Where the ship docks and where the boats leave
Cruise ships dock at the maritime terminal in Marina Vallarta, at the north end of the city next to the airport. Our boats leave from Los Muertos Pier in the Romantic Zone, at the south end, which is where the bay opens toward Los Arcos and the south shore beaches.
The two are about 8 km apart. A taxi or Uber takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic; agree on the taxi price before getting in, or use the app. Leaving from the south end is what makes the day work: Los Arcos is 20 minutes from the pier, not an hour from the marina.
How much time you really need
Count backwards from all-aboard, not from departure. A 4-hour tour plus 30 minutes each way to the pier is five hours door to door. Add a one-hour buffer and you need a six-hour window. With a 9 am arrival and a 5 pm all-aboard, that leaves room to spare.
If your ship clears passengers slowly, tell us the realistic time you can be off the gangway. We set the boat departure to that, not to the printed arrival time.
Which tour fits a port day
Los Arcos and Las Animas is the natural choice: 4 to 5 hours, snorkeling at the marine park, a swim at Colomitos cove and lunch at a beach restaurant in Las Animas. It is the tour we run most for cruise guests.
Quimixto with the waterfall hike takes 5 to 7 hours and only works with a long port day. Yelapa is a full day and rarely fits. From December to March, whale watching is a 4-hour tour and the whales are often visible minutes after leaving the pier.
If your group wants something specific, fishing, more beach time, less snorkeling, the customized tour lets you build the route around your hours.
What it costs compared with ship excursions
Our price is per boat, not per person. The panga starts at $329 USD for 4 hours with 4 guests included, and takes up to 8 with a small add-on per extra guest. A family of six on a panga pays the boat plus two extra guests, not six tickets.
Excursions sold on board or on marketplaces are usually priced per person and shared with strangers. Compare the total for your group, and ask whether lunch, gear and the port fee are included in what they quote. Our boats carry snorkel gear and a cooler; restaurant lunch is paid directly at the beach.
What to tell us when you book
Send us three things on WhatsApp: the name of your ship and the date, your all-aboard time, and how many people are coming. We reply with a proposed departure time, the boat that fits your group, the exact price and the booking conditions.
On the day, message us when you are off the ship. If the ship runs late or the call is cancelled, tell us as soon as you know so the crew can adjust the plan with you.
