hire to see what was the most feared prison complex for more than a century and that today opens its doors to tourism.
Do you want to escape to Nayarit? Discover and plan an unforgettable experience here.
ferry ride
The three largest islands will be open to visitors being the largest island María Madre, the main attraction where the tourist complex and the old penitentiary are located.
For the arrival to the islands, various ferry routes will be opened, starting from Mazatlán, San Blas and in November 2023, from Boca de Chila. all towards Puerto Balletoin Mary Mother. In December, the departures will take place from Wednesday to Friday, setting sail from Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
As of January 2023, the trips will be from Friday to Sunday.
What to do in the Islas Marías tourist complex?
Do you want to escape to Nayarit? Discover and plan an unforgettable experience here.
Attractions in the Islas Marías tourist complex
- Visit Laguna del Toro, (former maximum security prison).
- salt mine
- Hiking to the Lighthouse
- viewpoints
- Hiking to the Christ
- Urban and mountain biking
Lodging and food in the Islas Marías tourist complex
The hotel offer includes hostels with double and single villas and has a buffet restaurant on a beautiful terrace. Here we leave you the approximate costs of the trip.
Do you want to escape to Nayarit? Discover and plan an unforgettable experience here.
Tours in the surroundings
- site museum
- Murals in the José Revueltas Auditorium
- calera
- Guadalupe Temple
- Pantheon
- henequenera
Getting to know the Marías Islands
Here we tell you the places of interest in Puerto Balleto.
This population center has a sea port and an air port, owned by the Secretary of the Navy called the Isla María Madre Naval Air Station. The city is located in the eastern part of the island, 128 km from the coast of San Blas, Nayarit.
- Carlos Castillo Breton Aerodrome
- Agroecological farm
- bicycle module
- hostels
- mandela arch
- Handicraft shop
- Balleto accommodation (ex-women’s prison)
- Puerto Balleto Dock
- Palapa-viewpoint
- Center for Environmental and Cultural Education (Muros de Agua, José Revueltas)
- Sea Breeze Restaurant
Biosphere Reserve
Since 2010, UNESCO declared the Marias Islands as a Biosphere Reserve, due to its endemic flora and fauna. The Marías Islands have a total territorial surface of 641,285 hectares, where endemic species of flora and fauna inhabit, such as the yellow-headed parrot, the raccoon and the rabbit. the Marias Islands.
Do you want to escape to Nayarit? Discover and plan an unforgettable experience here.
Learn more about the history of the Islas Marías, here
Fun facts:
- In 1951, it was the location of the Mexican film “Las Islas Marías” with the participation of Pedro Infante and Rocío Sagaón.
- The Cultural Center bears the name “Muros de Agua-José Revueltas”, in honor of the writer who was imprisoned on the islands on two occasions: 1932 and 1934.
- The ferry trip can last from 4 to 5 hours, depending on the sea conditions.
Some characters who were confined in the Islands:
- Concepción Acevedo de la Llata, Mother Conchita, imprisoned from 1929 to 1940, religious accused of being the intellectual author of the murder of Álvaro Obregón.
- José Ortiz Muñoz, alias “El Sapo”, one of the most bloodthirsty assassins who stabbed a Cuban migrant to death
- Pancho Valentino, from 1957 to 1977, professional wrestler who murdered a priest.
- Jorge Hernández, “El Guamas”, the longest-serving inmate on the Islas Marías, who only came out to die.
Forbes
Dahida Gutierrez Communicologist; admirer of the colorful and talkative Mexico that exalts itself with traditions and its people.