Visit Private Beaches around Puerto Vallarta in a Private Yacht

Los Arcos is the star of this private Puerto Vallarta yacht trip, where great rock arches rise from the sea and give you a scenic place to snorkel, swim, and take photographs. From there, the boat heads to Playa Paredon, a quiet beach reached only by water, with a natural rock wall and clear water for paddle boarding.

I like the private format, which keeps your group together instead of putting you on a crowded excursion boat. I also like that snorkeling gear, paddle boards, water, ice, snacks, fruit, guacamole, and margaritas are included. The main caution is the price and the short four-hour schedule: equipment and service need to be ready when you arrive.

A recent complaint described missing paddle boards, no kayaks, a shortened outing, and promised photographs that never arrived. That appears to be an exception among mostly glowing feedback, but it is a useful reminder to confirm the equipment and photo arrangements before departure.

Key points to know before booking

• Los Arcos gives you the best-known scenery, with sea arches, rocky cliffs, and a one-hour stop for swimming and snorkeling.
• Playa Paredon is reached only by sea, making it the quieter stop and a good place for paddle boards, photographs, and a relaxed swim.
• Your group has the yacht to itself, with space for up to 15 people and a captain guiding the route.
• Food and drinks are built into the price, including bottled water, ice, guacamole, fresh fruit, snacks, and welcome margaritas.
• The price is $1,500 per group, not per person, so it makes far more sense for a larger party than for two people.
• You need good physical fitness, and the non-refundable cancellation rule makes weather and planning important.

Setting out from Marina Vallarta for four hours

Your day begins at E Dock in Marina Vallarta, where the private boat leaves and later returns. The stated duration is about four hours, so this is a compact half-day on the water rather than a full-day coastal cruise.

That timing works well if you want to combine a boat outing with lunch, an afternoon at your hotel, or another Puerto Vallarta activity. It also means you should keep an eye on the clock. After the ride out, Los Arcos and Playa Paredon each receive about one hour, leaving roughly two hours for movement between stops, boarding, preparation, and time on the water.

The private setup is the biggest practical advantage. With up to 15 people in your own group, you can spend more time swimming, taking photographs, or sitting with a drink instead of following the schedule of strangers. If you are traveling with family or friends, the fixed group price can be reasonable. For a couple or a small party, the cost per person rises quickly.

The captain is responsible for showing you the area and helping shape the day around the two main stops. The strongest feedback focuses on friendly service, scenic views, and a crew that handled snacks and drinks attentively. Still, the experience depends heavily on the boat crew delivering the promised equipment and keeping the full four-hour period available.

Los Arcos: Puerto Vallarta’s rocky sea arches

Los Arcos gets its name from the large rock formations that rise from the Pacific in arch shapes. These formations create the most recognizable setting on the trip, and they give you the first major photo opportunity of the day.

The stop lasts about an hour. You can snorkel, swim, and enjoy the rock formations from the water. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, so you do not need to pack a mask and fins unless you prefer using your own gear.

The appeal here is not just the chance to get in the water. The rocks frame the view and give the outing a sense of place that a simple beach stop cannot match. I would bring a phone or camera in a waterproof case, since the boat, arches, and open Pacific make this one of the best moments for photographs.

Water conditions can affect how rewarding snorkeling feels. One unhappy account described the snorkeling area as crowded with few fish, so I would set realistic expectations. Los Arcos is a scenic swimming and snorkeling stop, not a guaranteed marine-life encounter. One especially good outing included whales and turtles, but those sightings are not promised and should be treated as luck.

The boat provides the equipment, but you still need to be comfortable getting into and out of the water. The stated fitness requirement matters here. Swimming, snorkeling, and climbing back aboard can be tiring, especially if the water is active or you plan to try several activities in the same afternoon.

Playa Paredon and its natural stone wall

After Los Arcos, the yacht continues to Playa Paredon. This beach can only be reached by sea, which gives the stop a quieter feel than a beach beside a road or hotel zone.

The defining feature is the large natural wall beside the beach. It creates a strong backdrop for photographs and gives you a chance to pause away from the more familiar Puerto Vallarta waterfront. If your group enjoys taking pictures, this is likely the more distinctive stop.

Playa Paredon is also the main place to use the paddle boards. You can take one onto the clear water, swim, or snorkel near the beach. The setting sounds particularly suited to people who want variety: a little activity, a little photography, and time simply sitting on the boat or beach with a cold drink.

The beach is not presented as a developed resort area, so do not expect a line of restaurants, shops, or facilities. That is part of the attraction, but it also means you should make use of the supplied water and snacks. The boat carries bottled water, ice, guacamole, fruit, and other snacks, which takes care of the basics during the four-hour outing.

The paddle boards are important to the value of the trip. A complaint about one departure described the boards as unavailable at first and said the group had to wait while the operator located older equipment. That problem may not be typical, but I would confirm before boarding that the boards are on the boat and ready for use. If your group is booking mainly for paddle boarding, this simple check is worth making.

What comes with the private yacht

The inclusions make this more than a bare boat rental. You receive snorkeling equipment and paddle boards, along with drinking water and ice. Snacks include guacamole and fresh fruit, and welcome margaritas are included as the alcoholic drink.

That package is useful because a short water outing can become inconvenient when everyone must bring separate food, drinks, masks, fins, and boards. Here, the boat is meant to function as your base between swims. You can return aboard, dry off, eat something, and decide whether to snorkel, paddle board, swim, or relax next.

The food is best viewed as light refreshment rather than a full meal. If you need a substantial lunch, plan around the tour because no full meal is specified. The margaritas add a holiday feel, but alcohol and swimming require common sense. You should pace yourself if you plan to spend much of the trip in the water.

