3 Hour Xpu-Ha – 47′ Azimut, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya

The fun here is simple: you get a private 47-foot Azimut yacht and three hours on the Caribbean near Xpu-Ha, with your own group, your own music, and no strangers joining the party. Juan and the H2OH crew keep the drinks moving, serve a fire-grilled chicken lunch, and adjust the day when wind makes open water rough.

I like the private format, especially for a bachelorette party, bachelor party, or birthday group that wants room to talk, sing, and play its own playlist. I also like the generous onboard setup: paddle boards, life jackets, karaoke with more than 18,000 songs, and a sound system connected to Spotify.

The main caution is the weather and the bar package. Strong wind can keep the yacht in a cove, and the included standard alcohol may not satisfy everyone. You also pay a $20 landing and facility fee per person, while private transportation and towels are not included.

Key points to know before you book

• The yacht is private for your group only: The boat holds up to 15 people, so you are not sharing the experience with another booking.
• Xpu-Ha is the main water stop: The three-hour outing takes you from Puerto Aventuras to the clear Caribbean waters near Xpu-Ha.
• Juan and the crew set the tone: The staff are especially important on a party charter, and Juan is noted for accommodating groups and keeping drinks available.
• Lunch is more substantial than standard boat snacks: Expect fire-grilled chicken, guacamole, salsa, beans, rice, tortillas, and chips.
• Entertainment is built into the boat: You get Bluetooth audio, Spotify, karaoke microphones, an HD lyric screen, and a library of more than 18,000 songs.
• Wind can change the plan: Rough conditions may mean staying in a sheltered cove instead of spending the day in open water.

Boarding the 47-foot Azimut in Puerto Aventuras

You meet H2OH Sun Cruises at C Bahia Yanten Mz 33 Lt 9 Loc 7 in Puerto Aventuras, listed under Tulum and the Riviera Maya. The scheduled start is 10:00 am, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point after about three hours.

That timing gives you a compact morning or midday outing rather than a full-day charter. I see this as a good fit if your group has dinner plans, a beach club reservation, or an evening flight of fun still ahead. It also means the day moves quickly, so arrive ready to board rather than treating the first hour as a slow orientation.

Private transportation is not included. You need to arrange your own way to Puerto Aventuras, and towels are also your responsibility. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the exact ease of getting there depends on where you are staying in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or the surrounding Riviera Maya.

The price is $975 per group for up to 15 people. At a full group, that works out to $65 per person before the required $20 landing and facility fee per person. With that fee added, a full group pays an effective total of about $85 per person, not counting transportation.

For a small group, the math changes. Six people would share the $975 base price at $162.50 each, before the $20 fee. I would book this for a larger group if value matters, since the private yacht, food, drinks, entertainment, and equipment are spread across more people.

Cruising from Puerto Aventuras toward Xpu-Ha

The route is not built around a long list of sightseeing stops. The point is the boat, the water, and the time your group gets together. After leaving Puerto Aventuras, the yacht heads toward Xpu-Ha, where you can enjoy the Caribbean water during the three-hour charter.

Xpu-Ha is a useful choice for this type of outing because the water gives you a setting for swimming and paddle boarding without requiring a full-day schedule. The supplied details do not promise a long snorkel session, scuba activity, or several beaches, so I would not book this expecting a packed water-sports itinerary.

Instead, think of the yacht as a floating base for a private party. You can listen to music, order drinks, eat lunch, and use the paddle boards when conditions permit. The crew handles the onboard service while you decide how much of the time should be spent in the water and how much should be spent on deck.

Wind matters here. One outing had such strong wind that the boat stayed in a cove. That can protect the group from rougher water, but it also changes the feel of the day. If your dream is an open-water cruise under perfectly calm conditions, keep that limitation in mind.

Lunch with fire-grilled chicken and fresh salsa

The included meal is a proper Mexican-style lunch rather than a bowl of chips passed around between drinks. The menu includes deliciously seasoned fire-grilled chicken, freshly made guacamole, fresh-cut Mexican-style salsa, beans, rice, tortillas, and chips.

I like this menu for a group because it is easy to share and has enough variety for different appetites. The chicken and beans make it filling, while guacamole, salsa, tortillas, and chips work well as casual food between water activities and music.

The meal also adds value to the price. A private charter can become expensive once you add separate food, drinks, and equipment rentals. Here, those basics are part of the package, so you do not have to organize a restaurant stop during a short three-hour schedule.

The available information does not specify vegetarian substitutions, allergies, or a child menu. If someone in your group has dietary restrictions, ask H2OH Sun Cruises before booking rather than assuming the standard meal can be changed.

The standard bar, cocktails, and the upgrade question

The all-inclusive bar includes unlimited standard drinks. That covers margaritas, beer, mixed cocktails, shots, and non-alcoholic drinks. For a celebratory group, this removes the need to count every round and helps keep the day relaxed.

But I would set expectations carefully. One party found the included alcohol disappointing and felt that an upgrade was needed for better-quality drinks. That is a useful warning for anyone who cares more about premium spirits or carefully made cocktails than about having a steady supply.

There is also a reported $300 fee to bring and open your own bottles. Treat that as a point to confirm directly with the operator before arriving, since the supplied tour information lists standard drinks but does not present a full premium-bar menu or formal bottle policy.

The smart approach is to see the bar as a standard open package, not a luxury spirits experience. If beer, margaritas, mixed drinks, shots, and soft drinks meet your group’s needs, the package is convenient. If your group has a favorite tequila, champagne, or specialty cocktail in mind, ask about the upgrade and bottle fee before paying.

