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

This private full-day tour, listed at seven hours, takes you by yacht from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa, combining a coastal cruise, snorkeling and time ashore. The yacht is described as a private luxury vessel with a bilingual captain and crew, and the timing is flexible and tailored to your group.

The day begins with a relaxed cruise down the Puerto Vallarta coastline. You can take photos of the Malecón, including the church's crown, one of the city's icons. The cruise to Los Arcos takes about 1.25 hours, so a good part of the morning is spent on the water.

The first stop is the Los Arcos National Reserve, a protected marine area, where you get a photo opportunity with the cave tunnel in the background and the first chance to snorkel. If conditions are acceptable, the crew leads a snorkel through the caves. The cruise to Majahuitas takes about 45 minutes. At Majahuitas Beach, snorkeling is done if conditions prevented it at Los Arcos. The listing is not fully consistent here: the description promises snorkeling at Los Arcos, while the itinerary makes it depend on the sea, so treat snorkeling as weather-dependent.

The cruise to Yelapa takes about 30 minutes. In this secluded village you can go ashore, have a casual lunch at one of the beachside restaurants, soak up the sun and explore local shops. You can also hike, or take optional ATVs or horses, through the village up to a scenic waterfall in the jungle. The return cruise to Marina Vallarta takes about 2 hours.

On board, the yacht offers an open bar, snacks, music and an on-deck relaxation area, along with on-board WiFi and restrooms and snorkeling equipment. The description presents it as suited to families, couples or friends. Children must be older than 4 years of age. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Note that lunch is not included; the listing says so directly. Gratuities are also excluded, as are shore activities such as ATVs or horses, priced at roughly 20 to 30 USD. Public transportation options are available nearby. The listing gives no meeting point, so confirm where to board when you book.