Snorkeling in Sayulita
Where to Go and Who Takes You

The Marietas Islands are the trip most people mean. They sit inside a national park at the mouth of Banderas Bay, and OCEANO and Ally Cat both go. Know one rule before you book: the famous hidden beach has its own permit system, and masks, fins and snorkels are not allowed through its entrance. You snorkel around the islands, not inside that beach.

OCEANO goes further. Its boats also run to Los Arcos, the rock arches off the south shore of the bay, and to El Morro. Call them if you want a second site, or if half your group dives and the rest snorkels.

These trips feel nothing alike, so choose by the kind of day you want. Ally Cat is the long, social one: a catamaran with a captain, a chef and crew, kayaks and paddleboards on board, an open bar and a Mexican-style lunch. The Ally Cat Bus collects you in Sayulita.

Sayulita Surf Center is the local one. Diego Cadena, born and raised in Sayulita, runs it with his crew, and on the fishing trips the catch comes back as ceviche. OCEANO suits people who want to be in the water the whole time. It is a dive shop first, and transport to every site is included.