Sail across Banderas Bay at sunset to a torch-lit jungle cove, dine by candlelight and
watch the ALMA show. What the ticket includes, the fees nobody mentions, and the best alternatives.
Every fee spelled outAccess fee, port fee, tips and transport
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation
Tickets
Choose your Puerto Vallarta sunset night
The sunset cruise, candlelit dinner and ALMA show at Las Caletas, in the centre. Beside it, the two
sunset evenings people weigh it against: a wine-and-cheese sail and a bioluminescence boat trip.
Three hours under sail on Banderas Bay with fine wines, imported cheese and an open bar, timed for sunset. No dinner and no show: a calmer, earlier night.
What's included
Sunset sail on Banderas Bay on a sailboat (max 30 guests)
Fine wines and imported cheese
Open bar on board
Minimum age 16; reviewers often spot whales in winter
Not included: $20 access fee, MX$40 port fee in cash, tips
The original Rhythms of the Night: a sunset sail to Las Caletas, a torch-lit buffet dinner with open bar and the ALMA show. Budget $20 more for the access fee.
What's included
Sunset cruise from the Puerto Vallarta maritime terminal and back
Candlelit buffet dinner with live music (the Michelin-chef menu is Premier only)
Unlimited open bar on the boat and at dinner
ALMA show in the jungle amphitheatre, standard seating
Not included: $20 access fee, MX$40 port fee in cash, hotel transport, tips
A small boat to the Los Arcos islands: snorkel, watch the sunset from a beach, then swim in water that glows after dark. Beer, soda and snacks included.
What's included
Boat ride to the Los Arcos marine park off Mismaloya
Sunset from a beach, then a swim or snorkel
Bioluminescence swim after dark (best on moonless nights)
Snorkel gear, bottled water, soda, beer and snacks
Meets in the Zona Romántica; free cancellation to 24 hours
Only one of these is a full night out with dinner and a show. The others are shorter sunset trips
with drinks and snacks, so compare what you get for the evening, not just the price.
Vallarta Adventures trips (the dinner show, the sunset sail and the Las Caletas day) add a $20
access fee per adult and a small port fee in pesos at check-in; the yacht cruises include all fees. Children 6 to 11
pay a reduced rate on the dinner show. Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
What you actually get
A private cove, reached only by sea: dinner and a show at Las Caletas.
The "sunset cruise and candlelight dinner show" is Rhythms of the Night, run by Vallarta Adventures
since the 1990s. The boat leaves Puerto Vallarta in the late afternoon and crosses Banderas Bay as the sun goes
down, to Las Caletas: a jungle cove between Quimixto and Yelapa with no road, where film director John
Huston lived for close to 20 years. Torches light the path from the beach to dinner, and drums call you to an
open-air amphitheatre for ALMA, the current show, with dancers, acrobats and fire.
It is a polished, big production: up to 800 guests a night, an open bar from boarding to the return party on
deck. Know the small print: the from-price is the Classic tier, so dinner is a buffet and the
Michelin-chef menu is Premier only; a $20 access fee and a peso port fee are paid at check-in; there is
no hotel pickup; and the island paths are sandy and uphill, so it is not for limited mobility or children under 6.
5 hrs
Marina to marina. Check-in opens 45 minutes before the
late-afternoon departure, and you are back late in the evening.
Sunset cruiseCandlelit buffetOpen barALMA show
Las Caletas is a private cove on the south shore of Banderas Bay.
01
Is dinner a buffet?
On Classic, yes: an international buffet by candlelight with live music. Premier adds a chef's menu.
02
What costs extra?
The $20 access fee, the port fee in pesos, tips, photos and your taxi to the marina.
03
Is it hard to walk?
A little: sandy, uphill and uneven paths. Wear flat shoes; it is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
04
Who might skip it?
Cruise passengers, under-6s and anyone who wants a quiet night. A sunset sail is calmer.
The night
How the evening unfolds
About five hours from the dock and back. The order of dinner and show can swap by season; this is the classic run.
01
Check-in at the terminal
Pay the access and port fees, then board at the maritime terminal by Puerto Mágico.
45 min before
02
Sunset across the bay
Drinks flow as the boat crosses Banderas Bay, with the sun dropping behind the mountains. Whales are possible in winter.
About 1 hour
03
Torch-lit dinner
Walk up from the beach to candlelit tables, with a buffet, wine and a string trio and singer.
At Las Caletas
04
ALMA, then the party boat
The show in the jungle amphitheatre, then a lively ride home under the stars.
Getting there, tickets and tiers, the rules and what to bring: one tab each.
Check-in is at Vallarta Adventures in the Terminal Marítima, next to Puerto Mágico on Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio.
There is no hotel pickup: take a taxi or rideshare from your hotel and allow for evening traffic.
Arrive 45 minutes before departure for check-in; departures are in the late afternoon, around 5:30 PM on recent schedules.
The boat returns to the same terminal late in the evening.
Staying in Nuevo Vallarta? Vallarta Adventures also runs departures from its Nuevo Vallarta centre; ask the operator which one your ticket uses.
