Puerto Vallarta: Sea Safari, Jungle Horseback & Pizota Beach BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.60 (139 reviews) 83% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/15

Duration6h 30m

GroupUp to 28

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Snorkeling at Los Arcos, tortillas in Quimixto, waterfall swim then BBQ by Pizota’s quiet shore

You’ll snorkel among bright fish at Los Arcos near Puerto Vallarta, visit Quimixto for fresh tortillas and salsa made by locals, ride horseback through jungle to a hidden waterfall for swimming or just sitting quietly, then end with a relaxed BBQ lunch on peaceful Pizota beach—sun-warmed sand underfoot and ocean all around you.

6h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling, culture, horseback ride, BBQ

Snorkel at Los Arcos Marine Park
Visit Quimixto village
See handmade tortillas and salsa
Horseback ride through jungle trails
Relax and swim at hidden waterfall
Enjoy beach BBQ at Pizota

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the salt spray—sharp and cool—when our boat pulled up near those jagged arches at Los Arcos. You could hear the gulls before you saw them. Slipping into the water with my mask on, I half expected to panic (I always do), but it was oddly calm under there. Fish everywhere—yellow stripes darting around rocks. Our guide Marco kept pointing out things I would’ve missed, like a tiny puffer hiding in the shadows. I swallowed a bit of seawater by accident and laughed about it later.

After we dried off (sort of), we cruised down to Quimixto. There’s this slow rhythm in the village—dogs napping in doorways, someone selling mangoes from a bucket. We ducked into a local home where Rosa was pressing tortillas by hand. She let me try one; mine looked like a sad pancake, but she smiled anyway. The smell of roasting chiles hit me right away—made my eyes sting but in a good way. Li laughed when I tried to say “molcajete” properly—probably butchered it.

Then came the horseback ride through the jungle trails behind Quimixto. It’s muddier than you’d think and my horse seemed to know exactly how little I knew about riding. The air felt heavy, almost green if that makes sense. At the waterfall, everyone just kind of went quiet for a minute—the sound drowned out everything else. Some people swam; I just sat on a rock and let my feet dangle in the cold water for ages.

The last stretch to Pizota was by boat again—a bit sunburned by then—and suddenly there’s this empty beach with nothing but palms and driftwood. Lunch was already sizzling on the grill when we arrived: grilled chicken, steak, sausages. Eating with your hands while your toes are buried in warm sand… honestly, I still think about that view sometimes when I’m stuck at my desk back home.

What’s included

Your day includes professional local guides throughout each activity, all necessary safety equipment (including snorkeling gear), beverages during your adventure, and a freshly prepared buffet lunch served right on Pizota beach before returning by boat in the afternoon.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Vallarta Adventures