A day like this feels perfectly sized. It mixes snorkeling and a walk to a Yelapa waterfall from a shaded, private boat, with enough beach time to actually relax. You also get a local-style pace, not a loud, all-day production.

What I like most is the mix: Majahuitas snorkeling is the main event, and you get to swap your first water time based on how the day is feeling. Second, I really appreciate the added “Yelapa factor,” since the itinerary gives you both beach time and a guided hike to a hidden-feeling waterfall.

One consideration: food and drinks are not included, so you’ll want to plan for lunch ashore and snacks. Also, there is a walking component to the falls, so comfortable footwear helps.

Key highlights worth planning around

• Private boat for up to 7, so you control the vibe and pace
• Sanitized snorkel gear plus life jackets for everyone for safer, easier water time
• Majahuitas as the main snorkel stop, often less crowded than nearby options
• Yelapa beach time with a town hike, then a guided walk to the waterfall
• Local-style captains and bilingual guiding, with people highlighting hosts like Victor, Namar, Luis, and Adrian

A private Yelapa and Majahuitas day that stays calm

Puerto Vallarta is great for big tours. Still, a private boat changes the feel fast. Instead of being shuffled with strangers, your group gets time on the water that feels more like a half-day outing with locals.

This trip runs about 5 hours starting at 9:00 am. You’re on a 23-foot boat with shade, plus a cooler with ice, so the sun stays manageable. The snorkel setup is also handled for you, with sanitized snorkel gear and life jackets for all passengers, which makes it easier to get in the water without turning it into a gear checklist.

The private part matters most if you care about comfort. With up to 7 guests, it’s easier for the captain and bilingual guide to keep everyone together and adjust to what the water and weather are doing.

Los Arcos de Mismaloya, your first water choice

Early on, you’ll stop at Los Arcos de Mismaloya. Here’s the nice part: you get an option to snorkel here or save your main snorkel time for Majahuitas.

Los Arcos is a quick stop at about 20 minutes, with the admission ticket included. If you’re itching to get in the water immediately, it’s a logical first taste. If you’d rather focus on the best, least crowded-feeling session, you can plan to make Majahuitas the headline.

I like that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all script. A short first stop gives you flexibility. In practice, that flexibility is especially helpful if someone in your group is a strong swimmer and someone else wants gentler, calmer time.

Majahuitas snorkeling for cleaner, calmer water time

Majahuitas is the centerpiece snorkel stop, with about 40 minutes in the water. The admission ticket here is listed as free, so your costs stay simpler.

The biggest advantage, at least for how people describe the day, is the crowd factor. This is often the quieter choice compared with other nearby snorkeling spots. That translates into easier entry and exit, less waiting, and more time actually enjoying what you’re looking at.

Expect beautiful coastal water and a proper snorkel window, not a rushed splash. With sanitized gear already provided and a captain and bilingual guide on board, you’re set up for water time even if you don’t snorkel often.

Arriving in Yelapa: beach time and a real local pace

After snorkeling, you head to Yelapa, which is given a generous 3 hours. This is where the day shifts gears from water gear to barefoot options.

Yelapa is described with white sand and crystal clear waters, plus beach restaurants where you can have lunch. Food and drinks are not included on the tour, so you’ll want to budget for lunch and drinks at the beach. The upside is you can pick what fits your taste and appetite, whether that’s a simple meal or something more like a proper seaside sit-down.

One detail I like for families and mixed groups: the timing builds in breathing room. You’re not locked into nonstop movement. You get time to swim, hang out on the sand, and let the energy of the place do the entertaining.

Then comes the guided transition. From the Yelapa time, you’ll hike through the town to reach the waterfall area. That town walk is part of what makes the day feel more than just snorkeling and leaving.

Yelapa waterfall hike: hidden-feeling, guided, and worth the effort

The waterfall portion is about 1 hour, and it’s specifically a guided walk through the fishing village area to reach a hidden waterfall. The admission ticket is included here.

What makes this feel special is the way it connects the town to the natural payoff. You’re not just dropped at a viewpoint. You and the guide walk through local streets and village surroundings to reach the falls.

This is also where comfortable shoes help. It’s a hike through town and to the waterfall, and even if it isn’t described as extreme, it’s still walking time on a schedule. If your group includes people who usually avoid hikes, I’d treat this as the one part you plan for most carefully.

If you want an overall mood check, people who get great days on this trip often describe it as calm and local. That lines up with how the waterfall stop is handled. It’s guided, timed, and low pressure, so you’re not racing crowds or waiting in a long chain.

