Private Boat Tour to Yelapa and Majahuitas Snorkel (up to 7 guests)

Yelapa is best reached by water, and this private boat trip makes the journey part of the day. You’ll snorkel near Los Arcos or Majahuitas, then spend several hours in a fishing village where the route leads from the beach through town to a waterfall. The strongest feature is the small private group, limited to seven people.

I like the chance to choose Majahuitas, which is usually quieter than Los Arcos, and I like the local connection. Guides including Victor, Luis, Adrian, and Namar are from Yelapa, so the outing has a personal feel rather than the shuffle of a large excursion. The boat is clean and shaded, with a cooler and snorkeling gear included.

The main drawback is that the $550 price covers the group, not lunch, drinks, snacks, transportation to the meeting point, or tips. It is good value for seven people, but less so for a couple traveling alone. The five-hour schedule also leaves limited time to linger at every stop.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to seven people: Your group travels together, with no large tour crowd sharing the boat.
• Majahuitas is the quieter snorkel choice: You can choose between Los Arcos and Majahuitas, and Majahuitas is generally the less crowded option.
• Yelapa is the main event: You get beach time, a local meal option, a walk through town, and a waterfall visit.
• Local guides add context: Victor, Luis, Adrian, and Namar have been identified as Yelapa locals who guide the trip.
• The $550 rate works best for a full group: Split among seven people, it comes to about $79 per person before food and tips.
• Plan for an active half-day: Snorkeling, boat travel, walking through town, and a waterfall hike all fit into roughly five hours.

Why this private Yelapa trip feels different

Many Puerto Vallarta excursions treat Yelapa as a quick beach stop. This one gives the village a larger role. You arrive by a small boat, spend time on the shore, walk through the settlement, and follow your guide to a waterfall. That combination makes the outing feel more connected to the place.

The private format matters here. With up to seven people, your group can move at its own pace within the limits of a five-hour tour. You are not waiting for a busload of people to finish lunch or return from a walk. Guides can also make practical choices about where to snorkel and how to avoid the thickest crowds.

The local guide connection is another plus. Victor, Luis, Adrian, and Namar have been described as natives of Yelapa. That does not turn the outing into a formal cultural tour, but it can give the visit a more personal tone. You are going to their home village with people who know the area, rather than simply being dropped at a beach.

The 23-foot boat sets the tone

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point after about five hours. The boat is 23 feet long and has shade, which is important on a sunny coastal morning. A smaller boat also keeps the group close together and makes the ride feel more intimate than a large sightseeing vessel.

The boat includes a cooler with ice, but you must bring or buy your own food, drinks, and snacks. That is an easy detail to overlook. If you want something cold during the day, plan ahead. Transportation to the meeting place is also not included, so you need to arrange your own way there.

The captain and bilingual guide are included. Life jackets are provided for everyone, and sanitized snorkeling equipment is part of the package. That saves you from renting gear separately, though you may still prefer to bring personal equipment if you have it.

The ride itself may provide some memorable moments. One account describes seeing whales and dolphins along the way to Yelapa. Wildlife is never guaranteed, so treat that as a possible bonus rather than a promised part of the trip.

Los Arcos or Majahuitas for snorkeling

The first water stop is planned for Los Arcos de Mismaloya, with the option to snorkel there or at Majahuitas. The scheduled time at this part of the trip is about 20 minutes, while the Majahuitas snorkeling stop is listed at about 40 minutes.

Los Arcos is the more famous name. Its rock formations make it a classic Puerto Vallarta stop, and the area is a natural choice if you want to see one of the coast’s best-known sights. The tradeoff is popularity. A famous location can feel less peaceful when several boats are nearby.

Majahuitas is the more appealing choice if you value quiet water time. The tour information specifically notes that it is usually less crowded, and one of the best practical choices you can make is to favor Majahuitas when conditions and timing allow. You will snorkel in the clear water near the beach, with gear and life jackets supplied.

Do not expect a long, technical snorkeling session. The schedule gives you a short stop before Yelapa, not a full morning devoted to reef exploration. I would view the snorkeling as one part of a mixed day, with the village and waterfall carrying equal weight.

Arriving at Yelapa by sea

Yelapa is reached by boat, and the arrival is part of its appeal. You step off near a beach with white sand and clear water, then have time to enjoy the shore and consider lunch at one of the beach restaurants.

Food is not included, so lunch will be an extra cost. That gives you flexibility, but it also means you should budget for it. The tour does not specify a particular restaurant or meal, so you will want to ask your guide where to eat and how much time to allow.

The Yelapa stop is scheduled for about three hours, making it the longest portion of the day. That is enough time to combine a meal, some beach time, and the walk to the waterfall. It is not an all-day stay, though. If your dream is to spend hours reading on the sand, the fixed schedule may feel brisk.

I like this balance because Yelapa is more than a photo stop. You get to see the beach, pass through the town, and reach a natural attraction inland. The village walk also changes the pace. After the boat ride and snorkeling, you are on foot, moving through the community instead of remaining at the water’s edge.

Walking through town to the waterfall

The waterfall visit takes about one hour and is included in the tour. You walk with the guide through Yelapa to reach a waterfall tucked within the fishing village. The hike is not described as a demanding trek, but you should be comfortable walking through town and on the route to the falls.

