Bioluminescence, Secret Beach & Sunset Boat Tour At Los Arcos

Guillermo and Samir were fantastic guides, there wasn’t a ton of bioluminescence but still visible under the water. Loved all the educational parts, especially about the birds around Los Arcos, and getting to go under and between the rocks was a treat. Can hear lots of bats while swimming, it was so cool!

For those who are used to a polished, saccharine experience - this is not the one. This was a real experience that gave a taste of a more real Mexican reality. Bruno was a great host and quite knowledgeable. Thumbs up 👍

The bioluminescence tour was one of the highlights of our trip. The boat ride to Los Arcos at night was beautiful, and seeing the water glow when we moved our hands through it was incredible. The guide was friendly, professional, and explained the bioluminescence really well. Swimming in the glowing water next to Los Arcos was such a unique experience and something we had never done before. The small group made the tour feel relaxed and personal. We would definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Puerto Vallarta.

What a cool time! Everything was organized LOL put together! Bruno was a great tour guide! Would definitely recommend this!!!

We had the best possible guide for this experience. Very knowledgeable and super experienced. The setting is amazing and swimming in the Bioluminescence is a one in a life time experience. We loved the secret beach! Very recommended!

I absolutely loved this experience! The meeting point was easy to find, and my guide was already waiting for me when I arrived. He was so welcoming and took the time to explain everything, which made me feel comfortable right from the start as a solo traveler. It honestly felt like going out with friends, and everyone in the group was so friendly! We had a welcome drink, enjoyed the music, and watched the sunset at a beautiful hidden beach. I thought the bioluminescence would be the highlight, and while it was truly magical, the whole atmosphere made the experience even more special. Swimming with the bioluminescence was unforgettable, and something everyone should experience at least once. 100% recommend!

The meeting location (at Mismaloya Beach) prior to boarding the boat was very shabby and extremely questionable. The particular boat was not easy to get onto and off of, even at the docks. The onboard ladder was not locked in, so it came lose as one of my family members was climbing back into the boat after swimming, and he fell into the boat luckily, rather than back into the water. There seemed to be an excessive amount of down time. The Arches were beautiful and the swimming experience was fun. We suggest that you have the tour begin and end at the dock in the Zona Romantica.

My wife and I were there for the experience but it did not deliver. What we experienced is no where close to the photos that is shown as part of the tour. The weather at that time wasn't the best and may have set us up for the outcomes. Obviously, the tour operator will not take that into consideration for as long as they keep the admission fee. Our guide was pleasant and knowledgeable and made sure that we were all comfortable. Overall, it was another way to use up your time when in Puerto Vallarta.

An excellent tour that starts from the beach at Playa Mismaloya after a 25 minute bus ride from the meeting point in Puerto Vallarta. We really enjoyed the moderate temperatures while on the water touring around the Los Arcos. We saw a sea lion and many varieties of birds - even got to see Blue-footed boobies, which i have only ever seen on TV. Our guide Bruno was a wealth of information on the local area and it's flora and fauna. The bioluminescene was very cool to see using the provided snorkeling mask. The water was the perfect temperature and crystal clear in the shelter of the arch. The boat ride back to the city was amazing... and the dropoff spot at Playa Los Muertos was magical! We will going on this tour again when we return to the area in April of 2027.

The water is not like the photos 😅 I should have known better. It’s a bit misleading but was still a cool phenomena to experience. The guide did a great job speaking everything in English & Spanish so we could all understand

Had a great time thanks to our guide Guillermo (Pancho) and captain Luis (Jack Sparrow). Guillermo is a local so good to experience this tour from his standpoint. Not fancy, but enjoyable and was amazing to see the bio-lit plankton inside one of the Los Arcos caves. I've taken quite a few tours around PV. This one is relatively knew and I would go again.

I thought it was really fun and interesting! Diego is a great tour operator! I liked seeing the National Park. I didn't participate in the snorkeling, but it looked fun for those that did. The boat also gives you an awesome view of the city at night. For the price we paid, I thought it was a great deal! I would highly recommend this tour!

It was a beautiful experience with Diego and Gustavo. The weather gods weren't too kind so we didn't see much of the bioluminescence but these two gentlemen were so upbeat and we had the most amazing experience. Think thunder rain and sea. It was lovely

This was so amazing! Poncho was amazing, I told him I had an ankle injury and he made sure to help me get in and out of the boat so I could still enjoy myself. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. Swimming under the moonlight in the ocean was a magical experience and so was the bioluminescence! Daniel the Captain was amazing too. An amazing start to our girls trip.

