Private Boat Tour to Yelapa and Majahuitas Snorkel (up to 7 guests)

Yelapa is the star of this private five-hour boat day, combining a quiet ride along the Puerto Vallarta coast, snorkeling, a beach stop, and a walk through a fishing village to a waterfall. The strongest personal touch comes from guides such as Victor and Namar, who are natives of Yelapa and can give the visit a local feel rather than treating it like a quick photo stop.

I like the small group limit of seven, which makes it easier to adjust the snorkeling stop and avoid some of the crowds. I also like the choice between Los Arcos and Majahuitas, with Majahuitas often being the calmer option. The main drawback is that you must pay separately for transportation to the meeting point, food, drinks, and gratuities.

Key points to know before you book

• Majahuitas is the preferred snorkeling stop: You can snorkel at Los Arcos or Majahuitas, but Majahuitas is usually less crowded.
• Yelapa gets most of the time: Plan on about three hours in the village and beach area, plus roughly one hour for the waterfall walk.
• The boat holds up to seven people: Your group gets a 23-foot boat with shade, a cooler with ice, and a bilingual captain and guide.
• Local guides add useful context: Victor and Namar are Yelapa natives, while Luis and Adrian have also led this experience.
• The $550 price is per group: At the full seven-person limit, that works out to about $79 per person before food, transport, and tips.
• This is an active beach day: You will need to manage snorkeling equipment, a boat ride, and a walk through Yelapa to reach the waterfall.

Why this private Yelapa trip feels different

Many boat outings from Puerto Vallarta focus on getting a large number of people onto the water. This one takes the opposite approach. You reserve the whole boat for your own party, up to seven people, and the day is built around a more relaxed pace.

That matters most at Yelapa. The village is reached by boat, and the visit includes time to walk through town, sit by the beach, and choose a meal at one of the beach restaurants. You are not simply stepping ashore for a hurried photograph before being called back to the boat.

The local connection is another strong point. Victor and Namar are both from Yelapa, and Luis and Adrian have also served as hosts on this trip. The exact crew may vary, but the experience is designed around guides who know the destination personally. That can make the route feel more natural, especially as you walk beyond the waterfront toward the waterfall.

I also like the freedom that comes with a private booking. If your group includes strong swimmers, cautious snorkelers, or people mainly interested in Yelapa itself, you have more room to shape the day than you would on a fixed large-boat excursion.

Setting out from Puerto Vallarta at 9 a.m.

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point. The exact meeting location is not specified in the available details, so you should check your confirmation carefully and allow time to reach it. Transportation to that point is not included, although the location is near public transportation.

The boat is 23 feet long and has shade. That is a useful middle ground: small enough to feel personal, but not an open fishing boat with everyone exposed to the sun. A cooler with ice is provided, though you need to bring or buy your own drinks and snacks.

A captain and bilingual guide accompany the group. Snorkel equipment is sanitized, and life jackets are available for all people on board. Those basics matter on a water day. You do not need to arrange separate gear, but you should still expect a compact boat environment rather than the room found on a large cruise vessel.

The price is $550 per group, not per person. With seven people, the cost is about $79 each. With five people, it is $110 each. With only three people, the cost rises to about $183 each, so this trip offers its best value for families or friend groups that can fill most of the available places.

Choosing between Los Arcos and Majahuitas

The first planned stop is Los Arcos de Mismaloya, where you have the option to snorkel. The stop is listed at about 20 minutes, so it is a short introduction to the water rather than a long snorkeling session.

Los Arcos is one of the better-known coastal sights near Puerto Vallarta, and its rock formations make it an attractive place to pass by or enter the water. The trade-off is popularity. A famous stop can mean more boats and a less quiet experience.

Majahuitas is the favored snorkeling choice for this tour because it is usually less crowded. You spend about 40 minutes there, giving you more time in the water than at Los Arcos. The beach and clear water are the main draw, and the longer stop makes Majahuitas the more practical choice if snorkeling is high on your list.

You do not have to treat this as an all-or-nothing decision. The tour description allows the snorkeling to take place at Los Arcos or Majahuitas, so ask the guide about the best option for the day. Conditions and crowd levels can affect which stop makes more sense.

If you are a serious snorkeler, keep your expectations measured. The supplied details promise beautiful water and equipment, but they do not specify marine life, visibility, or the exact species you will see. Enjoy the setting and the time in the water rather than booking this as a dedicated wildlife expedition.

The ride to Yelapa

The boat journey is part of the experience, not just a transfer. You travel along the coast toward Yelapa, with the chance to see open water, coves, and the shoreline from a different angle than you get on land.

On one outing, the group came close to whales and dolphins during the ride. That is a memorable possibility, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed part of the tour. The useful advantage of a private boat is that the captain and guide can pay attention to what is happening around you instead of managing a large crowd.

The shaded boat helps during the ride, but you will still be spending several hours outdoors. Bring sun protection and wear clothing suitable for getting wet. The tour includes a cooler with ice, but not food, drinks, or snacks, so plan ahead.

Three hours around Yelapa village and beach

Yelapa receives the largest block of time, about three hours. That is the heart of the trip. You can enjoy the white sand and clear water, then choose lunch at one of the beach restaurants.

