Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta: ship excursion or on your own?
Booking Yelapa independently from Puerto Vallarta saves about $30 per person compared with NCL's excursion (Carnival $115, NCL $138 vs $108 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 5/5. Be back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
What ships sell
- Carnival: 1 excursion that include Yelapa, median $115 per adult, e.g. "Yelapa & Majahuitas: Bea".
- NCL: 1 excursion that include Yelapa, median $138 per adult, e.g. "Yelapa & Majahuitas".
Ship excursions that include Yelapa 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 Yelapa tours we compared
- Puerto Vallarta: Yelapa and Majahuitas Tour · $109 · 4.0★ (1 reviews)
- Yelapa Escape & Snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta by Speedboat · $112 · 5.0★ (1 reviews)
- Puerto Vallarta: Yelapa, Majahuitas, Lunch, Open Bar Onboard · $108 · 3.4★ (8 reviews)
- Puerto Vallarta: Yelapa and Majahuitas Beach Adventure · $89 · 4.3★ (11 reviews)
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.
- Yelapa is a short ride from the pier, so the return is easy to plan.
Questions
How much is the Yelapa excursion from Puerto Vallarta on Carnival?
Carnival's Yelapa excursions start at a median of $115 per adult (1 option, $115 to $115).
How much is the Yelapa excursion from Puerto Vallarta on NCL?
NCL's Yelapa excursions start at a median of $138 per adult (1 option, $138 to $138), converted from €124.
Can you visit Yelapa on your own from the Puerto Vallarta cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $108 per person (4 tours compared, from $89). It is close to the pier, so even a taxi works if you keep an eye on the time.
Is it cheaper to book Yelapa independently?
Usually: the gap is about $30 per person, or $119 for a family of four, against NCL's price.
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