Los Arcos: Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide (4.7★)

Four arches, one open bay

Four stone arches stand on the seaward edge of the Malecón. Below them, tiered steps form a small open-air amphitheater facing the Bay of Banderas. Behind you sits the Plaza de Armas. Above the rooftops rises the crown-topped tower of the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

Nothing is fenced off and there is no gate. You sit on the steps, the water fills the gaps between the arches, and the sea wall drops away to the beach below. The arches are a short stop, but they frame the bay better than any other spot downtown.

Don’t confuse them with the Los Arcos rock formations off Mismaloya. That is a marine park south of town, reached by boat. These arches are on dry land in Centro.

Reaching the Malecón

The arches are on the Malecón facing the main plaza, so most visitors arrive on foot.

• From Zona Romántica: walk north along the waterfront, cross the Río Cuale, and keep going along the Malecón.
• From the Hotel Zone or Marina Vallarta: local buses signed “Centro” run along the coastal avenue. Taxis and ride-hailing apps also drop off near the plaza.
• Driving: street parking downtown is scarce on weekend evenings. A bus or taxi is easier than circling the cobbled streets.

Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the arches and the plaza. Allow an hour if you’re waiting for sunset.

Sunset on the amphitheater steps

The bay faces west, so the sun sets over the water, framed by the arches. Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset to get a seat on the upper steps, which have the cleanest view through the arches. The lower tiers fill first.

On evenings and weekends, the amphitheater works as a free stage. Expect street performers, clowns, dance groups and families on the steps. Seasonal events and festivals also use the space, especially around the December celebrations for the Virgin of Guadalupe at the church behind the plaza.

The site is open 24 hours. Mornings are quieter and better for photos of the arches without people in them. Evenings are when you get the shows.

How the Malecón crowd does it

Los Arcos is one of the most-visited spots in the city, so plan around the crowds.

• Carry small peso notes. Vendors along the Malecón sell elote, churros and raspados, and most work in cash.
• Tip performers. If you watch a show on the steps, drop pesos in the hat. Photographing a costumed performer usually means a tip too.
• Expect sellers. Timeshare and tour sellers work the walkway. A polite “no, gracias” without breaking stride ends the conversation.
• Use the Spanish name. Locals call the site “Los Arcos del Malecón”. Say that to a driver and you won’t end up at the Mismaloya pier.

After dark, the crowds move inland. Walk two minutes to the Plaza de Armas bandstand and the lit-up Parroquia. Then stroll the Malecón north past the bronze sculptures, or south toward the Río Cuale for dinner in Zona Romántica.