Puerto Vallarta: Private Yelapa Beach & Snorkel Tour on a Yacht

Los Arcos is the star of this trip: dramatic rock arches, a cave tunnel, clear water, and a chance to snorkel in one of Puerto Vallarta’s most scenic coastal spots. From there, the yacht continues to Yelapa, a small beach community where you can eat lunch, walk to a waterfall, or simply claim a patch of sand.

I like the private-yacht setting, which gives your group space and a crew focused on your needs. I also like the flexible snorkeling plan: Los Arcos is the first choice, but Majahuitas can be used if sea conditions make the caves unsuitable. The main drawback is the $1,225 per-person price, which only makes strong value sense for a group that will use the privacy, service, food, drinks, and full yacht experience.

Key points to know before booking

• Los Arcos comes first, after about 1 hour and 15 minutes of cruising from Marina Vallarta, with photos and possible cave snorkeling.
• Majahuitas is the backup snorkeling area if conditions at Los Arcos are not good enough.
• Yelapa gives you real time ashore, including lunch at a beach restaurant and an optional walk to a waterfall.
• The yacht includes an open bar, with beer, cocktails, water, soda, juices, chips, guacamole, and other snacks.
• The crew is a major part of the experience, with Captain Carlos, Victor, Oscar, and Philip named in past trips.
• You return to the same marina meeting point after roughly seven hours, with about two hours spent cruising back from Yelapa.

A private day on Puerto Vallarta’s southern coast

This is not a quick boat ride to one beach. It is a full coastal outing built around the journey as much as the stops. You leave from Bruma Café & Cocktails in Marina Vallarta and head south along the shore, with the Puerto Vallarta waterfront gradually giving way to more open coastal scenery.

The first stretch takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. That may sound long, but the yacht is part of the point. You can take photographs of the Malecón and the famous crown-topped church in central Puerto Vallarta, then settle into the cruise with a drink, fruit, pastries, or chips and guacamole.

A private boat changes the rhythm of the day. You are not being moved through a rigid public excursion with strangers. Your group can sit together, ask the crew for help with snorkeling gear, and enjoy the coast at a slower pace. The tradeoff is simple: you pay much more than you would for a standard group boat, so the experience needs to be shared by enough people to justify the cost.

Los Arcos: photos first, snorkeling second

Los Arcos de Mismaloya is the first major stop, about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the marina. The rock formations rise from the sea near the southern end of Puerto Vallarta, creating one of the area’s most recognizable views.

The boat pauses for photographs, with the cave tunnel providing a strong backdrop. This is a good place to have your camera ready before you start handling snorkel gear. The crew can also lead a snorkel outing through the caves when conditions are safe and suitable.

That last point matters. Ocean conditions control this part of the trip. Los Arcos is scenic even if the water is too rough for snorkeling, but you should not assume the cave swim will happen on every departure. The plan includes Majahuitas as an alternate snorkeling area, which gives the day some useful flexibility.

The snorkeling equipment is included. Past trips have highlighted well-fitting fins and colorful fish, but visibility and marine life will vary with weather and water conditions. You should think of snorkeling here as a chance to see the underwater side of the coast, not as a guaranteed wildlife show.

Majahuitas keeps the plan flexible

After Los Arcos, the yacht passes Majahuitas Beach. The trip information describes this as the backup area for snorkeling if Los Arcos is not suitable.

That is a practical arrangement. A sea day should not be built around one exact patch of water, since wind, waves, and visibility can change. You still get the coastal cruise and a chance to snorkel, even if the first site is not workable.

The cruise from Los Arcos toward Majahuitas takes about 45 minutes, followed by another 30 minutes or so toward Yelapa. These stretches are part of the day’s pleasure, but they do add up. If you want constant activity, seven hours may feel long. If you like sun, open water, drinks, and unhurried scenery, the pace should suit you well.

Whale and dolphin sightings have occurred on past outings, especially during the winter season, and one trip also reported rays. Treat these as possible bonuses, not promised features. The boat slows when wildlife appears, but the itinerary does not guarantee a sighting.

Yelapa gives the day a land-based break

Yelapa is the main shore stop, and the schedule allows about two hours there. You can go ashore for lunch at one of the beachside restaurants, spend time near the water, or head inland toward a waterfall.

This break is important because it keeps the trip from becoming seven straight hours on a boat. You get a different feel at Yelapa, with small restaurants and a simple beach setting rather than a polished resort atmosphere. Lunch is not included, so budget separately for food and drinks on shore.

The waterfall walk offers a little more activity. You can hike through town, or choose an optional ATV or horse ride. Those activities cost about $20 to $30 per person and are not part of the yacht price. The supplied timing does not specify how long the waterfall walk takes, so ask the crew how much time remains before heading inland.

I would not book this trip expecting an extensive guided hike. Yelapa is better viewed as a relaxed shore stop with room for a casual walk, lunch, and beach time. If you want a full day of organized adventure on land, another excursion may fit better.

One past outing included a ride from the yacht to shore in a small boat after the yacht moored to a buoy. That arrangement may be used depending on the anchorage and local conditions. Be ready for a transfer rather than assuming the yacht will pull directly onto the beach.

The yacht service is a major part of the value

The package includes an open bar with beer, cocktails, water, soda, and juices. Snacks include chips and guacamole, and past outings also included pastries, bread, fruit, and croissants.

That food service is useful during the long cruise, especially since lunch comes later and must be purchased separately in Yelapa. You can settle in without packing a full picnic, though you may still want sunscreen and any personal snacks you prefer.

