Los Arcos is the famous rock structure that sits out in the water, not too far off the shore at the south end of Puerto Vallarta’s bay.

It’s most famous for it’s snorkeling tours, so to discuss Los Arcos is to discuss it’s snorkeling.

Getting to Los Arcos on one of the tours means first making a booking at any one of the tour companies you can find either online or at hundreds of locations around Vallarta… trust me, you won’t miss them

This part is actually the underrated near highlight of the trip. Making your way down the coastline on a clear morning offers a perfect view of the Sierra Madre mountains rising up into the mist in the backdrop of downtown Vallarta.

Continuing further south you bear witness to the houses and hotels on the hill at the picturesque Conchas Chinas. You can pick out your “dream house”, and marvel at the precision of the hill built homes that remain sometimes precariously in place no matter the weather.

Finally the ride comes to an end as you approach the looming rock structure, watching it grow ever larger than it appeared in the pictures the closer you get. Then it’s time for the snorkeling.

Even if NOT for the boat ride, the snorkeling at Los Arcos, in it’s own right, is certainly worth the money and the ride out and for a number of reasons.

1. Snorkeling at Los Arcos, you won’t have trouble seeing fish… lots of them. After you dive in the water, your tour guides will start throwing fish food out into the water and before you know it you’ll have fish of multiple shapes and sizes frolicking about you, brushing your arms and legs. Even if it’s not technically “natural” because the fish were induced to come near you, the experience of wading through full schools of hungry fish is a special one.

2. The scenery. Paddling your way around the rocks also makes for a unique snorkeling adventure. You can chance your luck seeking out new species of fish in different areas of the rock structure as you take in it’s full scope from all possible angles. If you get the right day you should also be able to do so without being totally incapacitated by the number of other tourists sharing the journey.

3. Variety. Depending on the tour you choose, your boat will make at least 2 stops at different points at the rock structure offering different underwater architecture and supposedly a little variety in the species you see. Even at our first stop at the front of the largest main rock, the number of fish species was not too bad. While I couldn’t tell you the names, there were grand old types with their grumpy faces and backs shining with orange and blue, small, slender skinny types with sharp sword like mouths, and little black and gold types utilizing their speed to dart in and out steal bread from their bigger grandfatherly counterparts.

The tours last a few hours. At first I wondered whether that would be too short, but as it turns out it’s just enough time to see all the fish and all the scenery you can and make your way there and back without getting bored or seasick.

Regardless of how long you’re in Vallarta, the Los Arcos experience is unique and one you must not miss.

Technorati Tags: Puerto Vallarta Tours

So rather than writing about any individual tour I’ll give you a couple of thoughts on the general experience that might help you make your decision as to whether or not it’s something you want to make a part of your Puerto Vallarta trip.

We took the “Canopy Tours” ATV ride into the Sierra Madre mountains.

If you’ve ridden an ATV before you’ll know what to expect in that regard, but if you haven’t…

Riding an ATV is more like riding a one seater car with no roof than it is riding a motorbike. There’s no balance issues to worry about, the vehicle seems stuck to the road regardless of the ruggedness of the terrain, and the entire ride you can operate in one single gear without loss of acceleration or power.

Our tour started out winding our way from the top of the mountain to the bottom along 2 car width mountain trails. The terrain is always changing, taking you from trail, to water, to road, to sand and back. The tour guide leads the way and you’re mostly free to make your own speed, lagging as far behind him or as close to him as you choose, while he keeps a relaxed but watchful eye to make sure you haven’t fallen off any of the cliffs you’ve rounded on your journey.

Speed wise you’re able to hit about 50km/h if you really try but the most fun is had in sliding your way around corners, letting the bike attack seemingly treacherous bumps and rocks, and intentionally forcing your way over river crossings with an irresponsible amount of speed sending water flying into the air all over you and hopefully the person behind you if you’re lucky.

Along the way you’ll pass local farms and their menageries, a random goat or donkey here and there, and of course, breathtaking scenery in abundance.

The highlight of our ride was a stop at a long clearing that gave you a majestic view of the Sierra Madre against a blue cloudless sky. The mountains are calm as always, sharing with you for a moment that deliciously clear and crisp air they normally keep to themselves.

The tour you choose will dictate the sites you see, but all tours will offer something special so you’re unlikely to miss out on much regardless of which you opt for in the end.

Finally let me leave you with some tips for your Puerto Vallarta ATV experience.

1. At the start of the tour they offer you goggles that are optional. Me, in my stubbornly tough and masculine ways declined the generous offer, being far too hardcore for this wimpy protective accessory. Half way through the tour, stopping periodically to wipe dust out of my eyes, I came to regret that decision. You can take your goggles on and off as you please and as the dust levels vary, but they’re surely good to have.

2. Take water. Depending on the length of your tour it’s pretty likely, with all that dust spraying up into your face that you’ll be thirsty before long. You CAN ride an ATV with a backpack, so take advantage of that and keep yourself hydrated.

3. Take your time. Your bike will be plenty fast enough to catch up to the group if you want to lag behind and take a little extra time to see one particular site for a while longer.

That’s about all I can tell you. ATV riding is a blast regardless of the tour you take and if you’re so inclined, a little adventure driven, you should be sure to include an ATV ride on your Vallarta itinerary.

Technorati Tags: Puerto Vallarta Tours