Private Snorkeling Tour to Yelapa from Boca de Tomatlán

Yelapa is the star here, but the best part may be the route getting there. Captain Jordy takes your private group south from Boca de Tomatlán, stopping at Majahuitas for boat-based snorkeling and Colimilla for a quiet swim before lunch and free time in Yelapa. This is a real coastal outing, not simply a water taxi with a meal attached.

I like the private format, which lets you set the pace and gives you the boat to yourself. I also like the practical touches: a cooler with ice, bottled water, towels, snorkeling gear, shade from the boat’s Bimini top, and a ladder for getting back aboard. The main consideration is cost. At $95.31 per person, a minimum charge equal to three people applies, so solo visitors and couples may pay more than the headline per-person price suggests.

Key points to know before you book

• Majahuitas is a boat snorkeling stop: You enter the water from the boat, and there is no beach access at this stop.
• Yelapa gets the most time: Plan on about three hours there for lunch, swimming, walking, and optional activities.
• Captain Jordy leads the outing: Communication takes place by text or email before arrival, and the boat has a Bluetooth sound system and four Kicker speakers.
• The tour stays private: Only your group participates, with flexibility over the total length of the outing.
• Parking at Boca is covered: A designated lot is available, and the parking fee is included, though tips are not.
• Bring cash and sun protection: Some purchases and local activities in Yelapa and Boca may require Mexican pesos or US dollars.

Starting at Boca de Tomatlán at 10:30 am

Boca de Tomatlán is a small fishing village south of Puerto Vallarta. It feels more local and less polished than the main hotel zone, which is part of its appeal. You meet the crew at the Golondrinas Tour 2 Welcome Sign at C. de las Garzas 515.

Captain Jordy and his staff handle the arrival process. After booking, you receive contact by text or email to coordinate the details. That matters here because Boca is a working village with narrow streets and a busy waterfront, not a large marina with obvious tour counters.

A designated parking lot is available, and the parking fee is included in the tour price. You should still carry some cash for tips to the captain, helpers, parking staff, and anyone else who assists along the way. The return is to this same meeting point, so you do not have to arrange a separate ride home from Yelapa.

The departure time is 10:30 am. The full outing takes roughly four to six hours, though private tours can adjust the duration. The stated tour times do not include possible traffic delays getting to Boca, so give yourself extra time if you are coming from central Puerto Vallarta.

A private ride along southern Banderas Bay

Once underway, the boat follows the southern shore of Banderas Bay. From the water, you see stretches of jungle, small beaches, rocky coastline, and coves that are hard or impossible to reach by road.

This boat ride is not just transportation. It links three different coastal stops, each with a different purpose. Majahuitas is for swimming and snorkeling, Colimilla is for a short beach break, and Yelapa is the main village visit.

The boat includes a cooler packed with ice, bottled water, towels, and snorkeling equipment. A Bimini top provides shade, which is especially useful on a sunny day. You also get a Bluetooth sound system with four Kicker speakers, so your group can add music to the ride if that suits the mood.

The boat has a ladder for reboarding after a swim. That small detail matters. Climbing onto a boat from open water can be awkward, especially for anyone with limited upper-body strength. You should still be comfortable entering and exiting the water, since the most important snorkeling stop is from the boat.

Majahuitas: clear water without a beach landing

Majahuitas is the first main stop, with about 30 minutes set aside for snorkeling. The water is described as clear, calm, and suitable for seeing tropical fish and other marine life. You snorkel directly from the boat.

Be clear about the setup: there is no beach access at Majahuitas. The stop is designed around swimming from the boat, not walking ashore or spreading out on the sand. If you prefer a simple swim with no landing, this works well. If you want to sit on a beach, that comes later at Colimilla or Yelapa.

The supplied snorkeling equipment is included, as are towels. The boat’s ladder makes it easier to get back aboard, and the crew’s attention to safety is one of the stronger points of this outing. Captain Jordy has been described as attentive throughout the ride, which is useful when the group includes people with different swimming abilities.

Thirty minutes is enough for a focused look in the water, but it is not a long snorkeling session. You should think of Majahuitas as one part of a varied half-day outing, not a dedicated reef expedition. Water clarity and marine life can change with weather and sea conditions.

Colimilla for a quiet beach pause

The next stop is Colimilla, a quieter beach where you have about 15 to 30 minutes to swim, sit in the sand, or enjoy the view. The timing is flexible within the private format, so you can tell the captain if your group needs more time to cool off or would rather continue toward Yelapa.

Colimilla provides something Majahuitas does not: a chance to get off the boat and have a short beach break. It is a useful contrast in the day’s rhythm. After snorkeling, you can stretch your legs, wade in the water, and enjoy a calmer stretch of shore before the longer stop ahead.

Do not expect a full beach day here. The stop is brief, and Yelapa is the place where you have enough time for lunch and exploration. Still, this short pause helps prevent the outing from becoming four straight hours of sitting on a boat.

Yelapa gives the tour its character

Yelapa is a fishing village reached by boat, with a golden-sand beach and a slower pace than the resort areas of Puerto Vallarta. Your base is Juanito’s Restaurant, where you can arrange lunch and then use the remaining time as you like.

