Private Boat Tour to Yelapa with Snorkeling and Waterfall Hike

Yelapa is the main event here: a small coastal village reached by boat, with beach time, a short walk to a waterfall, and no need to spend the day in a large group. The boat also pauses at Los Arcos National Marine Park, where caves, arches, tunnels, and reef areas make the snorkeling more interesting than a simple swim offshore.

I like the private format, since your group can enjoy the boat without sharing the day with strangers. I also like the practical touches: the captain lends snorkeling gear and provides an ice chest. The main drawback is price. At $220 per person, lunch and drinks are extra, so this tour makes the most sense for people who value privacy and a flexible small-group day on the water.

Key points to know before booking

• Los Arcos gives you the best water time: Plan on about 40 minutes around caves, arches, tunnels, and reef.
• Yelapa combines beach and village time: You get about 90 minutes to choose a seaside restaurant or relax by the water.
• The waterfall walk is short and easy: The lower falls are close to town, with cool water for a quick swim.
• The captain supplies snorkeling equipment: You only need to bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and anything you want to eat or drink.
• This is a private experience: Only your group participates, which helps explain the higher per-person price.
• Allow extra money for the day: Food, drinks, souvenirs, incidentals, and gratuities are not included.

Why Yelapa works so well as a boat day

Yelapa sits south of Puerto Vallarta and can only be reached by foot or boat. That gives this outing a different feel from a standard city beach stop. You are not simply riding offshore for a swim. You are visiting a small coastal village, spending time on a beach, and then walking inland to a waterfall.

The boat ride also lets you see the southern part of Puerto Vallarta from the water. After leaving Los Muertos Pier, you pass Playa de los Muertos and continue toward Los Arcos and Yelapa. The route links several different settings in one half-day: a famous city beach, a protected marine area, an isolated beach village, and a freshwater waterfall.

The schedule lasts about five and a half hours. That is long enough to feel like a proper outing, but short enough to leave part of the day free. With a 9:30 a.m. departure, you return to the same pier in the early afternoon, making this useful for anyone who wants a morning activity without giving up the whole day.

Starting at Los Muertos Pier at 9:30 a.m.

The meeting point is Los Muertos Beach Pier at Francisca Rodríguez 121 in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica. The pier is near public transportation, and the activity ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back from Yelapa.

Arrive ready for the water. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes, and bring a towel and sunscreen. The boat has an ice chest, and you are welcome to bring snacks and beverages for the ride. That small allowance matters because food and drinks are not included, and the boat portion can feel much better with your own water and a snack close at hand.

Bring Mexican pesos, too. You may want cash for lunch, drinks, small purchases, incidentals, or gratuities. The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is provided when you book.

A quick look at Playa de los Muertos

The first stop is not a long beach visit. After leaving the pier, the boat travels south for a view of Playa de los Muertos, one of Puerto Vallarta’s best-known beaches.

This opening stretch helps you get oriented. You see the beach from the water rather than from the crowded shoreline, and it gives the captain time to settle the group into the boat ride before the more active stops begin. Do not expect a full beach break here. It is primarily a passing view, so keep your camera or phone ready.

The stop also places you quickly in the context of Puerto Vallarta’s southern coast. From the pier, the town begins to give way to coves and coastal stretches that are easier to appreciate from a boat.

Snorkeling around Los Arcos National Marine Park

Los Arcos National Marine Park is the strongest reason to bring your swimsuit and use the included snorkeling equipment. The park lies offshore between Mismaloya Beach and Las Gemelas. Its rock formations include caves, deep tunnels, and arches, with a reef area beneath the surface.

You get about 40 minutes here. That is not an all-day snorkeling session, but it is enough time for a focused stop, especially since the tour continues to Yelapa. The captain and guide help you find the better places for swimming and snorkeling, which is useful if you do not know the area.

The scenery works at two levels. Above the water, the rock formations give the stop its character. Below the surface, the reef and clear water offer something to look at while you swim. Conditions can change with weather, so the quality of the stop may depend on the day. This is one reason the tour requires good weather and may be rescheduled or canceled if conditions are poor.

You do not have to pack your own mask, snorkel, or related gear. The captain lends snorkeling equipment, which saves space and makes this a simpler choice for anyone who is not carrying beach equipment around Puerto Vallarta. I would still bring your own towel, sunscreen, and perhaps a dry bag for small personal items, though a dry bag is not listed as an included feature.

One and a half hours at Yelapa beach

Yelapa receives the longest scheduled stop, about 90 minutes. That gives you time to choose how you want to use it rather than rushing straight from the boat to the next activity.

You can sit on the beach, swim, or select one of the restaurants beside the water for lunch. Since food and drinks are not included, the choice of restaurant is yours, but so is the bill. Keep some Mexican pesos handy. The same cash can cover drinks, souvenirs, small purchases, and a tip.

The beach stop is a good balance to the snorkeling. Los Arcos is about rock formations and water activity. Yelapa gives you a slower stretch where you can dry off, eat, and enjoy the setting at your own pace. If your group has different energy levels, this is also the easiest part of the tour to adjust. One person can relax while another takes a swim or looks for lunch.

