Marietas Islands National Park: Full Day ALL INCLUSIVE Tour

The main attraction here is not simply reaching Marietas Islands. It is spending the day on a floating playground with snorkeling, kayaks, paddleboards, waterslides, music, food, and a full bar, then pausing for whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds. I like the mix of nature and party-boat energy, and I like that the crew keeps solo visitors, families, and couples involved.

I also like the strong food-and-drink value at $110 per person, especially with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and premium beverages included. The catch is that this is an active outing, not a quiet island cruise. You may need to jump or swim from a smaller boat, life jackets are required in the water, and Hidden Beach access costs extra and is never guaranteed.

Key points to know before booking

• Whales are a seasonal bonus: Humpback whales are most common from December through April, while dolphins, turtles, rays, and seabirds may appear year-round.
• Hidden Beach is not included: A limited permit must be reserved ahead of time and paid separately in pesos.
• The boat is built for activity: Expect snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboards, floating mats, tubes, and waterslides.
• Breakfast is light: You receive fruit and pastries or muffins, followed later by guacamole, chips, and a fajita lunch.
• Life jackets are required in the water: This rule comes from Marietas Islands National Park and can affect swimming comfort.
• The maximum group size is 66 people: That allows room to spread out, but the boat can still feel lively and music can be loud.

A lively start across the Bay of Banderas

Chica Locca Tours begins with a direct cruise from the Bay of Banderas toward the islands. The morning meal is simple: fresh seasonal fruit and pastries or a small muffin, with coffee, juice, water, and soft drinks available.

I would not count on breakfast alone to carry you to lunch. A few people found the morning food too light, so eat something beforehand if you wake up hungry. The first meal is better understood as a starter than a full breakfast.

The premium beverage service runs all day. That includes mineral water, coffee, juices, sodas, beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, and piña coladas. Adults must be at least 18 to drink, and the open bar is a major part of the tour’s value.

The cruise director and crew set the tone early. Names mentioned during recent outings include Raul, Alex, and Saul, though the exact crew can change. Raul has been singled out for keeping the music and drinks moving, while Alex and Saul have also received warm praise for their care and service.

The boat offers sunny and shaded seating. That matters in tropical heat, especially if you plan to stay aboard between water activities. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a towel. You should also protect your phone in a waterproof pouch because much of the day involves swimming or getting splashed.

The cruise north to Marietas Islands

The ride to the islands takes about an hour each way, with the published schedule allowing roughly 90 minutes for the outward cruise. That is a fair amount of time on the water, but the crew fills it with drinks, music, coastal views, and wildlife watching.

From December through April, humpback whales are the big possibility. Several outings have included whales, sometimes along with dolphins. At other times you may see sea turtles, rays, and tropical birds. Sightings are never promised, but the crew stays in contact with other boats and watches for activity along the route.

A snack of guacamole and chips arrives as the islands come closer. This is a useful bridge between the light breakfast and the later lunch. It also gives you something to eat while you watch the rocky islands rise from the sea.

The ride can feel different depending on your expectations. If you want a quiet wildlife boat, the music and open-bar atmosphere may be too much. If you enjoy a social cruise, the hour passes more easily, particularly when the crew stops to watch whales or dolphins.

What happens inside the national park

By late morning, the boat anchors within the national park area. This is the point where the trip shifts from cruise to water adventure.

You may rotate through several activities, including snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, floating on mats and tubes, swimming, and using the waterslides. The crew organizes the activities in groups, so everyone does not have to choose the same thing at once. One group may snorkel while another uses the beach or water toys, then the groups change places.

That system is one of the better features of the day. It gives you more than one way to enjoy the islands and prevents the entire group from crowding into one small area at once. Still, the time at each activity is limited, so do not expect a long, relaxed snorkeling session.

The snorkeling can be excellent when the water is clear, with tropical fish and coral around the islands. Conditions change daily, though. Wind, tide, and visibility can make the water murky, and some outings have felt rushed in the water.

You also need to understand how you enter the sea. Depending on the activity, you may be expected to jump from a smaller boat into ocean water. Some people found this uncomfortable, especially older adults or anyone with joint problems. A ladder is available on the main boat, but it may not solve every transfer from the smaller craft.

Life jackets are mandatory while you are in the water. This is a national park safety rule, not simply a choice made by the operator. The requirement can make swimming less comfortable, and several people found that some jackets rubbed, chafed, or did not fit well. Ask the crew for a different size before entering the water.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, and the crew has been especially attentive with children. A five-year-old received helpful care during one outing, and families appreciated the kid-friendly atmosphere. Still, you should be comfortable with swimming, boat transfers, and active water play before booking.

Hidden Beach requires planning and luck

Hidden Beach is the feature many people picture when they hear about Marietas Islands. It is reached by swimming through or near a rocky opening, and the approach itself is part of the adventure.

Access is tightly limited because the islands are a protected national park and biosphere reserve. A special permit must be arranged in advance, paid separately in pesos, and reserved for a particular day. You should contact the operator after booking if you want to request it.

Even with a permit, access can depend on tide, weather, and sea conditions. One delayed outing missed the beach because the tide became too high. Another could not reach it because of weather. The operator cannot simply add the beach at the last minute.

