Puerto Vallarta sunset yacht cruise: private boat with open bar

Cruise to Los Arcos and back down the lit coast, drinks in hand

A private luxury yacht sunset cruise in Puerto Vallarta's Bay of Banderas departs from Marina Vallarta and sails to Los Arcos National Marine Park, where you photograph the islands and the sunset, then returns along the coast past the Malecón boardwalk after dark. The 3-hour cruise includes an open bar with cocktails and champagne, freshly prepared snacks, and a bilingual crew.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset cruise and scenic coastal views

• Depart from Marina Vallarta
• Cruise to Los Arcos Nature Preserve
• Take photos of natural islands and birds
• Watch the sun set over the bay
• Cruise back along Vallarta coast
• View city lights passing Malecon boardwalk
• Return to Marina Vallarta

The Experience

The boat leaves Marina Vallarta and heads south toward Los Arcos, a journey of roughly 1.5 hours. This is when you settle in with a drink—the open bar runs the whole evening, stocked with water, sodas, juices, cocktails and champagne—and watch the coastline unfold. The crew brings out charcuterie boards, chips, dips and local nibbles as the light starts to shift. Los Arcos itself is a cluster of dramatic rock islands with extensive bird life, and this is where the real show happens: you're positioned to photograph the sun cresting the horizon with the islands in the frame, the kind of moment that justifies the whole trip.

The return leg takes another 1.5 hours, but now the sun is down and the Malecón—Puerto Vallarta's famous boardwalk—is lit up from the water. You see the city from a vantage point most visitors never get, the lights reflecting off the bay while you're still on deck with a drink. The air-conditioned cabin is there if you need it, and there's a restroom on board. A bilingual crew handles the navigation and the service, so there's no planning required once you step aboard.

What’s included

• Open bar with cocktails, champagne, juices and sodas.
• freshly prepared onboard snacks including charcuterie boards and local nibbles.
• bilingual crew.
• WiFi on board.
• air-conditioned cabin.
• restroom on board.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Vallarta Yacht Rentals

Is this one for you?The boat departs from Marina Vallarta, so if you're staying elsewhere in Puerto Vallarta or don't have a car, you arrange your own transport to the marina—but once you're aboard, the crew handles everything else, and you're on the water for the whole golden hour without needing to navigate or time anything yourself.

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Top questions

How long is the cruise to Los Arcos and back?

The full cruise runs 3 hours: approximately 1.5 hours down to Los Arcos National Marine Park, then 1.5 hours back to Marina Vallarta along the coast.

What's included in the open bar?

The open bar includes water, sodas, juices, cocktails and champagne, plus freshly prepared snacks like charcuterie boards, chips and dips served throughout the evening.

What can I see at Los Arcos?

Los Arcos National Marine Park is a group of dramatic natural islands with extensive bird life; you'll have time to photograph them with the sunset, and dolphins or humpback whales sometimes appear during the season.

Does the crew speak English?

Yes, the bilingual crew speaks both English and Spanish, so communication is straightforward whether you're giving instructions or just chatting.

Is there a restroom on the yacht?

Yes, there's a restroom on board, and the cabin is air-conditioned if you want to step inside from the deck.