About this tour
Los Arcos is the cluster of granite islands sitting a few hundred metres off Mismaloya, twenty minutes south of Puerto Vallarta, and the arches that give it its name are sea caves the swell has cut clean through the rock. The whole formation is a protected national marine park, which is the reason the water around it is still clear enough to watch fish from the surface — and the reason a paddle board is a better way to see it than almost anything with an engine.
That is what this lesson is built around. It is private, it lasts about four hours, and it starts on the sand rather than in the water: how to stand, where to put your feet, how to hold the paddle so your arms do not do all the work, and how to fall off without hurting yourself or the board. Only when that is sorted does the group head out, and the bay here is protected enough that beginners are usually up and paddling within the first ten minutes.
From the water the scale of the place changes. You paddle out around the rock walls with frigate birds and pelicans overhead, past the arches themselves, over water that goes from turquoise to deep blue as the bottom drops away. Your instructor sets the pace and the route by what your group can handle, so it works equally well as a gentle float for two people who have never done it and as a real paddle for anybody who wants to cover ground.
Quick specs
- Duration
- 4 hours · private
- Departures
- Daily · Morning or afternoon
- Difficulty
- Beginner-friendly — no experience needed
- Group size
- Private · minimum 2 people
- Minimum age
- Confirmed at booking
- Maximum weight
- Confirmed at booking
- Languages
- English & Spanish instructors
- Meeting point
- Downtown Puerto Vallarta · we drive south to Mismaloya
Tour highlights
- 🏝️Los Arcos up closePaddle around the granite arches and sea caves of a protected national marine park.
- 🐠Water you can see throughThe park is protected, so the visibility around the rocks is the best in the bay.
- 👤Private instructorOne instructor for your group only, adjusting the route and the pace to your level.
- 🛶All equipment includedBoard, paddle, leash and vest — you turn up in a swimsuit.
- 🕊️Birds and marine lifeFrigate birds, pelicans and fish along the rock walls; rays and turtles turn up often enough to mention.
- 🚐Ride from downtownThe drive south to Mismaloya and back is part of the tour.
Photo gallery
Photos: Los Arcos de Mismaloya and paddle boarding in Banderas Bay.
How the day works
- Meet at the shopYou meet in downtown Puerto Vallarta, where the boards are loaded and the group heads south.
- Drive to MismaloyaAbout twenty-five minutes down the coast road to the beach opposite Los Arcos.
- Lesson on the sandBalance, stance, paddle technique, turning and how to get back on the board — before anyone goes in.
- Out to the archesYou paddle out across the protected water toward the rock formations, with the instructor alongside.
- Around the rocksTime around the arches and the rock walls, watching the fish and the birds, at whatever pace suits your group.
- Back to the beachPaddle in, hand back the gear and drive back into Puerto Vallarta.
What's included
Included
- Private paddle board lesson with a dedicated instructor
- Board, paddle, leash and life vest
- Shore instruction before going into the water
- Transport from the meeting point in Puerto Vallarta to Mismaloya and back
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities for your instructor
- Photos and video from the water
- Airport or hotel-zone pickup (available for a small extra charge on request)
What to bring
Wear a swimsuit with something light over it, and bring a towel and a change of clothes for the drive back. A hat, sunglasses with a strap and reef-safe sunscreen matter more than usual here: you are standing up, on the water, with the sun coming at you twice. Bring water and a little cash for anything you want at the beach, and leave phones and cameras behind unless they are genuinely waterproof and tied to you — the board goes over eventually, that is part of it.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to paddle board?
No. Most people who take this lesson have never stood on a board before. You practise on the sand first and the water at Mismaloya is protected, so beginners are normally paddling within the first ten minutes.
Is the instructor just for us?
Yes. It is a private lesson for your group with a dedicated instructor, minimum two people, so the route and the pace are set by what you want rather than by a schedule.
What equipment do you provide?
Board, paddle, leash and life vest. You bring a swimsuit, a towel and sun protection.
Do I have to be a strong swimmer?
You need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim a short distance. You wear a vest and the instructor is beside you, but this is the open bay.
What will we see out there?
The arches and sea caves themselves, frigate birds and pelicans on the rocks, and fish through the water along the walls. Rays and turtles show up often, and in winter you sometimes hear whales before you see them.
Are food and drinks included?
No. Bring water, and cash if you want anything from the beach afterwards.
How long is the whole thing?
About four hours from meeting downtown to being dropped back, including the drive each way and the lesson on the sand.
What if it is windy?
Wind is the one thing that changes a paddle board day. Mornings are usually calmest, and if the afternoon is blown out your instructor will shorten the route or suggest moving you to another slot rather than fight it.