Explore the curvaceous coastline and iridescent waters of Banderas Bay on a half-day sailing tour from Puerto Vallarta. Sail upon the shimmering sea; swim in crystal clear blue water; and discover the incredible natural wonders of Banderas Bay. Snorkel in a secluded cove and enjoy included beverages and delicious lunch as you cruise on your luxurious vessel. Combine the unadulterated pleasure of sailing with pampering on this delightful excursion.

Sailing adventure on Banderas Bay
Swim and snorkel with all equipment provided
Chance of seeing humpback whales, wild dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles
Lunch, snacks and beverages included

What's Included

Day Cruise
Lunch
Snacks
All Beverages

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop off
A port fee of MXN 30 must be paid in cash before boarding your boat.

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

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Start time

09:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Depart from Marina Vallarta and begin your aquatic odyssey on the iridescent waters of Banderas Bay. Listen to an informative safety briefing before you board your stylish sailboat and discover the spectacular selection of activities available throughout the day.

Sail around the blissful Banderas Bay, admiring rugged rock formations and feeling the gentle ocean breeze on your skin. Stop at a beautiful beach and plunge into the transparent waters to see the magnificent marine life with your experienced guide. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the protected waters of a secluded cove before lying on the soft white sands of the beach.

Lie back on a cushioned onboard mattress as you sip an ice-cold beverage and awaken your senses to the serene sounds of the sea. Observe the water for dolphins, humpback whales, manta rays and turtles as you cruise gently across the ocean. Feast upon a delicious lunch during your return journey to Marina Vallarta, enjoying the scrupulous service of the courteous crewmembers.

Nuevo Vallarta Beach (Pass By)

Vallarta Adventures (Pass By)

Bay of Banderas (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Minimum age is 10 years, no exceptions
Please be advised that Mexico's Federal Maritime Ports operate a strict No-Drug Policy, including electronic cigarettes, vapers, and all kinds of drugs. Please be advised not to bring them to any of our tours. We cannot offer a refund or change of day for any guest to whom Federal Security has denied access.
Toilets are located on the lower deck

Not wheelchair accessible
To enter the water we jump off the boat and to get back on board we use small metal ladders.
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Kris_G

Great day of sailing, relaxing, and enjoying the beautiful coast! We stopped to look at a mother and baby whale! The water was too cold for us to get in, but we did climb on the water carpet during our stop in Bandaras Bay. Others swam to shore or paddle boarded. It was a lovely day made even better by two (2!) unexpected amazing meals.

Reviews

5.0

197 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 197 reviews

Wonderful experience once again

junia_p, May 2023

Great service and arrangement from the crew! Good food and great fun on board, saw dolphins riding along us on our way back! Super cool!

Highly Recommend

meyersb112, May 2023

Where to begin. This was a spectacular trip. It is slow season in PV. There were only 4 people on the sailboat and we had the best time. The food was delicious, the crew and the captain were personable and attentive. We swam in the cove and floated on a big roll out lily pad. The sailing on the way back was thrilling. The captain heeled the boat and we enjoyed a true sailing experience. Best trip ever.

Nice way to spend a day

Nancy_G, May 2023

Fun day trip. Crew was skilled and friendly. Food was much better than the average day cruise fare. Would definitely do again.

Perfect experience!

Cynthia_T, Apr 2023

Very attentive crew, excellent hospitality, delicious light lunch, would definitely book with them again.

Lovely day of sailing with a small group of 18

Kris_G, Apr 2023

Lovely day trip aboard nice sailboat.

Tim_D, Apr 2023

The boat was very nice and comfortable. The staff was friendly, very conscious of our safety . The sailing was wonderful and the food was y to be best we’ve ever had on an excursion like this.

Whales and a welcoming crew

Aziz_A, Mar 2023

Had a great time with Jay and Angel crewing our tour! We went on a Sunday but even though it was a weekend there were only 11 of us guests on board. The sailboat was modern and comfortable and the crew took great care of us, very friendly and we always had a drink in hand. Food was perfect for sailing, light delicious appies. We motored for the first half and then it was windy enough for us to sail back! Had 1.5 hrs to swim in a small cove which was lovely. Saw some whales breaching on the was back! Definitely recommend bringing a hat that won’t blow off your head, light layers to block the sun, and making friends with other guests while you’re waiting to depart.

Need to do more sailing.

Bill_B, Mar 2023

They did a good job but we did very little sailing. About 80% of the time we were motoring. We were expecting to spend the day sailing so it wasn’t really what we wanted. We suggest the spend more time sailing.

Best day on the water!

