Bioluminescence By Kayak Or Sup To Los Arcos, Puerto Vallarta

We drove to the location and was not very easy to find--would recommend using their transport. It was an incredible experience, beautiful views and very relaxing. Tour guides were great! We were able to see some bioluminescence but it will vary based on when you go.

Our guide Felipe was amazing, kind, funny and informative! 10/10!!!

We had an absolutely delightful experience on this magical September night, enjoying fun kayaking through the rock tunnels, swimming while experiencing the bioluminescence then finishing with a delicious dinner on a perfect summer evening! German was an excellent guide and very accommodating after we had to reschedule from a pop up thunderstorm the day before. Highly recommend the entire experience and the amazing food! We will absolutely be back!

Overall, going out there into the waters with our guide was fun, but prior to that our pick up the first time was late and the weather was bad so they canceled . we had to wait at their location until they closed, Then took us back to our drop off after dropping off employees. We had to stay there for 3 hrs waiting. Returned 2 days later to make up for being rained out and completed the excursion. It was a beautiful. Then again we had to wait for them to close and take employees home to drop us off at our location . Lastly, they took pictures of us and told us they would send them via email. even with a few attempts to get the pictures they never sent them.

My spouse and I had a fantastic sunrise-kayaking tour with Paddle Zone! They picked us up from our hotel early in the morning, around 3.30 am. Even though the bioluminescence wasn't fully cooperating, the experience of paddling out to Los Arcos in the dark was still incredible. Diego was an awesome guide; super friendly, entertaining, and always mindful of everyone’s safety. Their facility is clean and well-equipped with change rooms, toilets, and showers to rinse off afterward, and we really appreciated that they didn't pester us for tips. A top-notch, professional crew that makes for a great night out on the water regardless of the natural light show!

Great day! My guide was friendly and helpful and wonderful. It was such a fun day I will definitely be back!

Amazing bioluminescence kayak tour! Our guide German was knowledgeable and put us at ease, teaching us to navigate through rocks and caves despite tricky weather. We caught a mesmerizing sunset, then glowing water both from the kayak and swimming. Fried banana snacks were the perfect finish! Highly recommended if you’re looking for a real experience

The trip exceeded our expectations in every way. The guides made us feel safe and relaxed - our group of all ages had fun. The kayaks let you experience Los Arcos in a truly intimate way - it was so special. They took care of us from the moment they picked us up to the snacks at the end. The GoPro and drone images were totally worth adding to your experience!

Amazing! I can’t say enough good things. The photos are incredible, I highly recommend purchasing the drone footage. The person who operates the drone and takes the photographs is very talented. guides are amazing, knowledgeable, and fun. It is a workout, but I’m a 45 year-old woman and I was able to do it with 12-year-old son. And I’m not a crazy athlete or anything. 12/10

It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, we experienced the full moon and the sunrise, the glowing water, the Acs, 10/10!

The kayaking experience at Los Arcos was great at sunset. The bioluminescence was amazing. The best way to see it is snorkeling. It is a 3 hour tour. Not too strenuous. The guides German and Kilo were great.. Saw lots of Frigate birds, Pelicans......

Truly a magical experience. The guides were friendly and fun. Kayaking out to the islands is beautiful and I was fascinated by the thousands of birds in the sanctuary (pelicans, frigate birds, blue footed boobies). We arrived out to the islands in time for a spectacular sunset. The closer to shore as it got dark, you could see the plankton start to light up in random spots like groups of lightning bugs. I thought it was a cool sight. They said ours get better, but I was skeptical. We paddled further in next to a larger island and got in the water. WOW. It can’t be described with justice. One of the most magical experiences of my life. Then back for fruit and drinks. Word of caution. It is ocean kayaking. The water can be choppy, and it’s almost 3 hours of paddling (with some breaks of course). It can be strenuous. The guides are helpful. I’m a moderately active 67 yr old and it was fine, I’m just a little sore this next morning.