There is one tradeoff. Ninety minutes passes quickly once you walk off the boat, look for a restaurant, order food, and eat. If lunch is important to you, do not spend too long deciding. If you would rather enjoy the beach, a snack on the boat may let you use more of this stop for swimming and sitting by the water.

Walking to Yelapa’s lower waterfall

The waterfall visit adds a short inland walk to a day that otherwise stays on the coast. From the small beachfront village, you follow an easy route to the lower falls. The walk takes about 30 minutes as a scheduled stop.

The lower falls are close to town, so this is not a demanding trek. You can cool off in clear, chilly water once you reach the falls. That contrast is part of the appeal: warm beach time followed by a freshwater swim in a quieter setting.

Keep your expectations in proportion. This is a short waterfall walk, not a long mountain hike or a full-day nature excursion. The value comes from the variety. In a single outing, you see Puerto Vallarta from the water, snorkel at Los Arcos, spend time on Yelapa beach, and walk to a waterfall.

Wear footwear that can handle a short walk and getting wet, although the supplied information does not specify a required shoe type. At minimum, plan to manage wet clothes and towels after the waterfall. You will want sunscreen for the boat and beach, but take care not to apply it right before entering the water if you can avoid it.

What the private boat format changes

This is a private activity, so only your group takes part. That affects the day in several useful ways. You do not need to meet a large tour group at every stop, and you can ask the guide to point out suitable swimming and snorkeling spots for your party.

The guide’s role is practical rather than purely interpretive. The important help is knowing where to swim and snorkel, using the available time well, and keeping the route moving from one stop to the next. If Chema and Manuel are your crew, expect a lively, friendly presence. Their names are associated with the tour, and the experience is clearly intended to be social as well as scenic.

The private setup is also the main reason to think carefully about cost. At $220 per person, this is not the budget way to reach Yelapa. The price buys a private boat, a dedicated crew, snorkeling equipment, an ice chest, and a route that combines several stops. It is better value for a family, group of friends, or couple who wants control over the day than for a solo visitor focused only on seeing Yelapa.

Group discounts may be available. If you are booking for several people, check the final total rather than judging the per-person figure alone. A private boat can become more reasonable when the cost is shared across a larger group.

What is included, and what you still need

The included items are straightforward:

• Private boat transportation during the activity
• Use of snorkeling equipment
• An ice chest
• Guide assistance in finding swimming and snorkeling spots

You pay separately for lunch and drinks. You also need to bring your own swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen. Mexican pesos are recommended for restaurant costs, souvenirs, incidentals, and gratuities.

The invitation to bring snacks and beverages is useful, but remember that the ice chest is not the same as a full food service. Plan your supplies before arriving at Los Muertos Pier. A light snack can cover the boat ride and make it easier to spend the full 90 minutes at Yelapa without feeling rushed by hunger.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this outing to anyone who wants several different experiences in one half-day and prefers a private setting. It suits couples, families, and groups of friends who want to swim, snorkel, eat by the beach, and take a short walk without arranging each part separately.

It is also a good fit if you like a clear schedule but do not want a rigid sightseeing day. The main stops are set, yet Yelapa gives you some choice about swimming, relaxing, and lunch.

You should think twice if your priority is a long snorkeling session, a demanding hike, or the lowest possible price. The Los Arcos stop lasts about 40 minutes, and the waterfall walk is short. This tour is about variety and convenience, not maximum time at one activity.

The route may also be less appealing in poor weather. The experience requires good conditions, and a cancellation caused by weather leads to a different date or a full refund. That policy is helpful, but it means you should avoid building an inflexible same-day plan around the boat trip.

Timing, weather, and cancellation details

The tour begins at 9:30 a.m. and returns to Los Muertos Beach Pier. The total duration is approximately five hours and 30 minutes. Since the activity ends at its starting point, you have a simple base for the rest of your day.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted. Cutoff times follow Puerto Vallarta local time.

Because the route includes snorkeling and a boat ride, weather matters. If poor conditions cancel the activity, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book the private Yelapa boat tour?

Book it if you want a private coastal day with variety: Los Arcos snorkeling, beach time at Yelapa, a restaurant lunch, and a short waterfall walk. The captain supplies snorkeling gear, the guide helps locate good water spots, and the private format keeps the outing personal. The high rating and full recommendation rate fit the tour’s strongest points, especially the fun crew and smooth mix of activities.

Skip it if $220 per person feels too high for a half-day, or if you want to spend most of your time snorkeling or hiking. Remember to budget for food, drinks, and tips. For the right group, though, this is an efficient and enjoyable way to experience Yelapa without sacrificing comfort or privacy.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Los Muertos Beach Pier, located at Francisca Rodríguez 121 in Zona Romántica, Puerto Vallarta.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at Los Muertos Beach Pier, the same place where it begins.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately five hours and 30 minutes.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. You can use the captain’s snorkeling equipment during the tour.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You should bring Mexican pesos for lunch, drinks, souvenirs, incidentals, and gratuities.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.