You can hire a panga by the hour from Mismaloya to take you to Los Arcos. Go early before the tours get there. I've done it before and really enjoyed it. You must be comfortable with getting in the water from off the side of the boat and getting back in via a small ladder.

You can also do the same for Las Marietas, but hire a panga at the marina or Punta Mia. Same set up.

Yelapa, hire a panga from there or hire one from Mismaloya to take you to the beaches between there and Yelapa.

As far as beach entries, there are a few places but not Los Arcos or Las Marietas. Los Arcos would be at least a half mile swim and Las Marietas would be miles of swimming.

I know its for safty but with the tours you have to ware a life jacket...This i dont like not being able to go under the water..(life jacket perventing you going under)Like said in the post above hire your own boat and then you can please your self what you do....(never dive alone even if snorkling)....

But as you say you are first timers to snorkling i would advise that you start of in the swimming pool befor ventureing out into the open sea...It is very diferent when in the open sea..

I think they are first time visitors to PV, not first time snorkelers.

What the heck is a panga???

What the heck is a panga???

I under stand its a boat of some 20 foot with skipper that you can hire...For a duration of time...to take you were you would like to go...

Here's a link from a trip we took to the Marieta through the Cooperative of Corral de Risco (what is now known as Punta Mita), including a picture of a panga.

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g499443-s4/Punta-De-M…

Thanks for the "panga-ology"!