Cruise to John Huston's former jungle cove for a day of snorkelling, kayaking, hammocks and
an open bar. What the tour really includes, the cash fees at the dock, and the alternatives, compared honestly.
Every fee spelled outPort fee, access fee and extras, before you book
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
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Tours
Choose your Las Caletas tour
The classic beach day in the centre. Beside it, the two other ways onto the same cove: the Alma
dinner show after sunset, and a first scuba dive on the Las Caletas reef.
The original Las Caletas day by Vallarta Adventures, who run the cove: a cruise across the bay, buffet lunch, open bar, kayaks, paddleboards and the kids' parks.
What's included
Round-trip boat from Puerto Vallarta (Puerto Magico) or Nuevo Vallarta
About 4 hours on Las Caletas: snorkel gear, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards
Buffet lunch and open bar; cooking lesson, margarita class and mezcal tasting
Kids Adventure Park (ages 4 to 11) and Teen Adventure Cove (12 and over)
Not included: port fee (MX$40 cash), access fee ($20), towels, tips, spa, sea lion and ray encounter
Every tour here leaves from the Puerto Vallarta waterfront and includes food and drinks. The differences
that matter are where the boat actually lands, how many people share the beach, and what you pay in cash on the day.
Children 4 to 11 pay a reduced rate on the Las Caletas day and under-4s go free. Vallarta Adventures
tours add a port fee of MX$40 in cash and a $20 access fee per person at check-in. Every tour here cancels free up to
24 hours ahead.
What you actually get
A private cove you can only reach by their boat.
Las Caletas is a small bay on the jungle-covered south shore of Banderas Bay, in the Cabo Corrientes
municipality, with no road in. Film director John Huston leased land here from the local Chacala
community around 1980 and built his hideaway; today the cove is leased and run by Vallarta Adventures,
and only their boats land. Any "Las Caletas tour", whoever sells it, puts you on one of those boats from the
Puerto Magico terminal.
That makes it a beach club rather than a wild beach: a palm grove with hammocks, a buffet, an open bar, kayaks,
paddleboards, snorkel gear, cooking and margarita classes, and adventure parks for kids and teens. The listing
allows up to 250 guests a day, and the Viator price does not cover two fees paid at check-in:
a MX$40 port fee in cash and a $20 access fee. Count about four hours on the island once the crossing is done.
45 min
Each way across the bay, passing the Los Arcos rocks off
Mismaloya. In winter, humpback whales are often seen on the crossing.
SnorkellingKayaks & SUPOpen barKids Adventure Park
Jungle paths link the beach, the activity areas and the coves.
01
Is everything included?
Food, drinks and the main activities, yes. Towels, tips, spa, scuba and the sea lion encounter are extra.
02
What cash do I need?
Pesos for the MX$40 port fee and tips, plus the $20 access fee at check-in. One guest was asked more, so ask before you pay.
03
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately. Paths are sandy, uphill and uneven, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
04
Who might skip it?
Anyone after a quiet, wild beach. Yelapa or the Marietas Islands feel far less organised.
The day
How a Las Caletas day unfolds
About seven hours from check-in to the dock. The island part goes fast, so pick your two or three must-dos early.
01
Check in and pay the fees
At the Puerto Magico terminal or the Nuevo Vallarta meeting point, at least 30 minutes before departure.
About 8:00
02
Cross the bay
Around 45 minutes by boat south past Los Arcos, with drinks and music on board.
Morning
03
Choose your activities
Snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, walk the jungle trail, take the cooking class, or claim a hammock.
About 4 hours
04
Buffet lunch and back
A buffet with ceviche, grilled fish and ribs, then one last swim before the boat home.
Getting to the dock, tickets and ages, the rules and what to bring: one tab each.
Puerto Vallarta: the Vallarta Adventures check-in at the Puerto Magico maritime terminal, in the Zona Hotelera Norte by the marina.
Nuevo Vallarta: a second meeting point for guests staying north of the airport.
Hotel pickup is not included; a taxi or rideshare to the terminal is the easy option.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure (some sellers say 45) to check in and pay the fees.
The tour ends back where it started, in the late afternoon.
Adults are 12 and over; children 4 to 11 pay a reduced rate; children 0 to 3 go free.
The Viator price covers the boat, lunch, open bar and the included activities.
At check-in: a MX$40 port fee in cash and a $20 access fee per person, as listed by the operator.
Optional extras on Vallarta Adventures' own site: sea lion and ray encounter ($39), scuba lesson ($49), massages.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Kids Adventure Park: ages 4 to 11, minimum height about 1 metre, with adult supervision.
Teen Adventure Cove: most activities need guests aged 9 and up, at least 4 ft (1.2 m) tall; some slides are 15 and up.
