Luxury Yacht & Snorkel with All inclusive Open bar and lunch

This is an easy sell because you get a real catamaran day at sea with a built-in snorkeling plan, plus the kind of service that keeps you fed and drinked without doing chores. You cruise the Bay of Banderas, you end up at Majahuitas Cove, and you get time in the water. The max 40 cap and crew-led pace make it feel more like a VIP outing than a cattle-boat.

I especially like two things. First, the unlimited premium open bar means you do not have to track who is paying for what. Second, the lunch is more than a token snack, with guacamole, shrimp-style items, fruit, and chips, plus a steady rhythm of refills.

One drawback to keep in mind is that the ocean runs the schedule. Route changes happen based on sea conditions, and if you are prone to motion sickness you may want to plan for choppy moments and a shorter-than-dreamt snorkeling window.

Key things to know before you go

• Max 40 travelers keeps the vibe calmer and helps staff move fast with drinks and food.
• Unlimited premium open bar is a big value add, and you do not have to chase service.
• Majahuitas Cove stop is the main event, with rainforest scenery and a secluded feel.
• Snorkeling and stand up paddleboards are included with gear provided.
• Wildlife sightings are common but never guaranteed, with reports of dolphins, sea turtles, and even whales on the ride.
• Photo and video service happens on board, and the images are sold separately at the end.

Majahuitas Cove is the whole reason to choose this cruise

The best part of this tour is the destination itself: Majahuitas Cove, just south of Puerto Vallarta. This is the kind of coastal stop where the setting does half the work for you, with lush hillsides dropping toward the water. Many people look for a beach-and-snorkel mix, and this one tries to deliver both in a half-day format.

If your goal is to see sea life, go with open expectations. Some days you will spot plenty of colorful fish, but there are also reports of less marine life than hoped, plus snorkeling sessions that can feel brief. The upside is that you still get a solid time on the water, and you are not stuck in one place the entire time.

If your goal is more about relaxing, the cove has that advantage too. One common theme in feedback is that the beach stop feels more exclusive because the group arrives before the bigger boats. That matters, because the difference between a pleasant swim hour and a crowded scramble is often just timing.

Getting to the boat: meeting point and the practical stuff

This starts at 8:00 am at Vallarta Adventures, Terminal Marítima N Puerto Mágico. The key detail is that there is no hotel pickup. So you either need to get there on your own or plan for a short taxi or rideshare hop.

Bring the basics that make a sea day easier:

• Sunscreen and water-friendly protection for your shoulders and back.
• A plan for motion sickness if you are sensitive to boat rides, because choppier seas can happen.
• A small bag situation you can live with, because multiple reviews mention limited storage for belongings on board.

Also, this is a no-drone activity. Federal rules prohibit drones, and Mexico’s maritime ports enforce a strict no-drug policy, including electronic cigarettes and vapes. If you smoke, do yourself a favor and do not bring anything you are not comfortable setting aside.

Cruising the Bay of Banderas, Los Arcos, and views from the water

The ride out is not just a warm-up. It is part of the attraction. The boat navigates along the Bay of Banderas toward the south of Puerto Vallarta, and the route can shift depending on daily sea conditions.

You might pass by Los Arcos depending on conditions, which is a great reminder that not everything famous has to be a walking stop. From the water, rock formations and coastal angles look different, and you get photos you cannot recreate from the sidewalk.

You also get sea views of the Malecón Boardwalk area while cruising through the Bay. That is handy if you want a quick geographic sense of Puerto Vallarta without doing a full city tour.

A small but real comfort detail: the boat ride is crew-managed, and people report that staff keep everyone informed during the cruise. In other words, you are not left guessing what happens next.

Snorkeling and paddleboarding: what you actually get in 5 hours

Snorkeling is included with snorkeling equipment provided, and you also get stand up paddleboards on the activity list. That combination is smart because you have options. If the water is calm, snorkeling can be a quick win. If the conditions are less friendly for snorkeling, paddleboarding (when available and appropriate for conditions) lets you still enjoy the water without the same level of fin-and-mask time.

The trade-off is time. In multiple accounts, snorkeling has been described as a short window. So I would treat this as a taster with a decent chance of fish, not a long reef marathon. If you are a serious diver chasing specific underwater structure, you might end up wanting something longer and more specialized.

A few safety and comfort notes to plan around:

• Life vests are expected when you are in the water, and at least one review says this was required even during the swim.
• If you want to stash personal items, assume the answer is limited. People have pointed out there is not much space to park bags.
• If you bring your own gear, you might prefer it. Some reviews mention the provided snorkeling gear is decent, but others say having your own can help your comfort.

Lunch and the open bar: where the value really shows

At $119 per person, this tour is priced like a half-day activity, but the package tries to turn it into an all-in experience by bundling lunch plus an unlimited premium open bar.

Food on board seems to be a solid highlight, with repeated mentions of guacamole, seafood-style bites, fresh fruit, and chips. People also note that refills keep flowing, so you are not stuck waiting for a kitchen schedule.

