Marietas Islands Boat Tour: Snorkel, Kayak, Playa Nopalera

The best part of this Marietas Islands boat tour is that it mixes a marine park visit with a lively day on the water. You cruise across Banderas Bay, look for humpback whales, then reach Playa La Nopalera by swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or floating from the boat.

I like two things right away: the crew’s attentive service and the range of included activities. You get breakfast, guacamole, Mexican fajitas, an open bar, snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards, and a waterslide without paying extra for each item. The spacious boat also gives you room to relax when you are not in the water.

The main caution is simple: this is not a quiet island outing, and reaching the beach requires a wet landing. You must swim from a smaller boat to shore, and rough water can affect snorkeling or change the exact swimming area. The famous enclosed hidden beach shown in some promotional pictures is not included on this outing.

Key points before you book

• Six hours on a floating activity platform: The boat has waterslides, paddleboards, kayaks, snorkel gear, swim mats, and plenty of open-bar service.
• Playa La Nopalera is the island stop: You reach it by swimming, kayaking, paddling, or floating from the boat.
• Whale watching is seasonal: Humpback whales are commonly seen in Banderas Bay from December through April.
• Food is included throughout the day: Expect fruit, muffins, coffee, juices, guacamole with blue corn chips, and fajitas with rice, beans, and tortillas.
• The service gets the strongest praise: Crew members such as Saul and Kano are attentive, helpful, and good at keeping the day fun.
• The hidden beach costs extra: The beach shown in some images is a separate option, not part of this standard tour.

What this Marietas Islands day is really like

At $131 per person, this is more than a boat ride to an island. It is a six-hour package built around food, drinks, water sports, wildlife viewing, and a lively return cruise.

That distinction matters. If you want a small, quiet boat with long stretches of silence, this is not the best match. If you want to make one booking and have nearly the whole day covered, the price makes more sense. You are paying for the boat, guides, meals, drinks, equipment, and entertainment rather than only transportation to the islands.

The boat is spacious, with seating on lower and upper decks. You can find sun, shade, a place to sit with a drink, or a spot near the action. The waterslide and water toys give the trip a playful feel, especially for families and groups of friends. You can also skip the more active parts and simply enjoy the bay views.

Setting out across Banderas Bay

Your departure point depends on the option you choose. The listed meeting points are Chica Locca Tours at Paradise Village Pier and Chica Locca Tours at Carlos Co y usa, with matching drop-off points later in the day. Check the exact location before leaving your hotel, since the meeting point can vary.

Once aboard, the crew serves a light breakfast of fresh seasonal fruit, muffins, coffee, juices, and other drinks. It is not a full hot breakfast, but it works well before a morning on the water.

The cruise itself is part of the experience. You travel along the north shore of Banderas Bay toward the islands, with views of the coast and open Pacific water. From December through April, keep watch for humpback whales. Several passengers had especially strong whale sightings, including repeated stops by the captain to watch whales on the way out.

Whales are not guaranteed, and the tour is not sold as a dedicated whale-watching trip. Still, the season gives you a genuine chance to see them. Sea turtles, rays, tropical birds, and other marine life can appear at any time of year. Blue-footed boobies are another memorable sight, and you may see them flying or fishing near the boat.

A snack of fresh guacamole and blue corn chips arrives during the cruise. It is a useful pause between breakfast and the island activities, and it gives you something salty before swimming.

Arriving at the Marietas Islands

The Marietas Islands are a protected marine area shaped by volcanic rock. Their appeal is not just one beach. You come for the combination of sea life, rock formations, coastal views, and the sense that the islands can only be reached by boat.

The guided portion takes you toward Playa La Nopalera. This is a natural beach area where you can spend time near the island rather than simply circling it from offshore. The route to shore is active: you may swim, kayak, paddleboard, or float from the boat, depending on what feels comfortable and what conditions allow.

The phrase wet landing is important. You do not step directly from a dock onto dry sand. You enter the water, reach shore, and return the same way. Bring swimwear and a towel, and protect phones or cameras in a waterproof case. One person who skipped that case found photography difficult because getting to shore involved water.

The crew provides supervision and helps organize the transfer. Still, you should be comfortable in the water and able to manage yourself between the smaller boat and the beach. This is one reason the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

You get free time for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and looking for marine life. The exact quality of the snorkeling depends on conditions. One outing had high swells, which forced a change from the usual snorkeling area and made the underwater portion disappointing for people who booked mainly for snorkeling.

That is the fair warning. The equipment is described as good quality, but equipment cannot fix poor visibility, waves, or a changed route. Think of snorkeling as one part of a larger day, not the only reason to book.

Playa La Nopalera and the hidden beach question

You should understand the beach names before booking. This experience includes access to Playa La Nopalera, not the famous enclosed beach often shown in Marietas Islands photos.

Some people find La Nopalera fully satisfying. You get the island setting, volcanic formations, water activities, and time on shore. Others may feel disappointed if they arrive expecting the cave-like beach from promotional images.

The hidden beach requires an additional payment and is not part of this standard package. If that particular beach is your main goal, confirm the upgraded option before you pay. If you mainly want a protected island, swimming, snorkeling, and a full day aboard a well-equipped boat, La Nopalera can still be a good fit.

The island stop is not designed as a long beach day. One passenger found about 20 minutes on shore enough to see what they wanted, while most of the water play continued around the boat. The short island visit keeps the day moving, but it may feel rushed if you want to sit on the beach for hours.

