Snorkeling Marietas Islands & Majahuitas Beach Tour with BBQ

Marietas Islands holds snorkeling and kayaking; Majahuitas holds the meal and the rest.

A full-day snorkeling and kayaking tour from Puerto Vallarta to Marietas Islands National Park, followed by paddleboarding and a BBQ buffet on Majahuitas Beach. Bilingual guides lead water activities around the volcanic archipelago, where dolphins and whales appear in season; the return includes an open bar, breakfast on board and free time on the beach. Seven hours total, life jackets mandatory, children welcome from age 4.

Step-by-step itinerary

Marietas Islands and Majahuitas Beach

• Boat trip to Marietas Islands
• Snorkeling, kayaking, and bird watching
• Boat trip to Majahuitas Beach
• BBQ buffet and open bar at Majahuitas
• Kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboarding
• Return boat trip with entertainment

The Experience

The boat leaves the meeting point in Puerto Vallarta with breakfast on board and a run of snorkeling and kayaking gear already staged. The guides brief you on what's ahead — the Marietas Islands sit in Banderas Bay as a volcanic archipelago, and the water holds endemic blue-footed boobbirds, dolphins in winter, and humpback whales when they migrate through. The crossing itself is the transition: music and light entertainment on deck, guides answering questions about the ecology and the islands' history, and your eyes open for marine life moving past the boat.

At Marietas Islands National Park, the snorkeling and kayaking happen with expert bilingual guides in the water alongside you. The rock formations and the clarity of the water are what you came for, and the guides point out the species and the stories — the boobbirds are endemic to only two places on earth, and this is one of them. Paddleboards and an inflatable banana are available if you want to stay on the surface instead. The guides manage the pace and the safety; life jackets are mandatory for all water activities.

The boat then carries you to Majahuitas, a private beach where the second half of the day is yours to shape. The BBQ buffet waits under palm shade, the open bar runs all afternoon, and you can snorkel again, paddleboard, rest in a beach chair, or move between all three. The beach club is included; the access to Majahuitas itself is a separate charge at checkout. Free time here is the longest stretch of the day — time to absorb the setting without a schedule pushing forward. The return journey to Puerto Vallarta includes soft music and light entertainment on board, and the guides walk you through the logistics of disembarkation before you step off.

What’s included

• Breakfast on board and a full BBQ buffet on Majahuitas Beach.
• snorkeling and kayaking equipment with bilingual guide instruction at Marietas Islands.
• paddleboards and an inflatable banana at Majahuitas.
• open bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
• beach club access and free time on Majahuitas.
• entertainment on board during both boat rides.
• restroom facilities on the boat.
• life jackets for all water activities.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Monkey Adventures México

Is this one for you?Choose the Puerto Vallarta check-in if you're staying in the city center, or the Nuevo Vallarta check-in if your hotel is north along the coast — both reach the same islands and beach, so pick the one closer to where you wake up. The seven-hour span lets you move between snorkeling, paddleboarding and rest without rushing any of them, which is what makes a full day of water activities plus a meal on sand actually feel like a day instead of a checklist.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly is Marietas Islands and why do the guides keep mentioning the blue-footed boobbirds?

Marietas Islands is a volcanic archipelago in Banderas Bay off Puerto Vallarta, protected as a national park. The blue-footed boobbirds are an endemic species found in only two places on earth, and this is one of them — the guides point them out during snorkeling and kayaking because they are one of the reasons the park exists and why the ecosystem matters.

Do I need snorkeling experience, or will the guides teach me what to do?

The guides are bilingual and lead the snorkeling and kayaking activities in the water with you, so they manage the pace and the safety. Life jackets are mandatory for all water activities. Children are welcome from age 4, and the tour is designed for families and mixed fitness levels, though you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness to participate.

What's the difference between the two check-in locations, and does it change what I do on the tour?

You choose between Check-In ADV in Puerto Vallarta or Check-In ADV in Nuevo Vallarta at checkout — both are meeting points for the same tour. The snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding and BBQ buffet are identical; the only difference is where your boat departs from.

Can I just relax on Majahuitas Beach, or do I have to keep doing water activities?

Majahuitas is a beach club with free time built in, so you choose how to spend it — snorkel again, paddleboard, use the inflatable banana, or simply rest under the palms with food and drinks from the open bar. The beach club access is included; paddleboards and the banana are available if you want them.

Are dolphins and whales guaranteed, or is it just a possibility?

Dolphins and whales are not guaranteed, but they appear in season — dolphins are common in winter, and humpback whales migrate through at certain times of year. The guides watch for them during the boat ride to and from the islands, but the snorkeling, kayaking and beach time happen regardless of whether marine mammals show up.

What's included in the open bar, and are there non-alcoholic options?

The open bar includes both alcoholic beverages (for guests 18 and over) and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day. Breakfast is served on board before you reach the islands, and the BBQ buffet is the main meal on Majahuitas Beach.