Snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta

Banderas Bay has genuinely good snorkelling — if you go to the right spots.

Independent guide · Last updated September 2026

The water off Puerto Vallarta's town beaches is often too churned up for great snorkelling, but a short boat ride reaches clear water, rocky reefs and plenty of fish. Here's where to go.

The best spots

• Los Arcos Marine Park — the granite sea arches just south of town are the classic snorkel spot: protected, close, and rich with fish. Often the best value.
• The Marietas Islands — further out, superb marine life and birds.
• South-shore coves — Las Ánimas, Majahuitas and around Yelapa have clear, sheltered water.
• Conchas Chinas — the easiest DIY option: sheltered rocks you can reach from shore.

Tips

• Water clarity is best in the dry season (Nov–Apr); rains stir up sediment.
• Bring your own mask if you're fussy — rental gear varies.
• Los Arcos is often bundled with other stops; check what a tour actually includes.

Los Arcos in detail

Los Arcos is a cluster of granite islands rising out of the water about twenty minutes south of town, hollowed by sea arches and dropping steeply underwater. It's a protected marine park, which is precisely why the fish are there. Expect angelfish, parrotfish, pufferfish, sergeant majors and often rays; the arches themselves are the visual draw, with light coming through the openings.

Because it's close to shore, Los Arcos is usually the best value snorkelling trip in Puerto Vallarta — half the travel time of the Marietas for a good proportion of the marine life.

Conditions and when to go

• Season: visibility is best in the dry season, roughly November to April. Rain stirs sediment into the bay.
• Time of day: morning, before the wind picks up and while the light is still good underwater.
• Currents: generally mild at Los Arcos, stronger around the Marietas. Follow your guide's briefing.

Snorkelling from the shore

If you'd rather not take a boat, the sheltered rocky coves at Conchas Chinas are the easiest shore entry near Old Town — calm water, rocks that hold fish, and no booking needed. Bring water shoes; the entry is rocky. It won't match a boat trip, but it's free.

Gear and etiquette

• Bring your own mask if you can. Poor rental gear — a leaking mask especially — is the commonest complaint.
• Reef-safe sunscreen is required at protected sites, and better everywhere.
• Don't touch or stand on anything. Coral and urchins both punish contact.
• A rash guard beats repeated sunscreen on your back.