Tour Yelapas and Mahahuitas in Catamaran with Lunch and Open Bar!

Two Pacific beaches, one full day. This Puerto Vallarta catamaran trip combines a scenic ride, time in the riverside village of Yelapa, and a relaxed beach stop at Majahuitas. I like the two-stop design and the fact that breakfast, lunch, an open bar on the boat, snorkeling gear, insurance, and a bilingual guide are included.

I also like the generous timing: about four hours at Yelapa and three hours at Majahuitas. The main catch is that the water activities are shared among the group, so kayaking and similar extras are not guaranteed on demand. With a maximum of 35 people, this is a social boat day, not a private escape.

Key points to know before booking

• Yelapa offers more than beach time: You can walk through town, follow scenic paths and stairways, and see where the river, foothills, and shoreline meet.
• Majahuitas is the quieter beach stop: The beach club has a laid-back hippie-chic style, with time for snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, or sunbathing.
• The boat day includes plenty of extras: Breakfast, lunch, an open bar on the catamaran, snorkeling equipment, insurance, and a bilingual guide are part of the $120 price.
• Plan around shared equipment: Only five kayaks are available for a group that can reach 35 people, and the kayaks are singles.
• The schedule is long but useful: The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and lasts about seven to eight hours, ending back at the maritime terminal.
• Small fees still apply: Bring money for the MX$30 port tax per person, tips, and drinks ordered at the restaurant.

Why this catamaran day works well in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta gives you easy access to beaches that feel far removed from the city. This trip uses the water as its main route, taking you to Yelapa and Majahuitas rather than keeping you on the busy hotel-side shoreline.

That matters because the two stops offer different kinds of time. Yelapa gives you a chance to walk and explore. Majahuitas is mainly for swimming, beach lounging, and water activities. You get variety without having to arrange separate transport, meals, or equipment.

I like the balance. Some boat excursions spend the whole day moving from one photo stop to another. Here, the schedule gives you several hours at each destination. You are not simply stepping ashore, snapping a picture, and rushing back aboard.

The tour costs $120 per person. That is not the cheapest way to see the southern coast, but the price covers a full day, the catamaran ride, breakfast, lunch, an open bar on the boat, snorkeling equipment, travel insurance, and a bilingual guide. Add the included beach time at both stops, and the package can make sense for you if you want one organized day with few extra arrangements.

You should still budget for the MX$30 port tax, tips, and drinks bought at the restaurant. Restaurant drinks are not included, even though the boat has an open bar.

Starting at the maritime terminal at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting point is Terminal Maritima API on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio in the Las Glorias area of Puerto Vallarta. The start time is 9:00 a.m., and the activity returns to this same point.

Because the tour begins at a working maritime terminal, give yourself enough time to reach the meeting point before departure. The terminal is near public transportation, which helps if you are not staying right beside the port.

Your ticket is mobile, and confirmation is provided when you book. The activity is offered in English, with a bilingual guide included. The group can be as large as 35 people, so expect a shared outing rather than a quiet, personalized cruise.

That group size is worth keeping in mind from the start. A larger group can make the boat ride lively, but it also affects how quickly you can use shared equipment and how much personal attention you receive. If you prefer a private boat, an intimate guide, or guaranteed access to a kayak, this is probably not the right format.

The catamaran ride and included meals

The boat ride is a major part of the day, not just a transfer between beaches. You travel by catamaran to Yelapa and Majahuitas, with an open bar available on the boat.

Breakfast and lunch are included, which makes the $120 price easier to judge. You do not need to arrange separate food for the day, although the available details do not specify the exact menu or serving times. If you have dietary restrictions, ask the operator before booking rather than assuming the included meals will suit you.

The open bar is also limited to the boat. Drinks ordered at the restaurant are extra, so keep that distinction clear. I would treat the boat bar as part of the sailing experience, not as a reason to expect every drink during the shore stops to be covered.

Travel insurance and snorkeling equipment are included. The equipment consists of fins, a vest, and a snorkel. That is useful if you want to spend time in the water without renting basic gear separately.

Still, equipment availability is not the same as guaranteed activity time. The trip includes access to snorkeling gear, but the schedule and group size determine how much time you personally spend using it.

Four hours at Yelapa, with town and river views

Yelapa is the more varied of the two stops. You can stay on the beach, or you can walk into town and follow a scenic route through the area.

The setting is unusual because several features come together in a compact place: the beach, the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains, and the Yelapa River. That combination gives you more to look at than a simple strip of sand.

You will also see colorful artwork along pathways and staircases. This makes the walk feel different from a standard resort beach visit. Instead of spending all four hours in one spot, you can use part of the time to see how the town is arranged around its natural setting.

I would choose Yelapa based on your mood that day. If you want a slower beach morning, stay near the shore. If you enjoy walking and taking in local details, use the town route and look for the artwork along the steps and paths.

The four-hour allocation is generous. You should have enough time to combine a walk with beach time, though the exact pace is up to you. That freedom is one of the trip’s best features, but it also means you need to keep track of the meeting time. The boat cannot wait indefinitely for a late return.

Yelapa is not presented as a guided cultural tour with a long list of formal sights. Think of it as time to explore on your own, with the guide helping organize the day. The appeal is the setting and the chance to wander, not a tightly scripted lecture.

Three hours at Majahuitas Beach Club

After Yelapa, the catamaran heads to Majahuitas. The beach club is described as almost private and furnished in a relaxed hippie-chic style.

That setting gives the second half of the day a different feel. Yelapa is about movement, town paths, and scenery. Majahuitas is about settling in. You can snorkel, kayak, paddle board, or simply sunbathe.

Three hours is a sensible amount of time for this stop. You can spend part of it in the water and part of it on the beach instead of feeling forced to choose one activity for the entire visit.

The important practical point is that some activities use shared equipment. A past experience on this tour highlighted a problem with the kayaks: only single kayaks were available, and not everyone could use one immediately. The operator states that five kayaks are available for a boat carrying up to 35 people, with use handled in order.

So do not book this trip mainly for guaranteed kayaking. You might get a turn, but you may also need to wait, and the available kayaks may not be suitable for two people together. There is no stated fixed time limit for each use, which can make access uneven.

This is a fair criticism of the experience, especially if kayaking is your main goal. The tour provider also makes clear that kayaking is an extra activity rather than the central purpose of the trip. That distinction should guide your expectations.

If you mainly want a beach, snorkeling gear, and a chance to enjoy the coast, Majahuitas should work well. If you need a two-person kayak or want uninterrupted use of one, choose a dedicated kayak excursion instead.

What the group size means for your day

The maximum group size is 35 people. That is not an enormous boat crowd, but it is large enough to affect shared facilities and boarding routines.

The group size helps keep the $120 price below what you might pay for a private charter. It also makes the bilingual guide useful, since instructions and timing need to be managed for many people at once.

The trade-off is personal space. You may not get individual help every time you need it, and popular equipment can be in demand. The kayak issue is the clearest example, but the same general principle applies to any optional activity.

I would recommend this tour to people who enjoy a social day on the water and can stay flexible. You will get the most from it if you see the boat, beaches, meals, and scenery as the main package, with kayaking and paddle boarding treated as possible bonuses.

What to bring and what to budget

The tour supplies snorkeling equipment, breakfast, lunch, an open bar on the boat, and travel insurance. Even so, a few practical preparations will make the day easier.

Bring money for the MX$30 port tax per person. You should also budget for tips and for any drinks you order at the restaurant, since those are excluded.

Use sun protection and bring whatever personal beach items you prefer. The supplied details do not list towels, so you should not assume one will be provided. A mobile ticket is accepted, and the activity returns to its starting point at the maritime terminal.

The weather matters. This trip requires good conditions, and poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted, so do not leave changes until the last minute.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would suggest this catamaran day if you want several Puerto Vallarta experiences in one booking. You get a boat ride, two coastal stops, a village walk, beach time, meals, drinks on board, and basic snorkeling equipment.

It suits couples, families, and groups of friends who want a full day with a clear structure but some freedom at each stop. Most people can participate, and the operator lists the activity as suitable for most participants.

It is also a good fit if you do not want to plan transport to Yelapa and Majahuitas on your own. The boat, guide, food, equipment, and return ride are arranged together.

I would be more cautious if you want solitude, a private guide, or a specific water activity. The group can reach 35 people, and five shared kayaks cannot satisfy everyone at once. People with a single goal, especially kayaking, may feel disappointed.

The 4.5 rating from six reviews suggests a generally positive experience, though the small number of ratings means you should not treat that score as a guarantee. The clearest lesson is simple: book it for the overall coastal day, not for exclusive access to one piece of equipment.

Should you book this Yelapa and Majahuitas tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, full-day Puerto Vallarta outing with two very different beach stops, included meals, an open bar on the boat, and enough time to explore rather than rush.

The strongest value comes from the complete package. At $120, you are paying for transport by catamaran, breakfast, lunch, insurance, a bilingual guide, snorkeling equipment, and about seven to eight hours of activity. That can be worthwhile if you would otherwise arrange several of those pieces separately.

Skip it if a quiet boat, a private itinerary, or guaranteed kayaking matters most. Majahuitas offers water activities, but the kayaks are limited and single-person kayaks may be the only option available.

For most people, I would book this as a flexible beach-and-boat day. Arrive ready to enjoy Yelapa’s paths and scenery, treat Majahuitas as your relaxed beach stop, and regard the shared water equipment as an extra rather than a promise.

FAQ

How long does the Yelapa and Majahuitas catamaran tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours. It starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends back at the maritime terminal.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and finishes at Terminal Maritima API, Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio, Las Glorias, Puerto Vallarta.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast and lunch are included. Drinks ordered at the restaurant are not included.

Is an open bar included?

Yes. An open bar is included on the catamaran. Restaurant drinks are extra.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The tour includes fins, a vest, and a snorkel.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded. If poor weather or insufficient participation causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.