Sailing in Puerto Vallarta

Although large Bahía de Banderas and towns to the north and south have lots of beautiful beaches to explore and wildlife to see, there are few sailing adventures for the public. Most boating companies don't want to rely on the wind to get to area beaches for the day's activities. The companies below are recommended for their true sailing skills and reliable vessels.

Logistics

For insurance reasons, companies or individuals here don't rent bareboat (uncrewed) yachts even to seasoned sailors. Those who want to crew the ship themselves can do semi-bareboat charters, where the captain comes along but allows the clients to sail the boat.

Outfitters

Recommended by Pat Henry (now retired) of the Coming About School of Sailing is Dos Amantes (Marina Vallarta. 044322/140-3171. dos_amantes_lacey@hotmail.com). The easy-going owners, Joe and Lori Lacey, will tailor a day or overnight of sailing to their clients' wishes: giving sailing tips or sailing the boat themselves, providing gourmet food, snorkeling and sunset-viewing opportunities, and most anything else.

Puerto Vallarta Tours (322/222-4935; 866/217-9704 from the U.S. and Canada. www.puertovallartatours.net) offers a variety of sailing adventures, from all-day sails to Yelapa or more remote Pizota, to half-day treks to Los Arcos, or private sailing charters. Prices for shared cruises range from $45 per person for a four-hour tour to Los Arcos to $76 for a full-day jaunt to Pizota.

Vallarta Adventures (Paseo de las Palmas 39-A, Nuevo Vallarta. 322/297-1212; 888/303-2653 in U.S. and Canada. www.vallarta-adventures.com) has day and sunset sails during high season for about $85 and $75 per person, respectively. They'll do individual charters as well. Another option for chartering your own private sailboat is to contact captain Andre Schwartz of Casa Naval (El Faro de la Marina, Marina Vallarta. 322/100-4154 or 322/148-2203. zenigma1947@yahoo.com). Based in Marina Vallarta the captain-owner has a comfortable Beneteau Oceanis 390 called the Dèjá-Vu Again, a 39-foot vessel that accommodates eight for trips of four hours to several days. He charges $100 per hour for up to 10 passengers, with a discount of 10 percent for trip of four hours or more.