Gordon_B, Mar 2023

This was a beautiful excursion! The crew, the vessel, the food and the scenery was wonderful! Very attentive staff who were knowledgeable of the area and were such fun!

Whales and a perfect sail

Elizabeth_H, Mar 2023

Seeing whales up close and later a wonderful sail in a perfect wind. As a former sailor it was a treat to experience this after many years. It was my 82nd birthday and crew and fellow cruisers made a lovely fuss and sang happy birthday for me. The boat is beautiful and comfortable, the food and drinks were excellent and the crew were first rate.

Perfect sailing day!

Rebecca_B, Feb 2023

The entire day was wonderful. Julio and his crew Sergio and Alexis, were excellent! We motored out to whale watch and saw quite a few! Snorkeling and swimming was nice. Our lunch was spectacular! After a wonderful day we returned to port under sail. Thank you to Julio and his crew for a perfect day!

Perfection on the Bay

Deborah_S, Jan 2023

What a great experience! Thanks to Sergio, Jovi, and Angel for great attentive service. The food was awesome as were the margaritas. Not only did we see humpback whales, but we saw multiple pods of whales. So exciting! Because of wind direction, we motored to our swimming spot and then we’re under sail the way back. The day was just perfect!

Wonderful!

Tatsiana_R, Jan 2023

Wonderful experience! We were able to see whale 🐋 and dolphins 🐬 and sea turtle 🐢 . Ship team was very accommodating! Highly recommended 👌

Awesome boat, crew & food!

nancie_f, Dec 2022

The sailboat was awesome, so roomy & two toulets. The crew was so wonderful from preparing the delicious food, making sure each of us had plenty of drinks & socializing. Even Jacob, the photographer did a nice job capturing the fun! They took us to a great spot to snorkle, paddle board & swim. We went to the wrong marina & the guy @ the counter got us a cab to the correct area. It was so much fun, great guests too. I highly recommend this company for a inexpensive day of sailing! Thanks for the memories 😎

Not what we expected

Paige_D, May 2022

This experience fell short, while the staff were friendly the experience was not as advertised. There was no snorkeling at all, and the staff knew this before we even got to the site. We spent 5 out of the 6 hours sailing - this ment you were stuck in one uncomfortable seat on the boat with your legs cramping up and only 1 hour in the water. The beach we went to was not a remote beach, we layed anchor in front of another resort!!! This also was not on a catamaran sailboat and there wasn’t even one in the marina so I don’t know why that is in the photos . Over all not worth the money and I wish I’d stayed at the resort for the day

Good trip overall but...

Jeffrey_S, May 2022

Good trip overall but snorkeling was a total bust with very murky water - they should have mentioned that as this was part of the advertised trip.

Sailing Banduras Bay

Carol_C, Mar 2022

The whole trip was perfect, sailing with a great crew, great food and lots of sunshine. Saw a few whales and dolphins on the way to a beautiful Sandy cove where we snorkelled, paddle boarded and lounged on a lily pad.

Bay De Banderas Sailing Adventure

Don_R, Dec 2021

Our family had a fantastic time sailing in Banderas Bay. The 50 foot sailboat was in excellent condition and the staff, food, beverages and amenities greatly exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend this tour!

Just okay 👌🏽

TONI_T, May 2021

Amazing day in the water. They used the motor to go out and sail in. Wish it were all sail. I also did not enjoy the number of people on the boat. It was too crowded for everyone to enjoy front of boat. Staff were attentive. Overall 7/10

I enjoyed this sailing trip! The...

Shannon G, Apr 2018

I enjoyed this sailing trip! The staff on board were informative but didn't overly explain things. We were lucky enough to see dolphins and whales playing and jumping out of the ocean. The food was surprisingly really good. The drinks were great too. I was skeptical about the quality about the included bar selection but was very satisfied. I did not snorkel at our stop but others did and most said it was just OK that the water wasn't very clear and was cold so I didn't take that chance but I did paddle board and it was fun.

There were good, bad and ugly. The...

