Snorkeling at Los Arcos, Baya Banderas, was a lot of fun, although colder than we had expected. We had no exposure suit, so we didn't stay in as long as we might have otherwise. Los Arcos is a wave-formed rock formation near Mismaloya. The rocks are a federal eco-preserve and named after the arching grottoes channeling through some of the rocks. Besides the rocks themselves there are many algae, coral and fish to see in and around the rocks. It is a popular spot for snorkelers and scuba divers alike, and there were several other boats when we went.
Written Mar 10, 2004
Instead of going with a tour, we took a bus south to Marina Vallarta from where we were staying in Nuevo Vallarta. At the marina we hunted around for a boat who would take us out for the day and rent us snorkeling equipment. Eventually we found someone who drove us to another harbour and got us on a very nice small boat with a couple of guides for several hours. The beauty of hiring your own boat is that you can go wherever you want. We headed south first, past Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes, and did some snorkeling in a secluded cove in the vicinity of Mismaloya Beach. It was surprisingly cold water but the fish sightings were good and the water very clear. Downsides: because the boat wasn't really set up for snorkeling there was no ladder or dive platform, so getting back on the boat meant being hauled unceremoniously up over the back. We went to Yelapa beach for lunch, where we had a couple of cold drinks relaxing at a beach cafe before heading to Los Arcos to snorkel some more.
Equipment: Bring your swimsuit, sunblock, hat, towels and camera (underwater if you can get one!) Bring your own fins and snorkel or it's easy to rent them. We haggled quite a bit over the cost for the day. It cost us about $120 US for the day, including beer and lunch. The operator actually offered us a great deal in exchange for a timeshare presentation but we opted to pay instead!
Written Mar 10, 2004
Book a day on a sportfishing boat. You get scenery, wildlife, entertainment, information and a fish for the BBQ! My inlaws even came along and caught their first fish EVER. They being Danish I expected that they had fished before. They had a great time. It was so much fun that my father-in-law booked and paid for a larger boat just for the two of us. We saw whales breaching, acres of Porpoise and , of course, caught some fish. Do your homework, shop around and you'll get a price and package that'll be worth every dime.
Equipment: Because you leave early in the morning, wear warmer clothes or layer your clothes so you can relieve yourself of layers as the day heats up.
Updated Feb 7, 2004
Address: Any boat on the Marina.
Jet skiing on the Bay of Banderas can't be beat. However, the price can be steep. Don't be shy and don't just accept the initial price --- haggle and compromise. My husband got a deal for a 30 minute rental just by holding off and haggling with the price.
Equipment: These people will provide for all necessary equipment including life vests.
Updated Feb 8, 2003
When the waves where not to big at Flamingo Beach like real early in the morning, it was great for sea kayaking!!! It was very relaxing and peaceful just floating there at time watching the fish jump right beside you!!!!
Equipment: Kayak
Written Dec 1, 2002
Website: http://www.vallarta-adventure.com
The Flamingo Beach in Bucerias was great for bugy boarding!! You would get crashed hard by the waves and it was amazing but you had to be sure not to get hit to hard, my buddie got a black eye from it and I hit my head off the bottom several times, luckily it is a great sandy beach!!!!
Equipment: Buggie Board!
Written Dec 1, 2002
Website: http://www.decameron.com
I seriously recommend renting a seadoo and going nuts driving in the waves, it's so much fun. If you're a little chicken, then have somebody else drive you so that way you get the thrill of it.
If you already know how to windsurf, you can try doing that in the ocean, but there's a lot of wind and a lot of waves. If you're a begginner, I suggest taking a class to make sure you don't get carried out to sea.
Written Sep 11, 2002
Updated Jan 27, 2005
The grottoes at Los Arcos are a haven for exotic fish and marine vegetation.
Written Mar 13, 2004
Tons of water sports and scubadiving, don't worry about not having anything to do during the day.
Written Jan 18, 2004
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Tons of water sports and scubadiving, don't worry about not having anything to do during the day.
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I've got some interesting experiences in Puerto Vallarta. I'd love to share with you the 59 tips I've written, the 102 photos uploaded, and 5 travelogues I've created.
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Really Explore Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta, is an amazing place that allows you to dive right into the local culture without having to go very far outside of the city. I actually had the pleasure of living in Puerto Vallarta...
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This is a work in progress. More to come. I have many experiences to add, and many to delete. The goal is to make this a more efficient resource. Travel to PV about twice per year and consider it...
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Long time in Returning to Puerto Vallarta!!!

I haven't been back to Puerto Vallarta since 1990, except for the larger hotel chains that have gone up, downtown and much of the landscape I remember the same. The people and weather was exceptional,...
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Puerto Vallarta is located on the Pacific Coast on one of the largest bays in the world. It is the largest natural bay in Mexico, with 160Km of coastline and tropical beauty. The bay is located in the...
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