MISMALOYA
And the butterflies in Mismaloya
And the butterflies in Mismaloya
Mismaloya was first made famous in 1964 when the movie “Night of the Iguana” was filmed here. It is a small village nestled at the base of the Sierra Madres with a population of about 500 people. It’s is built along the scenic Mismaloya River with steep hills and dense jungle on each side.
Mismaloya Bay is a lovely deep water cove mostly protected from winds and rough water. There is a hotel on the north end of the beach, on the south end there are several beachfront palapa restaurants. Almost half the population of Mismaloya work with tourists, in the hotel on the beach, operating boats for fishing and snorkeling, or in restaurants in the village or on the beach.
There are several small stores in town, as well some restaurants and a large Tequila tasting and educational building.
Los Arcos are located just outside the bay. It is a National Marine Park and the black coral has made a great recovery. Los Arcos is a popular place for snorkeling and beginning scuba diving. You can see a enormous number and variety of fish, morays and turtles. Humpbacks whales migrate to this area and can be seen November through April. We have also see Orcas, giant manta rays and school of flying fish right in the bay. You can hire a boat and the gear you need on the Mismaloya beach. You can also see a great variety of colorful fish and sea turtles from the condo terrace.
Sea turtles lay their eggs on the Mismaloya Beach every year, and as this is a busy beach the hotel collects the eggs and release them when they hatch. You can hire a boat for fishing trips, a day trip for snorkeling in other areas, or one way to Las Animas, Yelapa or Puerto Vallarta.
Mismaloya Bay is a lovely deep water cove mostly protected from winds and rough water. There is a hotel on the north end of the beach, on the south end there are several beachfront palapa restaurants. Almost half the population of Mismaloya work with tourists, in the hotel on the beach, operating boats for fishing and snorkeling, or in restaurants in the village or on the beach.
There are several small stores in town, as well some restaurants and a large Tequila tasting and educational building.
Los Arcos are located just outside the bay. It is a National Marine Park and the black coral has made a great recovery. Los Arcos is a popular place for snorkeling and beginning scuba diving. You can see a enormous number and variety of fish, morays and turtles. Humpbacks whales migrate to this area and can be seen November through April. We have also see Orcas, giant manta rays and school of flying fish right in the bay. You can hire a boat and the gear you need on the Mismaloya beach. You can also see a great variety of colorful fish and sea turtles from the condo terrace.
Sea turtles lay their eggs on the Mismaloya Beach every year, and as this is a busy beach the hotel collects the eggs and release them when they hatch. You can hire a boat for fishing trips, a day trip for snorkeling in other areas, or one way to Las Animas, Yelapa or Puerto Vallarta.
In Mismaloya you can hire horses and follow the trail along the river to the restaurant El Eden. Have a nice meal and slide down the rock slide into the natural pool. Especially beautiful in late summer and early fall when there is more water in the river and the jungle is full of butterflies.
Just past the village (an easy walk) is a large zoo. You follow meandering paths between the different enclosures and you are able to feed many of the animals with food you buy at the front gate. There is also an area where children (any age) can play with baby lions, tigers and panthers while mom and dad take photos.
Just past the village (an easy walk) is a large zoo. You follow meandering paths between the different enclosures and you are able to feed many of the animals with food you buy at the front gate. There is also an area where children (any age) can play with baby lions, tigers and panthers while mom and dad take photos.
BUTTERFLIES
Mismaloya is known as the richest site in Jalisco for overall butterfly diversity, with 315 species recorded to date, while the true diversity along the Mismaloya River could be as great as 430 species.
The best time to see them is towards the end of, and shortly after the end of the rainy season. For more information click on this link: The North American Butterfly Association |