Whale Watching Cruise Puerto Vallarta: Sunset & All-Inclusive Bar

Humpback whales breach while the sun drops into the Pacific.

A 3-hour evening whale watching cruise on Banderas Bay departs from either Nuevo Vallarta or Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal, with a live guide in English or Spanish tracking humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles and rays. The boat is a 100-foot mega yacht with open premium bar service—water, coffee, juices, sodas, margaritas, piña coladas, beer, tequila, wine and champagne—plus fresh guacamole and blue corn chips included. Humpback season runs December through April, though whales sometimes arrive in early November. You choose your meeting point before booking; bring a sweater for the return after sunset.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale watching and sunset cruise

• Board luxury mega yacht
• Enjoy open premium bar and snacks
• Cruise Banderas Bay and watch whales
• Observe marine life and coastline
• Experience sunset on the bay

The Experience

You're arriving in Puerto Vallarta with an evening free, or you've got a first afternoon and want to see what the bay holds. The crew spends the 3 hours searching for whale activity—they're in radio contact with other boats and will head to secluded bays or cruise close to the Vallarta shoreline wherever the humpbacks are that day. Banderas Bay is the second largest bay in the world and a breeding and birthing ground for humpbacks every year, so the odds are solid from December through April.

The boat itself is a 100-foot mega yacht, stable enough that you can sit in comfortable lounge seating while the crew brings the bar to you. Service starts the moment you leave the dock: water, coffee, juices, sodas, plus margaritas, piña coladas, beer, tequila, wine, champagne and more, along with fresh guacamole and blue corn chips. The open bar runs the whole cruise, and the crew delivers it with what they call "Chica Locca Service"—their term for the pace and style of it. Alongside the humpbacks you may see dolphins, sea turtles, rays and seabirds, and the coastline itself is part of the route as you cruise to and from Yelapa.

The sun drops into the water on the return, which is why the sweater matters—evenings cool down once you're heading back. You'll need to pick your meeting point before you reserve: either Nuevo Vallarta or the Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal. The cruise terminal is a federal maritime port, so all passengers pass through security screening. Souvenir photos are available for purchase if you want them. Gratuities are optional. The minimum drinking age is 18.

What’s included

• Open premium bar with water, coffee, juices, sodas, margaritas, piña coladas, beer, tequila, wine and champagne.
• fresh guacamole and blue corn chips.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• whale tracking across Banderas Bay with crew communication to locate marine life.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Chica Locca Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to watch whales and sunset from a stationary yacht with a full bar—you stay seated while the crew searches, perfect for your first evening in Puerto Vallarta without committing to an early morning.

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Top questions

When do humpback whales show up in Puerto Vallarta?

Humpback whales arrive in Banderas Bay from December through April, though the first ones sometimes appear in early November. The crew tracks their activity across the bay and adjusts the route to find them.

What's included in the all-inclusive bar on this cruise?

The open premium bar includes water, coffee, juices, sodas, margaritas, piña coladas, beer, tequila, wine and champagne, plus fresh guacamole and blue corn chips served throughout the 3-hour cruise.

What other marine life might I see besides whales?

Alongside humpback whales, you may encounter dolphins, sea turtles, rays and seabirds, plus views of the Puerto Vallarta coastline as the boat cruises Banderas Bay.

Where do I meet the boat, and do I need to arrange my own transport?

You choose your meeting point before booking: either Nuevo Vallarta or the Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal. Public transportation options are available nearby, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What should I bring on the evening cruise?

Bring a sweater or blanket for cooler evenings and the return trip after sunset. The cruise terminal is a federal maritime port with security screening, so leave any drugs, alcohol, weapons, electronic cigarettes or vaping devices at your hotel.