Sunset and bioluminescence at Los Arcos 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
Four hours from Marina Vallarta to the rock islets of Los Arcos de Mismaloya: the sun goes down from the deck, then the yacht waits in the dark for the plankton that glows when the water moves.
What you do
- Swimming
Highlights
- The sun going down from the deck, with the arches of Los Arcos close by
- A stop in dark water to look for the plankton that glows when it is stirred
- An optional swim after dark, for guests who want to be in the water with it
- Twelve yachts boarding at Marina Vallarta, from Koa, a 33-foot motor yacht for up to 12 guests, to the 92-foot Princess Elyse
About this trip
This is an evening route we designed for the hours most day trips leave out. The yacht leaves Marina Vallarta in the late afternoon and runs south down the shore of Banderas Bay to Los Arcos de Mismaloya, about eight nautical miles away, or close to an hour at a gentle pace. It arrives with daylight to spare, so the sun sets while you are on the water rather than on the way there.
Once the sky has gone dark, the second half of the evening begins. In the bay live tiny plankton that give off a blue-green light when something stirs them: a hand trailed over the side, the wake, a swimmer's kick.
The sunset and the evening on the water are the part of the trip that is sure; whether the sea lights up on your night is the chance you go out for, and the questions below say what it depends on.
Itinerary
After departure: 0:00
Board at Marina Vallarta
Step aboard in the late afternoon and head out of the harbour, south along the city's waterfront.
After departure: 1:00
Sunset at the arches
The yacht settles near the rock islets of Los Arcos and everyone watches the sun go down over the bay from the deck.
After departure: 1:40
Waiting for full dark
The yacht stays at the arches while the last colour leaves the sky and the water turns dark around the rocks.
After departure: 2:10
Looking for the glow
Stir the water at the stern and watch for sparks of blue-green; fish passing under the hull can leave short trails of light. Anyone who wants to can swim in it, following the crew's instructions.
After departure: 3:05
Back across the bay
The run home to the marina under the lights of the city, docking by the end of the fourth hour.
Yachts that run this trip
Questions
Will we definitely see the bioluminescence?
No. It is a living thing in the sea, not a show, and it cannot be guaranteed. Some nights the water lights up at every movement; others it is weak or missing. The trip is planned so that the evening is worth it either way.
When is it brightest?
Brightness changes with the season, the condition of the water and the phase of the moon. Nights around the new moon are usually the best for it, so if your dates are flexible, pick a night with little moon.
Do we have to get in the water?
Not at all. You can see the glow from the stern by moving the water with your hand. Swimming is for those who want it; tell the crew how confident you are in the water, and wear the life jacket they give you.
Can I photograph it?
Mostly not well. The light is faint for a phone, and what looks bright to your eyes usually comes out as a dark frame. Plan to watch it and take your photographs at sunset instead.
What time do we leave?
In the late afternoon, about an hour before sunset, so the boat reaches the arches with light left. Sunset moves through the year, so the boarding time is set for your date when you book.
How is the trip priced?
By the yacht, not by the seat. Each yacht's own four-hour charter price covers the whole boat and its crew for your party alone, and you will find it on that yacht's page.
$1,110+ Tax
4 hours · 2 guests