Arcos – Animas – Quimixto. By Grupo Naviero de la Bahìa (Bahia Alegre)

The bay is your playground. This $75 Puerto Vallarta boat tour combines sea views, Los Arcos snorkeling, a beach stop, breakfast, lunch, and an onboard open bar in one long day. I like the cheerful crew and the lively return ride, and I like the chance to add parasailing, massages, or a waterfall walk. The main catch is consistency: departure times, food, snorkeling time, and beach arrangements can vary sharply.

You should see this as a large group party cruise, not a quiet sailing trip or a dedicated snorkeling expedition. The boat may carry up to 130 people, and the ride back can include dancing, karaoke, contests, and plenty of noise. If you want a social day at a reasonable price, it can work well. If you prize punctuality, polished facilities, or long time in the water, I would compare other options first.

Key points to know before booking

• Los Arcos snorkeling is brief: The scheduled stop is about 45 minutes, but actual time in the water may be closer to 15 to 20 minutes.
• The beach plan can be confusing: The advertised route includes Las Animas and Quimixto, but the day may involve choosing between the two rather than visiting both.
• The crew is the strongest part: Guides and entertainers such as David, Jorge, Don Gato, Jimmy, and Adrian have been praised for their energy and care.
• Expect a late return: Published timing says about seven hours, but some departures returned around 6:30 or 7:30 p.m.
• Food is basic and uneven: Breakfast is served onboard, while the included beach meal is one selected dish. Drinks at the beach cost extra.
• Bring cash and patience: You need money for the port fee, beach drinks, tips, and optional activities.

What kind of Puerto Vallarta tour is this?

I would book Arcos, Animas, Quimixto for the atmosphere more than for any single stop. Grupo Naviero de la Bahía, also called Bahia Alegre, runs a big motorboat outing built around music, drinks, group entertainment, and a full day along Puerto Vallarta’s southern coast.

The advertised duration is about seven hours, with a 9:15 a.m. meeting time at the Maritime Terminal. In practice, the boat may not leave until 10 or 10:30 a.m. Boarding can involve lines, port charges, ticket checks, and additional pickups. That means you should treat this as an all-day commitment, not an excursion that reliably ends at 4 p.m.

The mood depends heavily on the crew and the crowd. The lower level is generally the party area, while the upper deck offers a calmer ride and better open views. Music and announcements may be mostly in Spanish, though some crew members have made a point of helping English-speaking passengers. David, in particular, has been praised for checking on people and offering explanations in English.

This is not a luxury yacht. Seating is on simple plastic chairs, and movement on the boat can be awkward when the deck is crowded or wet. I would wear secure sandals or water shoes, keep one hand free for railings, and avoid carrying loose items during boarding and transfers.

Starting at the Maritime Terminal

Your meeting point is the API Maritime Terminal on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio in the Las Glorias hotel area. You should arrive early, since the port can fill quickly and the payment line for the sea-terminal fee may become long.

The required port or terminal charge is listed as MX$33 per person. The information also describes it as a Malecón Boardwalk fee, so check the exact wording and amount when you arrive. It is not included in the $75 tour price.

The terminal can feel confusing at first. There may be photographers, sales booths, and people offering unrelated services before you reach the correct boarding area. I would go directly to the line or booth named on your reservation and avoid assuming that the first person who approaches you is part of your tour.

Breakfast is served on the boat, not necessarily at the dock. The meal can include pancakes, eggs with ham, chilaquiles, bread, fruit, coffee, and orangeade. The food is simple rather than refined, but chilaquiles and pancakes have both received good marks. You can expect a practical morning meal while the boat gets underway.

The boat may make an additional pickup at the Los Muertos dock or Zona Romántica. That helps explain why the scheduled start can stretch later than expected. It also means the first hour may feel more like loading and organizing than sightseeing.

The cruise past Puerto Vallarta

One of the nicest early moments is looking back at Puerto Vallarta from the water. The Malecón, waterfront buildings, and the parish church create the postcard view described in the tour plan, and the angle from the bay gives you a different sense of the city than you get from the street.

The cruise itself is part of the attraction. The crew begins serving drinks once the boat is underway, with beer, mixed drinks, soft drinks, and water available from the national open bar. Service has been praised as attentive, with staff collecting empty cups and bringing more drinks.