Paddle boards and a sheltered-water option

Paddle boards and life jackets are included. That gives you something active to do beyond sitting on the yacht, and it makes the charter more than a simple boat ride.

The supplied details do not state how many paddle boards are available or how long each person can use one. With a group of 15, you may need to take turns. That is not a serious problem on a social charter, but it matters if every person expects a long, uninterrupted paddle session.

Wind can affect this part of the experience, too. A sheltered cove may provide calmer conditions and make paddle boarding more comfortable, even if it is less scenic than cruising in open water. The crew can also help shape the day around conditions, which is where a good onboard team matters.

Most travelers can participate, and life jackets are supplied. The activity is not recommended for pregnant women after five months of pregnancy. Anyone with concerns should check with the operator before booking.

Spotify, karaoke, and the party atmosphere

This yacht comes prepared for noise and group entertainment. A Bluetooth sound system connects to Spotify, so you can bring your own playlist and avoid relying only on the boat’s music choices.

Karaoke is the unusual extra. You get microphones, an HD television for lyrics, and access to more than 18,000 songs. For a group that enjoys singing, this can turn the ride between water activities into the main event. For a quieter group, it is easy to ignore, but you are still paying for that entertainment setup as part of the package.

Your music choice can shape the whole outing. A bachelorette group might prepare a playlist before boarding, while a mixed group could let people take turns choosing songs. I would assign one person to manage the music so the captain and crew are not asked to solve playlist disputes while also running the boat.

The crew also seems to matter as much as the equipment. Juan and the staff are described as keeping the group entertained and making sure drinks do not sit empty. That kind of service is valuable on a private charter, where the crew helps maintain the rhythm of the day.

What happens when the wind picks up

Weather is not a minor detail on this tour. The experience requires good conditions, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund. If wind rises during the outing, the yacht may remain in a cove rather than continue into rougher water.

That change protects comfort and safety, but it can disappoint a group that expected a wide-open cruise. One party felt frustrated because the weather change was not presented with a credit option before the final day of its trip. If your vacation schedule is tight, ask how weather decisions and rescheduling work before you commit.

The non-refundable policy is strict. You cannot receive a refund if you cancel or request an amendment for another reason. The weather exception applies when the operator cancels because conditions are poor, with a different date or full refund offered.

I would avoid booking this on the last possible day of a vacation if the boat day is the central event. A little schedule flexibility gives you a better chance of enjoying the experience in the intended conditions.

How the value changes with group size

At $975 for up to 15 people, this is not priced like an individual excursion. It is a group charter, and the value improves sharply as your party gets larger.

A full group receives a private yacht, food, unlimited standard drinks, paddle boards, life jackets, music, and karaoke. You also avoid sharing the boat’s social space with people you do not know. For a bachelor or bachelorette party, that privacy can be worth more than a lower-priced shared cruise.

The extra $20 per person facility fee should be included in your budget from the start. A full group adds $300 in these fees, bringing the base price and listed per-person charge to $1,275 before transport. That is still about $85 per person for 15 people, but a smaller party pays more per person.

You should also budget for getting to Puerto Aventuras and bringing towels. Premium alcohol may cost extra, and bringing your own bottles may involve the reported $300 fee. Ask about these points before you compare this charter with another boat trip.

Who should book this private yacht charter

I would recommend it most strongly for groups that want a private celebration rather than a quiet sightseeing cruise. Bachelorette parties, bachelor parties, birthday groups, and close friends can make good use of the music, drinks, karaoke, and flexible social space.

It also suits people who prefer a short organized outing. Three hours is enough to get on the water, eat, drink, use a paddle board, and return without giving up the whole day. That short schedule is a plus if your group has other plans in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or Puerto Aventuras.

I would be more cautious if your top priorities are premium liquor, guaranteed calm seas, towels and transportation included, or an intensive snorkeling program. None of those are clearly part of the standard package, and wind may keep you in a cove.

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Since the tour is often booked about 50 days ahead, I would not leave a large celebration group until the final week, especially if you need a specific date.

Should you book the Xpu-Ha Azimut charter?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want a private, high-energy boat day with food, standard drinks, paddle boards, personal music, and karaoke. The strongest reason to choose it is the combination of privacy and active onboard entertainment, backed by a crew that includes Juan and has shown it can keep a party moving.

Think twice if you need luxury alcohol, a guaranteed open-water route, or a flexible cancellation policy. Confirm the landing fees, premium drink choices, and own-bottle rules before booking, then build in some weather flexibility. For the right group, this can be the day everyone talks about afterward. For a small group or a calm-water purist, the price and weather limits deserve closer attention.

FAQ

How long is the Xpu-Ha yacht experience?

The private yacht activity lasts approximately three hours.

How much does the private yacht charter cost?

The base price is $975 per group for up to 15 people. A $20 landing and facility fee is also charged per person.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and ends at H2OH Sun Cruises, C Bahia Yanten Mz 33 Lt 9 Loc 7, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

What time does the yacht leave?

The listed start time is 10:00 am.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes fire-grilled chicken, fresh guacamole, Mexican-style salsa, beans, rice, tortillas, and chips.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included. The standard bar covers margaritas, beer, mixed cocktails, and shots.

Are paddle boards and life jackets provided?

Yes. Paddle boards and life jackets are included.

Can the group play its own music or use karaoke?

Yes. The yacht has a Bluetooth sound system with Spotify, plus karaoke with microphones, an HD screen for lyrics, and more than 18,000 songs.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you can receive a different date or a full refund. The experience is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for another reason.