Me and my wife were really impressed with this excursion and it exceeded all our expectations. We started the trip by meeting Bruno and Diego for the bus ride. The bus ride was around 30 minutes to Mismaloya. We got a free drink there and boarded our boats. We had Diego as a guide, and was amazing and very knowledgeable about the different birds, history and Los Arcos. We were able to go through one one the arches with the boat. We headed to a quiet secured beach where we swam for 20 minutes while the sun went down. Amazing sunset. We headed back to the same arch where we snorkeled and saw the bioluminescence beneath the water. We got back on the boat and headed back to Puerto Vallarta. I would highly recommend this excursion, and we definitely would do it again.

Pancho (the tour guide) was exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable. He spoke both Spanish and English very well to make sure all parties knew what was happening. While the boat trip around Los Arcos was great, people should know that to get the full experiences of the bioluminescence adventure, guests should be comfortable with going in the water because even though the picture indicates that one can see the lights from the boat, that is not accurate. You have to be in the water to see that part.

Our tour is amazing Our tour guide Bruno is good and knowledgable. Its amazing view

Fun experience! Diego and Gustavo were excellent guides! The night swim in the ocean with the plankton was a crazy experience and would 100% try again!

Great experience. Focus was on everyone enjoying the experience. Tips were not brought up once, everything went smooth.

This tour was amazing our guide Guillermo and Bubba were very nice and knowledgeable. Swimming and see the bioluminescence was amazing. My husband and I had an amazing time. FYI you must swim inside the cave to experience seeing the bioluminescence. You can stay on the boat and they can try to find an area where you can see them but the best experience is swimming in the cave.

Don’t let them keep your shoes. They asked to keep your shoes because they don’t want sand on the boat. I get my shoes back and they’re soaking wet. I could’ve just put them in my bag. Instead, I will have to replace my shoes.. you take city transportation to the site then you have to wait there for an hour and melt after you’ve already melted Ted on the bus for an hour. Finally got to a place where I was OK with that. But because of the shoe situation, I’m giving them one star

SUCH a magical/surreal experience - was lovely to see Los Arcos at sunset and go to the beach to wait for the darkness so we could see the bioluminescence. And swimming to see that effect was so incredible! I could have done that for hours. Highly recommend.

After spending the day in Mismaloya, this tour was the highlight. Bruno felt like an old friend showing me his favorite local spots. That morning, while snorkeling with Diego, I saw a woman on a different boat enter the water and immediately panic. The guide on that boat (whom I later realized was Bruno) JUMPED IN without hesitation and helped her. I was impressed. Our captain (Guillermo?) was excellent at maneuvering the boat with ease. Never have I ever swam in deep ocean water at night in my life. Bruno made me feel so safe, (even when I vocally doubted him out of fear lol) he had everything under control, I could relax and actually enjoy the bioluminescence! And then, the boat ride back to Puerto Vallarta at night was absolutely EPIC. Bruno and the team handled everything with extreme professionalism. I left a piece of my heart on that little boat.

This is a awesome experience, we got what was promised, our guide Guillermo and our Captain Pablo are great guys, made the experience fun, highly recommended 😀 👍

Great experience from beginning to end! Guiermo is a great guide! Highly recommend. Swimming in the ocean at night was an expensive all its own!

Bruno and Samir were great! I loved the bus ride at the beginning, it really helped us take in the beautiful coastline. The cold drink before the boat ride hit the spot, too. Passing by the islands was amazing, and we loved stopping at the small private beach with a great view to swim and relax while we waited for the sunset to finish. After all of that, the best part came. The bioluminescence inside the cave was very much as advertised! We huddled up in a group with snorkels to see the lights underwater in a cave inside an island. To top it all off, the boat took us on a nice relaxing ride to Playa de los Muertos to finish the tour. I would 100% recommend this experience. They are a trustworthy guide and boat captain!

Marcos did an incredible job! Very knowledgeable and funny! Definately bring a towel because you will be swimming for most of it. 10/10 would recommend

This was very much a local originated tour... Not your fancy normal big tours. It was nice to feel like a local as you explore!

Awesome experience! The beach exploration was very pretty with the sunset and swimming at night to see the bioluminescence was a once in a lifetime experience.

This was a phenomenal trip, highly recommend Bruno. He was helpful and kind and translated into English and Spanish. The only thing I would note is that the bioluminescence is not really as pictured, it is a faint yellow and not a bright blue light. The Los Arcos archway and sunset swim in the ocean is not to be missed. Highly recommend!!

