REVIEW · PUERTO VALLARTA
Private Luxury Yacht Chica 55′ VIP All Inclusive + Jet Ski
Book on Viator →Operated by Chica Locca Tours · Bookable on Viator
Jet ski meets champagne on Banderas Bay. You’re booking a private luxury yacht outing from Puerto Vallarta, and your day is shaped around the Bay of Banderas.
I love the open bar lineup, from sodas and juices to beer, wine, tequila, and even champagne. I also love the jet ski plan, with supervised unlimited use plus plenty of other water gear.
One thing to plan ahead: you have to choose your meeting place before booking, and hotel pickup/drop-off isn’t included.
In This Review
- Key Things I’d Book This For
- How the VIP Yacht + Jet Ski Day Works
- Price and Value for a 55-Foot Private Charter
- The All-Inclusive Open Bar: More Than Soda and Beer
- Snacks Onboard: Fresh Ceviche and Blue Corn Chips
- Cruise Time Along Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas
- Customizing Your Stop in Bahia de Banderas
- Los Arcos National Park: Caves, Granite Arches, and Great Snorkeling
- Jet Ski Time: Unlimited Use, Supervised for Safety
- Snorkel Gear and Water Toys: Build Your Own Rotation
- Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Should Consider Alternatives)
- Should You Book This Yacht and Jet Ski Day?
- FAQ
- Is this a private tour?
- How long is the yacht experience?
- What’s included in the price?
- Do they include hotel pickup and drop-off?
- What meeting point do I need to choose?
- What is the cancellation window?
Key Things I’d Book This For
- All-inclusive open bar with brand-name options, including champagne
- Snacks like fresh ceviche, guacamole, and blue corn chips
- Jet ski time is unlimited during the activity, with supervision
- Water toys included: snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards, water mattress, and tube
- Custom route within Bahia de Banderas based on what your group wants
- Private experience so it’s just your group aboard the yacht
How the VIP Yacht + Jet Ski Day Works
This is a 4-hour, private outing on a 55-foot luxury yacht designed for groups up to 20, sold as an all-inclusive package for a group size up to 15 at the set price. That mix matters. You get the comfort of a bigger boat without the “everyone and their cousin” feeling you get on public tours.
The core idea is simple: you cruise the Puerto Vallarta coastline and the Bay of Banderas, then you customize where you go inside Bahia de Banderas. The boat’s captain and crew run the day, keeping things moving while you rotate through the activities.
One practical detail: the tour requires you to pick a meeting place before you submit your reservation. Hotel pickup and drop-off aren’t included, but pickup is offered. If you want help getting to the meeting point with more convenient transport, the owner, Gil, can assist.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Puerto Vallarta.
Price and Value for a 55-Foot Private Charter
The price is $3,275.00 per group (up to 15) for about 4 hours. That’s a big number until you do the math: if you fill the group to 15 people, you’re looking at roughly $218 per person. If you have fewer people, the per-person cost rises fast—but the experience is still private, and the included alcohol, food, and water gear are meaningful parts of the price.
What makes the value feel stronger here is how many “paid-on-top” items are bundled. You’re not just paying for boat time. You’re also paying for:
- an open bar (brand-name drinks)
- snacks (including fresh ceviche)
- jet ski access with supervision
- use of multiple water toys (snorkel equipment plus boards and kayaks)
If you’re the type who ends up spending money on drinks, rentals, and add-ons anyway, this package-style pricing often lands closer to what you expected.
The All-Inclusive Open Bar: More Than Soda and Beer
The drink setup is broad and specific. The open bar includes water, coffee, juices, sodas, mineral water, plus named alcoholic options like beer, wine, tequila, pina colada margaritas, and champagne.
That matters because it changes the mood. On a lot of boat tours, the alcohol is limited or it feels like a token gesture. Here, it’s framed as an “anything you choose” style open bar within the brand-name list. In other words, you don’t have to constantly manage your expectations mid-ride.
I also like that the crew keeps the day flowing around what you want to do—drinks are there while you hop between snorkeling, paddling, and the jet ski session.
Snacks Onboard: Fresh Ceviche and Blue Corn Chips
Food is included and it’s not just generic chips and salsa. You get fresh made ceviche plus guacamole and blue corn chips (along with potato chips). This is the kind of snack lineup that actually works on a moving boat: it’s flavorful, easy to eat, and you’re not stuck waiting for a full meal.
The best part is timing. On a private charter, snacks can be served when it fits your schedule instead of being tied to a rigid group timetable. That flexibility is one reason a private format feels better for couples and small groups.
Cruise Time Along Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas
Your day starts with cruising along the stunning Puerto Vallarta coastline and around the Bay of Banderas. Even without a named “major attraction” every hour, this is still the backbone of the experience: you’re on a private boat, out on open water, with a crew handling the logistics.
