Sunset Sailing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta in Mexico’s Pacific coast is a small city with warm weather year round and just a two to four hour flight from the USA and Canada, making it ideal for a quick getaway during the cold winter months Mexico’s northern neighbors endure. Located in the middle of the Bay of Flags, it’s the beaches, whale watching, fishing and other ocean related activities that attract tourists, as well as fantastic food there is to enjoy, and among the several boating options there are one of the most appealing tours in the area is the sunset sailing cruise in Puerto Vallarta.

Once again I booked my tour with GetYourGuide, a single and multi-day tour company I have used in the past when visiting the medieval city of Toledo (Spain) in a day or using a hop on-hop off bus to visit Seville. Via partnerships with local companies they offer more than 1,000 tours in dozens of countries  and cities around the world, and with a well designed and informative website booking our tour with them could not be easier- again.

The Sunset Sailing Cruise in Puerto Vallarta

The tour begins at 6 pm and lasts about three hours, though we were asked to be there 30 minutes early to get everyone on board with time. We were walked to the 48ft sailing yacht, introduced to the crew and shortly after we were drifting through the Marina in Puerto Vallarta into the ocean. Choosing to sit in front for the better views the gentle breeze still felt pleasant as the sun was beginning to go low on the horizon. Leaving the marina’s jetty behind, some people chose to put the light jackets on (February is the coolest month of the year) as  the captain directed the boat towards the wind, the sails were hoisted, the engine was turned off and our sunset sailing cruise in Puerto Vallarta really began.

As soon as the sails were up the crew began to hand around our light dinners and drinks. The food included  seafood rolls, cheese, hams, crackers, olives and small sandwiches with some dips, and drinks included pretty much any soda and alcoholic drink you can think of- most people chose tequila, margaritas, daiquiris or beer. The mood was good and most groups stuck to themselves, making this a private time to enjoy with their significant others, but some conversations did go back and forth. We befriended with a couple from Minnesota and Wisconsin, with whom we actually hung out a bit more after the cruise was over.

About one hour into the tour the sun was touching the horizon, sometime around 7:00 pm. We were rewarded with beautiful arrays of colors and a view that was enhanced by a small sailboat which sailed past the sun in the horizon, making the moment memorable. Conversations became whispers and all that could be heard as the sun disappeared into the ocean were the waves hitting the boat and the occasional seagull that flew past us . February is still a good month for whale watching, yet despite being on the lookout we saw none, though we did see a small pod of dolphins that swam past us.

As the sky got dark and the winds died the crew decided to turn the engine on, and we made our way to the coast. We sailed to the southern end of Puerto Vallarta’s “malecon” (boardwalk) and then made our way to the marina. Temperatures had dropped but since the breeze was very mellow the tour was still pleasant. Of course the constant flow of drinks kept everyone warm, but the general mood was one of happiness and self-indulgence, with not excesses to be noticed.

The last call for drinks was made as we approached the jetty- nobody neglected it. It was pitch black and the only light available was that provided by the houses near the marina and the boats in it. The captain sailed the boat back to its position and we all got off the boat very pleased with the tour and in a great mood. Some would be leaving Puerto Vallarta the following day while others had just started their holiday, but in all cases everyone agreed it had been a great experience.

Conclusion

The sunset sailing cruise in Puerto Vallarta is a great experience for those who like to be in the ocean, as it provides family and couple entertainment in a well organized manner. Sea sickness was not a problem in this case as  the Bay of Flags is the third largest in North America, making its waters calmer than what they might be deeper into the ocean. The food is simple but good enough, the drinks flow easily, the staff was polite and entertaining and boat was in excellent condition, and while the price tag might not be particularly cheap, I would recommend this tour to anyone who’d like to enjoy a sunset cruise in Puerto Vallarta.

If interested in booking this or other tours in Puerto Vallarta or elsewhere  visit the official website of GetYourGuide. I was a guest of theirs during this tour, however the opinions and photos shared in this article are, as always, my own.

Do you like spending time in the ocean? Have you enjoyed a sunset sailing cruise in Puerto Vallarta or elsewhere? Where was this? Did you enjoy it? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below, and this post too if you liked it!