Pirate Ship by Day

A pirate ship, a protected island, a full bar, and enough beach games to keep a family busy: that is the basic idea here. The boat takes you from Puerto Vallarta to Majahuitas Ecological Reserve, where the main event shifts from stage entertainment to swimming, paddling, snorkeling, and relaxing on the beach.

I like the combination of organized fun and free time. You can join the pirate show, contests, treasure hunt, and banana ride, or simply find a quiet patch of beach and take it easy. I also like that meals, drinks, and several water activities are bundled into the fare, which makes budgeting simpler once you are aboard.

The main caution is scale. With a maximum of 250 people, this is not a quiet sailing trip or a private island escape. The published price is $280 per person, before port fees, transportation, and taxes, so you should compare it carefully with smaller boat tours. Timing may also require patience, especially during check-in and boarding.

Quick points before you book

• Majahuitas is the setting: Your beach time takes place in an ecological reserve, with snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, and other activities available.
• The pirate theme is a major part of the day: Expect a welcome pirate, contests, face painting, a stage show, and a treasure hunt.
• Food and drinks are included: Breakfast has two choices, the main meal offers nine options, and a national and international open bar is provided.
• This is a large-group outing: The maximum capacity is 250 people, so the mood is social, noisy, and entertainment-focused.
• The day is built for families: Children can take part in the show, games, face painting, beach activities, and treasure hunt.
• Extra costs matter: Port fees, transportation or pickup, and all fees and taxes are not included in the listed $280 price.

Sailing from Puerto Vallarta with a pirate crew

The meeting point is the port at A.P.I. Puerto Vallarta, along Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio in the hotel zone. The listed start time is 9:30 a.m., and the experience returns to the same meeting point after roughly six hours.

The opening part sets the tone. You are greeted by a pirate crew, then taken aboard for the sailing portion of the day. Breakfast comes with two choices, which is useful since the morning begins before the main beach activities. Food is served as part of the program rather than left to chance, and drinks continue through the day from the open bar.

The ship also provides the first round of entertainment. Contests, awards, and face painting help fill the early hours, while the crew prepares you for the island stop. If you like a tour with a host constantly explaining what comes next, this format should suit you.

If you prefer a calm boat ride with long stretches of silence, it may not. The pirate theme is not a small decorative detail. It shapes the welcome, the performances, and much of the social atmosphere. Some people will find that charming; others may find the scripted entertainment repetitive.

Allow extra time for the port process. One account describes a long check-in, meal selection, and boarding wait before departure, with a much later sailing time than expected. That account may not match every departure, but it is a useful warning: do not plan a tight afternoon appointment after this tour.

Majahuitas Ecological Reserve and the beach stop

The destination is Majahuitas, a protected coastal area reached by boat. The appeal is simple: you leave the hotel zone behind and spend the active part of the day at a beach surrounded by the natural setting of the reserve.

This is where the tour earns much of its value. You are not merely looking at the coast from a deck. The program gives you several ways to use the water and beach:

• Snorkeling
• Kayaking
• Banana ride
• Beach volleyball
• Treasure hunt
• Additional beach and sea activities

You can build your own level of activity. A family might start with the treasure hunt and face painting, then move to a banana ride or volleyball. Someone who wants less structure can use the beach stop for rest and comfort. The schedule is broad enough to support both approaches, though a large group may mean waiting for some activities.

Snorkeling is included, but the supplied information does not promise particular marine life, water conditions, or equipment details. Think of it as one activity within a busy beach program, not a specialist snorkeling expedition. The same applies to kayaking. You get a chance to paddle in Majahuitas, but this is not presented as a long guided kayak tour.

The ecological reserve setting is valuable because it gives the outing a stronger sense of place than a generic pool or resort activity. Still, the ship carries a large number of people, and the beach may feel active rather than secluded. The phrase semi-private island appears in the promotional material quoted in one account, but you should not confuse that with a private island charter.

Nine meal choices and an open bar

Food is one of the tour’s practical strengths. Breakfast includes two options, and the main meal offers nine choices. That range matters when you are booking for a family or a group with different tastes.

A published account praised the variety and said some menu choices could involve a small additional cost. Since the exact surcharge is not specified here, ask before ordering if you want to avoid surprises. The included fare covers food, but not every possible upgrade or extra purchase.

The national and international open bar is also included. That makes the price easier to understand for adults who would otherwise buy drinks separately during a full day at sea. It also means you should pace yourself, especially while moving between the boat, beach, and water activities.

Meals and drinks do not turn this into a fine dining cruise. The value is convenience. You have food available, you do not need to pack a full day of provisions, and the crew handles service while the entertainment continues.

Shows, contests, and the pirate character

The entertainment is central, not optional background noise. The day includes a pirate show, contests, awards, a welcome pirate, face painting, and a treasure hunt. This gives children plenty to watch and join, especially if they enjoy costumes and theatrical play.

The crew’s attention is another important part of the experience. Individual pirate hosts are not assigned in advance in the published details, but two positive accounts singled out personal crew members named Pepe and Ruli for attentive service. That suggests the service can feel personal even within a large operation, though the experience may vary by crew and departure.

