Catamaran Yelapa Beach Tour with Snorkeling, Food and Open Bar

Majahuitas gives this full-day catamaran trip its best start: clear water, tropical fish, and a chance to snorkel with Banderas Bay all around you. I like the generous food package, with breakfast, juice, lunch, and an open bar, and I like the lively ride home, where guides such as Alberto and Brown Sugar lead games and music. The catch is that this is a long, active day with a rough beach transfer at Yelapa.

I also like that you can choose how to spend your time in Yelapa. Walk toward the waterfall, pay extra for a horse or ATV, or stay by the beach with your lunch. You get a real coastal outing, not just a short boat ride, but the waterfall can have very little water, and the water activities at Majahuitas may feel brief.

• Majahuitas comes first: Plan for about 45 minutes of snorkeling or another included water activity in clear coastal water.
• Yelapa takes up the middle of the day: You have about three and a half hours for the beach, lunch, village, and waterfall route.
• The waterfall is seasonal: Dry conditions can leave little water, so ask about its current condition before paying for an ATV or horse.
• The landing is demanding: You transfer from the catamaran to a smaller boat, then step or jump into shallow surf at the beach.
• Food and drinks are part of the price: Breakfast, lunch, juice, beer, cocktails, spirits, and water are included, but restaurant extras cost more.
• The return ride is a party: Expect about two hours of music, games, contests, and open-bar service on the way back.

What This Puerto Vallarta Catamaran Day Really Offers

At $94.45 per person, this is priced as an all-day package rather than a simple boat transfer. You are paying for a seven to eight-hour outing with breakfast, lunch, snorkeling equipment, water activities, an onboard restroom, and alcoholic drinks.

The value depends on your idea of a good day. If you want a calm, quiet cruise with lots of time in the water, this may not be the right fit. If you want several activities packed into one outing, plus a social boat ride with drinks and music, the price is easier to justify.

The catamaran can carry up to 99 people, so this is not a small private sail. You should expect a shared excursion with a strong party element, especially during the ride back to Puerto Vallarta. The atmosphere can be fun for families with older children, couples, and groups of friends, but loud music and a crowded deck may not suit everyone.

The published schedule says check-in begins at 9:10 a.m. at Puerto Magico, with departure at 10 a.m. Arrive early. The maritime terminal requires registration, a security check, and a port tax of MX$33 per person. Lines can slow things down, particularly in busy periods.

Leaving Puerto Magico and Crossing Banderas Bay

Once you register and pass through security, you board at the Maritime Terminal near Puerto Magico on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio. The first 35 minutes are devoted to getting aboard and beginning the crossing.

Breakfast is served while you look out over Banderas Bay. You choose between yogurt, fruit with pancakes, or chilaquiles with egg, along with juice. The meal is useful rather than fancy, and it gives you something in your stomach before the water activities begin.

Timing deserves attention here. Departure delays have occurred, including one reported morning when the boat left more than half an hour late. A late start can push the return well into the evening, so do not schedule a tight dinner reservation or airport transfer afterward.

If you arrive by cruise ship, check the local Puerto Vallarta time carefully. The tour operates on GMT-6, and ship time can differ. Missing the catamaran can mean losing the early snorkeling and breakfast portion of the day.

Majahuitas: Beautiful Water, Short Activity Window

Majahuitas is the first major stop, and it is one of the most appealing parts of the trip. You get around 45 minutes in the water, with snorkeling equipment available. The area is known for clear water and marine life, including colorful tropical fish and the possibility of seeing a sea turtle.

The boat also lists kayaking, paddleboarding, an inflatable float, and an extreme inflatable among the included water activities. In practice, you should not assume you can use all of them. The schedule is short, and the activity setup may require you to choose one option rather than move freely between several.

That distinction matters. A person expecting a full afternoon of snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding may feel rushed. The snorkeling gear may not include fins, and some equipment has reportedly shown wear, so inspect your life jacket and goggles before entering the water. If anything is faulty, tell the crew at once and ask for a replacement.

The water access is near the boat rather than beside a broad sandy beach. That makes the stop good for a quick swim and a look below the surface, but less useful if you want to spread out on shore. The stop has received some of the strongest praise for its clear water and pleasant setting, yet it is still a short stop within a very full day.

Reaching Yelapa by Tender Boat

After Majahuitas, the catamaran continues to Yelapa. You do not step directly from the large boat onto a pier. Instead, a smaller transfer boat carries you toward the beach.

This is the most important practical warning on the trip. Yelapa has no dock at the landing described here, so you may need to step from the tender into shallow water while waves move the boat. Crew members assist, but the transfer can be difficult if you have limited mobility, balance problems, or trouble climbing in and out of boats.

Wear footwear that can handle water and stones. The hike toward the waterfall also includes many rocky sections and steep inclines, so proper walking shoes are a much better choice than smooth sandals. Keep your belongings organized before boarding the tender, since the transfer is not the place to search through a large bag.

Once ashore, you go to the restaurant to leave belongings and arrange the next part of your visit. Yelapa offers a more relaxed village setting than the open-water part of the excursion, but you have a fixed time rather than an open-ended stay.

Yelapa Waterfall, Beach Time, and Extra Costs

You have roughly three and a half hours in Yelapa. That includes the tender transfer, the route toward the waterfall, lunch, and time on the beach, so your free time is not as long as the headline number may suggest.

You can walk to the waterfall, rent a horse, or pay extra for an ATV. A horse or ATV is commonly described as taking about 15 minutes, while walking can take around 40 minutes, though the exact route and pace can vary. The trail is steep in places, and people on foot may use a different route from those on horseback or an ATV.

