Mega Yacht ALL INCLUSIVE Yelapa Waterfall & Snorkeling Adventure

The best thing about this six-hour Puerto Vallarta outing is the mix of easygoing yacht time and real stops ashore. You can swim, snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, eat, drink, hike to a waterfall, or simply sit in the shade and watch Banderas Bay slide by. It is a full day without requiring you to plan each piece yourself.

I like the attentive crew service, which includes regular food and drink service, and I like the range of choices. You can join the lively music with hosts such as Ricky Ricardo and DJ David, or move to a quieter upper area. The main caution is time: with boating, water activities, lunch, and Yelapa all packed into roughly six hours, some people may want longer for swimming, snorkeling, or beach time.

Key Points at a Glance

• Yelapa gives you two different afternoons: walk about 15 minutes to a waterfall and swim there, or stay near the beach and village.
• The boat is a spacious catamaran, marketed as a mega yacht, with shaded seating and room to spread out.
• Food and drinks are included all day, from fruit and pastries at breakfast to fajitas, guacamole, beer, wine, tequila, margaritas, and more.
• The first stop is built for water play, with snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, a water mattress, and waterslides.
• The mood can be lively or calm, depending on where you sit and how much you join the music and dancing.
• Snorkeling conditions and equipment can vary, so do not book this solely for a long, dedicated snorkeling session.

What You Are Really Booking for $117.60

At $117.60 per person, this is not simply a boat ride to Yelapa. The price covers breakfast, lunch, snacks, an open bar, water equipment, entertainment, and the round-trip cruise. Once you add the cost of separate meals, drinks, and water activities, the package can offer solid value.

The value is strongest if you plan to use several parts of the day. Have breakfast aboard, snorkel or paddleboard, eat the fajita lunch, order drinks, walk to the waterfall, and return by boat. If you avoid alcohol and prefer to spend most of your time quietly on a beach, the price may feel less compelling.

This is also a useful choice if you want an organized day without arranging boat transport, restaurant stops, and equipment rentals separately. You make one booking, choose a meeting point, and the crew handles the practical details.

The advertised vessel is a large catamaran rather than a traditional single-hull yacht. That matters mainly for expectations. You get broad deck space, shaded seating, water toys, and a social boat setting, but this is a shared excursion for as many as 115 people, not a private luxury charter.

Boarding at Puerto Mágico or Paradise Village

You can choose between two departure points when booking: Chica Locca at Puerto Mágico Cruise Ship Terminal or Paradise Village. Pick carefully before submitting your reservation, since the meeting location is required.

At Puerto Mágico, allow time for port security. This is a federal maritime port, and passengers may be searched. Do not bring drugs, weapons, liquids, electronic cigarettes, or vapes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must make your own way to the selected departure point.

Once aboard, the day begins with a breakfast of fresh seasonal fruit, pastries, coffee, and juice. The crew also opens the beverage service early, with water, soft drinks, coffee, juices, mineral water, and alcoholic drinks available throughout the day.

The seating includes shaded areas, an important detail in Puerto Vallarta’s strong sun. Bring a hat, sunscreen, swimsuit, and towel. One useful packing rule is simple: bring very little. Snorkel gear and the listed water equipment are supplied, and the boat provides food and drinks.

The Cruise South Through Banderas Bay

The journey to the first water stop takes about an hour. This is not empty transit. You get broad views of the Puerto Vallarta coast and a chance to settle into the boat’s rhythm before the activity begins.

Banderas Bay is known for marine life and is an important seasonal breeding area for humpback whales. Whale sightings are not guaranteed, but the return cruise can offer opportunities to watch for them. Dolphins have also been seen during the ride.

The atmosphere depends partly on the host working that day. Ricky Ricardo is known for keeping the energy high, while DJ David handles the music and playful social mood. The upper level can be quieter, so you have some control over how much party atmosphere you want.

That flexibility helps this excursion appeal to couples, families, and mixed-age groups. A parent or older family member can sit in the shade while younger people use the water toys. Still, the social setting may not suit anyone looking for a quiet private sail.

Playa Chica Locca: The Main Water-Activity Stop

After about an hour of sailing, the boat reaches Playa Chica Locca in Quimixto. This is the part of the day designed for getting wet.

You can use the snorkeling equipment, kayaks, standup paddleboards, and water mattress. The yacht also has waterslides, and you can jump from the second deck into the sea if you want a more dramatic entrance. Crew members encourage fun while keeping an eye on safety.

Snorkeling time appears to be around 40 minutes on some departures, but the exact amount depends on the day’s schedule and conditions. This is a key point. The tour includes snorkeling, but it is not a specialist reef expedition with hours in the water.

Water clarity can change, and some departures have had cloudy conditions. Equipment supply has also been an issue on at least one trip, with more people than available snorkels. I would treat snorkeling as one feature of a wider day rather than the sole reason to book.

The cove setting is still worthwhile even if visibility is poor. You can paddle, swim, slide, float, or remain on deck with a drink. The crew brings out guacamole with blue corn chips and potato chips as the boat prepares to move on.

An onboard massage is also available. It is not automatically scheduled for every person, so ask the crew early if you want one. The massage option can be easy to miss, especially when the boat is busy with swimming and music.

Lunch on the Way to Yelapa

After the first water stop, the boat serves a Mexican fajita lunch. The meal includes chicken and beef fajitas, rice, beans, tortillas, salsa, and fresh guacamole. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available if you request them at booking.

