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Los Arcos Snorkeling Puerto Vallarta

Badge of ExcellencePuerto Vallarta, Mexico

3 to 5 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Puerto Vallarta has some of the best snorkeling spots in Mexico, but finding them can be a challenge without guides. On this tour, your guides take you to top snorkeling locations within the beautiful Los Arcos National Marine Park. Cruise out of Marina Vallarta and spot dolphins, turtles, rays, and whales en route to the protected marine area, and snorkel for roughly two hours—you can also opt to visit a beach before returning to harbor.

A small-group snorkeling tour of Los Arcos National Marine Park
Value: Includes national park permits, snorkel gear, light meal
Small group ensures personalized attention from your guide
Opt for a private tour with additional time for a beach visit

What's Included

Use of life vest
Boat ride
Snacks (Light ham and panela cheese sandwich)
Conservacy donation fee to Bahia Unida
Permits for national park
Bottled water
Use of Snorkeling equipment

Boarding fee must be paid in cash when check in. MNX$50 (u$3.00)
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Proa 22, Marina Vallarta, 48335 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
We are located at Marina Vallarta, just 2 blocks away from the Whale statue near by the airport.

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Near public transportation
Not wheelchair accessible

Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Please consider that all our guests must show an ID, f you do not present it at the time of check in you will not be allowed to board the boat.
Minimum age recommended 8 years
People under any influence of alcohol or any drug are not permitted
Not recommended for travelers under any drug or alcohol influence
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Scott_H

Naomi was a great guide! He took the time to help with every little thing. Very flexible to do whatever we wanted to do. We could have spent more doing any number of things. Snorkeling through the cave, around los Arcos. Snorkeling to the beaches. He doubles as a pretty dang good photographer too! A hidden talent! Very attentive and friendly! Everyone on the boat crew and guests were just fun to be around. Sandwiches hot just the right spot toward the end. Highly recommend this excursion!

Reviews

5.0

32 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 32 reviews

Wonderful personalized experience

Chelsea_J, Jan 2024

Wonderful time! So much information during the trip. Erik told us so much about the local wildlife and pointed out each fish to us. I’ve been snorkeling a few times and never have I had the experience of the guide getting in with us and guiding us through different fish etc. he was so nice and even the sandwiches were yummy!

Friendly and helpful guide and a fun experience!!

Scott_H, Oct 2023

Amazing trip with wonderful guides. A must do when in Puerto Vallarta

Tyler_G, Jul 2023

Eric was a fantastic snorkeling guide. Can’t recommend Eco Explorer enough. They made the experience personal and went out of their way to ensure we had an enjoyable experience. The Los Arcos tour was great and we saw many fish and beautiful scenery.

Fantastic snorkeling!

Cheryl_C, Jul 2023

Loved the small group your! There were only 5 guests on board the boat. My daughter and I were the only snorkelers so we had our own guide, Rodrigo. He showed us everything and was a great host! We saw so many fish, turtles, a ray and an octopus. A memorable trip.

Great adventure

Alan_P, Apr 2023

Great tour. The guides were amazing blending fun with safety. Carlos and Martine were first rate. I highly recommend them and the snorkeling tour.

This was the best...

Paul_H, Mar 2023

This was the best snorkeling trip I have ever taken. When we weren’t in the boat, we were in the water exploring the magnificent underwater life at 2 places. Saw hundreds and hundreds of fish! The guides were super helpful, friendly and fun. Highly recommend this.

Recommend this tour

Garry_P, Mar 2023

Wonderful snorkeling trip! Luis, our guide had the captain take us to a second location after the water at Los Arcos turned out to be very murky. He was also very knowledgeable about the area and local wildlife.

A GREAT DAY - Not just snorkeling, but also 2 chances to see whales (Even an Orca)

Karla_J, Mar 2023

We toured with Ecotours Vallarta during our day off of a cruise ship. We walked (long, but nice walk) from the ship to the Marina. We were checked in and met up with the 4 others in our group and our guide. He showed us to the boat and after a short safety briefing we were on our way out past our ship and the beaches. The captain noticed a few boats gathered and took the time for us to watch whales which was a bonus. We then continued on to the arch and the guide helped us into the water and advised us where it was safe and where the good snorkeling was. I felt very safe especially when he guided the 5 of us to swim thru the arch. That was a very unique experience, and was very thankful for his showing thru it. We then continued snorkeling as the guide showed us many interesting fish. He then noted that the Pelicans were nesting which was something I had never seen before. He also showed us the Blue Footed Boobie birds, not always seen at this stop, but very cool. I was a bit more advanced swimmer than the others in our group so the guide let me swim a bit further away, but I knew I was always being watched by the boat captain. After leaving this area we headed to a private beach to have lunch. (Sandwiches provided) When we arrived at the beach the captain and guide noted that there were too many people there and gave us the option to continue further. They found a private beach that we were the only boat at. I again was ok to snorkel on my own (always under the eye of the boat captain). At this spot I was able to see lemon yellow puffer and an unusual stingray. Very special. We then headed back to Puerto Vallarta and when the captain again spotted boats gathered and we headed to see more humpback whales. As we arrived our guide spotted that there was also a large male Orca in the group. He also took pictures, so we knew this was not a common site. I will be booking with this group on every future trips to PV.

Awesome day out on the boat

Shan_H, Feb 2023

Gustavo and Raul were our guide and captain of the boat. They were knowledgeable and friendly. They not only brought us to Los Arcos as planned but also brought us to a small private beach to avoid the crowds. We were able to do snorkeling at two locations. The most exciting part of the day was seeing both orca and multiple humpback whales on our way to the Los Arcos. Later they went back to look for whales and orca for us. That was not part of the itinerary but they did it because all of us were excited to have the encounter. This is definitely a must do in PV!

Exceeded expectations

Joe_H, Feb 2023

Spectacular day!! Captain Javier positioned the boat ideally on several occasions to maximize our exposure to wildlife and to get the most out of the experience. Rodrigo, our guide, was much more than a guide. He was a partner in adventure. He didn’t simply point where we might want to go snorkeling, he was in the water with us. As we swam through caves with the sea tides nudging us around, he was there with us encouraging us, suggesting both how to have the most fun and to do so safely. When we came across a sea turtle, he made sure that each of us saw the turtle , but did so responsibly so as to preserve the possibility for others to have similar experiences. Our group had a phenomenal experience with this team of Javier and Rodrigo.

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