Classic (from $119 on Viator): cruise, buffet dinner, open bar, show with standard seating.
VIP adds live music at dinner, oceanfront tables, preferential boarding and a reserved theatre section.
Premier adds the menu by chef Paco Ruano, champagne and wine pairings, artist meet-and-greet and the best seats.
Adults are 12 and over; children 6 to 11 pay a reduced rate; under-6s cannot go.
Everyone pays the $20 access fee (the official site lists $10 for children) and a peso port fee at check-in.
Minimum age 6, no exceptions.
Not wheelchair or stroller accessible; the island paths are sandy, uphill and irregular.
Federal ports enforce a strict no-drugs rule that includes vapes and e-cigarettes; guests refused at security get no refund.
Not suitable for cruise ship passengers, says the operator.
Flat, comfortable shoes (no heels or wedges).
A light sweater or jacket for the boat in winter.
Insect repellent and a hand fan in the hot, humid summer months.
Pesos in cash for the port fee, plus cash or a card for tips, photos and souvenirs.
Your booking confirmation.
IncludedSunset cruiseAcross Banderas Bay to Las Caletas, with drinks on board and a chance of whales from December to March.
IncludedCandlelit buffetAn international buffet among the trees, with wine and live music.
IncludedOpen barUnlimited drinks on the boat and at dinner; ask for alcohol-free options.
IncludedThe ALMA showDance, acrobatics, live drums and fire in the pyramid amphitheatre.
UpgradeVIP and PremierBetter tables and seats, priority boarding and, on Premier, a chef's menu.
Extra costFees, tips and photosThe $20 access fee and port fee at check-in; tips and photos are up to you.
Where the night starts
Meeting point and check-in
Vallarta Adventures, Terminal Marítima
Puerto Mágico, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 30-G1, Zona Hotelera Norte, 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
The check-in desk is at the cruise and maritime terminal on the main boulevard, between the hotel zone and
Marina Vallarta. You pay the access fee and the port fee here, then walk to the boat. The tour ends back at the
same point, so plan a taxi home; there is no hotel transport on this ticket.
4.5★★★★★ 2,075 reviews · Rhythms of the Night sunset dinner show live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
From the very start to the very end they kept us highly entertained. The show has so many extremely talented performers! The ambiance and design of everything was just amazing!
★★★★★
Great sunset cruise, saw so many whales and enjoyed the drinks and apps. The crew was fantastic and so accommodating.
★★★★★
The show was fantastic, dinner was good, basic buffet with salads, sides and a few different protein options. Drinks and desserts are also included. The boat ride there and back was very nice and the crew treated us to a fun show on our way back.
★★★★★
The whole experience is fantastic: the cruise, the ambience of the place plus the jungle set up, the performers were amazingly talented, the food is delicious!
★★★★★
You get a tour of the islands, watch the sun set from the beach and get time to relax and swim in beautiful clear waters. The bioluminescence experience was absolutely the highlight!
★★★★★
The premium experience is worth it. First to choose seats on boat. In the first 3 rows of the show and the dinner is amazing.
★★★★★
This is one of the best shows I've ever seen, from the boat ride there and back was so entertaining and the show was absolutely fabulous. The dinner was also delicious, it was a buffet style but good food.
★★★★★
Definitely worth it! We happened to experience rain along the way and while there, but that didn't stop us from having a wonderful experience. The show is really spectacular. From the live band to the dancers, they all put on a great performance!
★★★★★
Amazing show with incredible performances. The boat ride to and from was an added bonus with great views of the coastline.
Not a boat person?
Eat your way through Old Town
No boat, no late finish: a small-group walk through the Zona Romántica with eight tastings, from
street tacos to seafood, led by a local guide.
Small-Group Taco and Food-Tasting Walking Tour
★ 5.0 · 3,953 reviews · 3.5 hours
If a five-hour boat night is not your thing, eat your way through Old Town instead. A local guide walks a small group from Lázaro Cárdenas Park through the Zona Romántica and along the Malecón, with eight tastings at family-run taco stands, seafood spots and restaurants. It is the most reviewed food experience in Puerto Vallarta, and it ends early enough to catch the sunset on the beach.
Puerto Vallarta's sunset cruise and candlelight dinner show is one of the best-known evenings out
on Mexico's Pacific coast. Here is what the night really is, what it costs once the fees are in, and how to choose
between it and a simpler sunset cruise.
What the evening is, and what it isn't
This is Rhythms of the Night, Vallarta Adventures' long-running dinner show at Las Caletas, a cove on the
south shore of Banderas Bay that you can only reach by boat. The show inside the evening is called ALMA, created
by director Mukhtar Mukhtar with sets by Oscar-winning designer Eugenio Caballero; it follows a keeper who guards a
hidden pyramid in the jungle, told through dance, live drums, acrobatics and fire. It is not an intimate dinner
for two on a private beach: it is a large, well-run production for hundreds of guests, with an open bar and a
party atmosphere on the boat home. Couples still love it, but go in expecting a show night, not a quiet one.
ALMA plays out on a pyramid stage in an open-air amphitheatre among the trees.
