Puerto Vallarta - Islas Marietas

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.  Let's continue the recap of the Mexico girls trip.  If you'd like to catch up, you can read about it here, here, here and here.  Our third and final excursion of the trip was the Marietas Eco Discovery Tour with Vallarta Adventures.  Some of the girls had to leave Mexico early and head back home, so we were down to 5 for the trip.  Once again, we boarded a boat and headed out to sea. 

The tour guides on this trip were a little less boisterous...

Which allowed us to sit back, relax and enjoy the boat ride.

The weather was gorgeous this day.  Bright blue clear skies and lots of sunshine.

The Marietas Islands are perhaps the premier snorkeling destination in Puerto Vallarta. A protected wildlife sanctuary and marine preserve made famous by the famed Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, the waters or the Marietas Islands are home to a dazzling array of sea life.

On the ride out to the islands, giant manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales (in season) are common sightings. The islands are also home to rare species of birds, such as the Blue Footed Booby - only found two places on earth - the Galapagos Islands and at the Marietas.

Boobies!

The snorkeling tour took us to the Marietas Islands marine preserve for a few hours of snorkeling and beach time.  The water was clear and the snorkeling was quite good.

I think I scared Iris half to death chasing after this sting ray.  She didn't know if she was supposed to be going towards it or swimming away from it.

After we finished snorkeling, we got back on the boat for lunch and then we hopped on another small boat and headed over to the beach to relax in the sun for the rest of the afternoon.

The beach was absolutely gorgeous. 

Clear turquoise water and white sand, surrounded by rock bluffs.

And before we knew it, it was time to go. 

Back on the boat and heading home.

Not a bad way to spend a day.