Puerto Vallarta · LOS ARCOS MARINE PARK TOURS
18 tours
The arches sit twenty minutes south of the Malecón and are the cheapest good water in the bay. Below are the 15 best ways to get out to them: snorkel boats, kayak and paddleboard runs, night trips for the bioluminescence, with prices, timings, and how much of it is actually in the water.
Small-group boat and snorkel tour to Los Arcos from Puerto Vallarta, with five islands, sea caves, bird sanctuaries, and a Mismaloya beach stop.
“It was a great experience. Guide Andres was very welcoming and a wonderful tour guide. I would recommend.”
Kayak or SUP to Los Arcos from Mismaloya for bioluminescent night swims, sunset or dawn glow, free photos, and roundtrip transport.
“We took the morning tour as evenings were booked out . Very good experience except the guys took too way long to explain and we missed out on more time in the dark to see the plankton lights . There were a lot of waiting around for them to take pictures of everyone I strongly suggesting snorkeling in the water before sunrise as you can see your whole body light up while moving around - very cool Overall I’d recommend this tour”
Cruise to Los Arcos at sunset, then swim to see bioluminescent plankton light up the bay from boat and cave.
“Crew was friendly and informative. Safety was a priority. Experience with the bioluminescence was amazing. This is a must do excursion. Water is a little choppy and no bathroom breaks for 2.5hrs so be prepared!”
Snorkel Los Arcos National Marine Park from Puerto Vallarta with a guided boat ride, bird caves, and an easy 3-hour round trip.
“Bruno was excellent. Highly recommend. The 3 hour tour was perfect as it does take up your whole day and you can go in the afternoon.”
Cliff jump options, Los Arcos snorkeling with caves and arches, and a boat-only hidden beach stop from Mismaloya. Includes gear, drinks.
“The tour operators were great. It’s more that the experience itself is just okay. Murky waters with limited fish sightings. LOTS of other boats / tour groups around. The drive there was about 30 mins - so expect 1hr out of the tour to be travel, and another 30-40 mins for organizing people to get to/from the boats. The secret beach is pretty but boring. If you’re looking for crystal clear waters and lots of fish, this isn’t it. But it’s still a fun outing.”
Small-group snorkeling at Los Arcos National Marine Park from Marina Vallarta, with gear, permits, snacks, and dolphin spotting built in.
“Our guide and captain were awesome! We ended up being a private tour and I could tell compared to other groups at the snorkeling site, our guide gave us spacial tour. We swam through the arch and saw so many fish and rays .”
Paddle to Los Arcos caves, then snorkel Mismaloya Marine Park for turtles, manta rays, and lots of fish in a small group.
“Felix was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the trip even more fun with his great sense of humor. I highly recommend this excursion. We saw 5 whales while paddling, lots of dutiful fish snorkeling.”
Sunset boat cruise to Los Arcos, then night snorkeling in glowing water. Drinks, snacks, and local guides from Mismaloya.
“The Bioluminescent Tour in Puerto Vallarta is a truly magical, must-do experience. Seeing the ocean water light up with an ethereal blue glow as you move through it is breathtaking and surreal—like swimming among the stars. What made the trip exceptional was our fantastic guides. They were incredibly friendly and informative, sharing fascinating facts about the science and local environment. Our guide did a great job ensuring everyone had a pleasant experience, managing the group with patience and making sure every person felt comfortable and safe. The professionalism and passion of the guide, combined with the stunning natural phenomenon, make this a perfect 5-star adventure!”
Night kayak in Los Arcos from Mismaloya, with bioluminescent algae in caves, optional swim and snorkel, and snacks plus roundtrip transport.
“This was an amazing tour. Mismaloya is beautiful and the sunset on the ocean, kayaking through caves, seeing the bird sanctuary and glowing plankton and snorkeling were all incredible. Our guides Kevin and Ulysses were friendly and fun while making sure we all felt safe. When we got back they had hot cocoa and snacks made for us. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone in the area!”
Scuba and snorkel in Puerto Vallarta at Los Arcos and Marietas, with patient guidance, wildlife sightings, and an optional hidden beach.
“Divers were very patient with me as I was very nervous and anxious and I couldn’t get my breathing rhythm even. I was all over the place . It was more mental than anything but once I went under , I stayed under and went all the way down. From there I was very comfortable and it was quite the experience and I can’t wait to do it again.”
Private Los Arcos snorkeling and Las Ánimas beach time from Puerto Vallarta. Gear, cooler, boat ride, and reef views.
“Chema and boat pilot (Manuel?) were great. Both were personable and knowledgeable. Enjoyed talking with them. Manuel spotted a turtle on the way back.”
Snorkel Los Arcos, relax at Las Animas, and choose Quimixto waterfall on a $75 boat day with breakfast, onboard open bar, and beach lunch.
“The crew were very nice and funny. The food was gross. The water was in a large bucket and disgusting. People on the boat were putting their hands in it. The bathrooms were dirty and did not flush. The sites were beautiful but we only snorkeled for 20 min. We had extra time on the beach and saw some amazing whales. The trip we paid for was 9:15 to 4. The trip we got was from 10:30 to 7:30!!! The ride back to the marina from the beach took 2 and a half hours. Local people were so drunk, falling down, spilling drinks , drunk. Really disgusting and I would…”
Catamaran snorkel cruise covering Los Arcos, Las Animas and Quimixto with open bar, food, kayaks and paddles in Puerto Vallarta.
“This was not for travelling tourists but more for locals tourists. There was a lack of communication so we weren't sure what we were doing and the staff were not very friendly/helpful when asked. Also, it's not advertised correctly. You only do 1 snorkel place for 1/2 hour then you travel for sometime on the boat to to a beach where you have to pay for your drinks. The worst part was getting from the boat to the beach via outdoor motor boat and then jump from the boat into the waves/onto the beach. Worse try to getting back on it to come back to the boat. Plus it took…”
Los Arcos snorkeling plus safe cliff jumping and a boat-only hidden beach from Puerto Vallarta, with gear and drinks included.
“This snorkeling trip was awesome! My wife and I did the 10 AM excursion and it was more fun than we expected. Alfonso was extremely helpful and made the experience more convenient. Got to see the arches up close and my wife almost made me drowned, just kidding. Highly recommended!”
Private snorkeling to Los Arcos from Puerto Vallarta. Gear, guide, bottled water, and uncrowded bay views on a private boat.
“Our boat crew was wonderful. Lovely handmade margaritas, handmade guacamole. The largest number and variety of sea life I have ever seen snorkeling”