I booked the sunrise kayak bioluminescence tour for myself and my son, and I'm so glad that I did! The whole experience was top notch, starting with our pickup. While inquiring with Alberto, the owner of the company, about how far the meeting point was from our resort, he was gracious enough to offer to have us picked up directly from the resort for a nominal fee. I happily accepted, as I am currently experiencing mobility issues due to a recent surgery. Plus, it also saved us from having to track down a taxi at 3:30am. Our guide was Felipe, and he was also the one who picked us up. He made sure to let us know when to be ready, and once he arrived, he promptly drove us to the beach club where he offered us coffee while we were preparing for our adventure. We were excited to learn that it was going to be a private tour, since we were the only ones who booked the early time slot for the day. The beach club itself is a bit run down, but it didn't really bother us. Felipe provided us with our life jackets, had us climb into the kayak, then gently pulled our kayak into the water. He briefly explained what to expect, then we started out on our journey. We left around 4am, so it was very dark, but also quite peaceful. We started to paddle out towards the large rocks, which Felipe explained each had a designated name. He was very patient with us because we would sometimes fall behind him due to being out of sync with our oars. Felipe was very informative. He would always point out whenever he spotted something in the water. We saw fish, sea turtles, rays, and even dolphins! Honestly, if not for him, we probably would have missed them all since it was so dark. His eagle eyes spotted them every time, though. There were also hundred of birds, including pelicans, hanging out on the rocks and flying overhead. He pointed out the first opportunity to see bioluminescence when we paddled closer to the large rocks. It wasn't very obvious at first, but as we got a bit closer, or when we moved our oars under the water, it just lit up! I tried taking several photos of it, but Felipe said that it was almost impossible to capture it without a professional camera & lens. It's such an incredible phenomenon, and I am honored to have been able to at least have seen it with my own eyes! As the sun started to slowly rise, Felipe began taking photos of us and our surroundings. The sunrise was absolutely spectacular! The best part was that the photos were all included in the price of the tour. They were made available to us through a link sent by email sent shortly after the tour had been completed. We elected not to snorkel, which was also included in the price, so we just spent a little extra time admiring our magnificent surroundings. After the photos, we slowly paddled back to shore. We were definitely feeling tired by the time we got back, but it was absolutely worth it. After the tour was over, Felipe also drove us back to our resort. If you choose this tour, I highly suggest the sunrise as opposed to the sunset option. Yes, it was difficult to get up so early, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. You will likely have a smaller group (ours was private), you won't have to deal with the afternoon heat, and the visibility of the bioluminescence will likely be much better in the morning. I would 100% recommend this tour and Felipe to just about anyone. If you have mobility issues like me, it may be difficult for you to maneuver getting to and from the beach club due to uneven surfaces and stairs. I can't say it was easy, but I did it, thanks to Felipe, who was very patient and assisted me whenever I needed a little bit of help. So grateful for him and his excellent customer service throughout this experience. Thank you, Paddle Zone and Felipe!

We had the best kayaking trip with our guide Diego. We loved him! Very friendly and he had so much great info about Los Arcos.

Sunset kayak adventure in Puerto Vallarta 🌅🚣‍♂️ An unforgettable experience on the ocean with incredible views, amazing energy, and professional guides who made everything easy and fun. Watching the sunset from the water was pure magic. Highly recommended if you’re visiting Puerto Vallarta and looking for something special. #PuertoVallarta #Kayaking #SunsetTour #OceanAdventure #TravelMexico #VisitPV #KayakLife #VacationMode Aventura en kayak al atardecer en Puerto Vallarta 🌅🚣‍♂️ Una experiencia inolvidable en el mar con vistas increíbles, excelente energía y guías profesionales que hicieron todo fácil y divertido. Ver el atardecer desde el agua fue pura magia. Súper recomendado si visitas Puerto Vallarta y buscas algo especial. #PuertoVallarta #Kayak #Atardecer #Aventura #TurismoMexico #VisitPV #Mar #Vacaciones