Bruno was great, he was funny and engaging. The activities were fun and interesting

My husband and I took the Sunset Boat Tour and Bioluminescence Adventure, and it was absolutely incredible! Our tour guide, Bruno, was professional, friendly, and genuinely cared about making sure everyone had a great experience. We loved seeing all the wildlife and learning about the different species around Los Arcos. Watching the sunset followed by the magical bioluminescence made for an unforgettable evening. Thank you, Bruno, for such an amazing experience! We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area.

We had a great time on our tour. Our tour guide Bruno and our boat driver were super kind, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. We loved learning about Los Arcos and swimming through the bioluminescence. Definitely recommend.

This was a great experience. Good information about the Los Arcos islands, beautiful sunset and the bioluminescence was a site to see. Bruno was great and the crew was super helpful and made sure we had a great time.

This was such an amazing experience. Diego and Gustavo were so kind and knowledgable. Not only was it incredibly beautiful, but it was also educational and enriching. I couldnt recommend it enough! Definitely bring some opened toe shoes, bug spray, and a towel for afterwards.

The tour was a great way to experience something unique in Puerto Vallarta. The bioluminescence was interesting to see, and the trip was well organized and easy to enjoy. Our guide, Bruno, did an excellent job throughout the evening—he was friendly, professional, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and informed. The small group size was a nice touch, and overall it was a worthwhile experience that I would recommend to others visiting the area.

Great experience! Tour guide and boat captain made it a fun experience.

Was bummed out our first time was rained out but the team worked with us to be able to come out another day and it was worth the wait! The sunset ride was beautiful, the history behind the island was neat, our kids loved to swim in the Bioluminous water, and Diego was an awesome tour guide along with the captain who let us in his boat for the first tour ride. Special moment. Thank you and would recommend!

Enjoy the experience. Go even if scared. Diego was a wonderful guide. I don't know what else to tell ya

I was excited to experience the bioluminescent water tour, but unfortunately it was not what I expected. My biggest concern was the boat itself. It sits extremely low in the water, and considering the Pacific Ocean can have strong waves and tides, the ride felt unsafe and very uncomfortable. The boat traveled at high speed, and I felt every wave and impact throughout the entire trip. I have been on many boat tours before and generally do not experience motion sickness, but this ride was overwhelming. My child even became sick and vomited during the tour. For families with children or anyone prone to anxiety or panic, this experience could be very stressful. I was shaken and uncomfortable for several hours afterward. In my opinion, a larger and more stable boat would make this activity much safer and more enjoyable for families. As for the bioluminescence itself, the experience did not match the expectations that were set. We were told that splashing the water would reveal the glowing effect, but what I saw were only small dots of light. The photos also did not accurately represent the actual experience. The bioluminescence phenomenon is fascinating, but I believe the tour operator needs a more professional and family-friendly boating setup. Adventure doesn’t have to feel unsafe. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this tour based on my experience.

Exelente experiencia! The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful at all times. The bioluminescence was very much visible. 10 points!

This was an amazing experience, Pancho and Diago were both very informative, helpful and friendly. Highly recommend this activity!

I had a review up earlier but I need to edit that review. The trip was fantastic until the very end when they did not take safety into account. The boat was not secured which caused my family member to fall and fracture a shoulder. I was there. I saw what happened. They were not safe at disembarking off a boat that was not properly secured to the pier. Just because it has not happened before does not mean you were safe.

This experience was amazing! Swimming in the blue microorganisms was straight out of an avatar movie! Learning about the different species of birds. Highly recommend. Our guide Diego was spectacular. Very informative, friendly, and ensured we had a great time! The Captain Anthony was also great! He took us through one of the caves in the boat, ensured we had safe ocean transport!

Bruno was a great host and tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area and gave us an excellent experience. The captain was very skillful and we felt extremely safe the entire time. This was a great value for the cost. Would highly recommend this tour and.

The experience with Diego was phenomenal , he was so patient and helpful and informative with everything he explained, answered all questions and went above and beyond

My parter and I had a fantastic experience on this excursion. It was us two and only one other couple, so a small crew, which meant for an awesome, customized experience. Pancho was our guide and he was great, it seemed like everyone knew him everywhere we stopped. He told us a lot unique facts about the area, showed us a lot of neat things, and I felt safe the entire time.

10/10 would recommend! Guillermo and Anthony were so knowledgeable and kind to us. It was my first time swimming in the ocean at night and an unforgettable experience

Be careful! When you leave the boat, they do not tie it off and it can be difficult to get out. I broke my arm falling on the dock! Mexican hospitals are not too bad and cheaper than USA. Silver lining?