The tour allows about three hours in Yelapa. That is enough time for a meal, a swim, a walk through the town, or a visit to the nearby waterfall if you choose to spend your time that way. You can also look into a horse ride or an ATV rideshare, though these are optional extras and should not be treated as part of the included price.

The restaurant itself is not included. Lunch, meals, and alcoholic drinks are paid separately. Restaurant availability can change with capacity, weather, season, or local conditions, and dietary restrictions may affect what is available. If food matters to your plans, ask about the menu when you arrive rather than assuming every option will be open.

One appealing possibility is fresh fish. If fish is caught during the outing, the restaurant may be able to prepare it for you. That possibility depends on the day, so it is best viewed as a pleasant extra, not a promise.

Yelapa rewards a loose plan. You can eat and swim, walk the village, or simply sit by the water. The place feels different from the main beaches in Puerto Vallarta because access is by boat and the village remains the focus. It is not a resort complex built around a large hotel strip.

You should carry cash in Mexican pesos or US dollars. Some purchases, tips, and extra activities may not accept cards. Cash also keeps small local transactions simple and avoids a hunt for an ATM in a place where you may prefer to spend your limited time enjoying the beach.

Returning to Boca de Tomatlán

After Yelapa, you board the boat for the ride back to Boca. The return portion is listed at about 45 minutes, though sea conditions and the exact route can affect timing.

This is a good time to use the cooler, listen to music, and enjoy the coast from a different angle. The private setup means you are not tied to a large group’s schedule, although the boat still needs to return during the agreed tour window.

The tour ends where it began, at the Boca meeting point. That simple loop makes the parking arrangement useful. You leave your vehicle in the designated lot, take the boat, and return to the same area without arranging a second transfer.

What the $95.31 price really means

The advertised price is $95.31 per person, but the minimum charge equals three guests. For a group of three or more, the price is easier to assess because it covers a private boat and a full half-day route rather than a shared transfer.

For one or two people, calculate the total carefully before booking. The minimum operating charge means a couple may pay the equivalent of three places. That is the biggest value issue in the tour.

Still, the price includes several costs that can add up elsewhere: private transportation by boat, fuel, landing and facility fees, snorkeling equipment, a towel per person, bottled water, ice, and parking. You also get control over the pace and the benefit of keeping the boat for your own group.

Lunch, drinks at the restaurant, alcohol, optional rides, souvenirs, and gratuities are extra. Add those costs before deciding. The tour makes more financial sense if you value privacy, flexible timing, and a route that combines several stops in one outing.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would recommend it most to couples, families, and small groups who want a personal day on the water rather than a large shared excursion. It is also a good match if Yelapa interests you but you want to add snorkeling and a quiet beach stop.

You should be comfortable around boats and open water. The Majahuitas stop requires getting into the sea from the boat, then climbing back up the ladder. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but the outing is not designed as a specialized mobility-access tour.

This is less suitable if your main goal is several hours of serious snorkeling. Majahuitas lasts about 30 minutes, and the day gives equal weight to scenery, swimming, beach time, and Yelapa. It is also not the best choice if you want every meal and activity bundled into one price.

Pack a swimsuit, light clothes, comfortable footwear, sunscreen, a hat, medication, and a dry change of clothes. A waterproof phone case is worth bringing. Towels are supplied, but an extra dry layer will make the ride back more comfortable.

Weather, flexibility, and cancellation

Private timing is one of the tour’s useful features. You can discuss the total length with the crew, and the day can be shaped around your group’s interests. Keep in mind that the listed duration does not include traffic on the way to Boca or other delays.

The outing depends on good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 10:30 am start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Yelapa snorkeling tour?

Book this outing if you want a private boat, a scenic southern-bay route, a short snorkeling session, a quiet beach stop, and several hours in Yelapa. Captain Jordy’s attentive approach, the shade, cooler, towels, equipment, and boat ladder add useful comfort to a day that could otherwise feel basic.

Think twice if you are booking alone or as a couple and the three-person minimum pushes the price too high. Also reconsider if you want a long, specialized snorkeling trip or a fully inclusive lunch-and-drinks package.

For the right group, this is a well-rounded way to see the coast south of Puerto Vallarta. You get more than a ride to Yelapa, but you still retain enough free time to make the day feel like your own.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is at C. de las Garzas 515 in Boca de Tomatlán, Jalisco, at the Golondrinas Tour 2 Welcome Sign.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 10:30 am.

Where does the tour end?

The boat returns to Boca de Tomatlán, and the activity ends at the original meeting point.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the boat tour.

How long does the tour take?

The experience lasts approximately four to six hours. The private format allows some flexibility, but transportation delays and traffic to Boca are not included in the stated tour times.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, towels, bottled water, and a cooler with ice are included.

Can I go to the beach at Majahuitas?

No. Majahuitas is a boat-based snorkeling stop with no beach access. Colimilla and Yelapa provide opportunities to spend time on shore.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch, restaurant meals, alcoholic drinks, and food from beach sellers are not included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.