OCEANUS Private Charter

4-Hour Private Whale Watching in Puerto Vallarta runs through Oceanus Lifetime.

Overview

This private trip from OCEANUS Lifetime puts a whole boat at your group's disposal for three and a half hours, setting out from the Marina Vallarta area. The published start time is 08:30, and the tour returns to the same meeting point where it began. Because it is private, only your party is aboard.

Food is part of the deal. A continental breakfast with coffee, orange juice, fruit and sweet bread is included, snacks are available on board, and lunch is a pasta salad built from fusilli, mozzarella, potato, corn, carrot, broccoli, croutons, olive oil and tomato. Snorkelling equipment is also included.

Hotel pickup is not included, so travellers make their own way to the pier. One recent reviewer described a mechanical delay at the start, with the operator calling several times to keep the group informed, followed by a dolphin pod encounter and hours spent following whale spouts. That account suggests the crew works hard to deliver once the boat is out.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the pierCheck in at C. Popa 112, Marina Vallarta, or choose the pier closest to your accommodation from the five options the operator lists, including Los Combes and Playa Los Muertos. Arrive ready for an 08:30 start.
2. Board the private boatOnly your group boards. The trip runs for three hours and thirty minutes in total, with breakfast, snacks and lunch included, along with use of snorkelling equipment.
3. Return to the meeting pointThe activity ends back at the same pier where it started.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from traveller reports will help you plan the day.

• Getting there. Hotel pickup is not included, so build travel time into your morning. The default meeting point is C. Popa 112 in Marina Vallarta, but the operator lists five piers, including Los Combes, Playa Los Muertos, Marina La Cruz Huanacaxtle and Nuevo Vallarta, and you can pick the one closest to where you are staying.
• Timing. The tour starts at 08:30 and lasts three hours and thirty minutes. Since it ends back at the meeting point, plan the rest of your day from whichever pier you chose.
• Food and drink. Breakfast, snacks and lunch are all included, so there is no need to bring a meal. The listing describes a continental breakfast, snacks, and a pasta salad for lunch.
• Group feel. This is a private tour, so only your group participates. One reviewer took a party of thirteen spanning three generations, from young grandchildren to spouses and friends, and described it as a fantastic experience for all of them.
• Wildlife viewing. The wildlife is the draw. One reviewer reported starting the trip in a dolphin pod and then spending several hours following whale spouts, so there can be long stretches of watching rather than quick pass-bys.
• Flexibility on the day. Boats are boats, and one reviewer reported a delayed start of about twenty minutes due to boat issues. The crew called several times with updates, and the reviewer said they made up for it once on the water.

Common issues. Hotel pickup is not included. The listing states the tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems, and infants must sit on laps. One reviewer experienced a late departure caused by boat issues, though the operator kept in contact by phone and the trip recovered. Cancellations within twenty-four hours of the start time receive no refund.

Common Questions