Former Penal Colony To Become Eco-Friendly Destination In Mexico

The Islas Marías archipelago off the coast of Nayarit, Mexico was formerly a brutal penal colony. However, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is being reimagined as an eco-friendly tourist destination. Three years after it released its last inmates, the destination will soon open to visitors.

About Islas Marías

The Islas Marías archipelago has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here, vibrant coral reefs, rare wildlife and mangrove forests flourish. Among the wildlife are creatures you won’t find anywhere else, like the Tres Marías raccoon and the Tres Marías cottontail rabbit. The nature reserve is ideal for whale shark watching, while it is also a major nesting and feeding site for large colonies of sea birds, sharks and sea turtles.

Mexico’s president López Obrador described the former penal colony by saying, “Hell is becoming a paradise.” Read on to find out the history of this brutal former penal colony in Mexico.

Islas Marías history

While the Islas Marías sound like an idyllic and beautiful place, relatively untouched by human development, the islands have a dark past. Isla María Madre, the largest of the four islands, was often compared to Alcatraz or Robben Island. The brutal penal colony housed men and women and sometimes their families.

It was opened as a penal colony in 1905 to house socialists and striking workers under the regime of Porfirio Díaz. It went on to keep prisoners accused of petty theft or harder crimes.

Meanwhile, it was far away from civilization and a four-house choppy boat journey from the Pacific Coast. The prisoners held here were then left to suffer under brutal conditions.

Speaking of the prison, Mexico’s president López Obrador said it was “famous for its cruelty” and claimed that prisoners’ human rights were violated.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Associated Press last week former inmate, Beatriz Maldonado spoke of the prison. She described the inhumane living conditions that she endured. Moreover, she described it as a “dirt-floored warehouse” where 500 women shared five bathrooms. Maldonado said they lived in a chicken coop.

Islas Marías reimagined as an eco-tourist paradise

The Mexican government closed the penal colony in 2019 and rather than abandoning it, transformed parts of the existing prison. They transformed them into a museum and cultural center named after the writer José Revueltas. It was during the 1930s that the writer was imprisoned here for his involvement in the Communist Party. In fact, he based his novel Walls of Water on his experience in Islas Marías.

Nowadays, a clean, whitewashed church welcomes visitors, while prison buildings have been renovated into comfortable visitor accommodations. Officials chose to do this, rather than disrupting the land by building a new hotel.

“What was a hell is becoming a paradise,” López Obrador said. “In three months, this island will open for visitors, who will have a lot to see, do, explore and enjoy.”

What is on offer in Islas Marías?

As an eco-friendly tourist hub, Islas Marías wants to attract nature-lovers and scuba divers with tours, bird-watching, hikes and arts programs. Even better, López Obrador said the island will be accessible to people of all budgets. He told local media that it shouldn’t be an island just for the elite. “We’re going to seek a balance,” he added.

When does it open and how do you get to Islas Marías?

As long as the hurricane season doesn’t impact the schedule, it is expected that Islas Marías will open to visitors by July 2022. Meanwhile, the Mexican navy will offer tours and will run the express ferry service from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco; San Blas, Nayarit and Mazatlán, Sinaloa.