Tres Marietas Islands Wildlife Preserve

Bring your camera — we will provide lunch and the snorkling gear for our day trip to the Marietas Islands. We leave Yelapa in the morning and travel by boat northwest across Banderas Bay to the wildlife preserve.

These islands are a sanctuary for seabirds, turtles, dolphins, and scores of tropical fish that live among the coral reefs. The islands are composed of rocky terrain which make it a great location to explore the numerous caves and isolated beaches for nature's abundance.

Banderas Bay is the seventh largest bay on Earth and it was formed when an ancient volcano exploded and the caldera was flooded. Mountains form a circular outline that rings the bay on three sides. The fourth side of the mountain circle is underwater. This mountain range breaks the surface of the ocean at the Marietas Islands. A volcanic reef connects the islands to the mainland, all but closing off the bay from the Pacific.

Two deep water channels connect the Pacific Ocean to the bay and both of these are patrolled by dolphins who do not allow sharks to enter the bay. Banderas Bay is a calving ground for the dolphins, as well as, Humpback and Wrights whales — and, many other species. Contact us

Workshop Dates:

week one

January 16th - 24th 2008 / space available

week two

January 25th - February 2nd 2008 / space available

There are currently no posts in this category.