The first time I went to Puerto Vallarta I immediately fell in love with how the jungle meets the ocean. Mismaloya is a perfect example of this. Los Arcos is a marine reserve just off the coast of Mismaloya beach that is a popular snorkeling spot. If you go up the hill from Mismaloya, you can go deep into the jungle to the eco-resort El Eden. So, in search of a new hike through the jungle, we checked it out.
How to get there: We drove our rental minivan up the 2.5 mile dirt road from Mismaloya to El Eden. There are some steep spots and hair pin turns. So, definitely be cautious. My wife said that next time she would take a taxi -- I am not sure what that means about her opinion of my driving... Seriously, I am glad we did not have any rain while we were there, because I would not have wanted to do that in a rental minivan. If there is any chance of rain, we will opt for a cab next time. In addition, El Eden has a shuttle that does pick ups in Concha Chinas.
Passing by the Predator set, hammocks, rock water slides, a restaurant and the zip line: El Eden is a well-staffed Eco-resort with all sorts of amenities. The area is famous because Predator was filmed in the area. When we arrived, a host explained all of the different options. The prices vary depending on the season and the size of the group. There was a bit of a sales pitch to tempt us to skip the hike and play, but we stayed with our plan. To hike in the park, as of June 2022, it cost 150 pesos per person -- but it was well worth it. The host explained that the hike followed the river and there were various places to stop to swim. They said that if we were "more adventurous", we could cross the second hanging bridge where the trail was a bit harder to find and there were ropes to help you over the boulders. Challenge accepted.
The Swimming Holes: The most popular swimming hole is nearby the restaurant. There are hammocks and small rock water slides. No hiking is necessary. We did not have any problem with mosquitos. However, I would bring mosquito repellent. It is the jungle.
The trail between the restaurant and the second rope bridge is an easy to follow trail along the river. There is about 800 feet of elevation gain, so there are some steep spots. But, it is a nice hike through the jungle. There are various designated swimming holes.
The last swimming hole before the second hanging bridge was a fun spot. Most people stay by the restaurant. We had it all to ourselves.
The "more adventerous" part. About 3/4 of a mile up the trail is the second rope bridge. Just walking across it gives a certain Indiana Jones vibe.
The trail beyond the bridge is only about another quarter mile. However, as advertised, it was more adventurous. There were some parts that you had to scramble over rocks using ropes to help out.
Most of the rope climbs are necessary in order to keep going up the trail. So, it is definitely more adventurous. However, the last rope climb, which is the steepest, is optional. My wife, of course, made it up. I opted to hike around it.
More swimming holes: The trail on the other side of the bridge has another swimming hole near the end. When we were there, it was deep enough to jump off the boulders. Once again, we had the whole place to ourselves. I think that even on a busy day, most people would stop at the bridge. So, it is likely to be more secluded.
The final waterfall: At the end of the trail, there is a fairly large waterfall. I had left my phone by the swimming hole, so we do not have any pictures. But, it was a rewarding finish. Definitely worth the adventure.