Mega Yacht ALL INCLUSIVE Yelapa Waterfall & Snorkeling Adventure

The best part of this Puerto Vallarta outing is the mix: you get a lively yacht day on Banderas Bay, a swim stop at Playa Chica Locca, and time in the small coastal village of Yelapa. It is less a quiet sightseeing cruise than a floating beach party with food, drinks, music, and plenty of ways to get wet.

I like the easy all-inclusive setup, with breakfast, fajitas, snacks, and a name-brand open bar included in the $117.60 price. I also like the choice of pace: jump from the second deck, use a kayak or paddleboard, hike to a waterfall, or stay aboard with a massage and a shaded seat.

The main trade-off is time. In roughly six hours, you are fitting in a boat cruise, water sports, lunch, Yelapa, and the waterfall. That means snorkeling and swimming may feel short, and the uphill walk to the waterfall can be a poor match for anyone with limited mobility.

Key Points Before You Book

• The boat is a roomy catamaran: The experience is sold as a mega yacht cruise, but the vessel is a catamaran. Expect open deck space, comfortable seating, shaded areas, and a social atmosphere.
• The food and drinks keep coming: Breakfast includes fruit and pastries. Lunch brings chicken and beef fajitas with rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa. Guacamole, chips, and an open bar are included.
• Playa Chica Locca is the active stop: Snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, use the floating water mattress, ride the slides, or jump from the second deck.
• Yelapa gives you two choices: Walk about 15 minutes toward the waterfall for a swim, or stay near the beach and boat if you prefer a slower afternoon.
• The crew drives the mood: Hosts such as Ricky Ricardo keep the party moving, while DJ David handles the music. The upper deck can offer a quieter place to sit.
• Bring a hat and expect sun: You need a swimsuit, sunscreen, and towel. The operator provides the main water equipment, but snorkel gear has reportedly been in short supply on at least one departure.

Leaving Puerto Vallarta for Banderas Bay

You can choose between two meeting points when booking: the Chica Locca office at Puerto Mágico Cruise Ship Terminal or Paradise Village. Pick carefully before submitting your reservation, since the meeting location is required.

At Puerto Mágico, allow time for port security. This is a federal maritime terminal, and passengers may be searched. Do not bring alcohol, liquids, weapons, drugs, electronic cigarettes, or vaping devices into the port area. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the selected meeting point yourself.

Once aboard, the day begins with a cruise along the Puerto Vallarta coast. Breakfast is simple but useful: seasonal fruit, pastries, coffee, and juices. You can settle into the seating, find a shaded spot, and get a feel for the boat before the water activities begin.

The cruise runs across Banderas Bay, a large body of water known for marine life and seasonal humpback whale activity. Whale sightings are not guaranteed, but the return trip can include whale watching when conditions and season allow. Dolphins have also been seen during the cruise.

The staff service is one of the strongest parts of the day. The crew keeps food and drinks moving, cleans constantly, and checks on people in the water. That level of attention matters on an all-inclusive boat, since you are not left to hunt down the bar or wait for lunch while the boat is underway.

Playa Chica Locca: Your Best Chance to Get in the Water

After about an hour of sailing, the yacht reaches Playa Chica Locca in Quimixto. This is where the day changes from scenic cruise to active water stop.

You can snorkel, paddleboard, kayak, float on a water mattress, or use the waterslides. A second-deck jump is available for confident swimmers. You are also free to sit back with a drink and enjoy the coast if you do not want to participate in every activity.

The snorkeling is worth treating as a bonus rather than the entire reason to book. Some departures offer about 40 minutes in the water with fish and good conditions. On other days, cloudy water can reduce visibility. One practical concern is equipment supply: snorkel gear has reportedly run short when demand was high, so ask the crew early if snorkeling is your priority.

The water stop can also feel brief. Several parts of the day compete for the same clock, and you may wish for more time to swim or paddleboard. If you want a dedicated snorkeling trip with long time in one reef area, this is not the right format. If you want a broad day of boating, swimming, food, and sightseeing, the balance makes more sense.

Back aboard, guacamole and blue corn chips or potato chips appear before the next major meal. The open bar includes water, coffee, juices, soft drinks, mineral water, beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, and piña coladas. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Use some judgment with the alcohol. The boat offers drinks throughout the day, but you still need to swim, climb, walk, and manage a moving deck. The crew puts safety alongside the fun, and you should do the same.

A Fajita Lunch Before Yelapa

Lunch is served after the first water stop and before or during the approach to Yelapa. The meal features chicken and beef fajitas, rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa. It is prepared in the operator’s beach kitchen and brought by boat.

This is more than a few packaged snacks, which helps explain the price. You receive breakfast, a full hot lunch, snacks, and drinks without paying separately each time. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available, but you need to request them when booking.

The service pace is part of the experience. The staff serves food efficiently and continues to offer drinks, which means you spend less time organizing logistics and more time looking at the coast or talking with people on the boat.

An onboard massage is also available. It is complimentary, but you need to sign up during the trip. Ask about it early, since it can be easy to miss the announcement while swimming, eating, or sitting on another deck.

Yelapa and the Walk to the Waterfall

Yelapa is the second major stop, a sheltered coastal village where two rivers meet the sea. The yacht docks at a pier, and you can choose how to spend the roughly hour and a half allocated here.

The classic option is the short walk to the waterfall. The route takes about 15 minutes, though the path includes an uphill section. At the cascade, you can cool off in the water and take photos before returning toward the beach and pier.

This is a pleasant change from the boat, but do not picture a long wilderness hike. The path is accessible for many people, yet the hill can be tiring, particularly in strong sun. Anyone with limited mobility should consider staying near the beach or remaining aboard instead.

