Private Boat Tour to Yelapa with Snorkeling and Waterfall Hike

Puerto Vallarta’s southern coast is best seen from the water, and this private trip gives you a full half-day of it. You’ll pass Playa de los Muertos, swim near Los Arcos National Marine Park, reach Yelapa by boat, and walk to a waterfall where you can cool off.

I like the private format, since your group can spend its time swimming, snorkeling, eating, or walking without sharing the boat with strangers. I also like that snorkeling gear and an ice chest are provided, so you have less equipment to arrange before leaving.

The main consideration is price: at $220 per person, this is not a bargain boat ride. Lunch and drinks are extra, and the day includes several water activities, so it suits you best if you want an active private outing rather than a simple coastal cruise.

Key details before you book

• Los Arcos gets 40 minutes: You’ll have a dedicated stop for swimming and snorkeling among arches, tunnels, caves, and reef.
• Yelapa includes beach time and a waterfall: Plan on about 90 minutes at Yelapa, followed by a 30-minute walk and swim near the lower falls.
• The boat is private: Only your own group takes part, which gives the outing a more personal pace.
• Snorkeling gear is supplied: You can borrow the captain’s equipment, and an ice chest is included.
• Lunch costs extra: Bring Mexican pesos for food, drinks, souvenirs, incidentals, and gratuities.
• The day starts at 9:30 a.m.: Meet at Los Muertos Beach Pier and return there after roughly five and a half hours.

Why the private boat changes the day

A private boat trip works differently from a large shared excursion. You are not simply carried from one scheduled stop to the next. Your group has the boat to itself, and the guide can help you find suitable places to swim and snorkel along the route.

That matters most for a mixed group. One person may want to spend more time in the water, while another may prefer to sit in the sun or head ashore at Yelapa. The private setup gives you more room to manage those preferences, although the published schedule still allows only limited time at each stop.

Estigo Tours provides the snorkeling equipment, which is useful if you do not want to pack or rent your own. An ice chest is also included. You are welcome to bring beverages and snacks for the boat ride, but remember that food and drinks are not included in the price.

The tour is offered in English. The named guides connected with the experience are Chema and Manuel, who were singled out for making one group’s outing fun. That fits the nature of the day: a good boat guide is not just handling the route, but helping you make the most of each swim stop.

Leaving Los Muertos Pier at 9:30 a.m.

The meeting point is Los Muertos Beach Pier at Francisca Rodríguez 121 in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica. This is a practical departure point if you are staying in or near the central hotel areas, and the location is close to public transportation.

You should arrive ready to board, with your swimsuit on or easy to reach. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and Mexican pesos. A dry change of clothes may also be useful, although it is not specifically listed as required.

The boat ride begins with a southbound view of Playa de los Muertos. This is not a formal sightseeing stop with an admission charge. Instead, it gives you a coastal introduction before the main water activities begin.

The opening stretch is valuable because it sets the scale of the trip. You are not confined to one beach. You are heading along Puerto Vallarta’s southern shore toward a national marine park and the more isolated village of Yelapa.

Snorkeling at Los Arcos National Marine Park

Los Arcos National Marine Park is the strongest reason to bring a swimsuit and use the included snorkeling equipment. The park lies offshore between Mismaloya Beach and Las Gemelas, with rock formations shaped into arches, caves, and deep tunnels.

You get about 40 minutes here. That is enough for a focused swim and a look at the reef, but it is not an all-day snorkeling session. If you are an experienced snorkeler hoping to cover a large area, the time may feel short. For a casual swimmer, it offers a manageable window before the boat continues south.

The guide’s role is especially useful at this stop. You do not need to guess where to enter the water or where conditions may be most suitable. The tour description specifically highlights the captain’s help in finding good swimming and snorkeling spots.

Keep your expectations sensible. Sea conditions and weather affect how comfortable the water is, and this trip requires good weather to operate. The park gives you striking rock scenery as well as underwater viewing, so even a shorter swim has more than one point of interest.

I would treat Los Arcos as the tour’s main marine stop, not as a guaranteed long snorkeling expedition. You’ll get the best value from it if you are happy to swim, look around the formations, and enjoy the setting rather than measure the experience by the number of fish you see.

Yelapa gives you a slower hour and a half

Yelapa is reached by boat or on foot, which helps explain its appeal on this route. Once you arrive, you have about 1 hour and 30 minutes to spend in the area.

The beach is the obvious place to settle in, but you also have the option of eating at one of the local restaurants. Lunch is not included, so the cost of your meal and drinks comes on top of the tour price. Bring Mexican pesos for the restaurant, along with any small purchases or gratuities.

This part of the trip gives the schedule a useful change of pace. Los Arcos is about water and rock formations. Yelapa lets you get off the boat, sit by the shore, and eat at your own expense before walking inland toward the waterfall.

The time limit requires a little planning. You cannot spend the full 90 minutes lingering over lunch and then expect an unhurried waterfall visit, because the waterfall has its own 30-minute portion afterward. If the falls are a priority, keep your meal reasonably efficient.

The supplied information describes the southern beach area as Las Animas in one place and identifies Yelapa as the village stop elsewhere. For booking purposes, the tour is presented as a Yelapa visit with beach time, restaurant choices, and a waterfall walk. If the exact beach name matters to you, confirm the day’s route with Estigo Tours before departure.