Overall this excursion was a very good experience. The pick up (shuttle) was on time with a short ride to the launch point. The staff were friendly, knowledgable, and supportive of folks who had a bit of difficulty out on the water. Our experience was on the night of the full moon making visibility of the bioluminescence a bit tricky. This trip, we couldn't go at any other day so decided to do it anyway. The staff navigated our group to the tunnels in the rocks which facilitated better visibility. We had an early flight home the next morning and wanted to skip the after-paddle event with the group and therefore the shuttle back to PV. The staff went out of their way to help us get a taxi, which was a bit tricky in this location at that time of night. One thing that would have improved the experience was a tighter timeline; 3 hours seemed a bit long to us and included a long period of inactivity waiting for darkness to fall. If you have your own snorkel mask, it would be beneficial to bring.

This was a very nice excursion. Diego was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The bioluminescence was really cool! Be ready to get a work out though. We are in our 60s but luckily not sore the next day

Such a fun time. Diego did a great job as did the other people helping him. Lots of great information. Enthusiastic explanations. I will say it was quite a workout

Greate experience! German and his crew were great hosts!

Incredible tour, highly recommend it. Diego was our guide and was super professional, hes very experienced super nice guy.

Beautiful kayak out to the Arches and snorkeling. The total tour was around three hours. There were four of us plus one other couple and a guide. Nice small group. There were many snorkelers at the Arches from other groups, so that part was a bit crowded. Our guide Felipe was friendly and towed our kids when they got tired.

What a fantastic tour! You could not ask for a better experience or guides. Thank you so much Felipe y Diego!

I have done this to her twice now in the past 12 months, once in the morning and once in the evening. It’s always such a great trip. These guys are super knowledgeable and so helpful and very well organized! I highly recommend this trip, it’s definitely an amazing and fascinating adventure. Be sure to bring bug spray. And tip well!

We went for the bioluminescent kayak trip and it was amazing. Went with a whole crew and felt safe and taken care of the entire time. Felipe, Diego (Choco Loco), Herman and Corrina were all amazing. Come to Puerto Vallarta and enjoy this experience.

I can’t recommend the bioluminescence tour highly enough! We had the most amazing experience tonight. Our guides were so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I really appreciated them for bringing water and snacks during our paddle, and for helping me back into my kayak after snorkeling. The paddle through the arches during sunset was beyond gorgeous. The whole staff was amazing from start to finish and they went above and beyond for our group. I couldn’t believe we ended the paddle with a beautiful bonfire back at their beachside bar complete with hot chocolate, fresh fruit, cookies and smores supplies included. The pizza, guacamole and nachos that we purchased were great, too. The shuttle ride home was such a nice touch. Magical vibes all around and so worth it!

Our bioluminescent kayak excursion was a total 10/10 from start to finish. The Paddle Zone crew made us feel welcome and kept us entertained the whole time. Between the sunset over the water and the fascinating stories about the rocks and wildlife, the vibe was perfect even before we saw the bioluminescence—which was absolutely magical. They literally think of everything so you can just show up and have a good time. The crew takes tons of photos to capture the experience for you, which is a huge plus. They even offer post-trip snacks free of charge; the plantains, cookies, and hot chocolate were such a thoughtful, cozy touch! Do yourself a favor and stay for the bonfire afterward with a pizza and a cold beer. It’s the ultimate way to end an unforgettable evening.

I cannot speak highly enough about this amazing experience. Unbelievable guide who was as knowledge as kind, paddling in the bioluminescence is truly the only way to experience this phenomenon and you won’t find an opportunity as great as Paddle Zones.

