Private Yacht Charter on ChicaFun 1 Waterslides all inclusive

The best part of ChicaFun 1 is the freedom to shape your day on the Bay of Banderas. Instead of following a fixed route, you can ask the captain to focus on Los Arcos, a quiet beach, snorkeling, fishing, or a slower swim stop. The crew handles the food, drinks, gear, and timing.

I like two things right away: the charter is genuinely private, and the all-inclusive setup removes much of the usual boat-day fuss. Fresh guacamole, blue corn chips, margaritas, beer, wine, and soft drinks are included, along with kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear, tubes, and a water mattress.

The main catch is location and timing. This is advertised as a Puerto Vallarta experience, but the boat is not in central Puerto Vallarta, and one booking party reported a 40 to 50 minute drive to the departure point. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so confirm the meeting place before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to 15 people: Your group has the boat to itself, which suits birthdays, family days, and relaxed celebrations.
• About four hours on the water: The time is enough for a few focused stops, but not every beach and cove listed.
• Los Arcos is the strongest snorkeling option: The granite arches, caves, and marine life give the outing its most memorable scenery.
• Food and drinks are included: Expect guacamole, blue corn chips, potato chips, coffee, juices, sodas, water, beer, wine, margaritas, piña coladas, champagne, and more.
• You choose the route: Possible stops include Yelapa, Colomitos, Majahuitas, Las Caletas, and Los Arcos.
• Confirm transport details early: Choose your meeting point before submitting the reservation, and ask Gil, the owner, about transportation help if needed.

A private boat day instead of a fixed sightseeing trip

ChicaFun 1 works best when you think of it as a floating base for your own group, not as a standard sightseeing cruise. The captain and crew can help shape the day around swimming, snorkeling, beach time, drinks, or a celebration.

The listed price is $2,490 for a group of up to 15 people. At a full 15-person capacity, that works out to about $166 per person before gratuity. For a smaller group, the per-person price rises quickly, so the charter makes the most financial sense when you can fill most of the boat.

That price includes far more than transportation. You receive the boat, crew, landing and facility fees, water equipment, snacks, and a broad drink selection. You are not constantly reaching for your wallet each time someone wants a soda, beer, or snack, which makes a real difference on a short outing.

A private charter also gives you control over the mood. A family can spend more time with the water toys. A birthday group can make the day about music, drinks, and swimming. A group interested in scenery can ask for more cruising along the coast.

The tradeoff is that four hours passes quickly. Los Arcos, Yelapa, Colomitos, Majahuitas, and Las Caletas are separate destinations, not five guaranteed stops in one short cruise. Before departure, tell the captain what matters most and accept that the route needs to stay focused.

Setting out around the Bay of Banderas

The basic route takes you along Puerto Vallarta’s coastline and around the Bay of Banderas. That gives you changing views of the coast, open water, rocky points, beaches, and the Sierra Madre foothills.

The boat is part of the entertainment here. ChicaFun 1 is presented as a private yacht charter with waterslides, and the included equipment lets you use the water as your main playground. Snorkel gear, paddle boards, kayaks, a water mattress, and tubes are provided, so you can switch activities instead of spending the entire trip sitting on deck.

You should still think about pace. Water activities take time to organize, and every stop requires some combination of anchoring, getting equipment out, swimming, and climbing back aboard. If you want a calm day, choose one or two main areas rather than trying to check off every possible beach.

The crew is an important part of the setup. Specific crew members praised in the supplied material include Luis, bartender Joel, and Alex, who welcomed one group at the marina. Gil Drory is the owner and the person to contact for help with meeting points or affordable transportation arrangements.

Los Arcos, the most dramatic stop

Los Arcos National Park is the clearest highlight on the route. South of Puerto Vallarta, huge granite formations rise from the sea, forming arches and caves that you can explore from the water.

This is the place to put snorkeling near the top of your list. The rock formations support marine life above and below the surface, and the arches create the kind of setting that feels much more special than a generic swim stop.

You can float through the openings, look into the caves, and snorkel around the rocks. Conditions can affect visibility and comfort, so treat the exact snorkeling quality as weather-dependent rather than guaranteed. Still, Los Arcos offers the best mix of scenery and water activity on this charter.

If your group includes first-time snorkelers, the crew can help get the equipment ready. The practical advantage of a private boat is that you do not need to match the pace of a large mixed group. Strong swimmers can explore farther while others stay close to the boat.

Yelapa for beach time and a longer outing

Yelapa is a coastal village south of Puerto Vallarta, known for its white sand and clear blue water. It is a good choice if your group wants a beach-centered day rather than only a short swim from the yacht.

Yelapa generally needs more time than a quick photo stop. Reaching the area, spending time in the water, and enjoying the beach can use much of a four-hour charter. I would choose Yelapa as the main destination, perhaps with one short snorkeling or scenic stop, rather than trying to combine it with every other location.

The attraction is its change of pace. Los Arcos is about rock formations and snorkeling, while Yelapa gives you sand, open water, and a coastal village setting. If your group cannot agree on a single type of activity, Yelapa may offer a more balanced day.

Colomitos and the small-beach choice

Colomitos is a tiny beach south of Puerto Vallarta, backed by the Sierra Madre. It is known as one of Mexico’s smallest beaches and can only be reached by boat or by a one-and-a-half-hour hike from Boca de Tomatlán.

That limited access is exactly why it appeals to people who want a quieter coastal stop. By boat, you avoid the long jungle hike and reach the beach from the water. The setting is compact, so do not expect a large resort beach with a long stretch of facilities.

Colomitos makes sense as a short swim or photo stop within a custom route. It may be less useful for a group that wants hours of beach space, extensive shore facilities, or a long walk. Ask the crew how much time the route can spare before committing to several destinations.