Life jackets are mandatory in all water activities.
No drones (they protect the flight paths of local birds), and no drugs or vapes at the federal port.
Not wheelchair accessible; not advised with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
Swimwear and your own towel: towels are not provided.
Water shoes or sport sandals for the paths, rocks and adventure areas.
Biodegradable sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent.
Cash in pesos for the port fee and tips, and a card for photos and extras.
A light layer from December to March, when the boat ride back can be cool.
IncludedSnorkel, kayak, SUPGear for the clear water of the cove, with life jackets.
IncludedBuffet and open barLunch with ceviche, grilled dorado and ribs; cocktails, beer and soft drinks.
IncludedCooking and mezcalA cooking lesson, a margarita class and a mezcal tasting.
IncludedKids and teen parksClimbing, mini ziplines and water games, by age group.
Extra costSea lions and raysAn encounter sold separately on the island ($39 on the operator's site).
Extra costSpa and scubaBeach massages and a scuba try-dive, paid on the day.
Where the day starts
Meeting point and the cove
Vallarta Adventures, Puerto Magico
Terminal Maritima, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 30-G1, Zona Hotelera Norte, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
The boat leaves from the maritime terminal next to the Puerto Vallarta marina, north of downtown and close to
the airport. There is also a Nuevo Vallarta meeting point. Las Caletas itself, shown on the map, lies on the
roadless south shore of the bay beyond Boca de Tomatlan: you arrive by boat and leave by boat.
4.5★★★★★ 847 reviews · Las Caletas Beach Hideaway day live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
By far the most fun thing to do in Puerto Vallarta! Such a fun place to go, the food was amazing, staff was super friendly, and drinks kept flowing. My only complaint is that we couldn't spend more time there.
★★★★★
We all absolutely loved our time at Las Caletas beach. The kids loved the activities and playing in the water and on the beach. It was such a relaxing day.
★★★★★
Amazing family experience! Our 9 and 10 year old girls loved the zip line, waterslide, and banana boat experience. Tons to do, so do your homework to sort out what you would like to do.
★★★★★
We absolutely love Las Caletas. The staff, the food, the activities are the absolute best! This is our second year in a row and we plan on going every year.
★★★★★
Great family day trip. There are plenty of extras to do if you want, but included was lunch, open bar, snorkeling, adventure zone and animal encounters.
★★★★★
We've already made plans to go back! It was also really nice having all the food and drinks included in the tour. The tour guides were amazing and put on great hilarious shows.
★★★★★
Was a fun, nice and relaxing time. The hours went so fast though. All of the staff were so nice and helpful. Food and drinks were pretty amazing as well.
★★★★★
Luis and the rest of the crew were amazing. Everyone was super attentive, brought the ambiance, and were very professional. My family and I had a blast.
★★★★★
Wonderful from start to finish. Luis and his crew were outstanding. This was our second visit and we can't wait to go back!
Want it wilder?
Sail to the Marietas instead
No beach club and no buffet line: a cruise to protected volcanic islands, kayaks and snorkel gear
among the arches, and lunch on board.
Marietas Islands Kayak & Snorkel Cruise
★ 4.3 · 1,150 reviews · 7 hours
If you would rather see wild islands than a beach club, sail north to the Marietas Islands, the protected bird islands at the mouth of Banderas Bay, for kayaking, snorkelling and paddleboarding among the rock arches, with lunch on board. Be clear on one thing: this cruise does not land at the famous Hidden Beach.
Las Caletas is Puerto Vallarta's most famous beach day: a jungle cove with no road, a single
operator and an all-inclusive programme. Here is what the ticket buys, what it costs once you add the dock fees,
and how to get the most out of a short day on the island.
What Las Caletas is, and what it isn't
The cove sits on the south shore of Banderas Bay, past Boca de Tomatlan, where the Sierra Madre drops straight
into the sea and there is no road. John Huston, who filmed The Night of the Iguana in Puerto Vallarta in 1963, later
leased land here from the Chacala community and lived in the cove. Vallarta Adventures now leases and operates it,
and the hideaway has become a well-run beach club: a palm grove and beach, hammocks over the water, floating
platforms, jungle paths, a buffet restaurant, bars, a kids' park and a teen water park. It is not an undiscovered
beach, and with up to 250 guests a day it is not empty. What it does offer is an easy, organised day where food,
drinks and gear are all handled.
Hammocks in the shade go first: claim one early.
What it really costs
The day tour is from $109 per person on Viator in 2026, with children 4 to 11 at a reduced rate and under-4s
free. Vallarta Adventures' own site showed a promotional $111.30 (list price $159) when we checked, so Viator is
not the expensive route. Some resellers charge $179 or more for a day on the same cove from the same terminal.