Very memorable experience Would definitely recommend. 10/10 Super surreal The kayaking, the sunrise, the snorkeling, everything is rlly nice

Kayaking at sunrise with bioluminescent plankton was truly one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had. I was so lucky it was an early morning tour it felt like I had the entire ocean to myself. The peace, the colors of the sunrise, and the magical glow of the plankton created an atmosphere that’s hard to put into words. The caves were absolutely stunning and added so much to the whole adventure. Everything felt surreal and unforgettable. It was not just an activity, but a truly special moment I’ll always remember. Highly recommend such an amazing place and an unforgettable experience! 🌊✨

Incredible experience, highly recommend. The staff is amazing and makes sure you are always safe and having a good time. It’s not an easy trip, it will require a couple of hours of rowing a kayak in the ocean, at night, keep that in mind if you’re riding double with a young child. Things to know: You’ll depart at 6 and you’ll get back at 9. There offer to keep your bags safe while you are out there, someone is always with your stuff. They provide 1 towel per boat, so if you’re riding double, there’s still only one towel in a dry bag on your kayak, so bring an extra towel if you need to. While kayaking, they will provide water and granola bars if you need. They take pictures of you while you’re out there and it’s free and part of what you paid for so no need to take your phone unless you have a waterproof bag. They have a place for you to change when you get back, good idea to bring change of clothes. In the way back, you can have them radio ahead and order food, take a look at the menu before you leave. When you get back, they have a fire going for you, plus hot cocoa and fruit.

Felipe took us on the morning-bioluminescence tour. We saw whales, manta rays and lots and lots of amazing glow in the dark plankton. It was a magical experience and Felipe was a friendly and knowledgeable guide.

Outstanding tour guides and hosts, very nice experience met lots of cool people from mexico, us, and Canada Great pick up location. Driver Coreina picked us up and brought us back Easy and convenient to get there and back Highly recommend! The luminescent algae was magical.

Most memorable and exceptional hospitality...let me tell you why. We headed out on the water for a kayak to Los Arcos with Diego. After a bit of snorkeling and paddling through the arches, we noticed smoke in the air off to our left. The cartel began starting fires, hijacking cars and buses, and blocking roads all around Puerto Vallarta. This left us stranded in Mismaloya for over 24 hours. Felipe, owner/operator of Paddle Zone gave us assurances that he would look out for us and four other Mexican citizens, and he did just that. His cook showed up and made us pizza, he found chargers for our phones, and set up hammocks to sleep in overnight. He provided updates about the situation in PV and continued to look out for our safety. We will forever be grateful not only for the great kayak experience on the water (focused on our enjoyment and not the stressful activity in PV), and also for the kindness shown when we had no other option than to stay in place, at the Paddle Zone. Thank you so much to Felipe and all those around who helped out.

It was a fantastic experience! Paddle Zone is well organized & professional from pickup to dropoff (gracias Corina). Our guide, Herman, was helpful, informative & friendly. We paddled out to Los Arcos, saw pelicans, frigate birds, & blue-footed boobies, and went through several arches (noisy & dramatic but not dangerous). After dark we went snorkeling and saw great bioluminescence. Back in Mismaloya, we warmed up around a fire & enjoyed nachos, guac, and fried bananas. Highly recommended! BTW don't be scared off by recent disturbances - PV is completely back to normal & safe!

Fantastic two hour kayaking and snorkelling session around Los Arcos with Herman. Excellent instructions, friendly, informative and relaxed. Great refreshments at the end. Highly recommended!

We had an amazing experience with our kayak tour with Paddle Zone! It was a visual natural feast! The kayak ride was a blast as the waves were fairly large. Paddling through the sea caves was exceptionally stunning. My only comment is that it is exceptionally difficult to hear the leaders, but we definitely felt safe.

Fantastic experience unfortunately water was too rough to do the second pass

This was a fantastic excursion. Highly recommended! From pick up to drop off it feels authentic. The guides are fun, engaging and very helpful. You can tell safety is a priority. The paddling was a blast and the caves an added bonus. The sunset was absolutely stunning. Once it was dark enough we had stars above us and what felt like stars in the ocean. Swimming/Snorkeling in the ocean at night was something I never thought I would do but it was unreal. As you swim around the bioluminescence is even brighter. Something you may only ever see once in a lifetime. After all the fun on the water we went back to shore to enjoy delicious pizza, snacks and warmed up by the fire. The entire environment around Mismoyla is beautiful & laid back. We had a truly wonderful time and the photos were an added bonus. Thanks again to the entire staff, just great people!