The short walk to Yelapa Waterfall

The waterfall visit begins near the small beachfront village. The walk to the lower falls is described as short and easy, taking about 30 minutes within the scheduled stop.

This is not a demanding hike. You are heading from the village toward the lower waterfall, where clear, chilly water offers a chance to cool off. You should still wear practical footwear for walking and keep sunscreen handy, but the route is intended to be accessible to most participants.

The waterfall adds something that a standard boat-and-beach trip often lacks. You are not spending every minute on the sand or in the sea. The short inland walk gives you a different view of Yelapa and a chance to stretch your legs after the boat ride.

Time is again the limit. Thirty minutes is enough for the walk and a quick swim if conditions suit you, but it is not a long hike or a relaxed waterfall picnic. I would think of this as a refreshing side trip rather than the central event of the day.

What the $220 price buys you

At $220 per person, the tour asks you to pay for privacy, a boat, a guide, equipment, and a tightly packed route rather than for admission tickets. Los Muertos Beach and the waterfall do not carry separate admission charges, while access to Los Arcos is included.

The value improves if you are traveling as a group that would otherwise book several seats on a shared trip. You are paying for a private activity, so the cost covers more than the individual stops. The group discount option may also help, though the exact discount is not provided.

I would compare this price with what matters most to you. If you want a low-cost way to reach one beach, a shared boat or ordinary water taxi may be cheaper. If you want Los Arcos, Yelapa, a waterfall, and your own boat in one morning and early afternoon, the private arrangement has a stronger case.

Lunch and drinks are not included, so set aside extra money. You can bring snacks and beverages for the ride, which helps keep the added cost under control. Mexican pesos are recommended for the restaurant, souvenirs, small expenses, and gratuities.

The mobile ticket and confirmation at booking make the practical side simple. The key question is not paperwork. It is whether your group will use the flexibility and privacy enough to justify the per-person price.

Who will enjoy this half-day outing

This tour fits you well if you want several Puerto Vallarta highlights in one outing and do not want to organize boat transport, snorkeling gear, and a Yelapa visit separately.

It is especially suitable for:

• Groups that want a private boat rather than a shared excursion
• Swimmers and casual snorkelers who want time at Los Arcos
• Families or friends who value their own pace
• People who want both beach time and a short walk
• Visitors comfortable paying extra for a five-and-a-half-hour private experience

The day may be less suitable if you want a long hike, an extended snorkeling session, or an inexpensive ride to the beach. The schedule is active and fairly compact. You will move from the pier to the coast, then to Los Arcos, Yelapa, and the falls before returning to the same pier.

Most people can participate, according to the supplied tour information. Still, you should be comfortable getting on a boat, entering the water if you choose to snorkel, and walking to the lower waterfall.

Packing advice for a boat, beach, and waterfall

Keep your packing simple. Wear a swimsuit, bring a towel, and use sunscreen. You can borrow snorkeling equipment, so you do not need to pack a mask and fins unless you prefer your own.

Bring Mexican pesos. You will need them for lunch, drinks, souvenirs, incidentals, and gratuities. Snacks and beverages for the boat are allowed, and an ice chest is provided.

A small, secure bag is more useful than a large suitcase. You will move between boat, beach, and waterfall, so anything you bring should be easy to carry and protect from splashes.

Because the itinerary includes both swimming and walking, choose footwear that can handle a short route near the village. The information calls the walk easy, but it does not say that the path is paved throughout, so practical shoes are the sensible choice.

Weather, cancellation, and timing

The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends back at Los Muertos Beach Pier after approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. That makes it a useful morning-to-early-afternoon plan, with time afterward for other Puerto Vallarta activities.

Good weather is required. If poor weather forces a 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 start time.

Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted for a refund. Since cut-off times use local time, check the Puerto Vallarta time zone when making changes.

The weather rule is sensible for a boat trip that includes snorkeling and a waterfall visit. It also means you should avoid building an essential, nonrefundable afternoon connection too tightly around the return time.

My take: book it if privacy matters

I would book this tour if you want one private outing that combines Puerto Vallarta’s southern coast, Los Arcos, Yelapa, and a short waterfall walk. The strongest features are the private boat, included snorkeling equipment, and a route that gives you both water time and time ashore.

I would think twice if your main goal is simply a cheap beach transfer or a full day of serious snorkeling. At $220 per person, the value depends on using the private format and enjoying the variety of stops.

For a group of friends or family members who want a flexible half-day with guides such as Chema and Manuel, this is a well-rounded choice. Pack light, bring pesos for lunch, and remember that the 40-minute Los Arcos stop and 30-minute waterfall visit are highlights within a busy schedule, not full-day excursions.

FAQ

How long is the private Yelapa boat tour?

The tour lasts approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins and ends at Los Muertos Beach Pier, Francisca Rodríguez 121, Zona Romántica, Puerto Vallarta.

What time does the boat leave?

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

Is the boat private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. You can use the captain’s snorkeling equipment, and an ice chest is also included.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can choose from restaurants in Yelapa and should bring Mexican pesos.

What places does the tour visit?

The route includes views of Playa de los Muertos, Los Arcos National Marine Park, Yelapa, and Yelapa Waterfall.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.