This is the part of the excursion that gives the day its strongest sense of place. You are not only looking at the coast from a boat. You are seeing how the beach connects to the village and following a local route to a natural feature away from the shore.

The waterfall is described as hidden within Yelapa, but do not read that as a remote wilderness expedition. The tour is still a short guided outing with a set return time. Your guide will lead the way, and the walk is included rather than offered as an optional add-on.

Wear footwear you can walk in comfortably and expect to get warm. The supplied information does not specify trail conditions, swimming conditions, or the distance of the walk, so ask the operator if you need those details before booking. The same applies if anyone in your group has trouble with uneven ground or longer walks.

What the guides add to the day

The most praised part of this experience is the care provided by the crew. Specific names connected with the trip include Victor, Namar, Luis, and Adrian. The guide pair can vary, but the local Yelapa connection is a useful reason to choose this tour over a generic boat ride.

The guides are bilingual, and English is the offered tour language. They handle the boat, snorkeling setup, and walk to the waterfall. Just as important, they can help you make choices during the day, such as selecting Majahuitas instead of Los Arcos when a quieter stop makes more sense.

The strongest descriptions of the crew focus on warmth, local knowledge, and attention to the group. The boat is described as clean, and the overall mood is relaxed rather than intrusive. That matters when you are spending five hours in a small space with the same people.

Still, keep expectations sensible. This is not presented as a formal history lecture, cooking class, or specialist marine biology tour. You are booking a personal coastal outing with local guides, not an academic program. If you want a flexible day with human contact, that is a strength. If you want a tightly scripted educational tour, you may need to ask more questions before booking.

Is $550 a good value?

The price is $550 per private group of up to seven people. At full capacity, that works out to about $79 per person. For a family or group of friends, the math is attractive because you get a private boat, captain, bilingual guide, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, a cooler with ice, and the Yelapa waterfall walk.

For two people, the calculation changes. You would be paying $275 per person before lunch, drinks, transport to the meeting point, and a tip. The private setting may still be worth it if privacy and local guiding are your top priorities, but a shared excursion could offer a lower individual price.

You also need to value time. The tour combines several experiences in one half-day: coastal boating, snorkeling, a beach visit, a village walk, lunch time, and a waterfall. Paying for one organized outing can be simpler than arranging separate boat transport and a visit to Yelapa yourself.

On the other hand, the schedule is compact. The boat ride, two possible snorkeling areas, Yelapa, and the waterfall all compete for your attention. You are paying for variety and convenience, not long stretches at one location.

Who will enjoy this boat tour most?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group of friends, a family, or a small party that can share the $550 cost. The private boat makes it easy to stay together, and the mix of water and walking gives different people something to enjoy.

It also suits anyone who wants to see Yelapa in a relaxed, local way. The guides’ connection to the village, the beach restaurants, and the walk through town give the visit more substance than a simple drop-off at the shore.

You should be comfortable with a full morning of activity. Snorkeling is optional at Los Arcos or Majahuitas, but the boat ride and walk to the waterfall are central parts of the plan. If you only want a quiet beach day, this may ask too much of you.

The trip is also a reasonable choice for most people because the activity notes that most participants can take part. That is not a guarantee for every mobility need. Since the route includes walking through town and hiking to a waterfall, ask PV Tours for current details if someone in your group has specific physical concerns.

Timing, meeting details, and cancellation

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. and returns to the meeting point. You arrange your own transportation to that meeting place. The location is near public transportation, but the exact meeting point is not provided in the information available here, so confirm it when you book.

You receive confirmation at booking, and the activity is offered in English with a mobile ticket. The tour is private, meaning only your group takes part.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. That policy is fairly flexible, but the cutoff is strict, so check your plans before the final day.

Should you book the Yelapa and Majahuitas tour?

Book it if you can fill most of the seven seats, want a private boat, and prefer a day that joins snorkeling with a real visit to Yelapa. The local guides, quieter Majahuitas option, shaded boat, and waterfall walk give the experience a clear identity.

Think twice if you are a couple focused mainly on price, or if you want a slow beach afternoon with no fixed schedule. Food, drinks, transport to the meeting point, and tips are extra, and five hours passes quickly.

For the right group, this is a strong Puerto Vallarta day trip. Bring a plan for lunch, choose Majahuitas if a calmer snorkel stop is available, and leave room for the guides to shape the day. That is where the private format earns its keep.

FAQ

How much does the private boat tour cost?

The price is $550 per private group of up to seven people. Food, drinks, snacks, transportation to the meeting place, and tips are not included.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately five hours. It begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the private tour?

Up to seven people can participate in one private group.

Is snorkeling included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets are included. You can choose to snorkel at Los Arcos de Mismaloya or Majahuitas.

How long is the Majahuitas snorkeling stop?

The Majahuitas stop is scheduled for about 40 minutes.

Can I choose Majahuitas instead of Los Arcos?

The tour provides the option of snorkeling at Los Arcos or Majahuitas. Majahuitas is usually less crowded.

Is lunch included?

No. You can have lunch at a beach restaurant in Yelapa, but food and drinks are not included in the tour price.

Is the waterfall walk included?

Yes. The hike to the waterfall in Yelapa is included.

Is transportation to the meeting point included?

No. You are responsible for getting to the meeting place. The meeting area is near public transportation.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted.