Nope. It’s no longer a prison colony, but tentatively starting in April 2022, ships of the Mexican Navy will transport hiking tourist to the Islas Marías Biosphere Reserve, according to The Mazatlan Post newspaper.
Departing from the ports of Mazatlán and San Blas, three ships of the Mexican Armada will transport a number of visitors out to Isla Madre Maria, the largest island in the archipelago, for restricted 1-day hiking excursions and return them to port the same evening. The excursions will be scheduled only once per week.
Currently, the old prison is being remodeled to give life to the Center for Environmental and Cultural Education “Muros de Agua – José Revueltas.” The idea is to launch new ways of visiting Las Islas Marías based on sustainable tourism that promotes the protection of resources and ecosystems, said Estrella Palacios Domínguez, the Undersecretary of Tourism Promotion and Operation of the Government of Sinaloa.
Palacios Domínguez added that on the recommendation of SEMARNAT, the governments of Sinaloa and Nayarit must provide information to hikers about the activities carried out to take care of the territory and protect the flora and fauna of the Mother Island.
