One of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Maya Bay is an example of how some things are better kept a secret. Following the soaring popularity of the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach, Thailand’s Maya Bay became the hottest tourist destination in Southeast Asia. While that was a positive change from an economic perspective, it ended up costing the environment.

The beach has now been banned and is still recuperating from the damage left behind by tourists. Officials hope they can restore it back to the healthy ecosystem that it was. Keep reading to find out 20 secrets about Phi Phi’s Maya Bay that Leo probably doesn’t want you to know!

20 It's Invisible To Passing Ships

One of the most interesting secrets about Maya Bay is that it is invisible to passing ships, according to Go Koh Phi Phi. Nature intended for it to be so exclusive that you can’t even see it from a ship sailing around the Phi Phi Islands. It’s almost like you have to be looking for it to find it!

19 80% Of The Coral Was Damaged By Tourists

Maya Bay was once home to a stunning colorful reef. But thanks to mass tourism and careless humans, 80% of it was damaged. The whole bay boasted one large reef with several species of colorful fish which have since been put in jeopardy as a result of mass tourism.

18 It’s Best To Visit Over The Winter Months

Maya Bay really is a paradise on earth. Travelers are lucky to go there no matter what time of the year it is. But still, some times are better to visit than others. The best time to visit is actually over the winter months, between November and April.

17 You Have To Pay To Go There

Although Maya Bay is no longer the open tourist destination that it used to be, it was never free to enter. Tourists would have to pay an entry fee to get into the National Park, which was 200 Thai baht. But it was worth it!

16 Before The Tourist Ban, Thousands Of People Visited Every Day

Due to the natural outstanding beauty of the bay, thousands of tourists visited it every day. This was also worsened by the bay being featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach, which let the world know about the exclusive location.

15 It Was Only Accessible During The Day

When the bay was open to tourists, it was only accessible during the day. You could take boat trips there, but they only ran in daylight hours. According to Go Koh Phi Phi, there is no accommodation on the island, so most visitors would come for day trips.

14 But It Was Totally Peaceful In The Morning

Even though Maya Bay was ridiculously crowded when it was being visited by seas of tourists, there were times when it was more peaceful. There were far fewer tourists there in the morning, and so this was the ideal time to go if you were looking for peace and quiet.

13 It Is Completely Sheltered On Three Sides

Part of the appeal of Maya Bay is that it’s sheltered on three sides by high cliffs. This gives the feeling of privacy and protection and makes you feel like you’ve landed in your own little oasis. The shelter also added to the bay’s stunning views.

12 Some Of The Beaches Disappear At High Tide

Inside the National Park where Maya is located, there are several little beaches. These are exceptionally small, to the point where they only exist at low tide. When the tide is high, the water completely covers them. Somehow, this just adds to the magical vibe of the location.

Maya Bay was made extremely popular due to Leonardo DiCaprio’s film The Beach being filmed there. Though that movie drove a lot of tourism to the bay, it was still popular before the film was even made. Locals were visiting the area for years before Leo did.

10 There Aren’t Great Toilet Facilities Available

There is an abundance of beauty to be found at Maya Bay, but one thing the bay doesn’t have an abundance of? Restrooms. The downside to the bay is that there are limited toilet facilities available, and those that are available aren’t of the best quality.

9 Sometimes The Seas Can Get Rough

Although Maya Bay is one of the prettiest places in the world, it can look quite different in the months when the seas are rougher. Sometimes, they can get so rough that they hinder access to the bay. This is usually in the middle of the year between May and October.

8 The Filmmakers Removed Some Of The Natural Vegetation

When the filmmakers went to the bay to film The Beach, they ended up removing some of the natural vegetation. They wanted the beach to fit more of a Hollywood stereotype, so they removed some plants and then planted some palm trees. Environmental activists weren’t too happy with this.

7 But Then It Was Replanted

Thankfully, when Fox was finished making the movie, they decided to fix the damage they’d done by replanting the vegetation they had removed. They also implemented additional bamboo fences that were intended to support the sand dunes. But some wonder whether the damage was irreversible.

6 Bonfires Are Not Allowed Here

In order to protect the vegetation and natural landscape, officials declared that bonfires would not be allowed to be lit on the beach. However, there is a permanent barbecue stand on the beach that allows visitors to cook their own food. That’s a good thing, because …

5 There Are Some Food And Drinks Available

There are food and drinks available in Maya Bay, but they are limited. The Thai government didn’t want to turn the destination into a commercial hotspot and so refrained from putting in restaurants and other eateries. There is limited food and drink available, and visitors often had to bring their own.

4 Tourists Used To Love The Water Sports

One of the things that tourists used to love the most about Maya Bay was all the watersports. Snorkeling and diving were the most popular activities thanks to the reef and local sea life, but sea kayaking was also extremely popular amongst the many visitors.

3 They Also Used To Be Allowed To Camp At Night

Before the tourist ban was implemented, tourists were allowed to camp in Maya Bay at night. There are no accommodation facilities there, and tourists were only allowed to enter during the day, but some tourism companies did organize camping on alternate nights. We imagine the beach would have looked stunning in the moonlight!

2 Many Other Beaches In Southeast Asia Have Also Been Damaged

Sadly, Maya Bay is not the only beach in Southeast Asia that has been damaged by tourism. Many other beaches are facing the repercussions of trying to cater to too many tourists. This included Boracay Island in the Philippines, which was closed before being reopened.

1 It Remains Closed Indefinitely

As of November 2019, Maya Bay remains closed indefinitely. According to the Bangkok Post, it may even stay closed until 2012 so that it can be recovered from the damage and devastation left behind by tourists. However, other beaches in the National Park are open.