The show has a long-running format. One strongly negative account complained that the performance felt old and unchanged, while other accounts praised the crew and called the entertainment a highlight. That split tells you something useful: this is best booked for the whole package of boat ride, beach, food, drinks, and activities. If you are choosing only for a polished theatrical production, your expectations should be modest.

The contests and awards help break up the day. They also bring people into the group atmosphere, so you may find yourself watching strangers participate or joining in yourself. The result is closer to a family entertainment cruise than a quiet nature trip.

What the $280 price really covers

At $280 per person, the tour is a major purchase. The fare includes a six-hour experience with sailing, breakfast, lunch choices, open bar, entertainment, and several beach activities. If you intend to use the food, drinks, shows, and water activities, the bundled format can make sense.

The value is less convincing if you only want transportation to Majahuitas and a few hours on the beach. In that case, a simpler boat trip may give you more flexibility for less money. This package asks you to pay for the entire entertainment program, not just the destination.

Remember that the advertised price excludes:

• Port rate
• Transportation or pickup
• All fees and taxes

The meeting point is near public transportation, but pickup is not included. You need to arrange your own way to the port and confirm the exact port charges before booking. The listed fare should not be treated as the final amount until those additions are clear.

The group limit of 250 is also part of the value calculation. A large ship can provide more entertainment, more staff, and a lively atmosphere. It cannot provide the quiet, personal attention, or flexible route of a small charter.

Who will enjoy Pirate Ship by Day

I would recommend this outing most readily to families with children and adults who want a full program rather than a bare boat transfer. The mix of face painting, contests, treasure hunting, beach sports, food, and pirate theater gives children several ways to stay involved.

It also suits adults who enjoy a social party boat and want drinks included. The open bar and meal choices reduce the need to keep reaching for your wallet, while the Majahuitas stop adds genuine outdoor activity.

You may want to choose another excursion if your priority is peace and quiet, a small group, serious snorkeling, or a carefully timed schedule. The boat can carry up to 250 people, and the format depends on coordinated boarding, meals, performances, and group activities.

The tour is offered in English. The listed information says most people can participate and that the departure is near public transportation, but it does not provide detailed information about mobility access, water equipment, or child age limits. Ask the operator for those specifics if they affect your plans.

Timing, meeting point, and the return

The official start time is 9:30 a.m., and the tour ends back at the original port meeting point. The stated duration is approximately six hours, which sounds manageable for a half-day outing.

In practice, leave room for delays. One account describes arriving before the expected boarding time, waiting through check-in and food selection, and reaching the port much later than anticipated. The same account describes a late return. This may have been an unusual departure or a booking problem, but it is enough reason to avoid scheduling dinner, a flight, or another paid activity immediately afterward.

Transportation is not included, so plan your route to A.P.I. Puerto Vallarta in advance. Confirm the exact entrance and port procedure with Landing Tours after booking. Your confirmation is issued at the time of booking, and this experience returns to the same meeting point.

The cancellation rule is strict. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If your plans are uncertain, that policy deserves serious attention before you pay.

A fair look at the mixed feedback

The overall published rating is 3.4 from five reviews, which points to a divided experience rather than a clear winner for everyone.

The strongest praise focuses on three things: the pirate show, the crew’s attention, and the combination of meals, drinks, and a beach stop at one price. Families especially appreciated the children’s entertainment and the care shown by individual crew members such as Pepe and Ruli.

The sharpest complaints concern service during an emergency, long waits, cramped seating, a small breakfast portion, an outdated show, and poor value for the price. One response from the operator said the unhappy customer had not bought through its agency, which makes it even more important to confirm that your reservation is directly connected to the correct provider.

I would treat the tour as a high-energy package rather than a polished luxury cruise. The best day will come when you enjoy the format for what it is: a themed ship, a busy beach stop, organized games, and an open bar. If that sounds like too much structure, choose a smaller excursion.

Should you book it?

Book Pirate Ship by Day if you want a family-friendly party boat with Majahuitas activities, food, drinks, contests, and a theatrical pirate theme all in one package. It is especially suitable when different people in your group want different things, since some can play volleyball or kayak while others relax.

Think twice if you are paying $280 mainly for a quiet ecological reserve visit. The large capacity, possible boarding delays, extra port costs, and mixed opinions about the show can weaken the value. Confirm the final price, departure procedure, and transportation before committing, then book only if you are happy with a lively, highly organized day at sea.

FAQ

Where does Pirate Ship by Day depart from?

The tour begins at A.P.I. Puerto Vallarta, located at Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio km 4.5, Zona Hotelera, Área Militar de Vallarta, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 9:30 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately six hours and ends back at the original meeting point.

Is transportation or hotel pickup included?

No. Transportation or pickup is not included. You need to make your own way to the port meeting point.

What activities are included at Majahuitas?

Included beach and sea activities include snorkeling, kayaking, a banana ride, beach volleyball, and a treasure hunt. The program also includes rest time and other beach activities.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Breakfast has two choices, the main meal has nine food options, and a national and international open bar is included.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 250 people.