Sea Mi Amor Marietas

The most unusual part of this Puerto Vallarta day trip is the chance to request access to Love Beach, the famous enclosed beach within the Marietas Islands. That visit is controlled by the marine park, costs extra, and is not guaranteed simply because you ask on the day.

I like the practical value here: meals, gear, and drinks are included, and you can choose among snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding. I also like that the boat returns to the same marina, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride home. The main drawback is the very large possible group size, up to 280 people, along with some confusion and disappointment surrounding Love Beach reservations.

Key points to know

• Love Beach requires advance attention: Access is optional, controlled by the marine park, and should be requested well before departure.
• The $99 price covers a lot: Breakfast, lunch, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddle boards, life vests, and an onboard open bar are included.
• Water activities come before alcohol: Alcoholic drinks are served only after the swimming and water activities.
• Expect a long day: The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and lasts about eight hours, though one experience stretched to roughly nine hours.
• The group may be very large: The maximum capacity is 280 people, so this is not a quiet small-boat outing.
• Budget for extra fees: Add the MX$29 port tax, MX$100 conservation fee, and any separate charge for Love Beach access.

Reaching the Marietas Islands from Puerto Vallarta

Sea Mi Amor Marietas leaves at 9:00 a.m. from Terminal Maritima API on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio, near Las Glorias. You meet the boat at the marina and return to that same point at the end of the day.

The Marietas Islands sit north of Puerto Vallarta and form the main focus of the trip. The stop is scheduled for about two hours, but the total outing takes roughly eight hours once you include boarding, the cruise, meals, and time on the water.

You need to arrange your own transportation to and from the marina. That matters if your hotel is outside the immediate Puerto Vallarta area. The tour price does not include a hotel pickup, so check your route before booking and allow enough time to reach the terminal.

The boat can carry as many as 280 people. That number is a useful warning, even if the actual departure is smaller. You should expect a social, organized boat excursion rather than an intimate private cruise. If your ideal day means plenty of activity, music, and easy access to food and drinks, that may work well. If you want quiet water time and personal attention, the capacity is a concern.

Breakfast first, then activities on the water

The morning begins with an American breakfast of eggs, pancakes, orange juice, coffee, and fruit. That is helpful because the boat leaves early and the day is long. You will want a proper meal before snorkeling or paddling.

The included equipment covers the main activities: snorkeling gear, a life vest, kayaks, and paddle boards. This saves you from renting equipment separately and makes the tour easy for a first-time visitor who does not want to plan every detail.

Still, the equipment setup may not suit everyone. One poor experience described life jackets that felt uncomfortable and an expectation to swim quickly during snorkeling. The same account noted that fins were not provided. You should take the life vest seriously, since it is part of the organized water activity, but do not expect a full diving setup.

If you are a strong swimmer, ask clear questions before getting into the water. Find out how the snorkeling group will move, what equipment is available, and how the crew handles guests who need a slower pace. The experience can be fun, but it is not designed as a private guided swim.

What makes the Marietas Islands special

The Marietas Islands are small, beautiful islands within a protected national park. The appeal is not a long island walk or a town visit. It is the setting itself, along with the chance to see the islands from the water and take part in simple marine activities.

The scheduled island stop lasts about two hours. That time is shared among snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and any beach access approved by the park. You should think of this as a compact activity session rather than a full day spent ashore.

Snorkeling is included, but conditions can affect what you see and how comfortable the activity feels. One account described the snorkeling as all right, while the hidden beach and kayaking were the stronger parts of the day. That is a fair way to set expectations: the islands provide the setting, but the exact quality of the water experience can change.

Kayaking and paddle boarding give you alternatives if snorkeling is not your favorite activity. You can also appreciate the islands from the boat, which may suit you if you prefer not to swim. The equipment is included, but the tour format means you will be sharing access with a large group.

Love Beach is an option, not a standard stop

The biggest source of confusion is Love Beach, sometimes called the hidden or secret beach. Access is controlled by the marine park because the area has environmental restrictions. It is not automatically included in the basic tour.

You need to request it in advance, and it remains subject to availability and park control. Do not assume that mentioning it casually at check-in will be enough. One booking problem resulted in a person who had asked for the beach being left on the boat because the request was not properly recorded.

The extra charge is not included in the $99 price. One account reported paying MX$1,000 for access, but you should confirm the current amount and arrangements directly before departure. The tour information also lists the conservation fee separately, at MX$100 per person.

This is the single most important booking tip: get written confirmation of Love Beach access before you travel. Check that the request appears on your reservation, then confirm it again when you arrive. Since the marine park controls entry, even a confirmed request may depend on operating conditions, but a clear record gives you a much better chance of avoiding a preventable mistake.

If Love Beach is the main reason you want to visit the Marietas Islands, this tour may feel risky unless the operator confirms the extra arrangements carefully. If you are happy with snorkeling, paddling, the boat ride, and the islands themselves, the base tour makes more sense.

Meals and the open bar

The tour includes two meals. Breakfast has eggs, pancakes, fruit, orange juice, and coffee. Lunch is a baguette with cheese, ham, and salami, served with homemade potatoes and tropical salad.

This is simple excursion food, not a restaurant meal. One account found the food disappointing, while another valued the two meals as part of the good overall price. I would set your expectations at practical and filling rather than special. The lunch is especially important because this is a long outing, and buying food independently may not be easy once you are on the boat.

