Tropical fish of Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a natural aquarium. Beneath the waterline, in protected bays and around the islets, there's an explosion of colors: electric yellow fish, electric blues, coral reds and stripes that look hand-drawn. This visual guide introduces you to the stars of snorkeling in Vallarta: what species you'll see, where to find them and how to recognize them as you swim alongside them.

Angelfish: beauty in blue

One of the first to appear on any snorkeling tour is the yellow angelfish. Its flat, round body of brilliant, pure yellow is unmistakable. You'll find it fluttering between rocks, at cave entrances and exploring crevices looking for food. It's in no hurry, swimming with elegant movements and many snorkelers end up photographing it without realizing there's a different fish right beside it.

Butterflyfish: the wings of the sea

The butterflyfish combines perfect geometric shapes with colors that shouldn't exist in nature. Some are yellow and black in symmetrical patterns, others pale blue with orange stripes. They swim in pairs, together from morning to sunset, rarely separating. Spotting a pair of butterflyfish is considered by many divers a sign of good marine luck.

Parrotfish: the architect of the reef

The parrotfish is the noisiest on the reef: it literally bites the rock, eats algae and spits out sand. That crunching sound you hear underwater is the parrotfish at work. With its powerful mouth and hypnotic colors — emerald green, navy blue and ashy red — it's one of the most photographed. During a snorkeling tour, you'll find several specimens scattered around the diving spots, always busy shaping the reef.

Trumpetfish: thin as a whisper

There's a fish so thin that, seen head-on, it almost vanishes. It's the trumpetfish, an elegant and patient hunter that camouflages itself among corals to ambush smaller fish. Its color is yellowish or greenish, perfectly designed to go unnoticed. If you spot one, consider yourself lucky: not every snorkeling tour gets the privilege of encountering one.

Practical information for observation

The best visibility for observing tropical fish occurs in the early morning hours, when the water is clearest and sunlight penetrates deeper. Fish are most active in calm waters, so avoid choppy days. Stay still in the water — sudden movements scare most species. If you float slowly and let the fish come toward you, you'll have incredible photo experiences.