What it really costs
The Classic ticket is from $119 per adult on Viator in 2026, with a reduced rate for children 6 to 11. At
check-in, add the $20 access fee per adult and the port fee in pesos (MX$40 on the listing, a couple of dollars),
plus tips for the crew if you wish. A couple on the Classic tier should budget about $285 for the night, before tips and the taxi. The
operator's own site lists Classic at $129 and often runs sales below the Viator price; Viator's advantage is free
cancellation up to 24 hours before and reviews from over 2,000 guests in one place.
The honest small print: the complaints in reviews are rarely about the show. They are about
the uphill paths at the island, the heat in the jungle in summer, the simple Classic buffet and the fees at
check-in. Wear flat shoes, bring pesos and a fan, and book VIP or Premier if seats and food matter to you.
Dinner show or a sunset sail?
If you want dinner and a spectacle in one go, the dinner show wins easily; nothing else on the bay compares.
If you mostly want the sunset itself, a sunset sail with wine and cheese is cheaper, three hours long and
much calmer, and in winter it is a good whale-watching trip too. On a budget, the Los Arcos bioluminescence
trip adds a sunset from a beach and a swim in glowing water for about half the price. Small groups and couples
who want privacy should look at the luxury yacht cruises, which include all fees.
Dinner is served by candlelight among the trees; Classic is a buffet.
Making the most of the night
Book early in your stay, so a storm only means moving the date. Arrive at the terminal a good 45 minutes
before departure with pesos for the port fee, sit on the outside deck for the sunset, and pace the open bar: it
is a long evening. At the island, take your time on the paths, eat early if dinner comes first, and get to the
amphitheatre in good time for better seats on the standard ticket.
Flat shoes, a light layer, a fan and pesos: the dinner show kit.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about the sunset cruise and dinner show.
What is included in the Puerto Vallarta sunset cruise and candlelight dinner show?
The Vallarta Adventures ticket covers the sunset boat ride from Puerto Vallarta to Las Caletas and back, a candlelit buffet dinner with live music, an unlimited open bar, and the ALMA show in the jungle amphitheatre with standard seating. It does not include the $20 access fee, the MX$40 port fee (cash), hotel transport or tips. See the ticket.
How much does Rhythms of the Night cost?
On Viator the Classic experience is from $119 per adult in 2026, with a child rate for ages 6 to 11. On top, everyone pays a $20 access fee (adults; $10 for children on the official site) and a small port fee in pesos at check-in. VIP and Premier tiers cost more. See the ticket and fee guide.
Is Rhythms of the Night the same as the ALMA show?
Yes. Rhythms of the Night is the name of the whole evening by Vallarta Adventures; ALMA is the current show inside it, which replaced the earlier SAVIA production. Listings may use either name, and the cruise, dinner and venue at Las Caletas are the same.
Where is Las Caletas, and can you get there by road?
Las Caletas is a private cove on the south shore of Banderas Bay, between Quimixto and Yelapa, and it is reached only by sea. Film director John Huston lived there for close to 20 years. The boat ride from Puerto Vallarta takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Read the Las Caletas guide.
Is the candlelight dinner a buffet?
On the Classic ticket, yes: an international buffet served by candlelight with a string trio and singer, plus wine and an open bar. The menu by Michelin-rated chef Paco Ruano is part of the Premier tier only. Reviewers rate the buffet anywhere from basic to delicious, so book Premier if the food matters most.
How long is the sunset dinner show cruise?
About five hours from departure to return, and guests often count closer to six including check-in. Boats leave in the late afternoon, around 5:30 PM on recent schedules, and check-in opens 45 minutes before. Dinner can come before or after the show depending on the season.
Is Rhythms of the Night worth it?
For most visitors, yes: it rates 4.5 from 2,075 reviews, and guests call the show the highlight of their trip. The common complaints are the uphill paths at the island, heat and humidity in the jungle in summer, and the extra fees at check-in. If you want a quieter evening, compare it with a sunset sail.
Can children go to Rhythms of the Night?
Yes, from age 6: the minimum age is 6 with no exceptions. Children 6 to 11 pay a child rate and anyone 12 and over pays the adult price. Strollers cannot be used on the island paths. See Rhythms of the Night with kids.
What should I wear to the dinner show?
Smart-casual resort wear and flat, comfortable shoes: no heels or wedges, because the paths are sandy and uphill. Bring a light sweater in winter, insect repellent and a hand fan in summer, and pesos for the port fee. See what to wear and bring.
Does the tour include hotel pickup?
No. You make your own way to the Vallarta Adventures check-in at the maritime terminal (Terminal Marítima, next to Puerto Mágico) in Puerto Vallarta. A taxi or rideshare from your hotel is the usual way.
Can cruise ship passengers book it?
No. The operator says this is not suitable for cruise passengers. If your ship is in port for the day, take a daytime trip such as the Las Caletas beach day instead.
Can I cancel my ticket?
Yes. The Rhythms of the Night ticket on Viator, and every other tour on this page, cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.
Ready to book
Pick the evening that fits your night.
Instant confirmation, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every tour below.
Quieter evening
★ 4.63 hours452 reviewsFree cancellation
