Marietas Islands from Puerto Vallarta: ship excursion or on your own?
Booking Marietas Islands independently from Puerto Vallarta saves about $31 per person compared with NCL's excursion (Carnival $116, NCL $148 vs $117 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 5/5. Be back at the pier 60 minutes before departure. Carnival's own excursion is cheaper than booking independently.
What ships sell
- Carnival: 2 excursions that include Marietas Islands, median $116 per adult, e.g. "Whales, Dolphins & Snork".
- NCL: 1 excursion that include Marietas Islands, median $148 per adult, e.g. "Marietas Islands Eco Adv".
Ship excursions that include Marietas Islands often bundle other stops or lunch, so compare what each tour includes. NCL prices were read from NCL's European website in euros on 2026-11-02 and converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1172 USD (2026-10-30). NCL's US site may show slightly different dollar prices.
Independent Marietas Islands tours we compared
- Puerto Vallarta: Marietas Islands Sightseeing Tour with All-Inclusive Meals and Open Bar · $49 · 4.4★ (9 reviews)
- Puerto Vallarta: Marietas Islands Reef Snorkeling Tour · $117 · 5.0★ (1 reviews)
- Puerto Vallarta: Marietas Island, Breakfast, Lunch, Open Bar · $117 · 4.7★ (10 reviews)
- Puerto Vallarta: Marietas Island Adventure · $122
- Puerto Vallarta: Marietas Island Boat Tour, Lunch & Open Bar · $128 · 3.0★ (1 reviews)
See all Marietas Islands tours
Getting back to the ship
Ships here dock alongside. All-aboard is normally 30 minutes before departure on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC (check your daily planner). Plan to be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before the ship sails.
- Marietas Islands is a short ride from the pier, so the return is easy to plan.
Questions
How much is the Marietas Islands excursion from Puerto Vallarta on Carnival?
Carnival's Marietas Islands excursions start at a median of $116 per adult (2 options, $103 to $130).
How much is the Marietas Islands excursion from Puerto Vallarta on NCL?
NCL's Marietas Islands excursions start at a median of $148 per adult (1 option, $148 to $148), converted from €132.
Can you visit Marietas Islands on your own from the Puerto Vallarta cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $117 per person (5 tours compared, from $49). It is close to the pier, so even a taxi works if you keep an eye on the time.
Is it cheaper to book Marietas Islands independently?
Usually: the gap is about $31 per person, or $124 for a family of four, against NCL's price.
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