Boat Tours in Puerto Vallarta: 13 to Build a Day On

1.Puerto Vallarta Best Zipline Canopy + Tequila and Speed Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,786 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $120Our pick

Ride by speedboat or land transport from Puerto Vallarta to Los Veranos Canopy Tour. Guides such as Pepe, Edgar, Chica, and Mane lead you across 19 jungle ziplines, including a twin-cable race, before tequila tasting, river swimming, kayaking, waterslides, and animal encounters. Expect steep steps, heat, and a five-hour outing.

“Great experience, all of the workers were friendly and knew what they were doing and the Ziplines were fun. My girlfriend and I felt safe the entire time. Be aware, however, that this experience involves a significant amount of hiking that can be really hard when it's hot and muggy. You have to hike uphill to get to the higher Ziplines, so you can then take them down. If you have a heart condition or bad knees, this experience may not be for you.”

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2.Mega Yacht ALL INCLUSIVE Yelapa Waterfall & Snorkeling Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,515 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $117

Cruise from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa aboard Chica Locca’s roomy catamaran for about six hours. You’ll get breakfast, fajitas, snacks, an open bar, snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, and time for Yelapa’s waterfall. Hosts such as Ricky Ricardo and DJ David keep the mood lively, while shaded seating offers a quieter escape.

“Chica Locca, the operator, delivered a great experience; DJ David was very playful and made the time on the boat fly by. Crew was the absolute definition of attentive. For example, one passenger tracked a bunch of sand onto the deck of the boat. When that passenger realized his mistake, he went to shake his shoes off over the side of the boat. As soon as he stood up, a member of the crew was there to mop up the mess. Literally right away. None of the crew was ever still, either cleaning the boat surfaces or serving passengers. The only down side is that I never got the massage…”

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3.Outdoor Ziplining, Waterfalls & Speed boat in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,796 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129

Race from Puerto Vallarta to Boca de Tomatlan by speedboat, then ride a 4WD and mule into the Sierra Madre for ziplines, waterfall rappels, bridges, rivers, and slides. Guides such as Cesar, Tania, May, Loza, and Fito are praised for clear safety help. Expect a fast, wet, demanding six-and-a-half-hour outing.

“Best adventure day! If you are looking for a fun filled day of adventure this is for you. It checks all the boxes! The guides are top notch and are fun efficient. You will never experience something like the roller coaster. Boat ride, mule ride, zip line, rappelling, surfboard zipline, water slide, and best of all the roller coaster. Book the excursion you won’t regret it.”

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4.Rhythms of the night, Sunset Cruise, Candlelit Dinner & Alma Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,667 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

Sail from Puerto Vallarta across Banderas Bay to Las Caletas, a secluded beach reached only by boat. Enjoy an open-bar buffet dinner, music, and the Rhythms of the Night performance, with acrobats, dancers, fire artists, and live storytelling in an outdoor amphitheater. Plan for uneven paths, extra cash fees, and a large crowd.

“Wonderful show from start to finish..from the boat ride entertainment to the show and the excellent buffet.”

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5.Boat and Snorkel Tour to 5 Islands of Los Arcos

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,176 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48Best value

Meet in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica, ride a public bus with your guide to Mismaloya, then take a small panga around Los Arcos’ five islands. Expect sea caves, nesting birds, about 30 minutes of snorkeling, and beach time afterward. Guides including Andrés, Bruno, Diego, Guillermo, and Sebastián help first-timers feel at ease.

“The tour guide was great, and we were able to see some humpback whales. The reef was a bit on the smaller side, but we saw some schools of fish and several other clusters of fish.”

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6.Luxury Yacht & Snorkel with All inclusive Open bar and lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 754 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $119

Sail Puerto Vallarta’s Bay of Banderas aboard a Leopard catamaran limited to 40 people. You’ll cruise past coastal sights, snorkel near Majahuitas, use paddleboards, enjoy lunch and an open bar, and possibly spot whales, dolphins, turtles, and Los Arcos. Crew members such as Alex, Diego, and Juan Luis are known for attentive service.