Lunch, drinks, and the boat’s water toys

After the island visit, you return to the boat for lunch. The meal is Mexican fajitas with a choice of beef, chicken, or vegetarian filling, along with rice, beans, and local corn tortillas.

Food quality is generally a strength, though expectations should stay realistic. Some people found lunch very good, while another found it a bit bland and wished for hot sauce. Breakfast is light, so the fajitas matter. If you like bold seasoning, you may want to ask for extra salsa or hot sauce if available.

The open bar is unusually broad for a day trip. It includes water, coffee, juices, soda, mineral water, beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, piña coladas, and other drinks. Service is active rather than self-serve in spirit. Crew members keep an eye on the tables and offer refills often.

That service can be a major part of the value, but it also shapes the mood. The return trip can become a party, with music, dancing, drinks, and a steady ocean breeze. If you prefer a calm ride back, you can retreat to a quieter part of the spacious boat, though you will still be sharing the day with an upbeat group.

The waterslide is one of the boat’s best extras. Paddleboards, kayaks, snorkels, swim mats, and other water equipment are available without separate rental charges. This gives you plenty to do when you are not on shore or looking below the surface.

The crew and the level of care

The crew receives the strongest praise throughout this experience. Guides are described as friendly, attentive, energetic, and careful with children. Saul is specifically remembered for keeping drinks and food moving, while Kano helped with local taco suggestions after the tour.

That personal service matters on a trip with several transitions. You move from the main boat to a smaller boat, then into the water, toward the beach, back to the boat, and into lunch and more activities. Good staff make those changes easier.

The guides speak English and Spanish. They also supervise the water activities and help people choose how active they want to be. Families should still watch their children closely, but the crew has a strong record of paying attention to safety and keeping younger participants involved.

An onboard photographer takes candid and action pictures during the day. The photographer may also go ashore and help with poses, which is useful when you cannot safely carry a phone or camera during the wet landing. Photos are not included, so treat them as an optional purchase rather than part of the $131 price.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want variety. It suits people who like a mix of wildlife, island scenery, swimming, food, drinks, and casual entertainment. You do not need to choose between a snorkel trip and a party boat because this one gives you a bit of both.

Families can do well here, especially if children enjoy waterslides and paddleboards. The crew has been praised for watching out for kids. Couples and groups of friends will also find plenty to do, including whale watching, photos, drinks, and time on the upper deck.

You should think twice if you have limited mobility or are uneasy with open-water transfers. The island visit requires swimming from a smaller boat, and the trip is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

You may also want another tour if snorkeling is your top priority. Water conditions can limit the usual snorkeling area, and the day’s strongest features are broader: the boat, the crew, the food, the island setting, and the wildlife.

Practical details that affect your day

Bring swimwear and a towel. Add a waterproof phone case if you want your own photos of the beach and water activities. A camera that cannot get wet will probably stay in your bag during the most active parts.

The tour lasts about six hours. Starting times depend on availability, so look at the schedule when booking. The exact meeting point also depends on the option selected.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That is useful when your plans around Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, or Sayulita are still shifting.

The tour has a 4.7 rating from 40 reviews, and 95 percent of participants gave the transport a perfect score. The clearest pattern is strong service, a comfortable boat, good food and drinks, and a fun crew. The less certain parts are the snorkeling conditions and the exact island beach experience.

Is the $131 price worth it?

For six hours, the price is reasonable if you will use the package. Breakfast, guacamole, lunch, premium drinks, equipment, guided water activities, and the boat ride are all included. You avoid the small charges that can add up on a basic boat excursion.

The value is best for you if you plan to swim, kayak, paddleboard, use the slide, enjoy drinks, and eat both meals. It is weaker if you intend to stay seated all day or only want a short ride to photograph the islands.

I also like that the boat provides choices. You can be active for an hour, rest with a coffee, watch for whales, then return to the water. That flexibility makes the price easier to justify than a trip built around one activity alone.

Should you book the Chica Locca Marietas tour?

Book it if you want a lively, well-served day with many activities included and you are comfortable with a wet landing. The crew, roomy boat, food, open bar, and water toys are the real strengths. Whale sightings can add a wonderful bonus from December through April.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed whale encounter, perfect snorkeling, or the famous hidden beach without paying extra. For the best match, see La Nopalera as one piece of a full day on the water. If that sounds right, this is a practical and entertaining way to reach the Marietas Islands.

FAQ

How long is the Marietas Islands boat tour?

The activity lasts six hours, including the cruise across Banderas Bay, the Marietas Islands visit, water activities, meals, and the return trip.

What is included in the price?

The price includes food, drinks, breakfast, guacamole with blue corn chips, Mexican fajitas, snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards, swim mats, waterslide use, and guide supervision.

Is the open bar included?

Yes. Included drinks range from water, coffee, juices, soda, and mineral water to beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, piña coladas, and other drinks.

Can I visit the famous hidden beach?

The standard experience goes to Playa La Nopalera. The enclosed beach shown in some tour images is not included and requires an additional payment.

Are whales guaranteed?

No. Humpback whales are commonly found in Banderas Bay from December through April, but sightings are not guaranteed. Sea turtles, rays, tropical birds, and other marine life may be seen throughout the year.

Do I need to swim to the island?

The island visit involves a wet landing. You reach the beach from a smaller boat by swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or floating, then return through the water.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. A waterproof phone or camera case is useful because the transfer to shore involves water.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments because reaching the island and beach requires a water transfer and swimming.