Los Arcos, Las Ánimas and Quimixto: Which Day Cruise From Puerto Vallarta?
4 min read
For most people, the south shore day is the Los Arcos, Ánimas and Quimixto Boat Tour: €67.31 per person for 7 hours, 4.3 stars from 8 reviews, and the only one of the four whose description lists snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding together with a visit to the Quimixto waterfall. It is also the cheapest of the four. The pricier ones add hours and an open bar, not obviously more beach.
Four boats, one route
All four head south of the bay to the same three places: the Los Arcos rock formations for snorkelling, Las Ánimas beach, and the waterfall near Quimixto. The listings describe the waterfall as seasonal in two cases, so ask the operator whether it is running on your date. What changes is the boat, the length of the day and what the title promises on board.
Be realistic about the evidence. The most reviewed of the four has 10 reviews, the others have 4 or 8. A 3.0 from four people and a 4.3 from eight are both signals, not verdicts.
Compared
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Arcos, Ánimas, and Quimixto Boat Tour | 7 hours | €67.31 | 4.3 from 8 reviews | Active swimmers on a budget |
| Mega Catamaran Tour All-Inclusive Beach | 6.5 hours | €89.23 | 4 from 10 reviews | A sociable, music-and-food day |
| Arcos, Animas, Quimixto + Open Bar Onboard | 8 hours | €97.45 | 3.8 from 4 reviews | Anyone for whom the open bar is the point |
| Beach, Breakfast, Lunch & Open Bar | 8 hours | €98.94 | 3 from 4 reviews | Breakfast and lunch named in the title |
| Full-Day Hike to 6 Hidden Beaches & Snorkeling | 6 hours | €32.96 | 4.8 from 498 reviews | Walkers who would rather not take a boat |
The cheapest: snorkelling, kayaks and paddleboards
Its description is the most concrete of the group: a boat tour to Los Arcos, Playa Las Ánimas and Quimixto with snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and the waterfall. That reads like a day you spend in and on the water. What the description does not say is whether lunch or drinks come with the €69.40, so check the inclusions list before you pay.
The catamaran: more party, shorter day
The Mega Catamaran listing sells atmosphere: water activities, Mexican food, a DJ, the Quimixto waterfall, and ATV and horse riding named as options. It costs €19.83 more than the boat above and runs half an hour shorter. If you picture a floating beach party, this is the format. If you picture quiet snorkelling, it is not. The ATV and horse riding appear in the description, so find out whether they are part of the price.
See dates and prices for the Mega Catamaran Tour
The two eight-hour open-bar trips
These two share the same description word for word: an eight-hour sail with snorkelling at Los Arcos, a swim under a seasonal waterfall and time on Las Animas beach. The first names the open bar in its title and costs €31.08 more than the cheapest boat for one more hour. The second adds breakfast and lunch to its title and costs €1.53 more again, with the lowest rating of the group, 3.0 stars. Four reviews each is too few to say whether the operator or the day is at fault. Unless the open bar is the whole reason you are going, the extra hour is not obviously worth more than €30.
See dates and prices for the Arcos, Animas, Quimixto + Open Bar trip
Or walk there
Playa las Animas is also on the route of the hike to six hidden beaches. Its description names Colomitos Beach and Playa las Animas, plus a chance to snorkel; it does not mention the Quimixto waterfall. For €32.96 and with the most reviews of any tour in town, it is the better value if you can walk for a morning. The hidden beaches guide covers it in detail.
See dates and prices for the Full-Day Hike to 6 Hidden Beaches
Who should skip these
Anyone who gets seasick, since this is a full day on the water. Anyone who only wants Los Arcos: the shorter trips in the Los Arcos price guide cover just that, and is Los Arcos worth it asks whether you need more. Families should read each booking page for minimum ages, since none is stated here. For the wider choice, the boat tours category lists every boat day.
Our recommendation
Book the Los Arcos, Ánimas and Quimixto Boat Tour at €67.31 if you want one full day on the south shore. Choose the catamaran for a party day, the open-bar trips only if drinking is part of the plan, and the hike if you would rather walk than sail.
