1. DO NOT FISH OR INTERACT WITH THE FAUNA OR FLORA

2. DO NOT TOUCH OR GO BEYOND THE BUOYAGE

3. DO NOT TRANSIT, DISEMBARK OR CLIMB THE 5 ISLETS

4. NO SPILLS

5. MAINTAIN A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 10 METERS (30 FEET) FROM EACH OF THE 5 ISLETS

6. DO NOT EXCEED A SPEED OF 5 MILES PER HOUR IN THE PERIMETER OF THE LOS ARCOS ISLETS AREA

7. NO TYPE OF AERIAL DEVICE IS ALLOWED IN THE AREA

8. RESPECT AND COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS FOR RECREATIONAL DIVING WITH OR WITHOUT A TANK FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SCUBA AND FREE DIVING ASSOCIATIONS

9. COMMIT TO THE CONSERVATION OF THE AREA

10. REPORT TO ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES ANY VIOLATIONS OF ESTABLISHED GOOD PRACTICES

Since 1975, the Arches of Mismaloya have been declared a refuge area for the protection of marine flora and fauna through a Secretarial Agreement. However, in the year 2000, with the creation of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas, they were not considered as a protected natural area due to their small size, leaving them without official protection ever since. Despite this, they have always remained the most prominent natural landmark in the municipality of Puerto Vallarta.

Over time, the Arches of Mismaloya have become a popular tourist attraction, almost a must-see for any visitor, due to their scenic beauty and the opportunity they offer for a significant encounter with nature.

Within this area, you can find countless species of flora and fauna, and each of the ecosystems present here is crucial for the conservation of at least one species considered to be at some conservation risk, such as the low deciduous forest for the nesting of the Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) or the Sargassum for the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia agassizii).

For this reason, since 2022, a group of researchers and ecotourism service providers have been advocating before SEMARNAT for the official protection of the Arches of Mismaloya through a secretarial agreement that designates the area as a critical habitat for the preservation of wild flora and fauna species.

That's why we invite you to watch these videos and contribute to the protection of this important place by following good practices during your visit to the area.

A small group of volunteers has been pushing to achieve a functional and lasting protection of Los Arcos. It is safe to say that every resident and most visitors to the area will have seen, visited, or at least heard of Los Arcos. They truly are the icon of Banderas Bay. You will find them on local websites, postcards, and promotional posters. Hotels and city sights are named after them. Yet, over the past decades and with ever-increasing speed today, these islets are being threatened by a combination of factors well known to all of us involved in ocean conservation. Lack of formal protection results in overuse and illegal fishing of the area, and a general disregard for the fragility of the ecosystem. Pollution, ghost nets, and irresponsible developers and tour operators also have taken their toll.

Yet, we do not give up. So far, we have been able to gather over 3,000 physical citizen signatures to promote the protection of Los Arcos and further collected over 43.000 signatures via the Change.org platform in a petition directed to the governor of the state of Jalisco. We convinced 28 out of the 29 candidates in the last municipal and national chamber of deputies elections to commit to the protection of Los Arcos in writing. We have personally met with local communities, governmental agencies, and academic institutions. A few days ago, with the help of progressive municipal officials, we managed to officially institute July 28th as the Los Arcos de Mismaloya Day.

We hope an annual celebration of this little gem is a step towards raising awareness regarding its beauty, importance, and the need to assure its future conservation. There is so much more to be done, but we trust we are on the right path forward.