The Marieta Islands (Spanish: Islas Marietas) are a group of small uninhabited islands a few miles off the coast of the state of Nayarit, Mexico, located in federal waters approximately 7.9 kilometres (4.9 mi) southwest of the peninsula known as Punta de Mita, in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas.

[5] The Marietas Islands were originally formed many thousands of years ago by volcanic activity, and are completely uninhabited.

After a massive international outcry, started by scientist Jacques Cousteau in the late 1960s, the government eventually decided to declare the islands a national park and therefore protected against any fishing, hunting or human activity.

This has led to the inclusion of the national park as a Ramsar site and it was designated as a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve.

[6] Many species of seabirds use the location as feeding and breeding grounds, these include blue-footed boobies as well as the red-billed tropicbirds.

[5] Protection by the government has created an environment conducive to the development of the marine ecosystem, and is a popular location for snorkeling and scuba diving.

From December to March gray and humpback whales can be observed that come from Alaska to give birth off the coast of Nayarit.

However, the rate of erosion is being accelerated by human impact and according to officials, "Excessive tourism could lead to a more rapid destruction of this sanctuary.

When the closure was announced, rumors began to circulate on various social media networks that the islands and the beaches had been sold to foreign corporations.

[17] Another major effort focuses on limiting the damaging human impact on the sanctuary when the islands reopen for the general public and tourists.