On the day, add the MX$40 port fee in cash and the $20 access fee per person listed by the operator, plus tips
for the crew. Extras such as the sea lion and ray encounter ($39), a scuba lesson ($49) or a massage are paid
on the island.
The honest small print: the most common complaints are not about the cove itself but the
check-in fees, the walk between areas, waves on the swimming beach some days and a day that feels too short. One
guest in May 2026 was asked for $40 in dollars rather than 40 pesos, so check the amount and the currency before
you pay. Bring water shoes, plan two or three activities, and the day goes smoothly.
Day or night?
The same cove hosts two very different programmes. By day it is the beach club: snorkel gear, kayaks and
paddleboards in the cove, a cooking lesson and margarita class, and the adventure parks for children. After sunset
it becomes the setting for ALMA, Rhythms of the Night: a sunset cruise, a candlelit dinner and a show of
dance, music and fire in a jungle amphitheatre, from $119. Families with active children tend to love the day;
couples often rate the night higher. The paths to the dinner area are steep and lit by torches.
Kayaks and paddleboards are included in the day tour.
Making the most of the day
Check in early, bring pesos, and decide on the boat what you want to do first: the cooking class and the
teen park have set times and can fill up. Snorkel in the morning when the water is calmest, eat lunch when the
buffet opens, and keep the last hour for a hammock. In winter, keep your eyes on the bay on the way back:
humpback whales are often seen from December to March.
The cooking lesson, margarita class and mezcal tasting are part of the ticket.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about the Las Caletas tour.
What is Las Caletas?
A secluded cove on the south shore of Banderas Bay, in the Cabo Corrientes municipality of Jalisco, reachable only by boat. Film director John Huston lived there from around 1980; today Vallarta Adventures leases and runs it as a private beach for its day tours and the Alma night show. How the island works.
How much is the Las Caletas tour?
The day tour is from $109 per person on Viator in 2026, with children 4 to 11 at a reduced rate and under-4s free. On the day, the listing adds a MX$40 port fee in cash and a $20 access fee per person, so budget for both. See the price guide.
What is included on the Las Caletas day tour?
The boat ride both ways, a buffet lunch and open bar, snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards, nature walks, a cooking lesson, a margarita class and a mezcal tasting, plus the Kids Adventure Park (4 to 11) and the Teen Adventure Cove. Towels, tips, spa treatments, scuba and the sea lion and ray encounter are extra.
How long is the boat ride to Las Caletas?
About 45 minutes each way from the Puerto Vallarta marina, passing the Los Arcos rocks off Mismaloya. The whole tour runs about 7 hours, of which roughly 4 are spent on the island.
Can you go to Las Caletas on your own?
No. The cove is leased and operated by Vallarta Adventures, and only their boats land there. Other sellers, including resellers that charge more, put you on the same boats from the same Puerto Magico terminal, so compare the final price before you book.
Is Las Caletas worth it?
For families and anyone who wants an easy all-inclusive beach day, usually yes: the flagship rates 4.5 from 847 reviews. The common complaints are the extra cash fees at check-in, the walking between areas, waves on some days and a day that feels short. Read is Las Caletas worth it.
Is Las Caletas good for kids?
Yes, it is one of the most family-friendly days in Puerto Vallarta: the Kids Adventure Park is for ages 4 to 11 (minimum height about 1 metre), the Teen Adventure Cove for 12 and over, and under-4s ride free. Paths are sandy and uneven, so leave the stroller. See Las Caletas with kids.
What should I bring to Las Caletas?
Swimwear, your own towel (none are provided), water shoes, a hat, biodegradable sunscreen, insect repellent and cash in pesos for the port fee and tips. Add a light layer from December to March. Drones are not allowed. See what to bring.
What is the Alma show at Las Caletas?
The evening programme on the same cove, Vallarta Adventures' current version of its long-running Rhythms of the Night (sold as "ALMA, Rhythms of the Night"): a sunset cruise, a candlelit buffet dinner with open bar and a show of dance, music and fire in a jungle amphitheatre. It is from $119. Read the Alma show guide.
Las Caletas or Yelapa: which is better?
Las Caletas is a private, all-inclusive beach club with activities for every age; Yelapa is a real fishing village with a waterfall, where you pay as you go. Pick Las Caletas for an easy family day, Yelapa for local colour. Compare them in Las Caletas vs Yelapa.
Can cruise passengers do the Las Caletas tour?
The operator says the Viator listing is not suitable for cruise passengers because of time conflicts with its schedule, and asks them to book through their cruise line's shore excursions instead.
Can I cancel my Las Caletas tour?
Yes. Every tour on this page can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time on Viator.
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