Planning
Best Time To Visit
Month by month: sea temperature, rain, whales and which Marietas tour fits each season.
Picking The Right Marietas Boat Trip
Tours differ in length, boat type and what the price covers, from small open boats to catamarans. Weigh that against the ratings.
Season And Timing
Season
Rainy Season Tours
Yes, Marietas tours run June to November, with weather cancellations and clear refund terms.
Choosing A Tour
Experiences
Catamaran & Sailing
Sail versus motor crossings compared: comfort, group size and the Hidden Beach slot on a bigger boat.
Experiences
Small Group vs Large Boat
Capacity, the 15-passenger park rule, stop time and meals compared across every small boat and large catamaran listing.
Prices, Safety And Getting There
Planning
From Puerto Vallarta
Departure piers, tour lengths and what the 34 km crossing from Puerto Vallarta means for your Marietas day.
Logistics
From Punta de Mita
The shortest crossings to the Marietas Islands, and which listings leave from Punta de Mita.
Planning
From Nuevo Vallarta
What actually departs near Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias and Sayulita, and how it compares with Punta de Mita.
Planning
Park Fee And Wristband
The MXN 125 park fee, the wristband, who pays less, and which tours include it.
Tour Combos
Experiences
Whale Watching Combos
Humpbacks overlap the Marietas crossing in winter; here is how combo tours split the day.
Comparison
PV Boat Tours Compared
Marietas trips versus Majahuitas, Yelapa and Los Arcos days from Puerto Vallarta.
Experiences
PV Snorkeling Beyond Marietas
Los Arcos, Yelapa, Majahuitas and Quimixto compared with the Marietas Islands for snorkeling from Puerto Vallarta.
On The Day: What To Bring And Expect
Experiences
Hidden Beach Guide
The crater beach, the swim-in tunnel, the rules, and the tours that list a landing.
Experiences
Hidden Beach Rules
Closure days, the 116-a-day quota, helmets, vests and everything banned at Playa del Amor.
Experiences
Snorkeling Guide
Snorkel stops, reef life, gear and the rules, including why Hidden Beach is a no-snorkel zone.
Experiences
Blue-Footed Boobies
Where and when to see blue-footed boobies on the Marietas Islands, and which tours pass the nesting cliffs.
On The Day
Kids And Non-Swimmers
Age and swimming limits for Hidden Beach, plus the tours that work for kids and non-swimmers.
Planning
What To Bring
Reef-safe sunscreen, no shoes in the water, cash for fees: the packing list the park rules actually require.
Planning Your Trip
Planning
Free Things In Puerto Vallarta
Free walk, malecon and beach days, plus the cheapest Marietas boat day.
Planning
Punta de Mita Guide
The closest base for the 9 km crossing to the Marietas Islands, with beaches, boats and day trips.
More Guides
Experiences
Private Tours And Charters
Per-group pricing, park rules on a private boat, and who a private Marietas charter actually suits.