4.9 (1,284 reviews)
Humpback Whale Watching — Research Boat
Certified marine biologists, onboard hydrophone, 95 %+ sighting rate December–March.
Instant confirmation Family friendly
From $89 / per person
Book nowPuerto Vallarta · Banderas Bay
More than a destination. A brighter horizon.
Ocean, mountains and one of Mexico’s most authentic port cities. Tell us how you are arriving and we will take it from there.
Choose your path
Find your Mexican Riviera cruise
Sailing from Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco. Compare ships, itineraries and cabins with a local expert.
Plan my cruiseI’m arriving on a cruise ship
Shore excursions timed to your ship, terminal maps and honest taxi rates. Every tour carries our Back-to-Ship Guarantee.
See port day optionsI’m staying in Puerto Vallarta
Whale watching, the Marietas Islands, sunset sails and private yachts — booked instantly, run by vetted local captains.
Browse bay tours4.9/5
Average rating from 4,800+ verified guests
RNT · SECTUR
Registered Jalisco tour operator · SECTUR certified
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7/7
Bilingual support, 7 days a week, on the ground in PV
Local Bay Tours
Guest favourites this month
The experiences our team books most often — and would send their own family on.
4.8 (2,106 reviews)
Marietas Islands Snorkelling & Bird Colonies
The full-day national park classic — reef snorkelling, sea caves and blue-footed boobies.
Instant confirmation Family friendly
From $129 / per person
Book now 4.9 (876 reviews)
Malecón & Old Town Food Walk
Eight tastings, the Zona Romántica and back at the pier in three hours flat.
Instant confirmation Family friendly Small group
From $64 / per person
Book now 4.8 (641 reviews)
Sierra Madre Canyon ATV & River Crossing
Jungle trails, four river crossings and a mountain village, back at the pier with time to spare.
Instant confirmation
From $119 / per person
Book nowVallarta Cruises
Why travellers book with us
We are actually here
Our office is in Marina Vallarta, not a call centre. We know which captain runs late and which beach is crowded at 11 a.m.
Timed to your ship
We read the live port schedule every morning and build excursions around real all-aboard times, not generic windows.
No surprise pricing
Park fees, taxes and dock charges are in the price you see. What you pay online is what the tour costs.
One team, three trips
Cruise package, port day or a week in the bay — the same planners look after you from the first email to the last tender.
Season
What’s happening in the bay right now
Banderas Bay changes with the season. Here is what to plan around.
Peak Good Out of season
| Season | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback whales February is the densest month. The season closes by federal rule on 31 March. | Jan: ●● | Feb: ●● | Mar: ●● | Apr: · | May: · | Jun: · | Jul: · | Aug: · | Sep: · | Oct: · | Nov: · | Dec: ● |
| Marietas Islands snorkelling Warmest water and best visibility May–November; winter afternoons get choppy. | Jan: ● | Feb: ● | Mar: ● | Apr: ● | May: ●● | Jun: ●● | Jul: ●● | Aug: ●● | Sep: ●● | Oct: ●● | Nov: ●● | Dec: ● |
| Olive ridley turtle releases Nesting runs June–December; releases are most frequent August–November. | Jan: · | Feb: · | Mar: · | Apr: · | May: · | Jun: · | Jul: ● | Aug: ●● | Sep: ●● | Oct: ●● | Nov: ●● | Dec: ● |
| Cruise ship season October–April is high season. Summer has Carnival’s year-round Long Beach rotation only. | Jan: ●● | Feb: ●● | Mar: ●● | Apr: ● | May: ● | Jun: · | Jul: · | Aug: · | Sep: ● | Oct: ●● | Nov: ●● | Dec: ●● |
| Dry, sunny weather Rainy season is mid-June to mid-October: hot, humid, spectacular green mountains. | Jan: ●● | Feb: ●● | Mar: ●● | Apr: ●● | May: ● | Jun: · | Jul: · | Aug: · | Sep: · | Oct: ● | Nov: ●● | Dec: ●● |
| Sunset sails Year-round. Sunset is around 18:20 in winter and 20:15 in summer. | Jan: ●● | Feb: ●● | Mar: ●● | Apr: ●● | May: ●● | Jun: ● | Jul: ● | Aug: ● | Sep: ● | Oct: ●● | Nov: ●● | Dec: ●● |
Port of Call
Is your ship in port that day?
Check the live arrivals calendar before you book anything.
Your Mexican Riviera cruise, planned by people who live at the destination
We do not just sell the sailing — we know what waits at the end of the gangway. Compare cruise lines, itineraries and cabins, then let a Vallarta-based planner build the quote.