Still, I would not oversell the lunch as gourmet fine dining. Some reviews say sandwiches were fairly ordinary, and there is at least one report of seafood not being present the way it was described. Translation for your planning: show up hungry, expect good enough beach-and-boat food, but do not expect a restaurant level menu.

The open bar is where many people feel the price makes sense. Reviews mention that drinks stay topped up and staff are attentive. However, there is a nuance on the beach portion: at least one report says the island open bar was limited to beer, water, and juice rather than the broader premium drink setup. If cocktails are a must, have a backup mindset and still enjoy the experience for the boat ride plus water time.

The Majahuitas beach stop: arriving early, swimming in, and towel reality

Majahuitas is scheduled as a key stop, with admission ticket included, and the time on site is about the main chunk of the excursion. The exact flow can feel different day to day, because sea conditions dictate how you move and where the boat can anchor.

One repeated detail is that you may need to swim from the boat to the shore. That affects everything:

• You may not be able to bring towels in a convenient way.
• You end up with wet clothes soon after you get in the water.
• If you are traveling with kids, the “careful getting in” part matters. One review mentioned a rougher banana boat moment at the beach stop and cautioned about children.

On the plus side, people describe the beach area as a relaxing payoff. Some mention it felt the most exclusive part of the whole day, because they arrived before larger boats. When the cove is calm and the group size stays tight, that early arrival advantage really does change the mood.

If you want to make this smoother for yourself, I recommend bringing a change of clothes in a dry bag, and having a plan for where you will put wet stuff once you are back on board.

Price and value: $119 plus the Bay of Banderas admission fee

Let’s do the math in a practical way. The tour price is $119 per person for a half-day around 5 hours. Lunch and drinks are included, plus snorkeling equipment and stand up paddleboards. The big missing piece is the Bay of Banderas admission fee, listed as $40 per person and not included in the base price.

So you should plan for a higher total than the headline price. And there is a second fee detail worth knowing: one review described paying a 40 peso fee at arrival and also a mandatory port fee of 30 pesos per person. That means it can be wise to carry cash in pesos for anything that is collected at the port.

Is it worth it?

• If you want a boat ride with snorkeling gear included, a real lunch, and an open bar, this can be a good value because the day’s costs are packed together.
• If you care most about underwater scenery, and you only want long snorkeling time with lots of coral, you might feel disappointed by the short snorkeling window.
• If your focus is luxury, aim your expectations at friendly crew, a kept-up catamaran feel, and service, not a hotel spa level finish. Some people felt the word luxury was a stretch.

Service style, photo add-ons, and comfort tips

The most praised part of this experience is the crew. People highlight names like Alex, Juan Luis, Diego, and Felipe, along with captains and crew members such as Captain Victor, Daniel, Pablo, Jennifer, Sylvino, Judy, Charlie, and George. The pattern is clear: when staff see you are comfortable, they keep the pace relaxed, drinks filled, and instructions clear.

If you love photos, plan for this reality too. A photographer team takes pictures and videos during the day, and then you can buy the package at the end. One review said the digital package was about $100 USD, which helps you decide if you want to spend extra or skip it.

For comfort:

• Expect limited bag storage on board.
• Bring sunscreen and water-friendly protection, because you will be out in sun for a chunk of the day.
• If motion makes you sick, take it seriously. One review specifically advised Dramamine for motion-prone riders.

Should you book this Luxury Yacht and Snorkel tour?

I would book this if you want an easy half-day plan with a small group feel, real time at Majahuitas, snorkeling plus paddleboarding with gear included, and the big value bonus of an unlimited open bar. It is also a strong pick for couples, groups celebrating something, and families with kids 10 and up who can handle a boat day and a swim to shore if that is how your day runs.

I would skip it or at least adjust expectations if you need long snorkeling time, heavy coral and dramatic reefs, or if you expect true luxury in the sense of wide open lounging space and gourmet food. Also, if you are very sensitive to boat motion, consider your strategy before boarding.

If you do book, go in smart: pack for a wet beach entry possibility, bring sunscreen and a plan for seasickness, and be ready for photo upsells. If those sound manageable, this can be a fun, scenic, high-service PV day without the stress of planning your own boat route.

FAQ

How long is the Puerto Vallarta Luxury Yacht and Snorkel tour?

It runs about 5 hours (approx.).

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 8:00 am.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at Vallarta Adventures, Terminal Marítima N Puerto Mágico, Heroica Escuela Naval, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 30-G1, Zona Hotelera Nte., 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop off are not included.

What is included in the price?

It includes a day cruise on a luxury yacht, unlimited premium open bar, lunch (deli style), use of snorkeling equipment, and stand up paddleboards.

What extra fee is not included?

The admission fee for the Bay of Banderas is not included, listed as $40.00 per person.

Is this tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 10.

Are drones allowed on this tour?

No. Drones are prohibited due to federal regulations.

Can I bring vapes or electronic cigarettes?

Mexico’s maritime ports enforce a strict no-drug policy, and that includes electronic cigarettes and vapers.