Mega Yacht ALL INCLUSIVE Yelapa Waterfall & Snorkeling Adventure

Puerto Vallarta’s Yelapa yacht cruise packs a lot into six hours: breakfast at sea, snorkeling, kayaks, paddleboards, a Mexican lunch, an open bar, and time ashore at a waterfall village. The boat heads south across Banderas Bay, so the ride itself is part of the day, with coastline views and a chance of seeing whales in season.

I like two things right away. First, the food and drink are included from the start, not just a basic sandwich and one welcome cocktail. Second, you can choose your pace: join the party with hosts such as Ricky Ricardo and DJ David, or head to the upper level, where the music is quieter. The main drawback is time. With several activities and two stops, some people find they get less swimming and snorkeling time than expected.

Key details before you book

• Breakfast starts the day on board: Fresh fruit, pastries, coffee, and juice are served while the yacht moves along Banderas Bay.
• Playa Chica Locca is the main water-play stop: You can snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, use floating toys, or slide into the sea from the boat.
• Yelapa adds a change of pace: Walk to the waterfall, swim at the cascade, explore the small village, or stay near the beach and yacht.
• The bar is open all day: Drinks include beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, piña coladas, soft drinks, coffee, and water.
• A massage may be available on board: It is a complimentary sign-up option, so ask the crew early if you want one.
• The vessel is a catamaran-style yacht: Expect broad, comfortable seating and shaded areas, but do not picture a private yacht charter.

A six-hour route from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa

The experience begins at either Chica Locca Tours at Puerto Mágico Cruise Ship Terminal or Paradise Village. You must choose your meeting point when booking. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own way to the selected dock.

If you meet at Puerto Mágico, allow extra time for port security. This is a federal maritime facility, and bags may be searched. Do not bring drugs, weapons, alcohol, liquids, electronic cigarettes, or vapes into the terminal. That rule is easy to miss and can cause a problem before your holiday has even reached the boat.

Once checked in, you are escorted to the yacht. The vessel is a spacious catamaran, a design that gives you more room to move around than a narrow single-hull boat. Seating includes shaded spots, and the upper level can be calmer when the lower deck turns into a floating party.

The crew serves fresh seasonal fruit and pastries during the first part of the cruise. Coffee, juice, water, and soft drinks are available, with alcoholic drinks offered once the bar service begins. The boat then follows the Puerto Vallarta coast toward the southern end of Banderas Bay.

At around six hours total, this is a full half-day rather than an all-day commitment. That matters if you want to keep your evening open for dinner, a walk along the Malecón, or another activity.

Playa Chica Locca: one hour of water time

After roughly an hour of sailing, the yacht reaches Playa Chica Locca in Quimixto. This is the active part of the route. You can use the included snorkeling gear, kayaks, standup paddleboards, water mattress, and other water toys.

The boat also has a waterslide and allows you to jump from the second deck into the sea. That gives the stop a playful, social feel. If you are comfortable in the water and enjoy trying several activities rather than settling into one long snorkel session, this section should suit you well.

Snorkeling conditions are not fixed. One January visit had enough clarity for a good look at fish, while another person found the water cloudy. Visibility depends on weather and sea conditions, so I would book this for the overall day, not for a guaranteed reef-quality snorkeling session.

There is also a practical equipment warning. One recent outing ran short of snorkels, which is especially frustrating when snorkeling is a main reason for booking. Ask the crew for equipment early, before the water stop becomes crowded. The boat can carry up to 115 people, and a large departure will feel very different from a smaller one with a generous crew-to-passenger ratio.

The crew keeps serving drinks during the water activities, a detail that adds to the carefree mood but also calls for common sense. If you plan to snorkel, kayak, or paddleboard, enjoy the water first and save the stronger drinks for later.

After the water play, the yacht continues toward Yelapa. Fresh guacamole with blue corn chips and potato chips are served along the way. An onboard massage may also be available. Since the massage is not always loudly announced, ask about signing up when you board rather than assuming someone will find you.

Yelapa Beach and the waterfall walk

Yelapa means where two rivers meet the sea. The village sits in a sheltered bay, and the stop gives the day a welcome break from the open-bar boat atmosphere.

The yacht docks at a pier, and you can go ashore with the guide, relax on the beach, swim near the boat, or remain on board. This choice is important. You do not have to turn every part of the trip into an organized activity. If the first stop leaves you ready for a shaded seat and a cool drink, staying on the yacht is perfectly reasonable.

The waterfall is reached by a guided walk of about 15 minutes. The route is described as accessible for most people, but it includes an uphill section, and one account specifically found the walk a big hill. It may not be comfortable for anyone with limited mobility, poor balance, or little tolerance for heat.

Wear sturdy sandals or water shoes instead of flip-flops if you plan to make the walk. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a towel. One useful packing tip is that you need little beyond a bathing suit, sunscreen, and a towel, but a hat matters because the sun can feel strong on the boat and near the beach.

At the waterfall, you can take a dip and cool off under the cascade. The setting is pretty rather than grand, and the walk, village, and water make the stop more interesting than simply anchoring in a bay. Still, do not expect hours at the falls. The whole outing has to fit in a six-hour schedule that also includes the cruise, water activities, meals, and return trip.

Lunch is served around the Yelapa portion of the day. The meal includes chicken and beef fajitas, rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available if you request them when booking. This is more substantial than the usual excursion snack and helps explain part of the price.

