Isla Marietas Catamaran Tour! Full Day Nature Adventure

Isla Marietas is the main event, but the six-hour round-trip boat ride shapes the whole day. You get about two hours near the islands, then plenty of time aboard a two-level catamaran with music, food, and water gear. This is a full-day outing, not a quick island stop.

I like the mix of activities: snorkeling, kayaks, and paddle boards give you more than one way to enjoy the water. I also like that breakfast, lunch, and an open bar after the island visit are included, which makes the $96 price easier to judge. The catch is the long transport time, plus cash-only fees that need careful checking before you leave.

Key points to know before booking

• About six hours are spent on the catamaran, with roughly two hours at Isla Marietas.
• Breakfast and lunch are included, along with fruit, yogurt, granola, hot cakes, burgers, shrimp, salad, juice, and other listed items.
• Snorkeling equipment, kayaks, and paddle boards are provided, though water conditions may affect what you can use.
• The open bar begins after Isla Marietas, so do not expect drinks throughout the first part of the trip.
• Bring cash for the $3 dock fee and $10 SEMARNAT and CONANP bracelet, and confirm the accepted currency before departure.
• The boat can carry up to 70 people, so this is a shared group excursion rather than a quiet private cruise.

The day begins early at Puerto Vallarta’s marina

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m. at Grupo Naviero de la Bahía, located at MQ35+4H, H. Escuela Naval Militar, Área Militar de Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta. You return to this same meeting point at the end of the day.

Give yourself enough time to find the check-in area and handle the required payments. The dock fee is listed as $3 per person, cash only. The SEMARNAT and CONANP bracelet is listed as $10 per person, also cash only. These are not minor details for a large group. Ten people, for example, would need $130 in listed extra fees.

One serious practical warning comes from the check-in process. A booking party reported waiting after arriving, then being stopped at boarding because of an additional payment issue. The operator responded that the required charges had been shown in the tour information and that the party refused to pay them. The lesson is simple: confirm the exact fees, amount, and currency before you arrive, especially if you are booking for several people.

The supplied information says the fees are cash only, while one account says the party was told that US dollars were not accepted at check-in. Bring Mexican pesos unless the operator confirms another option directly. Do not rely only on a booking page that displays the amount in dollars.

Six hours on the boat to and from the islands

The boat ride takes around six hours in total, or roughly three hours each way. That is a major part of the experience, so you should be comfortable with a long day on open water.

The two-level catamaran gives you room to move between areas, and dancing music is part of the program. This will suit you if you enjoy a social boat outing with music and a group atmosphere. If you want a quiet crossing, bring realistic expectations. A catamaran carrying up to 70 people will feel more like a shared party boat than a private sailing trip.

The long crossing can also be a benefit. You get time to sit, talk, listen to music, and enjoy the ride instead of rushing from one activity to another. Still, the island portion is only about two hours, so the day is not built around hours of independent exploration on land.

A mechanical problem once delayed a departure, but the crew continued the trip and completed the planned outing after taking extra time. That points to a useful strength: the crew may work to keep the day going when something goes wrong. It also reminds you that boat tours are affected by mechanical issues, sea conditions, and timing.

Isla Marietas gives the day its purpose

Isla Marietas is the reason to book this excursion. The catamaran takes you to the island area, where you have about two hours for water activities and the island experience.

The tour includes mask, tube, and life jacket equipment. Kayaks and paddle boards are also listed, giving you several ways to spend your time. You might choose to snorkel, paddle, or simply enjoy the setting from the boat. The equipment is included, so you do not need to rent the basic gear separately.

Water conditions matter. One booking party skipped snorkeling because there were many jellyfish in the water. That is not a complaint about the equipment. It is a reminder that the advertised activity remains subject to the conditions on the day. If snorkeling is your only reason for booking, you should accept that you might not use the gear.

There is also a point that needs clarification. The operator has stated that an optional tour around the island costs extra, while the supplied tour description does not clearly explain that option. Ask at check-in exactly what the included island visit covers and what the optional tour adds. You do not want to discover an extra charge while boarding or already at the island.

With only around two hours at Isla Marietas, your time may feel structured rather than open-ended. The attraction is the combination of the island setting and water activities, not a long walk or an extended beach stay. Plan to follow the crew’s timing closely.

Food keeps the long day manageable

The tour includes a continental breakfast and hot cakes. The listed breakfast items include fruit, yogurt, granola, honey, and juice. That is useful because the meeting time is early and the boat ride is long.

Lunch includes a hamburger, a side of shrimp, and a salad bar. It is practical boat-trip food rather than a special dining experience, but it covers the basics after a morning on the water. If you have dietary needs, the supplied details do not explain substitutions or special menus, so ask before booking.

Food matters more here than it would on a short cruise. You are out for about eight hours, with much of that time spent aboard the catamaran. Included meals mean you can budget for the day without adding a restaurant stop or carrying a full packed lunch.