I would pace yourself. The open bar makes the ride festive, but a hot, moving boat, choppy water, and alcohol can combine badly. Motion sickness has been a real problem for some people, especially on windy days. Sit on the lower level if you are prone to seasickness, take your usual precautions, and do not wait until you feel ill to ask for help.

Los Arcos: beautiful rocks, limited snorkeling

Los Arcos de Mismaloya is the visual star of the route. These offshore rock formations rise from the water south of Puerto Vallarta, and the surrounding area is protected as a national park. The boat pauses here for snorkeling, with equipment included.

The important detail is the length of the stop. The schedule gives 45 minutes, but that includes organizing swimmers, distributing gear, and getting everyone in and out of the water. Actual snorkeling may be only 15 to 20 minutes. If your main goal is seeing fish, this is too short and too dependent on conditions for me to call it a dedicated snorkeling trip.

Water clarity changes with weather. After a storm or rough morning, visibility can be poor, waves can make swimming tiring, and the crew may limit or cancel the water activity. On a calm day, you may see colorful tropical fish around the rocks. Some people have enjoyed clear water and good fish sightings, while others found the water cloudy and saw very little.

You need a moderate level of physical fitness and should be comfortable in open water. Life jackets are available, but the stop is not designed as a slow, supervised swim for weak swimmers. Children and anyone who struggles in waves should listen closely to instructions.

Keep track of the boat and the crew’s departure instructions. One serious account described a passenger group being left behind after failing to hear the announcement. That should not happen, and the absence of a clear head count was a troubling safety concern. Stay close to the meeting point, confirm the return time, and do not assume someone will come looking for you.

Las Animas and the long beach break

Playa Las Animas is a small coastal village with a broad appeal: pretty water, restaurants, beach seating, and optional activities. After the boat anchors offshore, you may transfer to shore in a smaller boat. That extra transfer takes time, particularly with a large group.

The planned beach stay is about three hours. This is where the trip either becomes a relaxing beach day or a frustrating wait, depending on how the restaurant handles the group and when lunch arrives.

Your included meal is one dish per person, with three choices. The exact choices can include items such as chicken fajitas, quesadillas, burgers, or fish. Food quality has been mixed. Some meals have been described as fresh and tasty, while others were cold, dry, salty, overcooked, or very small. I would treat the included lunch as a budget meal, not the reason to choose this excursion.

Lunch may arrive late, sometimes around 3:30 p.m. That can be inconvenient if you are hungry after snorkeling and the morning boat ride. Bring a little extra money for a snack if you need one, but remember that drinks and additional food at the beach are not included. A listed beach drink charge is about MX$70 per person, although actual prices can vary.

Beach chairs and umbrellas also need clarification. Some arrangements may include regular restaurant seating, while loungers and umbrellas may require a purchase or rental. One arrangement described a MX$300 per-person spend that could be used toward food and drinks. Ask before settling into a chair so you do not receive an unexpected charge.

Las Animas offers optional activities such as parasailing, jet skis, banana boats, massages, and a small zip-line style attraction. The supplied prices include about MX$700 per person for parasailing and roughly MX$800 for a two-person jet ski, though you should confirm current prices on arrival. These activities are separate from the tour price and generally require cash.

I like this stop best for people who want choice. You can swim, sit by the water, eat, or pay for an activity. I like it less if you expect a carefully managed private beach experience. Conditions can include limited sand at high tide, dogs near restaurant seating, crowded facilities, and slow service.

Quimixto and the optional waterfall walk

Quimixto offers a more active alternative to sitting at Las Animas. From the village, the walk to the waterfall takes about 30 minutes, followed by roughly 20 minutes at the falls for swimming and cooling off.

The trail adds a worthwhile change of pace. You leave the shore and walk inland through a rural coastal setting, then reach a waterfall pool where you can swim. Horse rental may be available as an alternative to walking, though that cost is not included.

You need to pay close attention to the meeting instructions. The walk may begin without a personal reminder for each person, and at least one person missed it by waiting for a separate announcement. Ask exactly where and when you must meet the group again.