The boat, the crew, and the value of locals running the day

A big reason this tour earns top marks is how it’s run. You’re not just paying for a boat. You’re paying for a crew that knows how to make the day flow.

In the guidance you’ll see names like Victor and Namar tied to captains who help keep the outing smooth. Others highlight hosts like Luis and Adrian as standout guides. The common thread: they’re locals who can share context and keep the day feeling authentic rather than staged.

There’s also a practical advantage to local know-how. People talk about avoiding crowds, especially when choosing water time. That matters because crowded snorkeling can turn fun into irritation fast. When the captain and guide can position the group well, your time in the water feels more personal.

One more note that may make this trip extra tempting: along the way to Yelapa, people have highlighted close sightings of whales and dolphins. You should not treat that as guaranteed, but if marine life is on your wish list, this route is set up in a way that can deliver.

Price and what you actually get for $550

The price is $550 per group, up to 7 guests. For a private boat tour, that’s a strong setup because the cost scales with group size rather than per person ticket math.

At the full group size, you’re effectively looking at about $79 per person (550 divided by 7). Even if you don’t fill all seats, the private value still holds because you’re buying more than transportation. You’re buying:

• a shaded, 23-foot boat
• life jackets for everyone
• sanitized snorkel gear
• a captain and bilingual guide
• and a guided walk to the waterfall

In other words, the tour includes the main “hard parts” that make a day like this expensive and annoying when you do it solo: boat logistics, gear prep, route timing, and local guiding.

Timing that works: why the order of stops matters

This itinerary is built around flow.

• First you get a short early stop option at Los Arcos de Mismaloya.
• Then you move to Majahuitas for the main snorkel window.
• After that, you settle into Yelapa for beach time and lunch options.
• Finally, you finish with the waterfall hike guided through the fishing village area.

Why does that order help? Because snorkeling is done before the heavier walking. You’re fresh for the water portion, then you switch into beach and town mode, and you end with the falls when you’re already in the area.

It also keeps decision fatigue lower. You don’t have to plan in the moment with strangers. You have a clear path and a guide managing the schedule.

What to pack for this 5-hour adventure

This trip doesn’t list a dress code, but based on what you do, you’ll want gear that matches three phases: boat ride, snorkel, and town walking.

Bring:

• a swimsuit (you’ll want to be ready to snorkel)
• sunscreen and a hat for the boat portion
• water-friendly footwear or something comfortable for walking
• a light layer if you get chilly after time in the water
• cash or card for lunch, since food and drinks are not included

Also, confirm your group’s comfort level with walking. Most people can participate, but the waterfall portion includes time on your feet.

Who this tour is best for in Puerto Vallarta

This one fits best if you want:

• a private feel, not a crowded group tour
• a structured day that still leaves breathing room
• both snorkeling and a land-based experience
• a local-guide vibe with guides and captains who know Yelapa

It’s also a good option for groups that want to split the difference. Someone can focus on snorkeling time at Majahuitas, while others prioritize beach relaxation in Yelapa and the guided waterfall walk.

If you hate logistics, this helps. The tour supplies the boat, the snorkel gear, and the life jackets, and it takes care of the guided portions.

The only group type I’d watch closely is one where nobody wants to walk at all. Since the waterfall experience involves a hike through Yelapa, that’s the physical part of the day you can’t completely skip.

Should you book this Yelapa, Majahuitas, and waterfall boat tour?

Book this tour if you want a calm, local-feeling half-day that checks multiple boxes: snorkeling at Majahuitas, beach time in Yelapa, and a guided walk to a hidden-feeling waterfall. The private setup is a big part of the value, especially with a small group size and a shaded boat.

I’d skip or rethink it if your group is on a tight budget for meals, since food and drinks aren’t included. And if your group members have limited mobility or dislike walking, plan for the waterfall hike as the main constraint.

If you’re deciding between a loud group tour and a smoother private outing, this is the one that tends to deliver the better day feel, the kind where the ocean time is actually enjoyable and the waterfall portion feels like a real payoff.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

It runs for about 5 hours.

How many people is the tour for?

It is a private tour for your group, up to 7 guests.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 am.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at a meeting point near public transportation, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

Is snorkeling gear included?

Yes. Sanitized snorkel gear is included.

Are life jackets provided?

Yes, life jackets are provided for all passengers.

Is lunch included?

No. Food, drinks, and snacks are not included.

Which snorkeling stops are included?

You can have snorkel time at Los Arcos de Mismaloya (20 minutes, admission ticket included) and at Majahuitas (40 minutes, admission ticket free).

Is the Yelapa waterfall walk included?

Yes. The guide hike to the waterfall in Yelapa is included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.