The reviews praise the crew for bringing out snacks and looking after the group. One group described a full day of sailing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, floating, and relaxing with margaritas, although the scheduled trip itself is about four hours. That gives you a good idea of the range of activities, but you should not assume every outing will include every kind of wildlife or every activity for the same amount of time.

Why the private format changes the value

A shared boat can be cheaper, but a private yacht gives you control over the mood. Your group can decide how much time to spend swimming, how many photographs to take, and who wants to use the paddle boards. You are not paying for a stranger’s preferred pace.

The capacity is up to 15 people. At the full group size, the advertised $1,500 works out to $100 per person before any additional costs. For 10 people, it becomes $150 each. For six, it is $250 each. For two people, it is $750 each, which is difficult to justify unless privacy and a custom boat day matter more to you than price.

One account referred to a total of $1,700, even though the stated group price is $1,500. I would confirm the final amount before paying, including any taxes, fees, or requested extras. The difference matters because this is already a premium outing.

The value is strongest for a family reunion, birthday group, wedding party, or group of friends who would otherwise need several separate bookings. You are paying for the boat, crew, gear, drinks, and privacy, not just transportation to a beach.

Service matters more on a short, expensive outing

On a four-hour trip, delays count. If equipment is missing or the boat leaves late, you lose a meaningful part of the experience. A complaint described a delay of about 30 minutes while paddle boards were located, followed by an early return. That is a serious issue at this price.

The positive side of the service picture is strong. The captain and crew are often praised for being friendly, helpful, and attentive, with particular appreciation for their care with snacks and drinks. The best accounts describe a smooth day with swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, relaxing, and attractive coastal views.

There is also a warning about photographs. One captain reportedly used a professional camera, took many pictures, and said they would be sent later, but the pictures did not arrive and follow-up messages went unanswered. Do not assume photographs are included unless the operator confirms this clearly. If photos matter to you, ask when and how they will be delivered, and take your own waterproof camera as backup.

This is not a minor detail. A private yacht tour is partly about creating a memorable record of the day. Clear communication before departure can prevent disappointment afterward.

Who will enjoy this Puerto Vallarta boat day

I would recommend this experience most strongly to a group that wants a private, active afternoon on the water. It suits you if you enjoy moving between several activities rather than spending four hours in one place.

It is a good match for:

• Families and friend groups who can share the $1,500 cost
• Strong swimmers and active adults who want snorkeling and paddle boarding
• People who care about scenery and photography
• Groups that want snacks and drinks handled on board
• Visitors who prefer a private boat to a larger shared excursion

You should think twice if you dislike getting wet, have limited physical fitness, or want a long beach day with plenty of land-based facilities. The trip centers on water access, and both main stops are reached by boat.

It may also disappoint you if your priority is guaranteed marine life. Los Arcos is beautiful, but snorkeling conditions vary, and one account found the area crowded with few fish. The scenery is a safer bet than the underwater viewing.

Timing, weather, and what to confirm

The tour is offered in English and receives confirmation within 48 hours, subject to availability. It is commonly booked about 45 days ahead, so I would not leave a larger group reservation until the last minute.

The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If poor weather forces the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund. That makes weather protection reasonably clear, but it does not cover a personal change of plans.

Before booking, I would confirm four points:

• The exact total price for your group
• That the snorkeling gear and paddle boards are on board
• The planned departure and return times
• How any captain-taken photographs will be delivered

The meeting point is E Dock at Marina Vallarta, and the activity ends there. The location is near public transportation, which helps if you are not staying in the marina area, but no private hotel transfer is listed.

Bring a swimsuit, sun protection, and a waterproof way to protect your phone. Because food and drinks are supplied, you do not need to organize a picnic, but light snacks are not the same as lunch. You should also be ready for a physically active outing, even if you intend to spend part of it relaxing.

My call: book it for a group, question it for two

This private yacht trip has the right ingredients for a memorable Puerto Vallarta boat day: Los Arcos, a sea-access-only beach, snorkeling, paddle boards, swimming, photographs, snacks, margaritas, and a captain who knows the local waters. The strongest praise centers on the friendly crew, beautiful views, and the freedom to mix activity with relaxation.

I would book it for a group of at least six to eight people, after confirming the equipment and final price. At that size, the private format begins to make financial sense, and you get real value from having the boat to yourselves.

I would not book it casually for a small party without comparing alternatives. The $1,500 group price is high for four hours, the cancellation terms are strict, and the experience can suffer if gear or promised photographs are not handled properly. If privacy, scenery, and a flexible boat day matter most, it is a strong option. If low cost, guaranteed fish sightings, or a full meal matter more, choose something else.

FAQ

How much does the private yacht tour cost?

The stated price is $1,500 per group for up to 15 people.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts approximately four hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at E Dock in Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Where does the tour end?

The boat returns to the meeting point at E Dock in Marina Vallarta.

What places does the boat visit?

The scheduled stops are Los Arcos and Playa Paredon.

Is Playa Paredon accessible by land?

The provided information describes Playa Paredon as a beach that can only be accessed by sea.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided.

Are paddle boards included?

Yes. Use of paddle boards is included.

Are food and drinks provided?

Yes. Bottled water, drinking water, ice, guacamole, fresh fruit, snacks, and welcome margaritas are included.

Is this a shared tour?

No. It is a private activity, and only your group participates.

What level of fitness is required?

You should have a strong physical fitness level for the swimming, snorkeling, and paddle boarding activities.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a refund?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.