Water flow can depend on recent rain. On one visit, the waterfall had very little water, which made the beach option more appealing. If seeing a strong waterfall is essential, I would not build your whole Puerto Vallarta plan around Quimixto.

The biggest planning issue is the route itself. The written schedule presents Las Animas and Quimixto as separate stops, but the practical experience may require choosing one destination. That is a major point to confirm before booking. If you want the waterfall, say so clearly when the crew organizes the shore activities. If you prefer swimming, restaurants, and beach activities, choose Las Animas.

The return ride is the real finale

The trip back can be the most entertaining part. The lower deck may turn into a dance floor, with music, contests, birthday routines, karaoke, and crew performances. The staff has been praised repeatedly for keeping people involved and for creating a warm, funny mood.

The ride is often conducted in Spanish, but you can still join the dancing and simple group activities. English-speaking passengers have been included, and the crew appears to make an effort when people need help.

The same return ride can also feel too loud or too long. Delays have stretched the day well beyond the stated seven hours, with some arrivals around 6:30 or 7:30 p.m. A mechanical problem, weather, loading delays, or a rescue stop could add more time.

Do not schedule a tight dinner reservation, airport transfer, or evening show after this excursion. The boat returns to the same maritime terminal, but I would keep a generous buffer.

At the end, the crew may gather for applause and request tips. Tips are not included, so bring cash if you want to reward good service. Given the crew’s strong reputation for friendliness and attention, tipping is worth planning for, but it remains your choice.

Is $75 a fair price?

At $75 per person, the package can be good value if you want many inclusions in one day. You receive breakfast, an onboard open bar, snorkeling equipment, one beach meal, insurance, the cruise, and access to several coastal stops or activities.

The value drops if you are paying mainly for snorkeling or a peaceful beach lunch. The water stop is short, meals are basic, beach drinks cost extra, and the group can be very large. Add the MX$33 port fee, drinks at the beach, tips, and any paid activity, and your real spending can rise quickly.

I see the price as fair for a social Mexican boat party with scenery and a beach stop. I would not call it the best value for a focused nature trip. A smaller snorkeling boat or a more carefully organized waterfall excursion may suit you better if that is your priority.

Who should book this boat day?

I would recommend it to friends, families with older children, and couples who enjoy music, dancing, drinks, and a busy group setting. It also suits people who want to sample several activities without arranging separate transport.

You should think twice if you dislike crowds, need firm schedules, have serious motion sickness, or want a polished restaurant meal. The boat can carry up to 130 people, and boarding, beach transfers, and meal service may feel slow.

The tour is offered in English, but some onboard entertainment and announcements may be in Spanish. Service animals are allowed, and the terminal is near public transportation. You still need moderate physical fitness for boat movement, transfers, snorkeling, and the optional Quimixto walk.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, while poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book Arcos, Animas, Quimixto?

Book it if you want a low-cost, high-energy day on Banderas Bay and can accept loose timing, basic food, and a crowded boat. The crew, music, open bar, coastal views, and optional beach activities can make this a memorable outing, especially with friends or family.

Skip it if you want long snorkeling time, quiet sailing, reliable four o’clock return, or a carefully managed beach restaurant. Before paying, confirm whether your departure visits both Las Animas and Quimixto or asks you to choose one. Arrive early, bring cash, pack motion-sickness medicine, and keep your afternoon and evening free.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Terminal Maritima API on Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio in the Las Glorias area of Puerto Vallarta.

What time should I arrive?

The stated start time is 9:15 a.m. You should arrive early because port payment and boarding lines can be long.

How long is the excursion?

The advertised duration is approximately seven hours, but actual return times have ranged later, sometimes around 6:30 or 7:30 p.m.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Breakfast may include pancakes, eggs with ham, chilaquiles, bread, fruit, coffee, and orangeade. It is served onboard.

Is lunch included?

Yes. One beach meal per person is included, with three choices. Drinks at the beach are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included at Los Arcos. The snorkeling stop is scheduled for about 45 minutes, though time in the water may be shorter.

Are drinks included?

An onboard national open bar is included. Drinks purchased at the beach are extra, and tips are not included.

Is the Quimixto waterfall walk required?

No. The waterfall visit is optional. The walk takes about 30 minutes, and horse rental may also be available at an additional cost.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund for a personal cancellation.