Beginning in late January, a new maritime route will connect Puerto Vallarta with the Islas Marías, an archipelago of profound natural and historical significance situated about 70 miles west of the port.
The route, operated by federal tourism company Turística Integral Islas Marías (TURIMAR), will become the third official ferry connection to the islands, joining existing services from Mazatlán and San Blas.
According to a report in Quadratín Jalisco, the new service will offer an all-inclusive three-day, two-night package on Isla María Madre, the main island of the archipelago. The package includes a round-trip ferry ride on vessels with a capacity for 199 passengers; accommodations; meals served buffet-style; and access to amenities such as a beach club, spa, gym and a natural swimming pool. Also offered will be a variety of guided tours, including historical walks, snorkeling, hiking to a lighthouse and a Christ statue, and stargazing sessions with astronomical explanations.
Ferries are scheduled to depart Puerto Vallarta every Friday at 8 a.m., returning on Sundays. The journey to the islands takes around five hours.
TURIMAR has announced an approximate starting cost of 9,000 pesos for the Puerto Vallarta package, Quadratín Jalisco reported. The start of ticket pre-sales for journeys is set to begin in the third week of January.
Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site, the islands are a sanctuary for endemic species like the yellow-headed parrot and the Tres Marías raccoon.
This pristine environment exists alongside a stark historical legacy. For over a century, from 1905 to 2019, the islands functioned as an infamous penal colony. This history is integrated into the tourism experience through visits to the local museum and sites such as the “Muros de Agua” auditorium, named after a novel by former prisoner José Revueltas.