Mega Yacht ALL INCLUSIVE Yelapa Waterfall & Snorkeling Adventure

Yelapa is the star here, but the boat ride is half the fun. You cruise south across Banderas Bay, stop for water activities at Playa Chica Locca, then reach a quiet beach village and a waterfall reached by a short uphill walk. Breakfast, fajitas, snacks, and an open bar make this easy to enjoy without watching your wallet all day.

I especially like the choice of energy levels. Ricky Ricardo and the crew bring music, dancing, and friendly banter, while the upper deck offers a quieter place to sit. I also like the useful mix of activities: snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, slides, swimming, and even an onboard massage.

The main catch is time. Six hours sounds generous, but the schedule covers a long cruise, water sports, lunch, Yelapa, and the waterfall. If snorkeling is your only priority, you may find the water stop too brief, and equipment availability has not always matched demand. The waterfall walk also includes an uphill section.

Five things to know before you book

• Yelapa comes after the morning water stop: You first reach Playa Chica Locca in Quimixto for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
• The boat is a catamaran-style yacht: Expect a spacious vessel with shaded seating, open decks, slides, and room for a lively group, not a private yacht cruise.
• Food and drinks are included all day: Breakfast, Mexican fajitas, guacamole, chips, soft drinks, coffee, beer, wine, tequila, margaritas, piña coladas, and champagne are included.
• The waterfall walk is short but uphill: Most people can manage it, but it may be uncomfortable for anyone with limited mobility or heat sensitivity.
• Snorkeling conditions vary: You may see plenty of fish, but cloudy water or limited equipment can reduce the quality of this part of the day.
• Choose your meeting point carefully: You must select either Puerto Mágico Cruise Ship Terminal or Paradise Village when booking.

What this Puerto Vallarta yacht day is really like

This is an all-day social boat outing with a strong party element, but it is not only a party cruise. The roughly six-hour plan combines open-water recreation, a scenic coastal ride, time in Yelapa, and a steady flow of food and drinks.

The price is about $117.60 per person. That is a fair deal if you make use of the inclusions. A comparable day can add up quickly once you pay separately for lunch, drinks, snorkel rental, kayak use, and entertainment. Here, those costs are bundled together, along with the unusual bonus of a massage on the boat.

You should know what all inclusive means in this setting. It means an active group excursion with shared facilities, not a private sailing trip or a quiet luxury charter. The maximum group size is listed as 115 people, although some departures may be much smaller. A smaller crowd improves the staff-to-passenger ratio, while a full boat will feel more social and energetic.

The overall rating is 4.8 from 2,515 reviews, with 96 percent of customers recommending it. That fits the strongest part of the experience: service. Crew members keep food and drinks moving, clean the decks, explain activities, and help people get settled. The atmosphere depends partly on the host working that day. Ricky Ricardo is known for keeping the energy high, while the upper level provides an escape from the loudest music.

Boarding at Puerto Mágico or Paradise Village

You have two possible starting points: Chica Locca at Puerto Mágico, the cruise ship terminal, or Paradise Village. Pick the correct location before paying, since the meeting place is not a minor detail.

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

Once aboard, the crew settles you into the seating areas and introduces the day. The boat has shaded places, which matter in Puerto Vallarta’s strong sun, along with open areas for views and fresh air. Bring a hat, sunscreen, swimwear, and a towel. You do not need to pack snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards, or floating equipment.

Breakfast arrives early in the form of seasonal fruit, pastries, coffee, and juice. This is a useful touch because the first activity stop comes after about an hour of sailing. The bar opens for the day with water, mineral water, sodas, juices, coffee, beer, wine, tequila, margaritas, piña coladas, champagne, and other drinks.

The crew can be attentive to a remarkable degree. Keeping the boat clean is part of the routine, and service continues even while people are in the water. That makes the experience feel polished, though the busy service style may be more attention than you want if you prefer a quiet morning at sea.

The cruise across Banderas Bay

The ride south gives you broad views of the Puerto Vallarta coast and the forested hills around the bay. Banderas Bay is a major marine area and a seasonal breeding ground for humpback whales, so whale sightings are possible in season. Dolphins have also been seen during the ride.

Do not treat wildlife as guaranteed. Conditions and luck control what you see. The coastal views, however, are part of the value even when the sea is quiet. The trip gives you a different angle on Puerto Vallarta, away from streets and hotel zones.

Music and entertainment begin early. If you want conversation and a calmer start, head for the upper deck or a shaded corner. If you enjoy dancing and meeting people, stay near the main action. The tour works best when you accept that you are joining a social day rather than booking a private escape.

Playa Chica Locca: one hour of water activities

After about an hour, the yacht reaches Playa Chica Locca in Quimixto. This is the main water-play stop. You can use the snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, water mattress, and slides without paying an extra rental fee.

The second-deck jump and waterslides add a playful edge. You can also simply swim, float, or sit on the boat with a drink. The crew serves refreshments while people are in the water, which is a small but memorable detail.

Snorkeling is the part that needs the most realistic expectations. One person reported about 40 minutes in the water with plenty of fish, while others found the stop too short or the water too cloudy. On at least one departure, the boat ran short of snorkels. That does not mean you will have the same problem, but it is worth asking the crew early for equipment if snorkeling matters most to you.

The schedule has to share time among several activities. If you paddleboard, kayak, use the slide, swim, and snorkel, you cannot give each one a long session. I would choose your first priority before getting in the water. For a family, the range of options is useful. For a serious snorkeler, this is not a dedicated reef excursion.