Food, drinks, music, and the boat atmosphere

The word all-inclusive is used broadly here. It covers breakfast, lunch, guacamole, chips, water equipment, and the open bar. You are not constantly reaching for your wallet during the cruise, though gratuities and souvenir photos cost extra.

The beverage list is generous: water, coffee, juice, sodas, mineral water, beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, and piña coladas are all included. Brand-name alcoholic drinks are offered, which is a step above the limited house bar found on some boat trips.

Service is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The crew keeps food and drinks moving, cleans the boat regularly, and pays attention to guests in the water. That said, the exact mood depends on the cruise director and group. Ricky Ricardo is known for keeping the energy high, while DJ David helps turn the boat ride into a social event.

You also have an escape valve. The top level has quieter music, and shaded seating lets you take a break from the sun. I like that balance. This is not just a loud party boat, though it can certainly become one when the music and drinks are flowing.

The crew’s professionalism deserves a sensible note. Service reports are mostly very positive, but one account raised a serious concern about a cruise director’s conduct with a passenger. That behavior is not appropriate in a professional tour setting. It appears to be an isolated complaint among otherwise strong service feedback, but it is fair to expect clear boundaries and respectful conduct from every staff member.

Is the $117.60 price good value?

At $117.60 per person, the cost is reasonable if you plan to use the included features. You are paying for a six-hour boat outing, breakfast, lunch, snacks, an open bar, snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, floating equipment, entertainment, and the route to Yelapa.

The price looks especially fair for someone who would otherwise pay separately for a boat ride, lunch, drinks, and water equipment. The convenience has real value. You board once, and the crew handles the meals, drinks, gear, and movement between stops.

The calculation changes if you want a focused snorkeling trip. You may get around 40 minutes in the water, but the schedule is shared with the cruise, lunch, the Yelapa stop, and the waterfall walk. Some people wanted more time to swim, snorkel, or paddleboard. If you prefer long, quiet hours in the water, a smaller snorkeling charter may be a better match.

It is also worth understanding the word yacht. The boat is a catamaran, and some people booking this experience expect a polished private yacht. You should picture a comfortable, spacious excursion catamaran with a party atmosphere, not an intimate luxury charter for a handful of people.

Who will enjoy this Yelapa outing most?

This tour fits couples, families, groups of friends, and solo visitors who like meeting people on a shared boat. It works especially well for someone who wants several activities in one booking and does not want to plan meals or carry cash for every drink.

Families can choose between active water play and a gentler ride. One person even brought a senior parent who enjoyed the experience. The waterfall walk is the main point to consider for older adults or anyone with mobility concerns. A parent or companion can remain on the yacht if the path feels too demanding.

You will probably enjoy the trip if you like:

• Social hosts and music
• Plenty of food and drinks
• Short bursts of swimming and water sports
• A mix of boat time and a small village visit
• The option to relax instead of joining every activity

You may want another type of excursion if you prefer:

• A quiet sailing trip
• A long snorkeling session
• A private group
• A flat, easy walk to a waterfall
• A small boat with no party atmosphere

The maximum group size is 115 people. That is a sizable outing, so the experience can feel lively and communal. Smaller departures may offer more personal attention and easier access to equipment, but you cannot count on a small group on every date.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Choose your departure point carefully. Paradise Village and Puerto Mágico are not interchangeable from a planning standpoint, especially if you are staying north of central Puerto Vallarta or arriving by cruise ship.

Arrive ready for sun and spray. A swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and hat are the basics. Add water shoes or secure sandals for the waterfall path, and keep valuable items to a minimum.

If you need vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free food, state it at booking. Do not wait until lunch service begins.

Ask about the massage during check-in or soon after boarding. It is offered as an onboard option, and the available sign-up can be easy to miss when the crew is greeting people and serving breakfast.

If snorkeling matters most to you, claim your gear early. Equipment availability has not been perfect on every departure. Also keep your expectations realistic: fish sightings are possible, but cloudy water can limit what you see.

Photos are available for an additional charge. A photographer works on board and may offer action shots during the return cruise. If you buy photos, keep your receipt and check that the delivery email is correct, since one person reported a delay receiving paid images.

Gratuities are not included. They are optional, but the crew handles food, drinks, equipment, cleaning, and safety throughout the day, so you may want to budget for a tip if the service meets your expectations.

Should you book the Yelapa yacht adventure?

I would book this if you want a polished, social day that combines a boat party with real time in nature. The best parts are the attentive crew, the steady food and drink service, the comfortable shaded seating, and the freedom to move between snorkeling, paddleboarding, the waterfall, and simple relaxation.

I would skip it if your main goal is serious snorkeling or a quiet beach day. The schedule spreads your time across several activities, and the waterfall path includes a hill. For most people, though, the $117.60 price offers a convenient package with enough variety to keep the day moving without taking up your entire evening.

FAQ

Where does the Yelapa yacht tour depart from?

You can choose between Chica Locca Tours at the Puerto Mágico Cruise Ship Terminal and Paradise Village. You must select your meeting point before completing the reservation.

What food is included?

Breakfast includes fresh seasonal fruit, pastries, coffee, and juices. Lunch includes Mexican fajitas with chicken, beef, rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa. Guacamole, blue corn chips, and potato chips are also served.

Are drinks included all day?

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

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, a water mattress, and other water toys are included. Equipment availability may vary on larger departures, so ask for snorkeling gear early.

How long is the walk to the Yelapa waterfall?

The guided walk takes about 15 minutes. The route includes an uphill section and may not suit everyone with limited mobility.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient minimum group size causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.