Puerto Vallarta Snorkeling Tour: Yelapa & Majahuitas Private Boat

Yelapa's waterfall sits inland, reachable only by hiking through the fishing village after you snorkel.

A private boat takes up to seven travelers from Puerto Vallarta to two snorkel sites (Los Arcos National Marine Park and Majahuitas), then to Yelapa, where a bilingual guide leads a hike to a waterfall hidden in the village. Snorkel gear, a cooler with ice and a 23-foot boat with shade are included. The route and timing can be adjusted to fit your group's pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour with snorkeling and waterfall hike

• Snorkel at Los Arcos or Majahuitas
• Snorkel in beautiful beach waters
• Arrive at beach, enjoy lunch option
• Hike through town to waterfall
• Walk to hidden waterfall in Yelapa

The experience

The boat leaves from either Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta (you choose at checkout) and heads to Los Arcos National Marine Park or Majahuitas. Your guide will steer you toward whichever is less crowded that day. Both sites have the same clear water and reef life. Majahuitas tends to draw fewer snorkelers. You get sanitized snorkel gear, and the boat carries a cooler with ice so you can stay comfortable between stops.

After snorkeling, the boat takes you to Yelapa, a fishing village accessible only by water. Here the pace shifts: you walk through the town with your bilingual guide to reach a waterfall tucked into the landscape. The hike is the kind of detour most day trips skip, and it is what makes this route different from the standard reef-and-beach loop. The whole outing runs about five hours, and because the group stays small, seven people maximum, the guide can adjust the timing and which snorkel site you use based on what your group wants.

The boat itself is 23 feet long with a shaded area, so you are not exposed to sun the entire time. Your captain and guide both speak English and Spanish, and life jackets are provided for everyone. Transportation to the meeting point is on you, but the operator notes that public transit options are nearby.

What’s included

• Sanitized snorkel gear.
• cooler with ice.
• 23-foot boat with shade.
• hike to the waterfall in Yelapa.
• captain and bilingual guide.
• life jacket for all passengers.

Options for this experience

2 options

From Puerto VallartaGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00Meeting point: Los Muertos Beach Pier, Francisca Rodríguez 121, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico

From Nuevo VallartaGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00Meeting point: Paradise Village Public Pier, Blvrd Nayarit, 63735 Nuevo Nayarit, Nay., Mexico

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to18h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by PV Tours

Is this one for you?Book from Puerto Vallarta if that is where you are staying, or from Nuevo Vallarta if you are based there. The departure point is your choice at checkout. The five-hour window and small group size mean the guide can adjust which snorkel site you visit and how much time you spend at each stop, so the day fits around what your group actually wants to do rather than a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can I choose which snorkel site we visit, Los Arcos or Majahuitas?

Your guide decides based on conditions and crowds on the day you go. Majahuitas is usually the quieter choice, but both have the same reef and marine life. The guide will take you where the snorkeling is best that morning.

What happens at Yelapa after we snorkel?

You hike through the fishing village with the guide to reach a hidden waterfall. It is an inland walk, not a long trek, and it is included in the five-hour outing.

Is the snorkel gear included, or do I need to bring my own?

Sanitized snorkel gear is provided for all passengers. You do not need to bring equipment.

Can the boat route be changed if our group wants something different?

Yes. The operator says the experience can be customized based on your group's needs, so you can discuss timing and stops with your guide before departure.

How many people can fit on the boat?

The boat holds up to seven passengers maximum, which keeps the group small enough for the guide to adjust the day to what your group wants to do.