After the water stop, the crew serves guacamole with blue corn chips and potato chips. An onboard massage may also be available by sign-up. It is complimentary according to the tour information, but it may not be announced loudly enough for everyone to notice, so ask the crew when you board.

Lunch and the short trip to Yelapa

Lunch is a hot Mexican fajita meal prepared in the beach kitchen and brought by boat. The standard meal includes chicken, beef, rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices are available if you request them when booking.

The food receives some of the strongest praise attached to this experience. That matters because lunch is not a snack-sized plate meant to keep you going. It is a proper meal after swimming and paddling, with enough variety for different appetites.

After lunch, the boat continues toward Yelapa Beach. The bay is sheltered, and the yacht docks at a pier. You then choose how to spend the next part of the day. You can go ashore, follow the guide, walk toward the waterfall, swim near the boat, relax on the beach, or remain onboard with drinks and a massage.

That choice makes the stop flexible, but it also creates the tour’s biggest time problem. Yelapa, the waterfall, swimming, and beach time all compete for the same stretch of the afternoon. If you want to do everything, the visit can feel rushed.

Yelapa village and the waterfall walk

Yelapa means where two rivers meet the sea. The village has a small, relaxed feel, and the waterfall gives the stop its main goal. The walk takes about 15 minutes, though the route includes an uphill section and can feel harder in heat.

The waterfall is a good reward for a short excursion from the beach. You can take pictures, cool off, and swim in the cascade. I would wear sturdy sandals or water shoes rather than bare flip-flops, and carry only what you need.

The walk is accessible for many people, but it is not ideal for everyone. If you have trouble with hills, balance, or heat, staying near the beach or boat may be the better choice. Older family members can still enjoy the day, but the waterfall should be treated as optional rather than a required part of the outing.

Yelapa itself is worth seeing even if you skip the walk. You get time to look around the village and experience a small coastal community rather than spending every minute on the yacht. Still, do not expect a long independent visit. The tour gives you a taste of the place, not a full day ashore.

The return ride and onboard atmosphere

The return cruise brings back the music, dancing, drinks, and views across Banderas Bay. If whales are in the area during the right season, this is another chance to watch for them. A photographer also works onboard and takes action shots throughout the day.

Photos are extra. You can reserve them at check-in or buy them onboard. If you purchase pictures, keep your receipt and confirm the delivery email before leaving. A delay in receiving paid photos has occurred, so it is sensible to save the booking details until the files arrive.

The crew’s strength is its constant attention. Food is replenished, drinks are offered, and the deck is kept clean. Safety is also part of the staff’s job, especially around the slides and water equipment. The tone is friendly and informal, but the cruise director’s conduct matters on a group trip, and professional boundaries should always be clear.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a single package that covers transport, meals, drinks, water toys, entertainment, and a scenic stop. It suits couples, families, groups of friends, and solo visitors who like meeting people during a shared activity.

It is especially good for mixed groups. One person can snorkel, another can paddleboard, another can sit in the shade, and someone else can walk to the waterfall. The included drinks and attentive service also make it easy for you to relax without planning every detail.

I would be cautious if your main goal is serious snorkeling, extended swimming, or a quiet sailing experience. You may feel short on water time, particularly on a busy departure. I would also think twice if you dislike loud music, group entertainment, or uphill walks.

At 115 possible passengers, the tour can feel crowded on a full departure. The boat has comfortable seating and shaded areas, but comfort depends on how many people are onboard. A smaller departure gives you more breathing room and often a better staff-to-passenger ratio.

Practical details that can save you trouble

Check the meeting point twice. The two start locations are not interchangeable, and hotel transportation is not included. At Puerto Mágico, leave prohibited liquids, vapes, and other restricted items behind.

The minimum drinking age is 18. The tour may use a multilingual guide, and confirmation arrives when you book. Most people can participate, but the waterfall route and water activities require a reasonable level of mobility.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, you will not receive a refund. Bad weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants can lead to a date change, another experience, or a full refund.

Book ahead if your dates are fixed. This experience averages about 27 days of advance booking, which suggests that popular departures can fill well before your visit.

Should you book the Yelapa yacht adventure?

Book it if you want a lively, well-fed day that mixes coast views, water sports, Yelapa, and a waterfall without separate planning. The strongest reasons are the attentive crew, steady food and drink service, comfortable seating, and the freedom to choose between action and relaxation.

Skip it if you want a dedicated snorkeling trip or long, quiet time in Yelapa. The water stop can be brief, conditions can be cloudy, and equipment shortages have happened. For most people looking for an easy all-inclusive day on Banderas Bay, though, the $117.60 price offers solid value, especially if you use the included activities and drinks.

FAQ

How long does the Yelapa yacht tour last?

The experience lasts about six hours, including the cruise, the Playa Chica Locca water stop, lunch, time in Yelapa, and the return ride.

Where do I meet the yacht?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must arrange transportation to your selected meeting point.

What food is included?

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

What drinks are included?

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

Are snorkeling gear and kayaks included?

Yes. Snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, a water mattress, and other water activities are included.

Is the waterfall walk difficult?

The walk takes about 15 minutes and includes an uphill section. It is manageable for many people, but it may not suit anyone with limited mobility or difficulty walking in heat.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. Weather or minimum-participant cancellations may qualify for another date or a full refund.