Snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta
Banderas Bay has genuinely good snorkelling — if you go to the right spots.
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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, off Mismaloya, is the classic snorkel spot: a cluster of granite islands rising out of the water about twenty minutes south of town, hollowed by sea arches and dropping steeply underwater. Fishing has been banned around them since 1975, 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. It's often bundled with other stops, so check what a tour actually includes. Our Los Arcos guide covers getting there by panga or kayak, and divers should see scuba diving.
What it costs. A shared half-day snorkelling trip to Los Arcos costs about US$80 per person, and a Marietas Islands trip about US$120–150 for five to seven and a half hours, according to operators' published prices in October 2026 (Vallarta Undersea, Ecotours Vallarta, Vallarta Adventures). Check whether the park and dock fees are included: some operators collect them in cash at check-in.
- The Marietas Islands — further out, superb marine life and birds.
- South-shore coves — Las Ánimas, Majahuitas and around Yelapa have clear, sheltered water.
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.
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.
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.
Snorkeling tours
Compare Los Arcos and Marietas snorkelling trips for your dates.
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