The open bar is available only after Isla Marietas. Keep that timing in mind. You should not count on drinks during the early crossing or island portion. The restriction also makes sense from a practical standpoint, since snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding require attention and care.

What the $96 price really covers

At $96 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the coast, but the price includes a full-day boat outing, breakfast, lunch, basic snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards, music, and an open bar after the island stop.

The value depends on how much of that package you will use. I see better value for someone who wants a full social day on the water and plans to eat, paddle, and spend time with the group. If you only want a short look at Isla Marietas, the six-hour boat transfer may feel like too much time for the main attraction.

The extra fees push the actual cost higher. Add the $3 dock fee and $10 environmental bracelet per person, both listed as cash payments. That brings the known cost to $109 per person before any optional island tour or other charge that may be explained at check-in.

That is still a reasonable package for an eight-hour excursion, but only if the inclusions match your plans. You are paying for the entire day, not simply transportation to an island. Ask for a written breakdown of every required payment before you go.

A group outing with a friendly crew

The boat holds a maximum of 70 people. That is a fairly large group for an island day, and it affects the feel of the trip.

You can expect shared equipment, shared meal service, music, and a common schedule. Boarding and disembarking may take longer than they would on a small boat. The upside is a more social atmosphere and a lower per-person cost than a private charter.

The crew received strong praise for handling a motor problem and still completing the tour. That is the most encouraging part of the available feedback. Good boat staff cannot control every mechanical problem, but they can control how clearly they communicate and how calmly they manage the day.

Communication at check-in is the area that deserves the most care. One group waited close to two hours before lining up for the boat and then missed departure after a payment dispute. The operator gave a different account, saying the required taxes had been stated and had not been paid. Since the two accounts do not match, protect yourself by confirming the charges in advance and arriving with the correct cash.

What to pack for the catamaran

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Bring your swimsuit, a towel, and extra clothes. You should also use biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent, as requested in the tour details.

Extra clothing is especially useful after snorkeling or paddle activities. A towel and dry shirt can make the return crossing much more pleasant. Keep your belongings secure and bring only what you need for a wet day on a shared boat.

The supplied information does not promise lockers or dry storage, so use a waterproof bag for phones, money, and documents. That is sensible whenever you are combining a boat ride with water activities, even though storage arrangements are not specified.

Bring Mexican pesos for the required cash fees. If you are traveling as a family or group, calculate the total before check-in so one person is not left searching for cash while boarding begins.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this outing if you want an active, social day and enjoy the boat ride as part of the attraction. It works well for people who like having several choices: snorkeling, paddle boards, kayaks, music, meals, and time near Isla Marietas.

It also suits visitors who prefer a packaged day with the main food and equipment already arranged. You do not need to organize separate rentals or find lunch after reaching the island.

I would hesitate if you dislike long boat rides, crowded group activities, or fixed schedules. The island stop is only about two hours, and roughly six hours of the day are spent traveling by catamaran.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the range of activities, but every participant should be ready for a full day outdoors. Most people can take part, according to the supplied information, but the long crossing and water activities are still worth considering for anyone who tires easily.

Cancellation and booking details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is offered in English with a mobile ticket.

Those details are useful, but the most important booking step is still fee confirmation. Ask the operator to spell out the dock fee, bracelet fee, accepted currency, and any optional island charge before departure day.

Should you book the Isla Marietas catamaran tour?

Book it if you want a full eight-hour boat day with meals, water equipment, music, and a social atmosphere. The included breakfast and lunch add real value, and the crew’s handling of a motor problem suggests a willingness to keep the program moving when trouble appears.

Skip it if your main goal is a long, quiet visit to Isla Marietas. You will spend much of the day in transit, and snorkeling may be limited by jellyfish or other conditions.

My practical verdict is conditional: the package offers a fair amount for $96, but count the listed $13 in extra cash fees and confirm every payment before you arrive. With that sorted, you can focus on the island, the water, and the ride instead of arguing at the dock.

FAQ

Where does the Isla Marietas catamaran tour start?

The tour starts at Grupo Naviero de la Bahía, located at MQ35+4H, H. Escuela Naval Militar, Área Militar de Vallarta, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

How much time is spent traveling by boat?

The total boat transportation time is around six hours round trip.

How much time is spent at Isla Marietas?

The listed time at the island is approximately two hours.

What food is included?

Breakfast includes continental items and hot cakes, with fruit, yogurt, granola, honey, and juice listed. Lunch includes a hamburger, a side of shrimp, and a salad bar.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. The tour includes a mask, tube, and life jacket.

Are kayaks and paddle boards included?

Yes. Kayak and paddle board equipment is included.

When is the open bar available?

The open bar is available only after the Isla Marietas portion of the tour.

What fees are not included?

The dock fee is listed as $3 per person, and the SEMARNAT and CONANP bracelet is listed as $10 per person. Both are described as cash-only charges.