Los Arcos snorkel trip

Granite islands rise straight out of the water off Mismaloya, cut through with arches, tunnels and caves, and the sea floor drops away beside them into one of the deepest parts of Banderas Bay. That is Los Arcos, a protected marine park and the most popular snorkelling spot near town. Puffer fish, angelfish, clownfish, needlefish, eagle rays, octopus and lobster live on the rocks, with pelicans and blue-footed boobies on top.

The boats are mostly small shaded pangas leaving from Los Muertos Pier, the Los Peines marina or Mismaloya beach, and the trip runs two to three hours, often with a beach stop or a second site such as Majahuitas. When the sea is rough, some boats switch to the sheltered cove at Colomitos instead. You need to be able to swim, and biodegradable sunscreen is the rule. The piers charge a small cash marina fee. It gets busy in high season, so the earliest boats find it quietest.