Carol R, Mar 2017

There were good, bad and ugly. The good is that the vessel's captain and crew were great, very helpful, cheerful and upbeat. Also good were the refreshments, as much of the limited assortment of drinks you wanted, and lots of quacamole and chips early, then a nice lunch, bento-style, of shrimp, maki rolls, pasta salad, ham chunks stuffed in rolls, jicama, cucumber, melon and berries. More moderately good was the swim stop, not really in a sheltered bay and windy so the only possibilities were to swim tethered to the boat or to use the four swim motors supplied. The sand beach was an impossible swim away so no one went there. Those who did jump in and used the appliances seemed happy to have done so. Also good, the sail back to the marina across the bay was nice, sailing with the wind and waves under jib alone. Some reviewers mentioned the difference in marinas for embark/debark. I think Vallarta Adventures heard this and provided transport to those who were closer to the embark marina back to that marina. The bad began with delays in embarkation we were to told to arrive at Vallarta Adventures by 9 am, but we did not actually leave the marina until 10, with a 30 minute wait at their office, which was nice and had a great large aquarium set up where four dolphins played and we could photograph. More bad we were expecting a 40-45 foot monohull with a small group, but instead were given a 40 foot catamaran with around 20 people aboard, what I would call a party boat experience, and not what was pictured in the Viator advertising. The ugly after the late embarkation, we motored, did not sail, across the bay for most of the way to the swim/lunch area. There were others aboard who also complained of the switch from small group monohull to party catamaran at the outset, and were told we could go to the office and ask for a refund and not take the trip. Since we were all aboard and had planned this day this way, we just took it and went on the trip.Luxurious swimming/snorkeling was impossible as we were not anchored in a protected bay, but in open water, at least 150 meters from the beach and windblown at around 15 knots. The only swimming possible was in the lee of the boat. As for wildlife, some said there was a pod of dolphins nearby, but we did not see them, nor did we see any whales, rays or other wildlife except for the omnipresent seabirds, which one among us took great joy in feeding. So, unless some changes are made in the way this trip is represented, I would not recommend this trip to any sailor or any other person wanting a semi-private sailing experience on Banderas Bay. For others, though, who are not indisposed to taking a party cruise in sun and wind and water, you might like this a lot. And, it is a lot of trip for the money I will say.

terrific day. good food, saw whales...

jodi w, Jan 2017

terrific day. good food, saw whales and lots of wildlife, and we were lucky to have beautifl weather. however, the boat was fairly crowded, and we departed from one port marina vallarta and came into a different one nuevo vallarta, a 20 minute drive away. while vallarta adventures did then drive those of us who boarded in marina back to nuevo, people on the other sailing that day were sailed all the way back to marina....we weren't iven a choice of boats, AND we weren't told this was going to happen until over 5 hours into the sail and i only knew becaus ei was sitting chatting with our captain, who was fabulous, and asked him why we were not going towards the port we had come from!

Crew were fantastic. Food was good...

Mike S, Mar 2015

Crew were fantastic. Food was good, drinks flowed. Unfortunately the didn't cooperate for snorkeling but saw whales and dolphins. Unfortunately fellow passengers much heavier than pictured. :

Enjoyed the day sailing. Our guide...

Aurea C, Oct 2014

Enjoyed the day sailing. Our guide was very knowledgeable, courteous and attended to our every need. Saw lots of beautiful fish when we went snorkeling. Very relaxing day.

Fun all around! Fantastic food...

Rhonda L, Apr 2014

Fun all around! Fantastic food, drinks, and sights. Sailing was so relaxing and beautiful. The staff was very attentive and took care of all our wants and needs.

The service was good and the staff...

Michael S, Mar 2013

The service was good and the staff on and off the boat were great. Our crew was Johnny, Julio, and Carlos and they took very good care of us. I think they should encourage travelers to bring motion-sickness medicine with them. After 4 hours of rocking, most of the people were longing for dry land. Still, the tour provided great up-close visits with whales, great swimming at Los Arcos, and (as advertised) sailing only on wind power. I would definitely recommend this tour (Vallarta Adventures)

What a great experience. We had a...

Natasha H, Jul 2012

What a great experience. We had a wonderful crew both by the name of Carlos. They were quick, attentive, nice and showed our group a great time. We ended up needing two boats to accommodate our group and their crew was equally as great. We saw dolphins right away, and had a great day of sailing. The food was beautifully presented (while I am weary of seafood - they served shrimp and some sushi rolls). The chips and guac were great and the rest of lunch was nice. There are no complaints - the entire process was seamless - the check in desk was friendly and quick. OVERALL HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! worth the money.

I had an absolute blast! Great food...

Alana M, Jul 2012

I had an absolute blast! Great food and drinks, great weather, awesome crew! Actually got to see dolphins and sea turtles!

Nice boat. Great crew. Good food...

Barry S, Feb 2008

Nice boat. Great crew. Good food & drinks. Great whale & dolphin closeup experiences. The trip was better than I expected.

This is the second time we've taken...

Robert A, Nov 2007

This is the second time we've taken this excursion. Can't wait to do it AGAIN! It was the most relaxing part of our entire vacation!!