Great idea. But it’s not the most organized. And it’s really hard to see these bioluminescent plankton, keep your exepectations low. It’s an average tour, good for people with some extra time. Definitely not a must do. The guys are great and friendly though!!

Wonderful trip thank you everyone!

This was an amazing experience. We watched the sun set over the bay and watched the moon rise over the mountains. We had three guides and they were very knowledgeable on the environment, Los Arcos as well as the bioluminescence. We even kayaked through the arches of Los Arcos. One thing I didn't think about was kayaking back to shore in the dark. Each kayaker had a little red light, and being the slowest kayaker, I had a guide with me the whole way. But if you want to feel small in the universe, kayak the ocean in the dark. Thank heavens for the hot chocolate and the beach fire at the end. An experience I will never forget!

I never leave reviews but I needed to leave one for this amazing experience. All of the employees treated us as family and created a one of a kind excursion. Kayaking in the ocean, going through caves, watching the moon rise and snorkeling with magical “fireflies”… spectacular. Snorkeling and Kayaking in the dark were a first for me.

A friend and I took the evening tour. I don’t have a single bad thing to say - the guides were accommodating, informative, and such a good vibe. They gave clear explanations of the tour itinerary, including a demo for how to use the kayaks. While out on the water the guides clearly prioritized our safety while making sure we had as many opportunities for fun as possible. They brought water and snacks, and even took pictures for us, so we didn’t have to worry about anything while on the tour. We could focus entirely on the experience. Which was incredible btw! There’s nothing else like it. You’re swimming in the stars. I will definitely go again next time I’m in town.

I booked a sunset paddle boarding tour with Paddle Zone in Mismaloya, and since no one else signed up, I ended up with a private tour. My guide, Diego, made everything feel easy and relaxed and brought water and snacks to enjoy during breaks on the water. We spent around 2-3 hours on the water, so it’s great for those who are at least somewhat physically fit. The guides are pretty flexible about taking breaks as needed. The tour included snorkeling in bioluminescent water (which was very fun) and they took great photos of me paddling, (included in the package). After several hours on the water, they offered freshly-made pizza and other food for a cost, which was the perfect meal after a long time on the water. The whole staff was friendly and made me feel welcome especially since I was a solo traveler. It was a great value, would highly recommend this tour to everyone!

I highly recommend this tour. It was really amazing to not only see the bioluminescence but also whales, birds, and an amazing sunset.

Great way to see the Arches of Puerto Vallarta- up close & even through them. The guides were fun, friendly & knowledgeable about the local birds & sealife. The water was surprisingly warm , so hopping in was no problem, and the bioluminescence is so very cool to see! In between rowing there were also relaxing moments to enjoy the sunset & scenery. The kayaks were easy to manage too. And afterwards a fun little bonfire & drinks

We went on this adventure not knowing what to expect. The crew was warm and welcoming and very knowledgeable about the local flora, fauna and sea life. We paddled to our destination and experienced the bioluminescence once the sun had set. The crew even dove overboard and rescued our cell phone which had fallen overboard. I would highly recommend this tour. We had a wonderful group of like minded travelers which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Very fun and kind hosts, we had a blast - kayaking and swimming/snorkeling in the dark with the bioluminescence is a unique experience, felt magical! Back at the shore, the setup was very sweet and the snacks provided were a welcome addition. Thank you to the whole team for a wonderful afternoon/evening!

This was by far the best experience we had in Puerto Vallarta! The guides were so friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient! They took so many pictures throughout the trip and we love having those to look back on and remember. My husband got a kayak and I got a paddle board and we both had a great time! The guides do a great job getting the group from place to place. We were lucky enough to see whales thanks to our sharp eyed guide who pointed them out. The sunset was beautiful out on the water! There is a lot of downtime after sunset while you wait for things to get dark enough to really see the bioluminescence, but they make it fun, let you swim or paddle around. I highly recommend using the snorkel masks provided and swimming around to really experience the bioluminescence, it looks so much cooler under the water with a mask than I expected! All in all, just a really fun experience!!!