Half-Day Marietas Islands Tour with Playa Nopalera + Food

The Marietas Islands, a protected natural park north of Puerto Vallarta known for their reefs, crystal-clear water, and dramatic landscapes, are the focus of this half-day boat tour, which pairs snorkeling and kayaking with a stop at Playa Nopalera and meals on board.

The tour begins at the Maritime Terminal, where you check in and pass through a safety filter before boarding the boat, a process that takes about 35 minutes. The crossing to the islands takes roughly 90 minutes, during which you're served breakfast while taking in the view of Banderas Bay.

Once at the Marietas Islands, the main activity is snorkeling around the formations, where you can swim alongside colorful reef life. Kayaking is also available during this stop. Travelers who've booked the optional Ecotour, an extra-cost boat ride around the islands, get a closer look at their formation and geology from an onboard biologist guide.

From the islands, the boat continues to Playa Nopalera, a rocky stretch of coastline that's still worth exploring on foot before returning to the boat for food, drinks, and music. Throughout the visit, guides explain the islands' ecology, flora, and fauna, along with the rules in place to protect this ecological refuge, home to a wide variety of birds and marine species.

The last stretch of the tour is built around relaxing back on board: about 90 minutes of food and open bar service as the boat sails back toward Puerto Vallarta, with views of Banderas Bay along the way.

This is a moderate-activity tour: it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular conditions, or for pregnant travelers, and participants should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Infants can travel in a pram, stroller, or on an adult's lap. Drones aren't allowed, though GoPros and phones can be brought at your own risk, and there's no vegan or vegetarian food available on board. Puerto Vallarta runs on GMT-6, with check-in at 8:10 am for a 9:00 am departure.

American breakfast, lunch, a national open bar with a fish ceviche snack, use of snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, and a floating mat, and onboard toilets are included, along with the visit to Nopalera Beach. This tour does not include the Hidden Beach; port fees (35 MXN per person) and the Semarnat conservation bracelet (220 MXN per person) are charged separately, and the Ecotour boat ride around the islands is an optional extra at around 200 MXN.