Puerto Vallarta: Sunset Boat & Bioluminescence Swim Los Arcos

Watch the bay turn gold, then swim through glowing water at Los Arcos

You board a boat in Puerto Vallarta, cruise to Los Arcos marine sanctuary watching the sunset and spotting wildlife, then slip into the water after dark to swim through bioluminescence: the glowing phytoplankton that lights up around your body. Lifevest, welcome drink, and all park fees are included. Groups stay under 14 people, and the whole experience runs about three to four hours depending on light and conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset boat tour and bioluminescence

• Set off by boat to marine park
• Observe sunset or sunrise over bay
• Tour Los Arcos Sanctuary with guide
• Wait until nightfall to see bioluminescence

What’s included

Your tour includes boat transportation from Puerto Vallarta to Los Arcos marine sanctuary, a lifevest for water entry, a welcome drink when you board, and all park entry fees and taxes. The guide provides commentary on the sanctuary's wildlife and history during the cruise and bioluminescence swim.

Times

• Every day 17:20 17:30

Last departure this season: 31 Dec

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Before you book

Group Up to 24

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 3 with pickup ›

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (12 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

Operated by Vallarta Bionature Tours

Prices and times updated today

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The experience

The boat pulls away from the dock and the bay opens up in front of you. You're heading out to Los Arcos, the marine sanctuary just offshore from Puerto Vallarta, and the light is already starting to shift: that hour when the water turns the color of copper and the air goes still. Your guide points out the rock formations as you move through the bay, explaining what lives there, what nests there, the whole ecosystem that makes this place matter. The sunset doesn't rush. It happens in layers, and you're floating right through it, camera in hand or just watching.

As the sun drops below the horizon, the boat slows. You're waiting now: waiting for the water to go dark, for the phytoplankton to wake up. When it happens, it's not what you expect. You slip into the water and move your hand through it, and your fingers leave a trail of blue light, like you're painting with electricity. It's bioluminescence, and it's the kind of thing people describe badly because there's no comparison. You're swimming in stars. The water glows around your body. Other swimmers move nearby, their movements traced in blue. Your guide stays close, keeping the group together. It's fourteen people max, which means the water doesn't get crowded, and you can actually feel the moment instead of just being part of a mob.

The whole thing takes a few hours from start to finish. You get a lifevest, a welcome drink when you board, and all the entry fees are already paid. If you're booking during full moon dates, there are dawn departures instead. The bioluminescence still happens, but the timing shifts. Kids under nine can't come for safety reasons, and anyone with a baby can't bring them along either. It's one of those rules that exists because the boat moves, the water is involved, and the company isn't taking chances.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (12 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the boat leave Puerto Vallarta?

Departures are timed around sunset or sunrise depending on the date. Full moon dates offer dawn options instead. Check your booking confirmation for the exact departure time for your date.

What is bioluminescence and will I definitely see it?

Bioluminescence is when phytoplankton in the water glow blue when disturbed. It's a natural phenomenon that happens most nights, but visibility depends on water conditions and light levels. It's most visible on darker nights.

Is swimming required, or can I stay on the boat?

Swimming is the main event of the tour. If you prefer not to swim, you can stay on the boat, but the bioluminescence experience happens in the water.

What's included in the price?

All park entry fees, taxes, a lifevest, and a welcome drink are included. You bring your own towel and water shoes if you have them.

How long is the whole tour?

Plan for about three to four hours from pickup to return, depending on sunset timing and water conditions.

What if I'm not a strong swimmer?

You'll wear a lifevest the entire time in the water, and the guide stays with the group. The bioluminescence area is calm and shallow enough for most swimmers.

Is there a maximum group size?

Yes, groups are limited to 14 people, which keeps the experience less crowded.