The waterfall is highly dependent on recent rain. During dry periods, it may have little water or no worthwhile flow. You may still enjoy the village route and the ride, but do not pay extra for an ATV or horse solely for a dramatic waterfall until you ask about current conditions.

If water levels are low, staying at the beach can be the smarter use of your time. You can swim, walk on the sand, eat lunch, or simply sit in the shade. The included lunch offers five choices: shrimp cocktail, chicken fajitas, beef fajitas, fish fillet, hamburger, or cheese quesadillas. Restaurant drinks and additional food are not included, so confirm what is covered before ordering extras.

Yelapa also has local vendors offering souvenirs and optional activities. You may find the attention persistent, particularly if you want a quiet meal or beach break. Be clear about prices before accepting photographs, animal encounters, rides, or other extras.

The Two-Hour Ride Back to Puerto Vallarta

The return crossing is not simply transportation. It is the main entertainment portion of the outing. Once everyone has returned from Yelapa by tender boat, the crew continues with music, games, contests, and an open bar for about two hours.

Included alcoholic choices are beer, margaritas, rum, vodka, tequila, and whiskey. Water and other beverages are available as part of the onboard service, but pace yourself. The boat has a long ride ahead, and the combination of sun, motion, and alcohol can catch up with you quickly.

This part of the trip has earned some of the warmest praise. Guides including Alberto and Brown Sugar are associated with the social side of the experience, and the crew’s energy can turn a long crossing into the highlight of the day. If you enjoy dancing, group games, and meeting people on a shared boat, this is a strong fit.

Music volume is a personal matter. Some people enjoy the party atmosphere, while others find it uncomfortably loud. You can ask the crew to lower the volume, but do not book this excursion expecting a quiet sunset cruise.

The boat eventually returns to the same Puerto Magico meeting point. Because delays and sea conditions can stretch the schedule, allow the full eight hours and possibly a later return.

Food, Drinks, and What Is Actually Included

The food package adds real value, especially for a full day away from your hotel. Breakfast arrives early, and lunch is served during the Yelapa stop. Portions have been described as sufficient, and the menu gives you several familiar choices rather than forcing you into one meal.

Still, the food should be viewed as casual excursion fare. Do not expect a polished restaurant meal. Breakfast quality can vary, and one description of cold scrambled eggs suggests that the early meal may not always meet the same standard as the scenery.

The open bar is another major part of the price. Beer, spirits, margaritas, and mixed drinks continue during the boat portion, particularly on the ride home. Alcoholic drinks are not included at the restaurant, and extra food or drinks there cost more.

Bring water-resistant protection for your phone, sunscreen, a hat, a swimsuit, and a change of clothes. You will deal with spray, swimming, a small boat transfer, and possibly a wet beach landing. A towel is also useful, although the supplied details do not confirm that one is provided.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most?

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a full day with variety. The strongest match is someone who likes combining swimming, a village visit, beach time, casual food, and a lively boat ride without arranging each part separately.

Families can enjoy it, especially with older children who are comfortable in the water and on boats. Children ages zero to two can join free of charge. For young children, however, the long day, loud music, boat transfers, and rough beach landing may be tiring.

You should think twice if you have limited mobility. The tender transfer to Yelapa is not step-free, and getting from the small boat onto the beach can be difficult. The hike to the waterfall adds steep and rocky ground.

This is also not ideal for someone seeking a quiet, carefully timed excursion. Delays are possible, the group can be large, and the water activity period is relatively short. You will get the most from it if you keep your expectations flexible and enjoy the social energy as much as the destinations.

Practical Value at $94.45

At the advertised price, the tour offers a lot in one day: transport by catamaran, breakfast, lunch, snorkeling equipment, selected water activities, open-bar drinks, and access to two scenic coastal stops. Comparable plans arranged separately could cost more and require extra effort.

The value falls if you mainly want the waterfall. Its condition changes with rainfall, and extra charges for a horse or ATV can make the day more expensive. The value also falls if you want extended snorkeling, since the Majahuitas water time may last only about 45 minutes.

I would treat the price as fair for a party-style day with meals and drinks, not as a premium nature excursion. The tour works best when you see Yelapa as the main destination and the waterfall as an optional bonus.

Should You Book the Yelapa Catamaran Tour?

Book it if you want an active, social Puerto Vallarta day with food, drinks, water time, and a beach stop folded into one package. The clear water at Majahuitas, the scenery around Yelapa, and the lively ride home give the trip plenty of appeal.

Skip it if you need quiet, easy boarding, long snorkeling time, or a guaranteed waterfall. Ask about current waterfall conditions before departure, arrive early for check-in, wear sturdy footwear, and plan for a late return.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

The tour begins and ends at Puerto Magico, Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio, in Puerto Vallarta’s Hotel Zone Norte.

What time should I arrive?

Check-in begins at 9:10 a.m., and the listed departure time is 10 a.m. Arrive early enough to register, pass security, and pay the MX$33 port tax per person.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. You choose between yogurt with fruit and pancakes or chilaquiles with egg, and juice is included.

What food is included for lunch?

Lunch includes one choice from shrimp cocktail, chicken fajitas, beef fajitas, fish fillet, hamburger, or cheese quesadillas.

Are snorkeling and water activities included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, an inflatable float, and an extreme inflatable are included. The available time may require you to choose one activity.

Is the waterfall visit included?

The visit to the waterfall area is part of the Yelapa stop, but horse and ATV rides cost extra. You can also walk, and conditions at the waterfall can vary with rainfall.