Parque Nacional Marino Los Arcos de Mismaloya — Attraction in Jalisco

Los Arcos is one of the most iconic and magical spots in all of Banderas Bay — we absolutely recommend it to our guests if they’ve never been! 🐠✨

You’ll find plenty of colorful fish, crystal-clear water (especially during the right seasons), and an amazing variety of birds — including lots of pelicans and tropical seabirds. But the true stars of the show are Los Arcos themselves: three striking rock formations rising from the sea, with natural arches that let you see right through them. There’s even one that looks just like a turtle — a fun surprise for kids and adults alike.

There’s a designated snorkeling and swimming area, marked off for safety so that boats don’t enter. You’ll need to wear a life vest (required by park rules), and it’s a great place to float around and explore the marine life.

🌊 Important tip: If the ocean is choppy — especially in the afternoon — it’s best to be cautious. Listen to your captain and follow their advice on whether it’s safe to swim. Safety first, always.

When conditions are good, it’s a true underwater paradise. A classic Vallarta experience that never...

We went here with a great PADI scuba company to do some diving and snorkeling. Aside from assurances the scene we came across when we got there was hard to believe. Given it was a major holiday, the shear number and crush of people was still beyond belief. Diesel exhaust spewing boats dumped 100's of fluorescent vest wearing snorkelers, many who could not even swim, into the waters of this National Marine Park. We counted over 30 boats. It was hard to see any clear areas of water there were so many people floating around. More like a major ferry sinking than the advertised pristine snorkel spot. Photos tell the story. Avoid during major holidays, weekends. Mexico, it's environment and it's people deserve better management and protection than this....

We took a snorkeling tour to the park. It was beautiful. We spent an hour snorkeling through the ark and around the rocks. We saw a large eagle ray as well as a large school of angelfish, and lots of others. We arrived to the arc at about 11:00. I would not recommend arriving any later. As we were getting into our small private boat from the shore of the town, a large party barge of about 250 snorkelers arrived. The area would be way too small to accommodate all of those people. Arrive early before the mad rush. It is worth getting up early to see the beautiful fish. For the most enjoyable experience, take a small water...