Islas Marietas: Snorkel, Kayak, Paddle, and Playa Nopalera

Islas Marietas gives you a full day on the water without making you choose just one activity. You can snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, and visit Playa Nopalera, then enjoy a meal and an open bar as the boat heads back toward Puerto Vallarta.

I like the simple mix of active time and beach time, and I like that breakfast, lunch, equipment, and guides are included. The main catch is that Playa Escondida is not part of this tour, and the extra port and conservation fees add to the advertised $87 price.

Key points

• Four ways to enjoy the islands: Snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and a stop at Playa Nopalera give you variety instead of one long boat ride.
• Food is included: Breakfast is served while you travel out, followed by a meal onboard after the activities.
• The return trip turns lively: An open bar opens after leaving the islands, creating a party-style finish.
• Budget for two extra fees: The port fee is listed as $32 pesos, while meeting instructions mention $30 pesos. The conservation wristband costs $240 pesos per person.
• No Hidden Beach visit: This is a general Islas Marietas outing, not a Playa Escondida tour.
• Bring the right basics: Pack a towel and biodegradable sunscreen. Drones and vaping are not allowed.

What This Is Really Like: A Full Day Around Islas Marietas

This is an active boat excursion built around variety. Instead of spending the entire day on one beach or one reef, you move through several short activities around Islas Marietas, a protected natural area off the coast of Jalisco.

You get time in the water, time on a board or kayak, time onshore, and time to eat. That makes the tour a good fit if you want to see the islands but do not want to commit to a single specialized activity.

The day lasts about eight hours. That is a serious chunk of your vacation, so I would choose it when you want a full marine outing rather than a quick half-day look at the coast.

Check-In, Port Fees, and Finding the Right Team

At the main entrance, you first pay the port fee. The information for this experience gives two slightly different amounts: $32 pesos per person in one place and $30 pesos in the meeting instructions. Bring a little extra Mexican currency so the small difference does not slow you down.

After paying, look for the BEACHBOY team in blue polo shirts with an orange logo. The meeting instructions say that only the company staff will check your ticket and that any additional payment should be handled directly through the company.

One practical point deserves attention: the check-in directions have caused confusion on at least one departure, with some people being told to find Grupo Naviero instead of BEACHBOY. I would arrive early, keep your booking confirmation ready, and ask staff to confirm the boat name before you walk away from the port entrance.

You also receive a conservation wristband for access to the protected islands. This costs $240 pesos per person and is not included in the $87 tour price. These extra charges are small in absolute terms, but they matter when you are comparing this outing with other boat trips.

Breakfast on the Way Out

Once aboard, breakfast is served as the boat heads toward Islas Marietas. This is a useful touch because the tour begins early and the activity schedule leaves little time for a separate meal before the water activities.

The food is practical rather than fancy. Meals on this type of departure have included chilaquiles, tostadas, and hamburgers. You should think of the included food as convenient fuel for an active day, not as a reason to book the tour by itself.

The boat ride also gives you time to settle in and listen to the guide. English and Spanish service is available, so you can follow the basic instructions and safety details in either language.

The atmosphere may change during the day. The ride out is focused on reaching the islands and organizing the activities. The ride back becomes more social once the open bar begins.

Snorkeling Around the Islands

Snorkeling is one of the main reasons to choose this outing, but you should keep your expectations sensible. Water clarity and the number of fish can change with conditions, and one recent outing had limited visibility and fewer fish than hoped.

That does not make the stop worthless. You still get a chance to see the island environment from the water, and the snorkeling equipment is provided. The protected setting is part of the appeal, even when the conditions are not perfect.

Use biodegradable sunscreen before entering the water. Pack a towel because you will move between swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and the boat throughout the day.

If snorkeling is your only reason for booking, a more specialized snorkeling trip may suit you better. If you like having snorkeling as one part of a wider day, this tour offers better variety.

Kayaks and Paddleboards Add Some Choice

After arriving near the islands, the group is organized for different activities. Kayaking lets you move at water level while looking toward coves and rocky edges. Paddleboarding offers a quieter pace, though it requires balance and a willingness to get wet if you lose your footing.

The exact order of the activities can vary, and the supplied information does not give fixed times for each one. That is worth knowing before you book. You are buying a guided mix of activities, not a private schedule that you control minute by minute.

I like this setup for couples, families with older children, and mixed groups where not everyone wants the same thing. One person can enjoy the board, another can kayak, and another can focus on snorkeling.

The drawback is that activity time may feel brief if the group is large or if boarding and transfers take longer than expected. One account described the eco portion as short. If you want long, uninterrupted time in a kayak or on a paddleboard, look for a tour built around that single activity.

Playa Nopalera: The Beach Stop

Playa Nopalera gives the day a needed pause. After time in the water, you can relax on the shore, enjoy the scenery, and let the pace slow down before returning to the boat.