What makes cruising on this route worth your attention is the way it sets up the rest of the day. The boat ride gets you into vacation mode fast, then the captain can steer you toward the water activities and stops that match the conditions.
From one standout review, the captain and crew also delivered a whale watching experience while keeping things entertaining and safe on both the boat and jet ski. That’s not guaranteed for every trip, but it’s a good sign that the captain is actively looking for wildlife and timing moments when possible.
Customizing Your Stop in Bahia de Banderas
This tour isn’t a one-stop cookie-cutter plan. It’s built around customization within Bahia de Banderas. You can choose where you’d like to visit, and the captain and crew adapt the day from there.
In practice, that means your best option isn’t necessarily Los Arcos every single time. Los Arcos is offered as a popular stop, but the whole point is to match your day to what your group wants—scenic cruising, snorkeling, or a more activity-heavy rotation.
One caution: since the route depends on your choice and conditions, you’ll want to decide your priorities early (for example, are you most focused on snorkeling around rocks and arches, or do you want more time on the jet ski and water toys?). The “custom” promise is where this tour can feel really personal—if you show up with a plan.
Los Arcos National Park: Caves, Granite Arches, and Great Snorkeling
South of Puerto Vallarta, one of the bay’s most iconic formations rises out of the sea: Los Arcos National Park. It’s known for naturally occurring rock formations and wildlife above and below the water.
If your group picks this stop, expect a water-focused experience. The description emphasizes exploring caves and floating through giant granite arches, paired with one of the best snorkeling areas in the bay. That combo is a big deal because you get both “view it from the boat” scenery and the chance to swim and see what’s under the surface.
A practical downside to Los Arcos is that it’s more conditions-dependent than a simple cruising-only plan. If the day isn’t cooperating, the captain may adjust timing. Still, choosing Los Arcos is a strong way to get variety: arches and caves on one hand, and snorkeling on the other.
Jet Ski Time: Unlimited Use, Supervised for Safety
This is the part many people remember. Jet ski use is supervised and unlimited during the activity window. Translation: you’re not rationed to a short turn where you spend most of your time waiting your turn again.
Unlimited is also why this tour works well for groups that want a “main event.” You can build your day around the jet ski session, then slot in snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and tube time around it.
Safety is explicitly part of the setup. The jet ski use is supervised, and the review praise includes the crew keeping everyone safe while still staying fun and entertaining.
If you’re worried about controlling the logistics of jet ski time, that’s precisely what you’re paying the crew for. You show up ready, and they run the sequence.
Snorkel Gear and Water Toys: Build Your Own Rotation
Beyond jet ski, the included equipment list is impressive for a 4-hour private outing:
- snorkel equipment
- kayaks
- paddle boards
- water mattress
- water tube
This matters because you can tailor the activity mix to your group’s energy level. Some people want to snorkel and watch, others would rather float and paddle, and some just want the “try it once” fun. When all of it is included, nobody gets left behind waiting for paid rentals.
It also helps that the crew supervises the jet ski but the rest of the water toys don’t sound complicated or intimidating. You can rotate without having to plan separate rentals or chase down gear.
Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Should Consider Alternatives)
This private charter fits best if you want:
- a true private experience on a yacht (not a shared boat)
- an all-inclusive drink plan
- a mix of active water time (jet ski plus boards/kayaks)
- flexibility to customize your stop
It also fits well for groups that like variety: you’re not stuck doing one thing for four hours.
Who might pause? If your group only wants a calm cruise or only wants snorkeling and isn’t interested in jet skis or water toys, the package may feel heavier than necessary. In that case, you’d want a simpler tour with fewer included add-ons.
Should You Book This Yacht and Jet Ski Day?
If your idea of a great day is: private boat, good drinks, snacks, and at least one big activity, this is an easy “yes” to consider. The strongest selling points are the all-inclusive open bar, the food (fresh ceviche plus guacamole and chips), and the jet ski setup with supervised unlimited use. The high rating and the review that specifically calls out an exceptional crew and whale watching moments also make it feel like the captain and crew are engaged, not just operating a machine.
My advice: book it if you can fill your group reasonably close to the up-to-15 pricing and if jet ski time is genuinely on your wish list. If jet ski isn’t a priority, you may want to compare alternatives that focus more narrowly on cruising or snorkeling.
FAQ
Is this a private tour?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.
How long is the yacht experience?
It runs about 4 hours (approx.).
What’s included in the price?
You get all-inclusive activities, brand-name open bar drinks, snacks (fresh ceviche, guacamole, and chips), snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddle boards, water mattress, water tube, supervised unlimited jet ski use, and landing and facility fees.
Do they include hotel pickup and drop-off?
Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Pickup is offered, and if you need help choosing an alternate meeting point or getting there, you can request assistance from Gil, the owner.
What meeting point do I need to choose?
You must choose your meeting place before submitting your reservation.
What is the cancellation window?
You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.
