Aug 5, 2024
Nothing beats experiencing Los Arcos with a marine biologist - We thoroughly enjoyed our snorkeling trip to Los Arcos! Thalia, Ana, and Angel are awesome. They know their way around Los Arcos so well and given that Thalia is a marine biologist, she imparted much knowledge about the flora and fauna around Los Arcos. Thalia and Ana are also amazing wildlife spotters and because they know that area so well, they even knew the spots where the eels generally hide and managed to spot them to show us! We enjoyed this trip so much we went ahead and booked another trip with them a couple days later to swim with wild dolphins. Definitely book a trip with Vallarta Natours (Thalia) if you want a great experience!
Review provided by Viator
Jul 3, 2023
Great trip! - Such a great choice for our family of four. We knew we didn't want a big 8 hour long booze cruise with 100 people. It was fantastic to go out with just the four of us and our super knowledgeable helpful guide! (I'm terrible at names... I want to say it was Christina? But that doesn't sound right.) She helped us navigate where to snorkel safely, see great things, and stay away from crowds when other boats came. There are definitely some currents so you'll want to be a good swimmer or at least let her know what your swimming level is so she can make the experience good for you. I loved that we got to go through the arches! and the water was clear and we could see to the bottom easily. It's not crystal blue Caribbean water, but it was still beautiful. The boat was comfortable and had shade. We got a nice sightseeing trip on the way back and got to see a lot of sights from the water and learn about the area. It was really fun! 100% would recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 5, 2022
Wonderful family tour - Our morning tour with Thalia and Angel was the highlight of our Puerto Vallarta vacation! My family (5 adults, 2 kids) booked a private trip to Los Arcos. When the kids decided they weren't as into the snorkeling as expected, Thalia and Angel were incredibly gracious and offered to take us to look for dolphins with the remainder of our time. With Thalia's expertise on the marine life, we were able to find a group of dolphins and follow them around the bay. As a bonus we even say a whale (despite being there in late-May, far out of typical whale season). They were amazing guides and we can't wait to go back and join them for another tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 23, 2022
Curated, adventurous experience - We were so thrilled to have this private tour with our family--honestly, it was one of the highlights of our trip! We saw tons of fish, rays, dolphins, sea turtles, and even a random iguana swimming way out in the water!
Angel and Talia were wonderful hosts, and timed our tour for earlier in the day to avoid the insanely large crowds (literally hundreds of people) which were arriving on giant boats and churning up the water just as we left! Our kids were thrilled to ride on the front and second deck of the boat and to eat all of the delicious treats, including homemade cookies and aguas frescas that Talia brought for us.
Everything was very relaxed and professional, and the private boat was SUCH a better value than the larger tours where tons of people are kicking you in the face while you're snorkeling and the boats are mass polluters.
I highly recommend this tour, and would book it again if we return to PV!
Review provided by Viator
Aug 25, 2021
Great experience - My husband and I enjoyed this trip very much. Thalia and her Captain were very friendly and easy going. They kept us away from the larger crowds, which is exactly what we were after! Thalia is very passionate about marine wildlife and loves sharing her knowledge. We had a great time!!
Review provided by Viator
May 13, 2021
Amazing and intimate - Anyone get go snorkelling with xyz tours. What sets vallarta natours from the rest is your guide Thalia. She is a polyglot and marine biologist, thus super knowledgeable about the marine life you'll encounter.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 22, 2020
Great trip! - We had signed up for the small-boat tour but ended up with a private tour because the other party didn’t show. It was a wonderful experience - we lucked out and saw both whales and dolphins on our way to Los Arcos. The water was not as clear as prior snorkeling we have done but the number and size of fish was incredible - and they swim right up to you. Our guide Lisandro provided knowledgeable guidance to the nature and history of the area. We got additional time touring the beautiful coastline south of Los Arcos and overall the team was very accommodating to our preferences and requests. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 30, 2019
Perfect Snorkeling Adventure - Thank you Trip Advisor for helping me make the perfect selection for a snorkeling adventure. I already clearly knew what I did NOT want: A large, loud, boozy party boat (with dancing deck hands) experience. I was looking for a small outfit that would take good care of my small group of friends and give us the best possible snorkeling experiences near PV. After carefully reading all the reviews I chose Vallarta Natours. It was a fantastic choice – right from my first e-mail inquiry to our final good byes this was a excellent experience. Thalia brings her passion for the ocean, as a Marine Biologist, and marries it with eco-tourism. The result is great for us – her guests. The boat is spotless, the captain inspires confidence and works in perfect concert with Thalia. It is an added bonus that Vallarta Natours is a woman owned business in a male dominated field.
Thalia joined us in the water for each of our stops – she brought interesting creatures up to the surface for us to see up close and handle (with respect). She had her eyes on us at all times if we had questions or needed assistance. The initial full day (7 hour) trip was so great that we also tagged on a second ½ day trip to swim in the ocean with wild dolphins. Here Thalia’s love of the ocean really shines. She has studied dolphins and has a great depth of insight about their behavior and nature. This trip was a highlight of our week in PV. Do yourself a favor if you want a safe, personalized adventure and contact Thalia. She is a pleasure to work with – and if you are lucky you might get one of her home baked cookies. I can’t wait to return during whale season to enjoy Thalia’s Vallarta Natours again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 14, 2018
Clear Comfortable Ocean - A must see when visiting PV. You can swim through the tunnels and the view is amazing. The fish are plentiful and the water is easy to get into. The snorkeling is even better than expected and comparable to Hawaii. Loved this stop in our private excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 31, 2021
Amazing Guide - Really enjoyed snorkeling once in the water but felt very sea sick while on boat. ThalÃa was a great guide and went above and beyond providing us with homemade sandwiches and cookies. Highlight of our trip was seeing a sea turtle!
Review provided by Tripadvisor