Marietas Islands

The Marietas Islands were formed during the Cretaceous era by volcanic activity that created ragged formations, ideal places to shelter life.  The Marietas are one of the most important places for marine bird watching in México.  There is a wildlife refuge which is a protected natural zone, and its characteristics make it a unique place.  On our second day at Sayulita, we found a guy and a boat and paid him to take us out to the islands.

It was towards the end of the day, so we didn't have time to actually get out of the boat and explore the islands, but but saw some fabulous sights on the way out and while we cruised around the islands.

Oh, and we got to "fish".

It was an amazing boat ride (about an hour) out to the islands.

Captain Fidel.

He brought his young teenage daughter along with him, but every time I took a picture, she ducked.

Some more beautiful sights.

Now we are at the Marietas.

The islands are home to the blue-footed booby, which I found nearly impossible to photograph in a moving and bouncing boat.  But you can see his/her blue feet here.

We stopped here near a beach and Lydia and Fidel's daughter got out to snorkel.

Some other shots of the islands and surrounding area.

We were told before we left Sayulita that the boat could take us right to the marina in Nuevo Vallarta, saving us the cab ride back to the resort.

Weelllll.....that wasn't quite true.  We were left at Punta Mita which is a $31 cab ride back.
OK, no big deal.
Except ALL of the cabs in Punta Mita arte HUGE (Suburbans, etc.) and the cabbie charge $70 because "we have big cabs".
Sorry, pal - not my problem.
So we took a bus all the way back.
An experience everyone should have once.
But not twice.