The open bar includes alcoholic drinks, but only after the water activities. That rule is sensible and affects how you should plan the day. You cannot count on alcoholic drinks during the snorkeling, kayaking, or paddle boarding portion. Finish the active part first, then settle in for the cruise back or later part of the outing.

Water is not specifically described in the included list, so you should clarify what nonalcoholic drinks are available before departure. Coffee and orange juice are included with breakfast, but the tour details do not spell out the full drink selection beyond that.

Is $99 a fair price?

At $99 per person, Sea Mi Amor Marietas offers solid value if you use the included parts. You receive a full-day boat trip, breakfast, lunch, snorkeling equipment, a life vest, kayaks, paddle boards, and an open bar after the water activities. Comparable costs can rise quickly when transport, equipment rental, and meals are separate.

The advertised price is not the final amount, though. Add the MX$29 port tax and MX$100 conservation fee per person. Transportation to the marina, tips, the optional photo session, and Love Beach access are extra. Children from three to five years old can join the tour free of charge, but their meals cost MX$100 per child.

The value depends on what you want from the day. If you plan to take part in several activities and appreciate having meals included, the price is attractive. If you mainly want Love Beach, the total cost becomes less clear, and you need to confirm that access before committing.

The lower rating of 3.6 from 16 published ratings also suggests an uneven experience. The strongest praise focuses on the friendly service, the number of inclusions, the activities, and the price. The weakest experiences focus on food, timing, snorkeling instructions, and problems with Love Beach reservations.

The group size changes the feel of the day

A capacity of 280 people can shape every part of the experience. Boarding may take longer, equipment may need to be shared in an organized rotation, and the water activities may feel less personal than they do on a small boat.

That does not make the tour unsuitable. In fact, the large format may appeal to you if you enjoy meeting people and want a lively boat day. One very positive experience described the crew as friendly and personal despite the group setting, with the chance to make friends and enjoy the staff.

But you should not book this expecting quiet service or a calm private outing. The crew must keep many people moving through meals, equipment, swimming areas, and return travel. This may explain why one person felt pressured to swim faster. If you need extra time in the water or have concerns about the equipment, speak up early and politely.

The tour is open to most people, but the information does not provide detailed accessibility guidance. If you have mobility, swimming, or medical concerns, contact the operator before booking rather than relying on general participation language.

Timing problems to watch for

Most guests should expect a long day. The listed duration is about eight hours, but one account described spending roughly nine hours on the boat and receiving lunch as late as 3:00 p.m. That may have been an isolated operational problem, but it is still useful planning information.

Eat the included breakfast, bring any personal snacks you are allowed to carry, and do not schedule an important activity immediately after the stated return time. The day can run long because of boarding, marine park rules, water activity rotations, or delays connected with access requests.

If you have a hotel dinner reservation or airport transfer later that day, leave a generous buffer. The tour returns to the marina, but the published end time is approximate rather than a firm guarantee.

Photos, tips, and other extra costs

A photo session is not included. You can add a souvenir photo option, but the price is not provided in the tour details. Tips are also separate.

The marine park conservation fee is listed at MX$100 per person, and the port tax is MX$29 per person. These are small compared with the tour price, but you should include them in your budget so the advertised $99 does not catch you by surprise.

Love Beach is the larger extra cost to investigate. Because access is controlled and limited, ask the operator for the current fee, the booking process, and the precise conditions. Do this before the morning of departure.

The tour offers free cancellation when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. The experience also depends on good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this Marietas Islands cruise?

I would recommend Sea Mi Amor Marietas to you if you want a convenient, activity-packed day from Puerto Vallarta. It suits people who value included equipment and meals, enjoy a group atmosphere, and want several ways to use their time on the water.

It can also work well for families, though children from three to five years old are free only for the tour itself and still pay MX$100 for meals. Parents should confirm the swimming arrangements and life vest fit before the activities begin.

I would be more cautious if you want a small boat, a quiet schedule, high-end food, or a carefully paced snorkeling experience. I would also hesitate if Love Beach is your one essential goal and the operator cannot provide firm confirmation.

Should you book Sea Mi Amor Marietas?

Book it if you see the Marietas Islands as a full-day boat outing with snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boards, meals, and drinks. At $99, the package gives you plenty for your money, especially if you take part in more than one activity.

Before paying, confirm the separate conservation and port fees, ask about the current Love Beach charge, and get that beach request recorded. Arrive ready for a large group and a day that may run longer than eight hours.

My verdict is cautiously positive for value, but not for precision. The friendly service and broad list of inclusions are the best reasons to go. The weak points are food quality, crowded operations, uncomfortable snorkeling for some people, and the serious risk of a Love Beach booking mix-up. Choose it for a flexible island day, not for a guaranteed private or perfectly timed experience.

FAQ

Where does the Sea Mi Amor Marietas tour start?

It starts at Terminal Maritima API on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio in Las Glorias, Puerto Vallarta. The tour also ends back at this meeting point.

What time does the tour depart?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours. The actual day may run longer, so avoid making tight plans afterward.

Is Love Beach included in the tour price?

No. Love Beach access is optional, controlled by the marine park, and available only by request. It has a separate charge and should be arranged in advance.

What is included in the $99 price?

The price includes breakfast, lunch, snorkeling gear, a life vest, kayaks, paddle boards, and an onboard open bar. Alcoholic drinks are served only after the water activities.

What fees are not included?

The MX$29 port tax and MX$100 Marietas Island conservation fee are not included. Transportation to and from the marina, tips, photos, and Love Beach access are also extra.