Majahuitas for a beach-focused route

Playa Majahuitas is often treated as one of Puerto Vallarta’s finest beaches. Its main appeal is the combination of sand, clear water, and a more remote feel compared with the city shoreline.

For a group that wants to use the kayaks, paddle boards, tubes, or water mattress, Majahuitas is a natural choice. The beach gives you room to make the water equipment part of the day, rather than treating it as a brief extra.

The practical question is your group’s priority. If you care most about dramatic rock scenery, choose Los Arcos. If you want a beach and water toys, Majahuitas may be the better use of your limited hours. The private format lets you make that choice instead of accepting a preset schedule.

Las Caletas for a slower afternoon

Las Caletas is described as a private beach designed for relaxation. Compared with Los Arcos, it is less about unusual rock formations and more about taking it easy beside the water.

This is a sensible pick for a group with mixed energy levels. Some people can swim or use the equipment while others enjoy snacks, drinks, and a slower break. It can also suit a celebration where conversation matters as much as sightseeing.

As with Yelapa and Majahuitas, Las Caletas is not an automatic add-on to every other stop. A four-hour charter can cover a lot of coastline, but it cannot provide a full beach day at several separate locations. Decide if your group wants activity or rest before departure.

Food, drinks, and the social side of the boat

The all-inclusive food and drink service is one of the strongest practical features. Fresh guacamole with blue corn chips and potato chips covers the snack side, while the drink list includes water, coffee, juices, sodas, mineral water, margaritas, beer, wine, piña coladas, champagne, and more.

This is particularly useful for birthday groups and family gatherings. You do not have to plan a separate lunch stop just to keep everyone fed, though the supplied details describe snacks rather than a full meal. If you need a substantial meal, ask the operator what is available for your date.

The crew has also shown a clear focus on celebrations. Luis and the crew helped make one birthday special, while another group received a birthday cake for a friend turning 30. Joel, the bartender, even swam drinks out to people in the water during one outing.

Those details tell you what kind of service to expect: active, social, and attentive rather than formal and quiet. If you want a discreet luxury yacht with minimal interaction, this may feel too lively. If you want staff who participate in the fun, it is a strong match.

Fishing may also become part of the day. One group caught three fish, let children reel them in, and had one cooked on board to taste. Fishing is not listed as a guaranteed included activity, so treat that as a possible bonus, not something to book the charter around.

Whale watching and seasonal surprises

One group saw many whales during the outing, and another went whale watching before stopping to swim and snorkel. The Bay of Banderas can offer wildlife sightings, but the tour details do not promise whales on every departure.

That distinction matters. You should book this for the private boat, coastline, beaches, and water activities first. If whales appear, they add a memorable layer to the day. If they do not, the charter still has a full set of planned activities.

The flexible route is helpful here. If the crew spots wildlife or conditions make one area less appealing, the captain can help adjust the plan. The exact route remains subject to practical conditions and the choices your group makes.

Meeting points and the real time commitment

Choose your meeting place before submitting the reservation. This is not a minor form detail, because the boat is not in Puerto Vallarta proper according to the supplied booking information.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You can ask Gil about a different meeting point or affordable luxury transportation to the marina, but arrange that in advance. One party found the drive to the departure location took about 40 to 50 minutes and felt it was worth the extra time.

That drive changes the total commitment. The activity itself lasts about four hours, but you should add transportation time and arrive with enough margin for the meeting point. The charter is offered in English, and a mobile ticket is available.

The experience is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Still, contact the operator if your group has specific mobility needs or needs help reaching the boat. The supplied details do not provide a full accessibility breakdown.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

Who should book ChicaFun 1

I would choose this charter for a group that values privacy and wants several options in one package. It fits birthday parties, family gatherings, friend groups, and anyone who would rather control the day than follow a fixed excursion schedule.

It is especially appealing when you can bring close to the full 15-person capacity. At $2,490 per group, the price is easier to justify when divided among a larger party. A small group should compare the total cost with other private boat options before booking.

You should also be comfortable with a social crew and an active boat day. The service includes plenty of drinks and equipment, and the strongest moments may come from swimming, snorkeling, beach stops, and group celebration.

I would hesitate if your main goal is a long visit to Yelapa or a single quiet beach. Four hours is short for a route that includes destinations spread along the southern bay. Pick one main stop, or at most two or three closely related activities, and the day will feel far less rushed.

Should you book ChicaFun 1?

Book it if you want a private, flexible boat day with drinks, snacks, water equipment, and a crew that knows how to handle celebrations. Los Arcos is the best choice for scenery and snorkeling, while Majahuitas, Yelapa, Colomitos, and Las Caletas each offer a different kind of beach stop.

Before you commit, confirm the departure point, transportation plan, and route priorities. If your group can fill most of the 15 seats and wants an upbeat day on the water, ChicaFun 1 offers solid value. If you want a quiet beach stay or a longer coastal visit, choose fewer stops and set that expectation from the start.

FAQ

How long does the ChicaFun 1 charter last?

The private yacht charter lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join the private boat tour?

The listed price covers one private group of up to 15 people.

What activities and equipment are included?

The charter includes snorkel gear, paddle boards, kayaks, a water mattress, and water tubes. The route can include swimming, snorkeling, beach time, and customized stops around the Bay of Banderas.

What food and drinks are included?

Included refreshments include fresh guacamole with blue corn chips, potato chips, water, coffee, juices, sodas, mineral water, margaritas, beer, wine, piña coladas, champagne, and more.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must choose a meeting place before submitting the reservation, and you can contact Gil, the owner, about transportation help.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded.