Puerto Vallarta Private Yacht Adventure 5 hours + 1 hour Free

Los Arcos is the star here: those great rock formations rise from the sea south of Puerto Vallarta, and you see the bay from a much better angle while cruising toward them. You can snorkel, jump in for a swim, then spend time at Colomitos or Las Animas. A private boat gives your group room to set the pace, rather than follow a crowd.

I like the practical extras, especially the floating lily pad, fresh fruit, guacamole, bottled water, ice, and towels. I also like the crew’s flexibility. Luis and Antonio have taken groups to a quieter cove when snorkeling was poor, and one group even watched dolphins and had a freshly caught fish prepared as sashimi.

The main catch is cost. At $1,578.07 for up to 15 people, this works best for a family gathering or large group. For six people, it is about $263 per person, and lunch at Las Animas costs extra. Jellyfish or poor water conditions can also limit snorkeling.

Key points to know before you book

• Los Arcos comes first: Cruise past Puerto Vallarta’s southern shoreline to the city’s most recognizable offshore rock formations.
• Your group controls the day: The private boat can pause for swimming, snorkeling, or a quieter cove when conditions change.
• Colomitos adds a small-beach stop: Use the floating platform at Playa Colomitos or nearby Playa el Paredón.
• Las Animas is the lunch stop: Choose from beach restaurants serving fresh seafood, but you pay for lunch and a small boat transfer may be needed to reach shore.
• The food and drinks are useful, not decorative: Expect seasonal fruit, guacamole, 24 bottles of water, ice, and 12 beers or sodas.
• The numbers favor a full group: The price is easier to justify with 10 to 15 people than with a small party.

Leaving Marina Vallarta at 10:00 a.m.

Your day begins at Av. Paseo de la Marina Sur 214 in Marina Vallarta. Parking at the pier is included, which is helpful if your group has rented a car or is coming from a nearby hotel. The boat returns to this same meeting point after roughly six hours.

The private format matters from the start. You are not being folded into a large boatload of strangers, and the entire group can travel together. The advertised capacity is 15 people, making this a natural choice for a family reunion, birthday, wedding party, or cruise group.

Do keep an eye on the included quantities. The boat carries 24 bottles of water, 12 beers or sodas, 12 towels, seasonal fruit, guacamole, snacks, and ice. That is generous for a smaller party, but a group of 15 will use those supplies quickly. You can bring extra drinks, and the crew has served them to groups before.

The boat heads south from Marina Vallarta toward Los Arcos de Mismaloya. The ride itself is part of the appeal. Instead of seeing the bay only from shore, you get a broad view back toward Puerto Vallarta, its waterfront, and the curving coast.

Los Arcos and the first swim

Los Arcos de Mismaloya is the main natural attraction on this route. The formations are easy to recognize, with tall rock shapes rising from the water and openings that make for memorable photographs. The area is also used for snorkeling.

The conditions decide how much you get from this stop. On a clear day, you can put on the supplied snorkeling equipment and look for fish around the rocks. On another day, water conditions may be less helpful. One group could not snorkel because of jellyfish, while another found the first snorkeling spot disappointing and moved to Mahauitas Cove to see fish.

That flexibility is a real benefit of a private charter. You are not guaranteed perfect visibility or marine life, but the crew can adjust the plan instead of simply ending the water activity. Luis and Antonio have moved groups to a different cove, and Carlos and Antonio have also received praise for attentive service.

Do not book this as a guaranteed wildlife trip. Some groups have seen dolphins, and one group began its day with whale watching, but whales and dolphins are chance sightings. The reliable part is the coastal cruise and the chance to stop in the water.

Colomitos, Playa el Paredón, and the floating platform

After Los Arcos, the boat can continue toward Colomitos or Playa el Paredón. These smaller coastal stops offer a more relaxed setting than the main rock formations.

Colomitos is especially appealing if you want a simple swim break. The floating lily pad gives your group a place to sit, climb onto, or use as a jumping-off point. It turns a basic ocean stop into something more playful, especially for families and mixed-age groups.

The supplied details also allow for a stop at Playa el Paredón. The exact choice depends on the group and sea conditions, so you should confirm the preferred route with the crew when you meet. The private format makes that conversation possible.

The water may be the best part of the day for some people, but it is not guaranteed to suit every swimmer. Jellyfish can make snorkeling unpleasant or impossible, and a snorkel stop may produce fewer fish than expected. You still have the option of swimming or simply staying aboard with a cold drink and a snack.

The crew’s willingness to alter the route is more valuable here than a rigid schedule. A disappointing snorkel site does not have to spoil the afternoon if the boat can stop at another cove. Ask about conditions before everyone gets in the water.

Las Animas for seafood and beach time

Las Animas is the final major stop and the place to consider lunch. The beach has several restaurants serving fresh seafood, so you can choose a meal on shore rather than eat only the snacks supplied on the boat.

The setting is casual and beach-oriented. This is not a formal restaurant excursion, and the quality of the meal can vary by restaurant and by personal taste. If you like seafood, this is a convenient way to combine lunch with time near the water. If you prefer to control the cost, remember that lunch is not included.

There is one practical detail to sort out. A small boat transfer to get off at Playa Las Animas is not included. The yacht may not pull directly onto the beach, so ask the crew how the transfer will work and what it costs before you commit to lunch ashore.

Some groups choose Las Animas for the meal, while others spend more time swimming at nearby coves before returning. You can use the stop as your beach break, your lunch stop, or both. The schedule has enough room for the crew to shape the day around your group.

What is included on the yacht

The inclusions make the day easier, especially for a private group that does not want to organize every small item. You receive snorkeling equipment, bottled water, seasonal fruit, guacamole, ice, towels, and 12 beers or sodas.

The fresh fruit and guacamole are especially useful between swims. They are light, simple snacks that fit a day on the water. Bottled water matters more than it may sound, since six hours in the sun can leave you thirsty even when you are spending much of the time in the sea.

Twelve towels are included. That matches a group of 12, but not the full maximum capacity of 15, so a larger party may want to ask about extra towels. The same point applies to the 12 beers or sodas.

The boat also includes parking at the pier. That saves a small extra expense and removes one chore from the start of the day. You may bring additional drinks, and the crew can serve them, but the supplied information does not specify rules for other food or alcohol. Ask before bringing a large cooler.

The crew and the private-tour advantage

Several crew members are named in the booking information and group feedback: Luis, Antonio, and Carlos. Karla handled arrangements for one group of six, so she may be your contact before the trip rather than a person on the boat.

The most useful quality to look for is adaptability. Luis and Antonio have taken a group to a private beach, stopped for swimming, and even prepared an impromptu sashimi dish from a fish they caught. That is unusual, but it should be treated as a lucky extra, not part of the promised service.

The crew has also helped groups change plans when the first snorkeling area was not productive. That can make a major difference. A standard shared excursion may keep moving according to its schedule, while a private captain has more reason and ability to respond to your group.

You should still speak clearly about what matters to you. Tell the crew if your group wants more swimming, more photographs, time at Las Animas, or a slower cruise. A private boat gives you more control, but only if you use that control.

Is $1,578.07 good value?

The price is $1,578.07 for the whole group, with up to 15 people. At full capacity, the cost works out to about $105 per person. For 10 people, it is about $158 per person. For six, it is about $263 per person.

That math tells you who should book it. A full family group can get a private six-hour boat, crew, snorkeling gear, snacks, drinks, parking, and a floating platform at a reasonable per-person rate. A small party pays much more for the same boat time.

Lunch at Las Animas is extra, and the small boat transfer to the beach is not included. You should also account for any additional drinks or other items your group wants. The included food is enough to keep you going, but it is not a full meal.

I would compare this with a shared boat only if price is your main concern. The private charter earns its higher cost through space, flexibility, and the ability to keep your group together. It is less compelling for two or three people who mainly want a short snorkel outing.

Who will enjoy this most?

This tour suits groups that value privacy and a loose schedule. Families with children, adult groups, and cruise groups can all make good use of the boat’s capacity. A group of 13 coming from a cruise terminal, for example, can travel together rather than split up.

It also suits people who want several kinds of activity in one day: coastal views, snorkeling, swimming, photographs, a floating platform, and a seafood lunch. You do not need to spend every minute in the water. You can remain aboard during a jellyfish problem or simply enjoy the ride.

It is less suitable if you need a guaranteed snorkeling experience, a fixed meal, or a low per-person price for a small group. The day depends on weather and water conditions, and the plan can change.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation, and confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

The cancellation rule is strict in other cases: the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Make sure your group is settled on the date before paying.

Should you book this Puerto Vallarta yacht trip?

Book it if you have a large group and want a private day on the bay rather than a fixed shared excursion. The strongest reasons are the crew’s flexibility, the choice of swimming spots, the Los Arcos cruise, and the useful supply of water, snacks, towels, and drinks.

I would be more cautious with a party of six or fewer. At roughly $263 per person for six, you are paying for privacy and service rather than a bargain. If that is the point of your day, the price can make sense. If you mainly want to snorkel for an hour, choose a smaller and less costly outing.

Before departure, confirm your preferred stops, ask about water conditions and jellyfish, and decide if you want lunch at Las Animas. With those details settled, this is a flexible way to see Puerto Vallarta from the sea, with enough room for your group to make the day its own.

FAQ

Where does the Puerto Vallarta yacht tour begin?

It begins at Av. Paseo de la Marina Sur 214 in Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Parking at the pier is included.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 10:00 a.m. The activity lasts approximately six hours and ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the private yacht?

The private activity accommodates up to 15 people in your group.

Are snorkeling equipment and towels included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and 12 towels are included.

Is lunch at Las Animas included?

No. Lunch is not included. Las Animas has several restaurants, and a small boat transfer needed to get off at the beach is also not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you can receive a full refund or choose a different date. The normal booking is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed.