Running from the Law: Puerto Vallarta - Islas Marietas

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Puerto Vallarta - Islas Marietas

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.  Let's continue the recap of the Mexico girls trip.  If you'd like to catch up, you can read about it here, here, here and here.  Our third and final excursion of the trip was the Marietas Eco Discovery Tour with Vallarta Adventures.  Some of the girls had to leave Mexico early and head back home, so we were down to 5 for the trip.  Once again, we boarded a boat and headed out to sea. 
The tour guides on this trip were a little less boisterous...
Which allowed us to sit back, relax and enjoy the boat ride.
The weather was gorgeous this day.  Bright blue clear skies and lots of sunshine.
The Marietas Islands are perhaps the premier snorkeling destination in Puerto Vallarta. A protected wildlife sanctuary and marine preserve made famous by the famed Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, the waters or the Marietas Islands are home to a dazzling array of sea life.
On the ride out to the islands, giant manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales (in season) are common sightings. The islands are also home to rare species of birds, such as the Blue Footed Booby - only found two places on earth - the Galapagos Islands and at the Marietas.

Boobies!
The snorkeling tour took us to the Marietas Islands marine preserve for a few hours of snorkeling and beach time.  The water was clear and the snorkeling was quite good.
I think I scared Iris half to death chasing after this sting ray.  She didn't know if she was supposed to be going towards it or swimming away from it.
After we finished snorkeling, we got back on the boat for lunch and then we hopped on another small boat and headed over to the beach to relax in the sun for the rest of the afternoon.
The beach was absolutely gorgeous. 
Clear turquoise water and white sand, surrounded by rock bluffs.

And before we knew it, it was time to go. 
Back on the boat and heading home.
Not a bad way to spend a day.

11 comments:

  1. Wowza! It does look incredibly beautiful there! I want to go now!

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  2. Love the pictures! The pic of the crab is my very fave. :)

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  3. Beach. Beach. Beach. BEACH! I need ocean and salt and sand and sun. NOW.

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  4. Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. I need to go there, pronto. Your photos are lovely, and are making me quite jealous. :) Okay, I need to go look through those photos again so I can forget about the 40 degree weather outside my door!

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  5. I just stumbled upon your blog and love it! Very clever title :)

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  6. I want to take a girls vacation to Mexico! Looks so beautiful and relaxing!

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  7. I just can't get over how beautiful it is!!!

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  8. Looks like fun! Gorgeous pictures!

    BTW, I made that jalapeno popper dip and I got lots of requests for the recipe. And the kicker? I made it for a party where I was the youngest by at least 25 years!! Then I made it for Christmas Eve too but it fell out of the back of the truck when we opened the door and the bowl shattered. Bummer. I will have to make it again for my family! :)

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  9. Loved reading through your posts about the trip. Looks like SUCH fun - I really need to get my girlfriends together and get us on some fancy trip. You may have inspired me!

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  10. Snorkeling ter.rif.fies. me, but good for you guys! And the "boobies" made me giggle out loud. :)

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