National park · Mexico
Islas Marías
Go only as a booked package: one weekly ferry (Fri–Sun) or a weekly flight from Tepic, from about MXN 8,700 per person with meals and lodging included; no day trips, no independent hiking.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
70 km²27 sq mi
approximate
Established
2019
Best months
Nov–Feb
UNESCO
Biosphere
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
At a glance
- Country
- Mexico
- Area
- 70 km²27 sq mi
- Isla María Madre alone is about 70 km²; the archipelago has nine islands, four of them substantial (check).
- Established
- 2019
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Tepic
Islas Marías is a nine-island archipelago about 100 km off the Nayarit coast, and for most of the 20th century Isla María Madre was a federal penal colony. The prison closed in 2019 and the islands reopened as a visitor destination under navy administration, with Puerto Balleto — the only town — named a Pueblo Mágico. Access is deliberately narrow: one ferry a week, leaving Friday and returning Sunday, sailing two Fridays a month from San Blas and two from Mazatlán, plus a weekly flight from Tepic since 2025. Everything is sold as a package with lodging, meals and guided tours, so the island is not a place you wander; it is a place you are shown. The payoff is a dry tropical island with 38 native land-bird species, endemic subspecies such as the Tres Marías amazon and hummingbird, seabird colonies, nesting turtles and coral that stays healthy because almost nobody comes. The Tres Marías raccoon is endangered, with roughly 250 animals estimated, so treat a sighting as luck rather than a plan.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO Biosphere ReserveIslas Marías Biosphere Reserve.
Size and age
70 km²27 sq mi · national park since 2019
Isla María Madre alone is about 70 km²; the archipelago has nine islands, four of them substantial (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Tepic.
Why go
- A former federal prison island opened to visitors in 2019 — the cell blocks, salt works and officers' quarters are the sight.
- Puerto Balleto is a Pueblo Mágico, and the only town in the archipelago.
- Endemic wildlife: the Tres Marías raccoon, the Tres Marías amazon and the Tres Marías hummingbird live nowhere else.
- Almost no tourist traffic, because access is a single weekly ferry or flight and everything runs as a guided package.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCoolest and dry; under 25 °CCoolest and dry; under 77 °F
- FebDry, mild, calm sea
- MarWarming; still dry
- AprHeat builds; 35 °C possibleHeat builds; 95 °F possible
- MayHottest stretch; start walks early
- JunHeat plus first rain
- JulWettest month; ferry may be cancelled
- AugRain and storm risk
- SepWettest and hurricane season
- OctRain eases; green hills
- NovDry, clear, comfortable
- DecCool and dry; busiest departures
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seabird colonies on all four main islandsAll year · Best from boats and headlands; keep distance. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Sea turtles nestingJun–Nov · Follow guide instructions on the sand. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Tres Marías amazon and hummingbirdNov–Apr · Endemic subspecies; early morning in the town gardens and forest edge. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Tres Marías raccoonAll year · Endangered, roughly 250 animals estimated; sightings are luck, not a plan. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From San Blas
Ferry on two Fridays a month, operated by the Mexican Navy; return Sunday.
About 4–6 h each way (check)
From Mazatlán
Ferry on two Fridays a month; return Sunday.
About 6–8 h each way (check)
From Tepic
Weekly flight to the island airstrip, arranged with the package.
About 1 h (check)
From Nayarit coast plan
Where to base yourself before or after the crossing.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Balleto | The only town: pier, Museo iSma, cafeteria, lodging, Pueblo Mágico streets. | Open to package guests; walk or rent a bike. |
| Laguna del Toro prison area | Former maximum-security blocks and the old salt works at Calera. | Guided tours only. |
| Cristo Rey bluff | Hilltop statue over the harbour, with stairs to the pedestal. | Guided tours from town; no independent hikes. |
| Coast and seabird colonies | Beaches, turtle nesting sand and offshore rocks. | Playa Chapingo is the only swimming beach; other coves by boat with a guide. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package: round-trip ferry, 2 nights, all meals, island tours | MXN 8,662–20,000 (≈ US$500–1,100) | person | 2024 starting rate; 2026 estimate. Room class and ferry seat raise the price (check current rates). |
| Package by air from Tepic | MXN 9,000–20,000 (≈ US$500–1,100) | person | Weekly flight; 2026 estimate, confirm with the operator (check). |
| Bike rental in Puerto Balleto | MXN 100–150 | day | 2026 estimate; cash only. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Package reservation permit or guide
Bag and food rule permit or guide
Guided access to Cristo Rey and outlying sites permit or guide
Park rules
- No outside food
- Food may not be brought to the island; all meals are provided in the cafeteria under the package.
- One bag
- A single carry-on of about 10 kg per person; pack light, there is no porter culture here.
- Guided access
- Cristo Rey and outlying sites are reached only on tours from Puerto Balleto; independent hikes are not permitted.
- Swimming
- Playa Chapingo is the only beach where swimming is allowed; do not enter the water elsewhere.
- Cash
- No ATM and no card payments on the island; bring pesos before boarding in San Blas or Mazatlán.
- Drones
- The island is a biosphere reserve under navy administration; assume drones need permission (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Package rooms in Puerto Balleto
Renovated dorms and former officials' houses, all air-conditioned and minimally equipped; included in the reservation.
Near the park
San Blas
Mainland base before the Friday ferry, with hotels at every level.
Near the park
Mazatlán
Alternative ferry port, with the widest choice of rooms and flights.
Safety
Heat and sun medium
Ferry cancellation in storm season medium
No phone signal low
Medical care low
Accessibility
- Puerto Balleto is flat and walkable, and the pier, museum and cafeteria are step-free or nearly so.
- The Cristo Rey stairs, the lighthouse ridge and the prison tour involve uneven ground and heat; ask the operator what can be adapted.
Visiting lightly
- The archipelago is a biosphere reserve: stay on marked paths and never approach nesting turtles or seabird colonies.
- Keep the no-food rule and carry out everything you bring; the island has limited waste handling.
- Buy crafts from the Nayarit artisans' shop so the town, not only the operator, gains from tourism.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Islas Marías?
There is no separate entrance fee. You buy a package that starts at about MXN 8,662 per person (2024 rate; 2026 estimate) and includes the round-trip ferry, two nights, all meals and island tours. Room class and ferry seat push the price up, and the weekly flight from Tepic is priced separately — confirm current rates with the operator.
What are the best hikes in Islas Marías?
The short ridge walk to the lighthouse above Puerto Balleto, about 10 minutes up, and the guided climb to the Cristo Rey statue with its harbour view. The prison area at Laguna del Toro and the Calera salt flats are visited on tours rather than as free hikes, and walking off the marked routes is not allowed.
When is the best time to visit Islas Marías?
December to March: dry, under 25 °C and calm for the crossing. April to June is the hottest stretch, above 35 °C at times, and July to September is the wettest period with storm risk that can cancel the ferry.
How do you get to Islas Marías?
One ferry a week, leaving Friday and returning Sunday: two Fridays a month from San Blas and two from Mazatlán, run by the Mexican Navy. Since 2025 there is also a weekly flight from Tepic. Both must be booked in advance as part of the package.
Can you visit Islas Marías independently?
No. Access is by reservation only, with a 10 kg bag limit and no outside food, and sites outside Puerto Balleto are reached on guided tours. The island is a biosphere reserve under navy administration.
Is there an ATM or phone signal on the island?
No ATM and no card payments — bring pesos from San Blas or Mazatlán. There is no cell service, and WiFi is slow enough for little more than messages.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go