Let’s start this one with some geography.
Los Arcos is the famous rock structure that sits out in the water, not too far off the shore at the south end of Puerto Vallarta’s beautiful bay, on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
It’s most famous for being a top rated dive destinations and also it’s snorkeling tours, so to discuss Los Arcos is to discuss it’s snorkeling.
Best Los Arcos Snorkeling Tours
Getting to Los Arcos on one of the tours means first making a booking at any one of the tour companies you can find either online or at hundreds of locations around Vallarta… trust me, you won’t miss them.
Whichever tour company you choose, you’ll depart either from the Vallarta Marina, or the Malecon on a scenic ride of about half an hour down the bay before you arrive at Los Arcos.
This part is actually the underrated near highlight of the trip. Making your way down the coastline on a clear morning offers a perfect view of the Sierra Madre mountains rising up into the mist in the backdrop of downtown Vallarta.
Continuing further south you bear witness to the houses and hotels on the hill at the picturesque Conchas Chinas. You can pick out your “dream house”, and marvel at the precision of the hill built homes that remain sometimes precariously in place no matter the weather.
Finally the ride comes to an end as you approach the looming rock structure, watching it grow ever larger than it appeared in the pictures the closer you get. Then it’s time for the snorkeling.
Reasons to go Snorkelling at Los Arcos
Even if NOT for the boat ride, the snorkeling at Los Arcos, in it’s own right, is certainly worth the money and the ride out and for a number of reasons.
1. Snorkeling at Los Arcos, you won’t have trouble seeing fish… lots of them
After you dive in the water, your tour guides will start throwing fish food out into the water and before you know it you’ll have fish of multiple shapes and sizes frolicking about you, brushing your arms and legs. Even if it’s not technically “natural” because the fish were induced to come near you, the experience of wading through full schools of hungry fish is a special one. The marine life is. there in abundance, and this was definitely one of the better experiences I had, even compared to swimming with whale sharks in Mexico.
2. The scenery
Paddling your way around the rocks also makes for a unique snorkeling adventure. You can chance your luck seeking out new species of fish in different areas of the rock structure as you take in it’s full scope from all possible angles. If you get the right day you should also be able to do so without being totally incapacitated by the number of other tourists sharing the journey.
3. Variety
Depending on the tour you choose, your boat will make at least 2 stops at different points at the rock structure offering different underwater architecture and supposedly a little variety in the species you see. Even at our first stop at the front of the largest main rock, the number of fish species was not too bad. While I couldn’t tell you the names, there were grand old types with their grumpy faces and backs shining with orange and blue, small, slender skinny types with sharp sword like mouths, and little black and gold types utilizing their speed to dart in and out steal bread from their bigger grandfatherly counterparts.
A Must Do
The tours last a few hours. At first I wondered whether that would be too short, but as it turns out it’s just enough time to see all the fish and all the scenery you can and make your way there and back without getting bored or seasick.
Regardless of how long you’re in Vallarta, the Los Arcos experience is unique and one you must not miss. Be sure to check out my recommendations for the best places to eat in Vallarta too, essential after a busy day snorkelling.
View more articles on my Mexico travel guide.