The yacht has air conditioning, a restroom, and WiFi. Those are small details until you spend several hours at sea. The restroom is particularly helpful for families and for anyone who does not want to wait until reaching shore.

The crew is repeatedly described as attentive and professional. Philip arranged transportation for one large group, Captain Carlos and Victor handled another outing, and Captain Oscar led a trip aboard the larger 55-foot Ruby. Escandalo is also named as one of the yachts used on previous days. Because several boats and crew members appear in the supplied information, you should confirm which yacht and captain are assigned to your booking.

The service style is hands-on. Drinks are refilled, snorkeling equipment is fitted, and the captain may slow down for whales or dolphins. That level of attention is one of the strongest reasons to consider a private charter instead of a basic shared boat.

What the $1,225 price really means

At $1,225 per person, this is an expensive Puerto Vallarta excursion. The price is not simply paying for transportation to Yelapa. It covers a private yacht experience, crew service, onboard drinks and snacks, snorkeling equipment, air conditioning, WiFi, and a full seven-hour route.

Still, the value depends heavily on the size and makeup of your group. A large family or group of friends can spread the cost across people who all want the same day. The private format also prevents you from paying for a cheaper boat and then wishing you had more room, better service, or more control over the schedule.

Lunch and optional shore activities are extra. You should also account for transport to Marina Vallarta unless you are already staying nearby. The meeting point is Bruma Café & Cocktails at Mástil 11, and the tour returns there.

For a couple, the price is harder to defend unless the private yacht experience is the main purpose of the day. For a group marking a birthday, anniversary, family gathering, or special vacation, the price may feel more reasonable because the yacht itself becomes the occasion.

Families, older adults, and mixed-age groups

Children must be older than four years. A five-year-old has taken part in a previous outing and enjoyed a virgin piña colada, with the crew paying close attention to safety. That gives families a useful example, but you should still decide if your own child is comfortable with a long cruise, boat movement, snorkeling, and a small-boat transfer to shore if one is needed.

The tour is also suitable for adults who want to enjoy the coast without managing every detail. The crew handles drinks and equipment, and the day can be as active or relaxed as your group prefers.

Mixed groups may find this format especially useful. Some people can snorkel, some can sit in the shade or use the yacht’s cushioned seating, and others can walk toward the waterfall at Yelapa. Just remember that shore activities have their own costs and may not suit everyone in the same two-hour window.

Timing matters more than it first appears

The route takes about seven hours, with roughly two hours for the return cruise from Yelapa to Marina Vallarta. That makes the day feel spacious, but it also means you should keep the rest of your schedule open.

One group booked while visiting on a cruise ship. Philip arranged a private van near the pier and kept close track of their return time, which helped the group get back without worrying about missing the ship. If you are using this tour on a cruise day, give the provider your exact ship departure time and confirm the return plan before paying.

The published meeting information lists a Monday opening window from 10 a.m. to noon, while the tour itself is described as a seven-hour activity. Because that information is not perfectly clear, confirm your exact start time at booking. Confirmation is sent when you book.

The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is received at the time of booking. It is near public transportation, though no specific transfer service is included as a standard part of the package.

Weather, snorkeling, and what you should pack

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. If you cancel, you need to do so at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a secure way to carry your phone. The yacht provides snorkeling equipment, but personal preferences vary, so you may want to bring your own mask if you have one you trust.

Wear shoes suitable for a short walk in Yelapa. If you plan to use an ATV or horse, ask about the activity before committing your limited shore time. Lunch is not included, so bring a payment method for the restaurant.

The crew can make the water portion easy, but no boat can control the sea. If you are prone to motion sickness, plan ahead. The available information does not specify whether medication or other supplies are provided onboard.

Who should book this private yacht day

I would recommend this experience to:

• Families or friend groups that want a private boat rather than a shared excursion.
• Couples celebrating an anniversary or another special occasion.
• People who value attentive service, an open bar, and plenty of time on the water.
• Cruise passengers who need a carefully timed return to port.
• Groups with mixed interests, since the day combines snorkeling, beach time, lunch, and a waterfall option.

I would hesitate if you want a low-cost beach transfer, a guaranteed snorkeling session, or a tightly scheduled adventure with constant activity. The trip is long, the price is high, and both the snorkeling and wildlife sightings depend on conditions.

Should you book the Yelapa yacht tour?

Book it if your group can share the cost and you want the boat ride itself to be a highlight. The combination of Los Arcos, flexible snorkeling, Yelapa, an open bar, and attentive crew service creates a polished day with real time to relax.

Think twice if you are traveling alone or as a pair on a tight budget. In that case, lunch, shore activities, and the per-person rate can push the total well above what you expect for a beach day.

Before booking, confirm the assigned yacht, captain, start time, pickup arrangements, and how your group will reach shore at Yelapa. If those details fit your plans, this is a strong choice for a private coastal day rather than a basic boat transfer.

FAQ

How long is the Puerto Vallarta yacht tour?

The experience lasts about seven hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Bruma Café & Cocktails, Mástil 11, Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the same meeting point in Marina Vallarta.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What is included on the yacht?

The tour includes an open bar with water, soda, juices, beer, and cocktails. Chips and guacamole, snorkeling equipment, air conditioning, a restroom, and WiFi are also included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and drinks at the beachside restaurants in Yelapa are paid for separately.

Can I snorkel at Los Arcos?

You can snorkel at Los Arcos when sea conditions are acceptable. If snorkeling there is not possible, Majahuitas may be used instead.

Are ATV rides or horse rides included?

No. Optional ATV or horse activities at Yelapa cost approximately $20 to $30 per person.

Can children join the tour?

Yes, but children must be older than four years.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.