Water Taxi from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa | Fares & Piers

The Yelapa water taxi runs daily from Los Muertos Pier or Boca de Tomatlán; Boca is cheaper, Los Muertos is easier.

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Most travelers handle the Water Taxi from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa in one of two ways: leave straight from Los Muertos Pier in the Romantic Zone, or go south by road to Boca de Tomatlán and catch a shorter, cheaper panga from there. Los Muertos is simpler if you are staying in central Puerto Vallarta. Boca de Tomatlán is better if you want the lowest boat fare or more departure choices.

Yelapa has no practical road access, so the boat is not just a scenic option. It is the route. Plan around the return boat before you go, carry cash in Mexican pesos, and leave slack in the day because sea conditions can change the schedule.

For a side-by-side look at available route options, compare the Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa transport choices here:

Best Route From Puerto Vallarta To Yelapa

The easiest route from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa is the public water taxi from Los Muertos Pier. The cheaper route is taxi, bus, or rideshare to Boca de Tomatlán, then a panga from Boca to Yelapa.

Choose Los Muertos Pier if you are staying in Zona Romántica, Centro, 5 de Diciembre, or the Hotel Zone and want the fewest moving parts. The boat ride is longer, about 55 minutes, but you avoid a separate road transfer to Boca.

Choose Boca de Tomatlán if you are comfortable adding a road leg. Boca is south of Puerto Vallarta, and the boat crossing from Boca to Yelapa is about 30 minutes. The Boca fare is also much lower than the Los Muertos fare, so it can save money for couples, families, and groups.

Cash tip: Pay in Mexican pesos when possible. A listed 550 MXN fare is about $31 at an exchange rate near 17.5 MXN to $1, but dock exchange math may not match the market rate.

Which Pier Should You Use?

Los Muertos Pier suits first-timers who want a direct boat from Puerto Vallarta, while Boca de Tomatlán suits travelers who care more about price and flexibility. The right pier depends on where you are staying and how much road travel you want before the boat.

Los Muertos Pier is in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, close to beach clubs, restaurants, and many central hotels. Buy or confirm tickets early, arrive before departure, and expect a more tourist-oriented setup.

Boca de Tomatlán works better if you are already south of town, if you are taking a local bus down the coast, or if the Los Muertos departure times do not fit your day. Boca also has more frequent local panga movement because it is the small harbor used for several south-shore beach stops.

• Use Los Muertos Pier if you want the most direct Puerto Vallarta departure.
• Use Boca de Tomatlán if you want the lower boat fare.
• Use a private boat if your group needs a custom time, late return, or luggage help.

Puerto Vallarta To Yelapa By Water Taxi: Times And Costs

Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa water taxi times vary by pier, but the current public listings put Los Muertos to Yelapa at about 55 minutes and Boca to Yelapa at about 30 minutes. Tourist fares are commonly listed at 550 MXN round trip from Los Muertos and 260 MXN round trip from Boca.

The current schedule on Go2Yelapa’s water taxi page lists year-round pangas, weather-dependent timing, tourist fares, and the 55-minute Los Muertos route versus the 30-minute Boca route. Treat these times as planning anchors, then confirm at the pier or with the operator before you build your whole day around them.

For Los Muertos departures, expect useful daytime boats around late morning, midafternoon, and late afternoon, with 11:00 am, 11:45 am, 3:00 pm, and 5:00 pm appearing on multiple current listings. Some schedules also show a 1:00 pm Los Muertos departure, so ask before counting on it.

For Yelapa back to Los Muertos, the practical day-trip returns are usually late morning, noon, and 4:00 pm. A missed return can turn a beach day into an unplanned overnight stay, so check the last boat with the captain when you arrive.

How Much Does The Yelapa Water Taxi Cost?

The Yelapa water taxi costs about $31 round trip from Los Muertos Pier and about $15 round trip from Boca de Tomatlán at current listed tourist fares. One-way fares are useful if you plan to stay overnight or continue by boat along the south shore.

The fare difference is the main reason budget travelers use Boca. A couple saves roughly 580 MXN round trip by choosing Boca instead of Los Muertos before adding the road fare from Puerto Vallarta to Boca. A solo traveler staying near Los Muertos may find the direct boat easier once local transfer time is counted.

Bring smaller peso bills. Captains and ticket sellers may not have change for large notes, and card payment should not be assumed at small docks or beach landings.

What The Ride Is Like

The Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa boat ride is open-air, salty, and more exposed than a ferry with indoor seating. Pack as if your bag might get sprayed, and wear shoes that can handle a wet beach landing.

From Los Muertos, the boat leaves the central Puerto Vallarta shoreline and crosses the southern sweep of Banderas Bay before turning toward Yelapa. From Boca, the ride is shorter and hugs the south coast more closely, passing coves and small beach stops.

Travel light if you can. Pangas are small, boarding can involve steps or sand, and heavy rolling luggage is awkward on the dock and in Yelapa’s footpaths. A backpack or soft duffel is much easier than a hard suitcase.

• Protect phones and passports in a dry bag or sealed pouch.
• Wear sun protection because shade can be limited on smaller boats.
• Ask about the return pier before leaving the boat in Yelapa.
• Check life jackets when you board, especially with children.

Where To Stay Once You Reach Yelapa

Yelapa is a good overnight stop if you want the beach and village after the day-trip boats leave. Staying one night also removes the stress of racing for the 4:00 pm return to Los Muertos.

Pick a place near the beach if you want the easiest arrival with bags. Pick a hillside stay if you want views and do not mind stairs, uneven paths, and a longer walk from the landing. Yelapa is small, but luggage can make short distances feel longer.

Compare Yelapa stays on a map before choosing, because location matters more here than star rating:

Common Mistakes To Avoid

The most common Yelapa mistake is planning the outbound boat but not the return. The second is assuming Yelapa works like a normal road-connected beach town.

Build your plan around the boat times first, then add the waterfall walk, beach lunch, or overnight stay. Do not leave valuables loose on the boat, do not wear jeans if a wet landing would ruin your day, and do not expect late-night public boats back to Puerto Vallarta.

Yelapa also has two different arrival feels. Some boats land near the main beach, while others may use a village pier or beach landing depending on conditions and operator. Ask the captain where the boat will return from before you walk away.

Pick The Boat That Fits Your Day

The best Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa choice is Los Muertos Pier for a simple day trip, Boca de Tomatlán for the lowest public boat fare, and a private boat for groups that need control over timing. Travelers staying overnight should focus less on the cheapest fare and more on luggage, arrival point, and return flexibility.

• Fastest simple plan: Leave from Los Muertos Pier and return on the afternoon boat to the same pier.
• Lowest-cost plan: Take road transport to Boca de Tomatlán, then the Boca panga to Yelapa.
• Most flexible plan: Hire a private boat if your group wants a custom pickup or later return.
• Overnight plan: Take the late Los Muertos or Boca boat, stay near your landing point, and return the next morning.

If the sea looks rough or a tropical storm is near the coast, shift the plan rather than forcing it. The water taxi is the normal route to Yelapa, but the bay sets the schedule.