You can also explore the village, relax on the beach, or swim near the boat. The choice matters because Yelapa is not just a quick photo stop. It gives you a little unstructured time, though some people still find the stop too short to swim, explore the beach, and reach the waterfall comfortably.

If you prefer comfort over sightseeing, remain on the catamaran. You can order another drink, eat guacamole and chips, enjoy the view, or try to reserve the massage. This flexibility makes the tour easier for mixed groups, where one person wants the waterfall and another would rather avoid the hill.

Music, Service, and the Mood Onboard

This tour is built around social energy. Ricky Ricardo is known for keeping the boat lively, and DJ David helps create a playful atmosphere. The crew encourages dancing, conversation, and group participation, so this is not the place to expect silence from bow to stern.

That said, the boat offers some choice. The upper level can have quieter music, while the main areas carry more of the party atmosphere. I like that arrangement because it lets you shift gears during the day.

The crew’s work also deserves attention. Staff members serve drinks, clear food, clean the boat, and help people with the water gear. The boat is reported to be kept exceptionally clean, even during a busy day. Service can make or break an all-inclusive cruise, and here it is a major part of the value.

One caution is professionalism. A serious complaint described inappropriate conduct by a cruise director toward a passenger. The operator responded that the issue was being reviewed and that professional boundaries matter. Most of the available feedback is positive about service, but this concern is worth keeping in mind when choosing any hosted group activity.

Is $117.60 Good Value for Six Hours?

At $117.60 per person, the price covers a lot: round-trip yacht transport, breakfast, fajita lunch, snacks, open bar, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, a floating water mattress, waterslides, music, and access to the Yelapa stop.

You are also paying for staff support and the convenience of not arranging separate transport, meals, rentals, or a boat trip. The value is strongest if you will eat lunch onboard, use the water toys, and enjoy several drinks. It is less compelling if you do not drink, dislike group entertainment, or mainly want a long snorkeling session.

The group can reach 115 people, so do not assume an intimate sailing trip. A smaller departure can feel more personal, while a full boat will feel more like a floating social event. The catamaran has comfortable seating and shaded options, but the experience still depends on sharing space, music, and activity areas.

The tour is often booked about 27 days ahead. That is useful planning advice for popular travel periods, especially if you need a particular meeting location or a dietary option.

Who Will Enjoy This Yelapa Cruise?

I would choose this outing for couples, families, and friends who want a full day with many moving parts. It suits people who enjoy meeting others, trying several water activities, and having food and drinks handled from morning to afternoon.

It can work well for a family with mixed interests. One person can snorkel, another can kayak, and someone else can sit in the shade or take a massage. A senior family member may enjoy the boat and service, but the waterfall path and hot conditions deserve a careful look.

I would not choose it for a quiet nature cruise, a serious snorkeling session, or a long beach day. The music, open bar, and host-led energy are central to the experience. You should also be comfortable with a group setting and a schedule that moves from one stop to the next.

The boat generally returns with time left in the afternoon, often around 3 p.m. according to the provided timing. That gives you room for dinner or another Puerto Vallarta activity, although the exact return can depend on conditions and the day’s pace.

Booking Details and Practical Tips

The tour lasts about six hours and is offered in English, though a multilingual guide may operate the trip. Most people can participate, but the waterfall walk is not ideal for everyone.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded, and poor weather or an insufficient minimum group can lead to a rescheduled trip or full refund.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a hat. You need very little else for the day, but protect yourself from the sun since the boat and beach offer plenty of exposed time. Tell the operator about vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free needs when booking.

Do not forget to select your meeting point. If you plan to snorkel, head to the equipment area early. If you want the massage, ask to sign up early as well. Souvenir photos cost extra, and an onboard photographer may offer them for purchase.

Should You Book the Yelapa Waterfall Cruise?

Book it if you want one easy, social day that combines a catamaran ride, water toys, Yelapa, food, drinks, and music. The attentive crew, generous meals, shaded seating, and flexible activity choices make the $117.60 price reasonable for the right kind of day.

Skip it if your main goal is extended snorkeling, quiet sailing, or a long stretch on the beach. The schedule is packed, conditions can affect water visibility, and the waterfall path has a hill.

For most people, the smart expectation is not a private luxury yacht charter. It is a well-served, all-inclusive catamaran party with a scenic coast, a useful mix of activities, and a worthwhile stop in Yelapa. Go prepared for sun, music, and a busy schedule, and you will know exactly what you are buying.

FAQ

Where does the Yelapa cruise depart from?

You can choose to meet at the Chica Locca office at Puerto Mágico Cruise Ship Terminal or at Paradise Village. You must select your meeting place before completing the reservation.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes breakfast, Mexican fajita lunch, snacks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, a water mattress, and access to the included water activities.

Is the boat a yacht or a catamaran?

The vessel is a catamaran marketed as a mega yacht. It has comfortable seating and shaded areas for the cruise.

What food is served?

Breakfast includes fresh seasonal fruit, pastries, coffee, and juices. Lunch includes chicken and beef fajitas with rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa. Snacks include guacamole, blue corn chips, and potato chips.

Is alcohol included?

Yes. The open bar includes drinks such as beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, and piña coladas, along with water, coffee, juices, and soft drinks. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Can I visit the Yelapa waterfall?

Yes. From Yelapa, you can take a guided walk of about 15 minutes to the waterfall. The route includes an uphill section, and you can swim at the cascade.

Are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals available?

Yes. These options are available, but you need to advise the operator when booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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