“That the yacht travels for almost an hour before any activity starts. The crew was friendly and kept everyone informed. The open bar and drinks were great. The food was delicious.”

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7.Mega Catamarans ALL INCLUSIVE Remote Paradise Beach Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 470 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $135

Spend about six and a half hours sailing from Puerto Vallarta to Playa Chica Locca and Quimixto. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, an open bar, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling, a pool, and beach time. You can hike or pay cash for an ATV ride to the waterfall. Expect music, dancing, and guides such as Papi Chulo and Dana.

“This was the best experience we have done in PV. We are definitely booking every single time we go back to visit!”

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8.Puerto Vallarta, Luxury Sunset Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 415 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

Sail Banderas Bay from Marina Vallarta on a roughly 3-hour evening cruise with wine, an open bar, imported cheese, guacamole, bruschetta, and dessert. You’ll pass Nuevo Nayarit Beach and the Puerto Vallarta shoreline, with chances to see dolphins or whales. The boat may be a Beneteau catamaran or a 50-foot sailboat, depending on the departure.

“We saved this for our last evening in PV, but had we gone on the 1st day, we would have gone 3 more times….Great sunset cruise, saw so many whales and enjoyed the drinks and apps. The crew was fantastic and so accommodating.”

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9.Bioluminescence & sunset local boat tour to Los Arcos Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 327 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $83

Meet near Margarita Grill in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, then ride to Los Arcos Marine Sanctuary for sunset, wildlife, and a guided look at the arches. After dark, swim with bioluminescent plankton, using a life vest and snorkeling gear. Guides such as Alex and Victor share local marine knowledge. The boat holds up to 24 people.

“Very lovely experience the whole crew made the experience well worth it. From giving full detailed history on the islands and sharing the rich cultural history with everyone.”

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10.Private Yacht Charter ChicaFUN 3 Waterslides All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 214 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Charter ChicaFUN 3 privately for up to 15 people and shape a four-hour Puerto Vallarta boat outing around your group. Captain and crew handle the day while you enjoy waterslides, snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards, floating toys, fresh guacamole, ceviche, and a brand-name open bar. Gil, the owner, can help arrange your meeting point.

“This boat was the highlight of our trip! The staff made the experience above and beyond. They accommodated our trip due to high winds. While we were in the water they would swim drinks out to us, hold jewelry, really anything we needed! Cannot recommend them enough.”

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11.Yelapa Mega Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 180 reviews · 6 hours · from $142

Spend six hours aboard Chica Locca’s 100-foot mega yacht, cruising from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta to Yelapa. Enjoy breakfast, Mexican fajitas, premium drinks, snorkeling, kayaks, paddle boards, floating mats, music, and a short guided walk to Yelapa Falls. Guides including Ricky and Isaiah keep the day moving in English and Spanish.

“Top tier 10/10! Ricky and the crew catered to us and kept us fed and hydrated! The massage was the cherry on the top! What a fun day snorkeling, visiting Yelapa, and dancing with crew.”

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12.Mega Yacht Whale Watching Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 94 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Spend three hours aboard a roomy Chica Locca mega yacht in Banderas Bay, watching humpback whales, dolphins, and turtles from November through April. Guides including Isai and Captain Nick share useful whale facts, while the crew serves premium drinks, guacamole, chips, and snacks. Return beneath Puerto Vallarta’s lights with music, dancing, or quiet seats.

“I highly recommend doing this one! The crew was a lot of fun and very attentive with making sure we had drinks, snacks and enjoying ourselves. There were plenty of whales to see & the weather was perfect to catch the sunset before heading back. I plan on doing this one again for sure!”

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13.Bay of Banderas Luxury Sunset Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 30 reviews · 3 hours · from $99

Spend three hours on a luxury monohull or catamaran sailing around Puerto and Nuevo Vallarta. You get an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, English or Spanish crew, and prime sunset views across the Bay of Banderas. Rueben and the crew have earned praise for attentive service, though seating may vary by boat.

“Beautiful sunset cruise with good food and drinks. The staff was very attentive and pleasant. The sunset was beautiful with many great pictures! This is the second time we’ve taken this tour, and we will do it again in the future”

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