This is the tour’s biggest point of uncertainty. If Hidden Beach is your main reason for booking, ask about permit availability before paying and treat access as an extra possibility rather than a guarantee. If you are happy with snorkeling, wildlife, and the boat activities, the tour makes more sense.

Also note that Marietas is not a broad beach destination. The accessible beach area can be small, and one person found the island less impressive than expected when the hidden cave was not part of the visit. The islands are best appreciated as a protected marine setting, not as a place to spend hours walking on a large stretch of sand.

Lunch, open bar, and the floating fun factory

After the island activities, you return to the main boat for lunch. The standard meal is Mexican fajitas with rice, beans, and tortillas. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available if you request them when booking.

Food opinions can vary, but the fajita lunch has been one of the more consistently praised parts of the experience. The guacamole and chips, fruit, pastries, and lunch together make the $110 price easier to justify, especially since the premium bar remains open.

After lunch, the boat becomes a floating recreation area. You can return to the water, use the floating mattress and tubes, try the paddleboards or kayaks, or take the waterslide. You can also remain under the canopy with a drink and watch the activity from a dry seat.

This is where the experience works well for mixed groups. Active people have plenty to do, while less athletic companions can relax aboard. The music is part of the design, though it may be loud if you are sensitive to noise.

The boat has clean bathrooms, which is a practical detail on a six-hour outing. Seating is described as comfortable, with both sun and shade available. With a maximum of 66 people, you should expect a social setting rather than a small private charter.

The return cruise is part of the experience

The trip back to port takes about an hour. By then, some people are ready to relax, while others join the dancing, music, and drinks.

The cruise director acts as the master of ceremonies, so the return is not a silent ride. You can dance, chat, watch the coast, or sit back with the ocean breeze. The crew continues looking for marine life, and a whale or dolphin sighting can turn the return trip into another wildlife stop.

Onboard photographers take action and candid pictures in and out of the water. A photo package is not included, but you can look at the images and decide later if you want to buy them. I would not feel pressure to purchase, but the service may appeal to families or couples who want photos without risking their own phones.

The overall schedule lasts about six hours, even though the experience is marketed as a full-day outing. That usually includes the cruise, island activities, lunch, and return sail. If you are leaving from Sayulita, allow additional transfer time to and from the marina. A bus ride from Sayulita has taken about 50 minutes each way, with traffic possible on the return.

Is $110 a fair price?

At $110, this is not the cheapest way to see Marietas Islands. You are paying for more than transportation, though. The price covers the boat, breakfast, lunch, snacks, premium drinks, equipment, crew service, music, and several water activities.

The value is strongest if you plan to use the open bar and water equipment. A couple who wants only a quiet ride and a short look at the islands may find a simpler boat trip better suited to their budget. An active group that would otherwise pay separately for meals, drinks, kayaks, and snorkeling gear gets more from this package.

The price does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, gratuities, the Hidden Beach permit and fee, or photographs. You must also choose your meeting place before completing the reservation. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, based on local time. Cancellations or changes made later are not refunded or accepted.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

I would choose this tour if you want a social, activity-filled day rather than a calm sightseeing cruise. It suits families with older children, couples, groups of friends, and solo visitors who like meeting people and having a crew organize the day.

It is also a good fit for people who want options. You can snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, swim, slide, watch wildlife, dance, eat, or simply sit in the shade. The crew’s attentiveness is one of the strongest parts of the experience, especially for families and solo visitors.

I would think twice if you dislike loud music, mandatory life jackets, boat transfers, or jumping into ocean water. You should also reconsider if your entire trip depends on seeing Hidden Beach. Conditions and permits can prevent access, even when you have planned ahead.

Drones are prohibited because of federal rules and the flight paths of endemic birds. Bring a waterproof phone case instead, along with sunscreen, a towel, a hat, and sturdy footwear for getting around the boat and any shore area.

Should you book the Marietas Islands all-inclusive tour?

Book it if you want Marietas Islands wrapped into an energetic day with food, drinks, wildlife, and plenty of water play. The crew service, whale sightings in season, broad choice of activities, and included meals make the $110 price reasonable for the right kind of visitor.

Do not book it solely for a guaranteed Hidden Beach visit. Ask about the permit before you reserve, then judge the trip by the full package: the cruise, marine life, snorkeling, lunch, open bar, and floating water park. If that sounds like your kind of day, Chica Locca Tours offers a practical and fun way to see the islands.

FAQ

How long does the Marietas Islands tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours. This includes the cruise to the islands, water activities, lunch, time aboard the boat, and the return cruise.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes Mexican fajitas, rice, beans, and tortillas. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available if requested when booking.

Is alcohol included in the tour price?

Yes. The premium open bar includes beer, wine, tequila, champagne, margaritas, piña coladas, water, coffee, juices, sodas, and mineral water. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Is Hidden Beach included?

No. Hidden Beach requires a separate fee and a limited permit. You should request the permit in advance, and access can still depend on tide, weather, and sea conditions.

Do I need to bring snorkeling equipment?

No. Snorkeling gear is included, along with kayaks, paddleboards, floating mattresses, water tubes, and access to the waterslides. Kid-size snorkeling gear may not be available, so children may need to bring their own.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.