This is not the same as Playa Escondida, the famous Hidden Beach. The tour specifically does not visit Playa Escondida, so do not book this experience expecting the well-known enclosed beach photo opportunity.

That distinction is important because Islas Marietas tours often use similar names and may offer different access plans. This outing focuses on a broader island visit with several activities and a stop at Nopalera.

A separate cave stop has reportedly been offered on some departures, sometimes described by its Spanish name beginning with C. The timing can be awkward, however. An optional visit was offered around 2 p.m. on one outing, when lunch had not yet happened and the extra stop would have taken more than 50 minutes. Treat this as a possible offer, not a promised part of the itinerary.

Lunch and the Return-Trip Open Bar

After the activities, everyone gathers back on the boat for the included meal. The food service helps make the $87 price more reasonable, since you are not paying separately for breakfast and lunch during an eight-hour outing.

Meal tickets have not always been distributed perfectly at check-in, but staff allowed people to eat even when the tickets were missing. Still, keep your booking details close and confirm your meal arrangement before leaving the dock.

The open bar begins after the boat leaves the islands. This changes the tone of the return trip from active excursion to social boat ride. If you want a quiet ride home, the party atmosphere may be less appealing. If you enjoy music, drinks, and a livelier finish, it is a useful bonus.

The open bar is not available as part of the island activities. It begins on the return, so plan to stay clear-headed during snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Is the $87 Price a Good Value?

At $87 per person, this tour offers solid value for someone who wants several inclusions in one booking. You receive transportation by boat, breakfast, a meal, activity equipment, guides, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, a beach visit, and an open bar on the way back.

The advertised price is not the final cost. Add the $240-peso conservation wristband and the port fee, listed as either $30 or $32 pesos depending on the instruction. The extra amount is still modest, but you should include it when comparing prices.

The real value depends on your priorities. If you would otherwise pay separately for a boat ride, lunch, and water equipment, the package is convenient. If you only want to snorkel or only want to see Playa Escondida, you may be paying for activities and stops you do not care about.

The food also helps. A prepared breakfast and meal save you from carrying a full day of supplies, and they keep the schedule moving. Do not expect a restaurant meal, but the included service is practical and useful.

What to Bring and What to Leave Behind

Bring a towel. You will need it after snorkeling and the other water activities, and the tour information specifically lists it as an essential item.

Use biodegradable sunscreen to protect the marine setting. Apply it before boarding when possible, then follow any guide instructions about reapplying it.

Leave drones at home. They are not allowed, and the same applies to vaping. The tour is designed around a protected natural area, so these restrictions should not come as a surprise.

I would also bring a small amount of cash for the port fee and conservation wristband, though the exact payment method is not stated. Keep your phone and booking details protected from water, since check-in confusion has occurred and you may need to show confirmation.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most?

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a broad introduction to Islas Marietas. It works especially well for active couples, families with older children, and friends who want a day that mixes water sports, a beach, food, and drinks.

It also suits people who do not want to plan every detail. The guides provide the equipment and organize the activities, so you can focus on following the schedule.

I would hesitate if your top goal is Playa Escondida. This tour does not visit it. I would also look elsewhere if you want serious wildlife watching or guaranteed clear snorkeling conditions. Dolphins and whales may appear during the ride, and seeing dolphins leap beside the boat can be a wonderful bonus, but sightings are not promised.

The guide service is available in English and Spanish. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not book expecting a particular guide.

Cancellation and Booking Flexibility

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which is useful when your Puerto Vallarta plans are still changing.

Check the starting time before booking because the activity lasts eight hours and the available departure time can vary. I would avoid placing another major activity on the same day.

Should You Book Islas Marietas With Nopalera Beach?

Book this tour if you want variety and convenience more than a single standout activity. The combination of snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, Nopalera Beach, two meals, guides, equipment, and a lively return ride gives you a lot in one day.

Skip it if you specifically want Hidden Beach, a quiet boat ride, or a long, specialized snorkeling session. Also remember to budget for the conservation wristband and port fee, and allow extra time at check-in because the meeting-point instructions can be confusing.

For the right kind of day, this is a well-rounded way to see Islas Marietas. Just treat the water conditions, wildlife sightings, optional cave stop, and activity duration as variable parts of the outing rather than guarantees.

FAQ

How long does the Islas Marietas tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours.

What activities are included?

The activities include snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and a visit to Playa Nopalera.

Does this tour visit Playa Escondida, also called Hidden Beach?

No. Playa Escondida is not included in this tour.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast is served onboard during the trip to the islands, and a meal is served after the activities.

Is an open bar included?

Yes. The open bar opens during the return trip after the boat leaves Islas Marietas.

What extra fees must I pay?

You must pay a conservation wristband fee of $240 pesos per person and a port fee. The port fee is listed as $32 pesos in one section and $30 pesos in the meeting instructions.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel and biodegradable sunscreen. Drones and vaping are not allowed.