Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta | 🏛 Snorkeling Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta: Los Arcos 5 Islands Boat & Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.73 (1,338 reviews) 86% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/21

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 13

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Five Islands, Caves & Coral: A Half-Day Boat Trip South of Puerto Vallarta

You ride a public bus south to Mismaloya, board a small boat to five protected islands, explore sea caves with a guide who explains the wildlife and history, then snorkel in a shallow coral area where fish are abundant. The boat includes all equipment and park permits, and returns you to Puerto Vallarta by early afternoon.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Meet in old center of Puerto Vallarta
Take public bus to Mismaloya
Embark boat at Mismaloya beach
Explore Los Arcos islands and caves
Learn about birds and fauna
Snorkel in protected marine area
Visit iconic city historical place

The Experience

The bus pulls away from Puerto Vallarta's old center heading south, and within 25 minutes you're rolling into Mismaloya—a quieter beach town where the boat is waiting. Your guide meets you at the sand, checks that everyone has a life vest, and you push off toward Los Arcos, five islands that sit inside a protected national park. The water is clear enough that you can see the bottom as you motor toward the first stop, and the guide starts pointing out the birds nesting on the rocks—frigatebirds, boobies, herons—explaining what makes this place a sanctuary. It's the kind of detail that changes how you look at the islands instead of just photographing them.

You'll spend time exploring the caves carved into the rock, where the guide talks through the animals and plants that live there, and then the boat heads to the snorkel site—a shallow, protected area where the coral is thick and the fish are used to people. The visibility shifts depending on the day and the current, so some trips you'll see more than others, but the equipment is all there: mask, fins, snorkel. You're in the water for as long as you want, watching parrotfish and sergeant majors move through the coral, and it's easy to lose track of time. Before heading back to Vallarta, the captain takes you past an iconic spot in the city's history—a moment to catch your breath and take in the coastline from the water.

The whole Los Arcos boat tour runs about half a day, and you're back in town with time to grab lunch or wander. Groups stay under 12 people, which means the guide can actually answer questions and adjust the pace instead of herding a crowd. If you're staying south of Vallarta already and want to skip the bus ride and meet directly at Mismaloya, let the operator know when you book.

What’s included

Your day includes the public bus ride to Mismaloya, a life vest, snorkel equipment (mask, fins, snorkel), national park permits for Los Arcos, and the full boat ride with your guide. You'll explore the five islands and caves, snorkel at a protected coral site, and see an iconic spot in Puerto Vallarta's history before returning to the city.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Vallartanaturetrips

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Los Arcos and snorkel without renting a car or arranging your own boat—the small group size and included equipment mean you show up and go, and the guide handles the timing and the route.