The food is prepared in the operator’s beach kitchen and delivered by boat. That detail gives lunch a more practical, fresh-made feel than a prepackaged buffet. The meal is substantial enough to keep the day moving, especially if you have been swimming and paddling.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included, so you do not need to carry food aboard. The open bar includes beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, piña coladas, and other drinks, along with nonalcoholic choices.

The open bar is a major part of the value for people who enjoy drinks on the water. The minimum drinking age is 18. If you prefer not to drink alcohol, coffee, juices, soft drinks, and water are available.

Yelapa Beach, Village, and Waterfall

Yelapa means where two rivers meet the sea. The village sits in a sheltered bay, and the boat docks at a pier so you can go ashore without arranging a separate tender.

You have several ways to spend this portion of the afternoon. Walk through the village, relax on the beach, swim near the boat, or follow the short trail to the waterfall. The walk takes about 15 minutes, though the route includes an uphill section and may feel demanding in the heat.

The waterfall is the visual payoff of the shore stop. You can take photographs and swim in the cool water beneath the cascade. Bring secure footwear if you plan to walk up, since flip-flops may be less comfortable on an uneven or sloped path.

The shore time is one of the tour’s strongest features, but it is also where the schedule can feel tight. The boat must return to Puerto Vallarta, and you have already spent time cruising and using the water equipment. Some people may find there is not enough time to swim, explore the beach, visit the village, and reach the waterfall at a relaxed pace.

You may need to choose one main goal. If the waterfall matters most, go there first. If you prefer a slow beach afternoon, skip the walk and enjoy the bay. You can also remain aboard for more drinks, snacks, swimming, or a massage.

Return Cruise With Music, Photos, and Bay Views

The return trip brings the group back across Banderas Bay. Depending on the mood aboard, there may be dancing, music, whale watching, and casual conversation.

A photographer works on the tour and takes action shots during the day. Photos are not included in the price. You can arrange to buy them at check-in or aboard, so do not assume they will arrive automatically unless you have paid for them and confirmed the delivery details.

The crew’s service is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Staff keep food and drinks moving, clean the decks, and help with the activities. That level of attention matters on a boat carrying a large group, though service can naturally feel more personal when the departure has fewer people.

The full group limit is 115 passengers. Some departures may be much smaller, and a lighter load can improve the staff-to-passenger ratio. If you want a quiet, intimate boat day, ask about expected capacity before booking, though the information provided does not promise a specific group size.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most

I would recommend this excursion to you if you want several experiences in one day:

• A boat ride with food, drinks, music, and shaded seating
• Light snorkeling and water play rather than a dedicated marine-life trip
• A chance to visit Yelapa without arranging your own boat
• A short waterfall walk with time for a swim
• A social atmosphere that works well for couples, families, and friends
• The convenience of an all-inclusive package

Families can benefit from the wide choice of activities. Someone can paddleboard while another person relaxes with a drink. The tour also worked well for at least one family bringing an older parent, though the uphill waterfall trail and hot sun may not suit every senior.

You should think twice if you dislike loud music, shared excursions, alcohol-centered outings, or busy schedules. The tour offers a quieter upper level, but it is still built around social energy and group entertainment.

If your main goal is clear-water snorkeling, choose a tour focused specifically on reefs and water time. Conditions here can change, and the schedule divides attention between the cove, Yelapa, the waterfall, lunch, and the return cruise.

Practical Details Before You Reserve

The tour is about six hours and is often booked roughly 27 days in advance, so reserve early during popular travel periods. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the experience is offered in English, with the possibility of a multilingual guide.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The tour depends on good weather and a minimum number of passengers. If the operator cancels for weather or insufficient numbers, you can receive a different date, another experience, or a full refund.

Most people can participate, but the waterfall route includes an uphill walk and the boat’s water activities require comfort around open water. Tell the operator about dietary needs when booking. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be arranged.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, a swimsuit, a towel, and footwear suitable for the waterfall walk. You do not need to bring snorkeling equipment or paddling gear. Keep valuables to a minimum, and remember the strict port security rules at Puerto Mágico.

Should You Book the Yelapa Waterfall and Snorkeling Adventure?

Book this tour if you want a social, all-inclusive day that combines a catamaran cruise, water toys, food, drinks, and Yelapa. The crew service, plentiful meals, open bar, comfortable seating, and choice of activities make the price reasonable for many people.

Do not book it expecting a private yacht, a long reef snorkeling session, or an unhurried beach day. The boat is a shared catamaran, the schedule is full, snorkeling conditions vary, and you may have to choose between the village, beach, and waterfall.

For the right kind of day, this is an efficient way to see several sides of Puerto Vallarta’s southern bay. Go for the blend: cruise, swim, eat, walk, and relax. If you want only one of those things, a more focused outing may serve you better.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

You can choose Chica Locca at Puerto Mágico Cruise Ship Terminal or Paradise Village when booking. You must select your meeting place before submitting the reservation.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours, including the cruise, the Playa Chica Locca water stop, time at Yelapa, and the return trip.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast includes seasonal fruit, pastries, coffee, and juices. Lunch includes chicken and beef fajitas, rice, beans, tortillas, salsa, and other listed accompaniments. Snacks include guacamole, blue corn chips, and potato chips.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The open bar includes water, coffee, juices, soft drinks, mineral water, beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, piña coladas, and other beverages. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, and a water mattress are provided. Snorkeling conditions and equipment availability can vary, so the tour should not be treated as a dedicated snorkeling trip.

Can I visit the Yelapa waterfall?

Yes. From Yelapa, the waterfall is reached by a guided walk of about 15 minutes. The route includes an uphill section and may not suit everyone.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. If the operator cancels because of poor weather or insufficient numbers, you will be offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.