Los Arcos
The granite arches off Mismaloya: the closest good snorkelling to town, and how to reach it by tour, panga or kayak.
Los Arcos are a cluster of granite islets off Mismaloya, about 12 km south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. They're hollowed out by sea arches and drop into deep water, and they've been protected since 1975. That makes them the best-value snorkelling near the city: half the travel time of the Marietas, with plenty of marine life. Not to be confused with Los Arcos on the Malecón, the amphitheatre in the city centre.
What they are
- The rocks: five granite islets, the two largest rising roughly 45 to 55 metres out of the sea. The best known are the Roca de Los Arcos, the Roca de la Tortuga and the Roca del Diablo. The biggest arch is about 25 metres high.
- Underwater: the islets sit at the edge of a submarine canyon. Off Los Arcos, a steep slope turns into a vertical wall at about 23 metres. Further offshore, the canyon under the south of the bay reaches more than 1,400 metres off Yelapa.
- Wildlife: reef fish (including the protected Cortez angelfish), sea turtles, moray eels and, especially in winter, manta and mobula rays. Pelicans, brown and blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds nest and roost on the rocks.
Is it a national park?
Not officially, despite what many tour listings say. A federal agreement of 28 July 1975 declared Los Arcos and the waters within a kilometre around them a marine flora and fauna refuge. Its main practical effect is a ban on fishing. No national park was ever decreed. Since 2025 the city and the state of Jalisco have been pressing the federal government to declare it a protected natural area, and the city council formally asked again in January 2026.
In practice, there's no entry fee at the islets themselves. Tours leaving from the Marina usually add a small per-person dock fee at the cruise terminal, typically MXN 30–50.
How to get there
- On a snorkel tour: tours leave from the Marina and from the Los Muertos pier. Los Arcos is often bundled with other stops, so check that it's a proper snorkel stop and not a pass-by; see boat tours.
- By panga: you can hire a small boat with a driver on the beach at Los Muertos or at Mismaloya, about 1.5 km from the arches. Agree the price, the time at the arches and whether snorkel gear is included before you set off. Mismaloya's pier was rebuilt by the state and reopened in April 2026, with room for three boats at a time.
- By kayak or paddleboard: guided trips leave from Mismaloya beach. Paddle out only in calm conditions and with someone who knows the water.
- Getting to Mismaloya: the orange-and-white buses marked "Mismaloya" or "Boca" leave from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Constitución in Old Town. Jalisco's standard fare in 2026 is MXN 11. A taxi or Uber takes about 20 minutes. See buses.
When to go
- Season: the tourism board recommends November to April for the calmest water and best visibility. In winter, cold upwelling can cloud the water, but it also brings the rays, and whales from December. Summer rain and run-off can cut visibility close to shore.
- Water temperature: around 26°C on average, from about 23°C in March to 30°C in September.
- Time of day: morning, before the wind picks up and before most tour boats arrive.
Doing it responsibly
- No fishing: it's the one rule the 1975 protection clearly sets.
- Don't touch or stand on coral or rocks underwater, and don't feed the fish.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen, or better, a rash vest.
- Stay off the islets and keep your distance from nesting birds. The city's code of practice for operators also asks for music to be kept down near the rocks.
- Wear the life jacket the boat provides if you're not a confident swimmer: the water is deep right up to the rocks.