The state of Nayarit has announced that beginning in October, Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft will be operating a 13-passenger commercial air route from the Riviera Nayarit Airport to the Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve. This is a big step in increasing accessibility to the remote islands.
Islas Marias is a small archipelago 58 miles off the coast of the Riviera Nayarit. The island chain has been mostly uninhabited, except for Isla Maria Madre, which until 2019 housed a prison. In 2010, the islands were designated as a Unesco biosphere reserve. Today, it's a prime spot for whale shark-watching and a breeding ground for seabirds, sharks and turtles.
Departures from Tepic to the islands will be from Wednesday to Sunday at 8 a.m. The trip takes 45 minutes, landing in Puerto Balleto on Isla Maria Madre. The cost of the trip will be about $420 per person and includes lodging on the island, as well as meals and tours.