Secret Exits & Shortcuts

Secret Exits & Shortcuts

Delfino Isle is vast, and sometimes the quickest way to a Shine Sprite isn't always the most obvious. This section details hidden exits and clever shortcuts that can save you valuable time, especially when revisiting areas for Blue Coins or specific challenges. Mastering these routes can significantly streamline your 100% completion run.

Bianco Hills

• Windmill Shortcut to the Lake: Instead of traversing the entire village, you can reach the lake area much faster.
  1. From the starting point of any Bianco Hills episode, head towards the giant Windmill.
  2. Climb to the very top of the Windmill using the grates and platforms.
  3. Once at the highest point, perform a well-timed dive (A + B) off the edge, aiming for the water below the waterfall that feeds the lake.
  4. If executed correctly, you'll land directly in the lake, bypassing the entire village and the first few platforms. This is particularly useful for episodes like "The Hillside Cave Secret" or when collecting the Blue Coin behind the waterfall.
• Hidden Pipe to the Island: This shortcut provides direct access to the small island with the Red Coin challenge.
  1. In episodes where the water level is normal (not polluted), locate the small, circular pipe partially submerged near the base of the large tree on the main island, opposite the village.
  2. Perform a ground pound (Z + A) on this pipe.
  3. Mario will be warped directly to the small, elevated island in the middle of the lake, saving you the trouble of platforming across the lily pads or using the rope swing.

Ricco Harbor

• Crate Stack Bypass: For episodes requiring you to reach higher platforms, this shortcut avoids a lengthy climb.
  1. Start any Ricco Harbor episode and head towards the large stack of crates near the main ship.
  2. Instead of climbing the crates, look for a small, elevated platform on the side of the harbor wall, accessible via a wall jump or a well-placed hover.
  3. From this platform, you can often reach higher areas with a well-timed dive or by using FLUDD's hover nozzle to cross gaps, bypassing a significant portion of the crate-climbing puzzle. This is especially helpful in "Red Coins on the Water" or "Goopy Inferno."
• Submarine Entrance Warp: This isn't a shortcut to another area, but a quick way to re-enter the submarine challenge if you fall.
  1. During "The Secret of Ricco Tower" or "Red Coins in the Submarine," if you fall from the submarine's interior, you'll land back in the main harbor area.
  2. To quickly re-enter, swim back to the front of the submarine.
  3. Look for a small, glowing green ring near the front hatch. Jumping into this ring will instantly warp you back inside the submarine, saving you the swim and climb to the main entrance.

Gelato Beach

• Dune Skip to the Sand Bird: When tackling the Sand Bird challenge, you can reach the starting platform faster.
  1. In "The Sand Bird is Born," instead of running around the entire beach to the large dune, head directly towards the base of the tallest dune near the starting point.
  2. Utilize FLUDD's hover nozzle and a series of wall jumps against the steep incline of the dune.
  3. With careful maneuvering, you can scale the dune much faster than following the winding path, reaching the platform where the Sand Bird egg rests in significantly less time.

Pinna Park

• Roller Coaster Drop: A risky but fast way to reach the beach area from the park entrance.
  1. From the main entrance of Pinna Park, climb onto the elevated platform where the Roller Coaster track begins.
  2. Position yourself carefully and perform a dive (A + B) off the edge, aiming for the water below the park.
  3. This will land you directly in the ocean surrounding Pinna Park, allowing quick access to the beach or the cannon that leads to the main island, bypassing the entire park interior. Be careful not to hit any obstacles on the way down!