A Riviera Maya yacht charter departs from the one marina that makes sense on a map: Marina Puerto Aventuras, 25 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and the shortest run to the two things most people come here for — the resident sea turtles at Akumal and the sea-access cenotes no land tour can reach. Prices start at $9,000 MXN for a 4-hour charter on a 40-45 ft yacht and climb from there with size and hours. Captain, crew, fuel, water, soft drinks, ice, snorkel gear, life vests, and towels come included — you only pay extra for what you add, like a private chef or event decor.
This guide is written from the dock, not a travel desk. We're the ones who pick up the WhatsApp message when you land in Cancún, Tulum, or Playa, and we've run this route hundreds of times. Below: what a charter costs, why Puerto Aventuras beats the drive to Cancún if you're staying south, the routes worth your hours, and the WhatsApp flow to lock a date.
Why Puerto Aventuras over Cancún
Altamar runs charters from both Cancún and Puerto Aventuras, and the honest answer to "which one" comes down to where you're sleeping and what you want to see in the water.
If your hotel is in Tulum, Akumal, or Playa del Carmen, Marina Puerto Aventuras is a 10-35 minute taxi. Reaching Cancún's marinas instead means an hour-plus each way before the boat even leaves the dock — hours you'd rather spend snorkeling. Puerto Aventuras also sits closest to the water these charters are built around: Akumal Bay is 15 minutes out by boat, versus a run of 2 hours or more from a Cancún marina. And cenotes with direct sea access — a genuine rarity — are only reachable from this stretch of coast, not from Cancún at all.
The trade-off is fleet size. Puerto Aventuras runs a tighter roster than Cancún — 10-plus yachts from 40 to 65 feet — so if you need a specific layout for a group near the 20-guest ceiling, check the full fleet for what's on the water that week. For groups of 8 to 15, availability is rarely the constraint.
How much does a Riviera Maya yacht charter cost?
2026 pricing out of Marina Puerto Aventuras, by yacht size:
- **40-45 ft sport yachts and motor yachts**: $9,000-$18,000 MXN / 4 hr. Comfortable for 8-10 guests, up to 12 at capacity.
- **50-55 ft yachts and catamarans**: $20,000-$32,000 MXN / 4 hr. Up to 15 guests — more deck space for a group that wants room to spread out between snorkel stops.
- 60-65 ft yachts: from $35,000 MXN / 4 hr, by request. Up to 20 guests. Fewer of these in rotation than in Cancún, so book 3-4 weeks out if you need the size.
Tip
Book 6 hours instead of 4. The per-hour rate drops roughly 20-25%, and 6 hours is what it takes to cover Akumal, add Yal-Ku or a cenote, and break for a proper lunch without rushing the captain.
What's included — and what costs extra
Every crewed charter out of Puerto Aventuras includes, at no extra cost:
- Captain and crew.
- Fuel for your contracted hours.
- Bottled water, soft drinks, and ice.
- Snorkel gear — mask, snorkel, fins — sized for everyone aboard.
- Life vests, including child and infant sizes.
- Towels.
Priced separately if you want them: a private chef, professional decor for a birthday or engagement, and hotel-to-marina transport. Ask when you message us and we'll quote them alongside the yacht, so you get one number instead of three invoices.
The Akumal turtles
Akumal Bay is 15 minutes from the marina by boat, and it's the single best reason to charter out of Puerto Aventuras. Green sea turtles graze the seagrass beds here year-round, not seasonally, so a face-to-face encounter is close to guaranteed, not a maybe. Visibility usually runs 8-12 meters — enough to follow a turtle up for a breath and back down without losing it.
This is a slow-swim stop, not a race to check a box: cut the engine, ease the group in a few at a time, and let the turtles set the pace. Akumal Bay's reef is part of the Mesoamerican Reef System, the second-largest barrier reef on earth, so the fish life around the turtles is worth the extra 20 minutes even after everyone's had their turtle moment.
Yal-Ku Lagoon and the sea-access cenotes
Yal-Ku is a half-enclosed lagoon just north of Akumal where fresh water from underground rivers meets the sea. The mix creates an odd, glassy clarity and draws tropical fish that don't school this way in open water. You reach it from the sea — something the land-based tour vans can't do.
The rarer stop is the sea-access cenotes along this coast: cenotes you reach straight from the boat instead of driving inland to a jungle entrance and a line of tour buses. Not every window covers them — it depends on conditions and the hours you book — so mention it when you message us and we'll build the route around it. On a 6-hour charter there's also room for dolphin watching or an hour anchored off a private beach.
Getting to Marina Puerto Aventuras
Marina Puerto Aventuras sits inside the gated Puerto Aventuras development, off the federal highway between Cancún and Tulum. Check in 15 minutes before your departure time.
- From Playa del Carmen: 25 minutes. Taxi or Uber, $300-500 MXN.
- From Tulum: 35 minutes north. Taxi or Uber, $500-800 MXN.
- From Akumal: 10 minutes south. Taxi or Uber, $150-250 MXN.
- From Cancún: about 1 hour 15 minutes south. Taxi or Uber, $1,500-2,000 MXN — if Cancún is your only stop, it's usually simpler to charter from a Cancún marina instead.
Want coordinated round-trip transport from your hotel? We arrange it for $1,200-$2,500 MXN depending on group size and pickup point — just ask when you message us.
How to book
Booking runs on WhatsApp, start to finish:
- 1. Browse the fleet or the Puerto Aventuras page and shortlist a yacht — or just tell us your group size and budget.
- 2. WhatsApp +52 56 3954 1062 with your date, group size, and yacht preference (or ask us to recommend one).
- 3. Get a detailed quote back, usually within an hour, covering the base price and any add-ons you asked about.
- 4. Confirm with a 50% deposit by card or bank transfer.
- 5. Pay the balance dockside on the day, before departure.
High season (December-April) books out 2-4 weeks ahead for the popular 50-55 ft range — message us as soon as your dates firm up.
Frequently asked questions
- Puerto Aventuras or Cancún for a Riviera Maya trip? Puerto Aventuras wins on the cenotes, the Akumal turtles, and distance if you're staying in Tulum, Akumal, or Playa. Cancún has the larger fleet and easier access to Isla Mujeres — compare Cancún and Puerto Aventuras if you're not sure which fits your dates.
- Can kids come? Yes. We carry child and infant life vests, and Akumal's calm, shallow bay is an easy first snorkel for kids.
- Is there a bathroom on board? Yes — every yacht in the fleet has a working head.
- Can we bring our own food and drinks? Yes, at no charge. If you'd rather not, a private chef is available as an add-on.
- Do you take cards on the day? Yes — card, transfer, or cash all work for the balance due dockside.
- How far ahead should we book? 2-3 weeks in high season (December-April); in low season a week is usually fine, though earlier never hurts.
Next steps
If your dates are set, WhatsApp +52 56 3954 1062 directly — the 50-55 ft yachts out of Puerto Aventuras are the first to sell out in high season. Still comparing? Browse the full fleet, look at sport yachts or catamarans by category, or read our Cancún yacht rental guide and Cozumel yacht charter guide if your trip touches more than one coast.