Because food is not included, you have control over what you order, but you also need to budget for it. The price of a meal and drinks will depend on what you choose, and the tour price does not cover either. Bring payment suitable for the beach restaurants, though the available details do not specify which payment methods are accepted.

The longer stop is valuable because Yelapa works best at an unhurried pace. You can have lunch, spend time beside the water, and walk through the village without trying to squeeze every activity into a short shore visit.

This is also where the trip feels most local. Victor and Namar are Yelapa natives, and their connection to the village can add background and direction as you move away from the beach. Luis and Adrian have also been praised for being attentive hosts and sharing information along the way.

Still, Yelapa is not a polished resort day. The appeal is the fishing-village setting and the chance to see a coastal community reached by boat. If you want organized facilities, a fixed lunch menu, or a tightly scheduled sightseeing program, this may feel informal. If you like a slower stop with room to choose your own pace, the format works well.

Walking through town to the waterfall

The waterfall walk takes about an hour and is included in the tour. You leave the beach area and walk through Yelapa to reach a waterfall within the village.

The walk gives the visit more substance than a simple beach stop. You see some of the town on foot and get a better sense of how Yelapa is arranged beyond the waterfront. The waterfall itself is described as hidden within the fishing village, which makes the route part of the attraction.

You should be prepared for a walk, not just a flat stroll from boat to beach. The available information does not provide a distance, trail condition, or elevation gain, so I would not assume it is suitable for every physical ability. At the same time, the tour notes that most people can participate, and a guide accompanies the group.

Wear footwear you can walk in comfortably. Snorkeling gear and life jackets are supplied, but footwear is not listed among the inclusions. You should also expect to encounter wet conditions around a waterfall, though the tour does not specify whether swimming there is part of the activity.

The waterfall visit is a good reason to choose this tour over a boat trip that only stops at the beach. You get water time, a meal option, and a short inland walk in one outing.

What is included, and what you still need to pay for

The included items are straightforward:

• A shaded 23-foot boat
• Cooler with ice
• Sanitized snorkeling equipment
• Life jacket for every passenger
• Captain and bilingual guide
• Guided walk to the Yelapa waterfall

You need to arrange transportation to the meeting point. The tour ends back there, so you do not need to organize a separate return from Yelapa.

Food, drinks, snacks, and tips are extra. That is easy to overlook when comparing the $550 group rate with other excursions. For a full group, the base cost is reasonable for a private boat, but the final price will be higher once you add lunch, refreshments, transport to the start, and a gratuity for the guide.

The included cooler is helpful for keeping personal drinks cold, but it does not mean the boat is stocked with refreshments. Bring what you need, or plan to purchase items before departure.

Who will get the most from this boat day

I would recommend this trip most strongly to families and small groups who want privacy and a mix of activities. It suits people who would rather control the mood of the day than share a large boat with many other parties.

It is also a good fit if Yelapa itself interests you. The beach, village walk, and waterfall receive most of the schedule, so this is not only a snorkeling trip with a brief stop on shore.

The tour may suit cautious snorkelers too, since life jackets and equipment are provided and the guide can help the group choose between two snorkeling areas. Still, anyone uncomfortable with boats, swimming, or walking should consider the physical demands before booking.

I would be more cautious about recommending it to someone who wants a full-day outing, an extensive snorkeling program, or a package with food and drinks included. Five hours passes quickly once you account for the boat ride, two possible water stops, lunch time, and the walk to the waterfall.

Booking timing, cancellations, and practical planning

This experience is booked an average of 52 days ahead, which signals that advance planning is sensible, especially if you are visiting during a busy period or need a particular date. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the ticket is mobile.

The tour is offered in English and is private, so only your own group participates. It is near public transportation, but transportation itself is not part of the package.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes within that same period are not accepted. Cut-off times use local Puerto Vallarta time.

The overall rating is five out of five from five ratings, and the praise centers on the crew, the relaxed pace, the clean boat, the local connection to Yelapa, and the mix of snorkeling, food, and the waterfall. The sample size is small, so I would treat that rating as encouraging rather than as a guarantee of every outing.

Is this private Yelapa tour worth booking?

Book it if you can bring several people, want a private boat, and like the idea of combining Majahuitas snorkeling with a real Yelapa visit. The strongest value comes when six or seven people share the $550 rate.

Choose Majahuitas if avoiding crowds matters more than seeing the better-known Los Arcos stop. Leave room in your budget for transport, lunch, drinks, and tips. Most of all, choose this experience for its local, easygoing character and its range of activities, not for a guaranteed whale sighting or an elaborate all-inclusive package.

If that sounds like your kind of Puerto Vallarta day, this is a strong pick. If you prefer a large boat, included meals, or a longer snorkeling session, another excursion may suit you better.

FAQ

How much does the private Yelapa boat tour cost?

The tour costs $550 per group for up to seven people. Food, drinks, snacks, transportation to the meeting point, and tips are not included.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately five hours and begins at 9:00 a.m. It ends back at the meeting point.

Where can I snorkel?

You may snorkel at Los Arcos de Mismaloya or Majahuitas. The planned time is about 20 minutes at Los Arcos or 40 minutes at Majahuitas.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Sanitized snorkel gear and a life jacket for each passenger are included.

Is the tour private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your own group participates. The boat accommodates up to seven people.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.