Los Arcos snorkeling tour from Puerto Vallarta
- From Departs from Puerto Vallarta
- 4 hours
- up to 50 guests
- All year
Photos: The Cosmonaut, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Andrew Milligan sumo, CC BY 2.0 · DarkNight0917, CC BY-SA 4.0 · TerryDOtt, CC BY 2.0 · Terry Lucas, CC BY 3.0
A four-hour yacht trip from Marina Vallarta down the south shore of Banderas Bay: snorkel around the rock islets of Los Arcos de Mismaloya, then swim off Las Ánimas beach before the run home.
What you do
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Paddleboarding
Highlights
- Snorkel around the rock islets and arches of Los Arcos, a protected marine area
- King angelfish, pufferfish, parrotfish and cornetfish along the rock
- A second swim stop off Las Ánimas beach on the south shore
- The whole yacht and its crew for your group
About this trip
Los Arcos de Mismaloya is a group of rock islets off the south shore of Banderas Bay, set aside as a protected marine area. Arches run through the larger rocks, and the water around them holds king angelfish, pufferfish, parrotfish and cornetfish, with rays and the odd sea turtle on a lucky day.
From Marina Vallarta the yacht runs south past the city to the islets, then on to Las Ánimas, a sandy beach reached by boat, for a second swim before the run back across the bay.
The price is for the whole yacht with its crew. What is on board (snorkel gear, paddleboards, drinks, food) differs from yacht to yacht.
Itinerary
After departure: 0:00
Board at Marina Vallarta
Meet your crew at the dock and hear the safety briefing. The yacht leaves the marina and heads south past the city, about 8 nautical miles to Los Arcos.
After departure: 0:45
Snorkel at Los Arcos de Mismaloya
About an hour and ten minutes around the rock islets: snorkel along the rock, float, or stay on deck in the shade.
After departure: 2:15
Swim stop at Las Ánimas
A run of under 4 nautical miles further south. The yacht anchors off the beach for about 45 minutes of swimming or paddling; if the sea is up, the captain picks a calmer spot nearby.
After departure: 3:00
Return to Marina Vallarta
About 11 nautical miles back across the bay, a little under an hour.
Yachts that run this trip
Questions
Is the snorkeling at Los Arcos suitable for beginners and children?
One Puerto Vallarta dive shop names a spot at Los Arcos as right for first-time divers and calls the snorkeling there a must. Conditions change with the swell, so the captain chooses where you enter the water. Children and anyone unsure in the water should wear a life jacket; check that the yacht you choose carries them in the right sizes.
Is snorkel gear included?
On most of these yachts, but not every one. Each yacht's page lists what it carries.
Can we go ashore at Las Ánimas for lunch?
The stop is planned as a swim at anchor. Las Ánimas has restaurants on the sand, but going ashore for a meal does not fit easily in four hours; a longer charter on the same yacht leaves room for it.
Is there a park fee at Los Arcos?
No official fee for snorkeling at Los Arcos was found, and some operators include port taxes in their price. We'll confirm any fee that applies to your yacht in the quote.
Which marina do we leave from?
This trip boards at Marina Vallarta. Some of the yachts listed here are based at Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and come round to pick you up at Marina Vallarta; where a yacht charges for that, its page shows the charge and our quote includes it.
What should we bring?
Swimwear, a hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel if your yacht does not list them, and any medication you need.
How do I book, and what if I have to cancel?
A 50% deposit confirms your date and the balance is due 7 days before the trip. If we cannot run the trip because of weather or a mechanical problem, you get a full refund or a new date. Otherwise the deposit is not refundable, but it can be moved to another date within 6 months on the same yacht. Terms vary by yacht and we confirm them in writing before you pay.
Is the crew's tip included?
No. Tipping the crew is customary and in Mexico it usually runs 10% to 15% of the charter price, at your discretion. Mexican sales tax and marina or dock fees are also outside the price on some yachts; the quote we send lists them.
$1,200+ Tax
4 hours · 2 guests