The Coral Island tour is not just the island. It is the whole bay on the way there.
1
Turtle Beach
A nesting stretch. Depending on the season you can spot turtles from the boat.
2
Kiss Beach
Two rock formations that nearly touch. The photo everybody stops for.
3
Canyon of the Caves
A rock wall carved into sea caves by the surf.
4
Los Ayala Beach
The neighboring beach to Guayabitos, seen from the water.
5
Crab Island
A rock formation covered in seabirds and crabs.
6
Coral Island
The final stop. A natural aquarium, snorkeling, sand and clear water.
What is on Coral Island
Bathrooms. It is the only stop with one on the whole trip, and the boat has none.
A restaurant with local food, open from 11am. Bring cash.
Snorkel gear for rent right there, if you did not bring your own.
Clear water and reef fish a few feet from shore.
Sand to sit on and swim off, no rush.
Your captain gives you a time to be back at the boat. Stick to it. The island closes at a set hour and every boat has to leave, not just yours.
Si el mar no lo permiteIf the sea is rough or the wind is up, landing on the island is not allowed. That is not the captain's call or ours, it is a safety condition and it gets respected. If it happens, the tour continues around the bay and we tell you as soon as we know.
Coral Island has a restaurant that opens at 11am, but you are also free to bring your own food and drinks.
How Boarding Works
Nobody explains this until you are already standing there in your shoes. Here it is up front.
Meeting point
The far end of Guayabitos beach, toward Los Ayala
Look for the umbrella. That is where our staff is. Not the middle of the beach, the far end.
1
Arrive 15 minutes early and find the umbrella
Staff there check you onto the passenger list. If you booked online, just show your code: your boat is already assigned.
2
Take your shoes off
The boat backs up to the shore in about a foot of water. Your feet are going to get wet. There is no dock. Sandals or barefoot is the move.
3
Get in and sit down
Your life jacket is already on your seat. Put it on before we pull away. It is required and the captain will not leave without it.
4
Meet the two people riding with you
Every boat runs with two crew: the captain and a helper. They introduce themselves as you pull out. They are the ones telling you about each beach, which ones are private, and where the town came from. This is a guided trip, not a shuttle.
5
Ask for the storage compartment
Bringing a big bag, backpack or camera? Ask the crew for the storage space. Your things ride drier and safer there than on your lap.
6
Use the bathroom before you get on
There is no bathroom on the boat. Coral Island has one, but that is a 15 minute ride away.
Whales of the Pacific
Every winter, the bay fills up.
Season
December through March
Humpback whales travel thousands of miles from the North Pacific to mate and give birth in warm water. The Nayarit coast is one of the places they come to.
We head out of Guayabitos into open water and hunt for them. That is literal: the captain and the helper read the water looking for the blow. Sometimes they turn up in ten minutes. Sometimes it takes a while. These are wild animals and they are not waiting for us, so we will not promise you a sighting. In peak season it is a rare day we come back having seen nothing, but rare is not never.
Once we find them we close in as far as we can without crowding them, and that is where we stop. Keeping distance is not a formality: a boat sitting on top of a mother and calf stresses them and pushes them away. We cut the engine and let them decide how close they want to be. More often than not, they come to us.
Humpback Whale
The main event. Breaching, tail slaps and song. December to March.
Blue Whale
The largest animal on earth. Less common here, but they do turn up.
Dolphins
Large pods nearly year round, often riding alongside the boat.
Turtles & Rays
Common on the way out and around Coral Island.
What You Can Bring
We are not going to upsell you. Bring your cooler and enjoy the day.
Welcome aboard
Your own food and snacks
Your own drinks, beer included
A cooler
Sunscreen, reef safe if you have it
Towel, hat and sunglasses
Camera or GoPro
Cash for the restaurant on the island
Your own snorkel gear if you prefer it
Better left on shore
Loose glass, for safety on the boat and on the island
Loud speakers once we are in whale territory
Anything you would hate to get wet
Trash: whatever comes aboard goes back with you
Boats, Captains & Crew
Local people. Born and raised on this bay.
10
boats in operation
7
jet skis
6
side-by-sides
9am – 4pm
departures every 30 min
Captain
Captain name
years on the water
short bio. Where he is from, how long he has run this bay, what he most likes showing people.
Captain
Captain name
years on the water
short bio.
Snorkel guide
Guide name
years on the water
short bio.
How we handle safety
Two crew on every boat, a captain and a helper, never one person alone
Life jackets for every passenger, with child sizes aboard on every departure
Every passenger is on the list before we cast off, with their name and their boat
Scanned out and scanned back in, so we can confirm everyone returned
We never oversell: the system blocks the sale once the boat hits its authorized capacity
Permitted vessels carrying current passenger insurance
Local captains with years of experience on this bay
Please arrive 15 minutes before your departure so we can check you in on the passenger list. If weather or sea conditions make it unsafe to sail, we reschedule your tour at no cost.
Book Your Spot
Fill this out and we will confirm your departure over WhatsApp.
Setup needed: add the real WhatsApp number in lib/site.ts before launch. Until then this form opens an invalid chat.
Frequently Asked
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
Yes. Bring your cooler with food and drinks, beer included. We only ask that you skip loose glass and take your trash back with you.
How long is the Coral Island tour?
Around 3 hours. It shifts a little with how long you want to stay on the island and with sea conditions, but that is the real duration, not an inflated number.
Do I need to know how to swim?
Not for the boat ride. Every passenger wears a life jacket. For snorkeling at the island it helps, but the water is shallow near shore and the jacket keeps you afloat.
Is this good for kids?
Yes, it is a family tour. Tell us how many children are coming when you book so we have jackets in their size ready. That is a safety requirement.
What happens if it rains or the sea is rough?
Safety comes first. If the captain or the port authority decides it is not safe to sail, we reschedule your tour at no cost.
When can I see whales?
December through March. Humpbacks come to these waters to mate and give birth. Outside that window we still see dolphins, turtles and rays.
Do we always get to land on the island?
Not always. If the sea is rough or windy, landing is not allowed. That is a safety condition, not the captain's preference. When it happens the tour continues around the bay.
How long do we get on the island?
Your captain gives you a time to be back at the boat when you land. The island closes at a set hour and every boat has to leave, so that time is real.
Is there a bathroom on the boat?
No. Go before you get on. Coral Island has bathrooms, but that is a 15 minute ride away.
Will I get wet getting on?
Your feet, yes. There is no dock: the boat backs up to the shore in about a foot of water. Take your shoes off and climb in. This is why we suggest sandals.
Where do I put my bag?
There is a storage compartment on the boat. Ask the crew when you sit down. Your things ride safer and drier there.
Where exactly do we meet?
The far end of Guayabitos beach, on the side toward Los Ayala. Look for the umbrella, that is where our staff is. Not the middle of the beach.
How do I pay?
confirm payment methods. Cash on the beach, and card payment online at booking coming soon.
Why do you need my name to book?
Because every passenger has to be on the list before we cast off. It is a safety requirement and it is what your passenger insurance is based on. If someone is not on the list, they are not covered.
