Buzz
Playa del Amor, also known as the 'Beach of Love,' is a secluded gem nestled within the Marieta Islands in Mexico. Hidden inside a sinkhole cave, this enchanting spot is accessible only by swimming or kayaking through a narrow water tunnel. While it appears to be a natural wonder, the cave surrounding the beach may have been shaped by human actions in the past century.
As reported by Atlas Obscura, the uninhabited Marieta Islands near Riviera Nayarit were used by Mexico for bomb testing in the early 1900s. These controlled detonations altered the terrain, forming caves, craters, and likely the sinkhole that now shelters Playa del Amor.
Christian Frausto Bernal, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0For decades, the practice persisted until the 1960s, when scientist Jacques Cousteau spearheaded a movement to protect the island chain's natural environment. In reaction to the outcry, the Mexican government designated the Marieta Islands as a national park. Subsequently, the area was recognized as a UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve.
Today, Parque Nacional Islas Marietas is a protected zone, though tourists can visit on a restricted basis. Upon navigating through the single narrow entrance, visitors can bask under the circular opening to the sky and enjoy the pristine waters. Conservation efforts have also made the beach a thriving habitat for wildlife that has returned to the region.
