The Mexican Caribbean is one of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the world. Sixty kilometres of reef sit within an easy day's sail; the water rests at twenty-seven degrees for most of the year; and the coast is dotted with anchorages — Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, El Cielo sandbar, Puerto Aventuras — where the sea turns a shade of turquoise that photographs cannot quite capture. A private yacht charter is the right way to see all of it.
Riviera Maya Escape charters motor yachts, sailing catamarans and sport-fishing vessels for the day or the week, with a captain and crew who know these waters as their own. We do not sell shared cruises: every departure is exclusive to your group, every itinerary written around what you want the day to feel like.
Day charters from Cancún and Playa del Carmen
The classic itinerary from Cancún is a day at Isla Mujeres — a one-hour cruise across the channel, snorkelling on Manchones reef before the crowds arrive, lunch at anchor in the north bay, an afternoon on the sand at Playa Norte and a slow return with cocktails at sunset. From Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras, the equivalent day heads to Cozumel and the El Cielo sandbar, where you can stand knee-deep in perfectly clear water surrounded by starfish.
Every day charter includes captain, hostess, fuel, chef-prepared menu, premium open bar, snorkelling gear and paddleboards. Larger yachts add seabobs, wakeboards and a divemaster on request. Music is yours — Bluetooth to a professional-grade sound system throughout.
Yacht styles for every mood
For couples and small families, a 46-foot flybridge motor yacht is the most requested vessel: fast, elegant, quiet at anchor, with a shaded upper deck and a swim platform at the stern. For groups of ten to twenty, we recommend a 60- to 75-foot motor yacht or a large sailing catamaran, both of which offer a full salon, multiple cabins for changing and quiet moments, and enough deck space for everyone to spread out.
For serious travellers, superyachts of 80 to 150 feet are available for weekly charters through Cozumel, Holbox and the Belize barrier reef. Sport-fishing vessels rigged for marlin, sailfish and mahi-mahi depart from Puerto Aventuras and Playa del Carmen with tournament-grade captains at dawn.
On board, the concierge continues
The same standard that shapes our villas shapes every charter. Chef-prepared menus of ceviche, fresh fish, tacos, salads and fruit are the baseline; on request we bring a Michelin-trained chef on board for a tasting menu at anchor. The bar is stocked to your preferences — mezcal flights, natural wines, sober-curious cocktails, kids' juices, whatever the day calls for.
Every crew member is briefed on your group before departure: names, allergies, birthdays, comfort level in the water, and any celebration on the horizon. Discretion is total — no crew photography, no vessel branding on your images, no shared client lists.
Celebrations at anchor
A private yacht is one of the great settings for a milestone. We produce bachelor and bachelorette days at sea, birthday cruises with live saxophone at sunset, corporate hospitality afternoons with a hosted bar, and marriage proposals at anchor with a photographer discreetly positioned on a second vessel two hundred metres away.
For overnight charters, we design multi-day itineraries: Cancún to Holbox with dinner ashore, Puerto Aventuras to Cozumel with two nights at anchor, or a full circuit of the reef with the chef preparing every meal on board.
Booking your charter
Send us the date, the group size, the port you'd prefer to depart from, and a sentence or two about the day you have in mind. Within twenty-four hours we return two or three vessel proposals with photography, a suggested itinerary and a transparent all-in quote.
Peak weekends and holidays book eight to twelve weeks in advance for the finest yachts. For the rest of the year, seven to fourteen days is comfortable. Same-week availability is often possible — one message is enough to find out.
Answers from your concierge
How much does a private yacht charter in the Riviera Maya cost?+
A 46-foot motor yacht for a full day (eight hours) with captain, hostess, fuel, snorkelling gear and open bar starts around USD 2,400. Sailing catamarans start around USD 1,800. Superyachts of 80 to 150 feet are quoted individually.
Where can we sail from Cancún or Playa del Carmen?+
The most requested day is Isla Mujeres from Cancún — an hour's cruise, calm anchorages, snorkelling on the reef, lunch on board. From Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras we cruise to Cozumel, El Cielo sandbar or private coves. Multi-day charters reach Holbox and the Belize border.
Is food included?+
Yes. Every charter includes a chef-prepared menu — ceviche, tacos, fresh fish, salads, fruit — an open premium bar, and unlimited water and soft drinks. Special menus (vegan, kosher, tasting) are available with notice.
What water toys are on board?+
Snorkelling gear for every guest, paddleboards, floating platforms and, on larger yachts, seabobs, kayaks, wakeboards and towable toys. Divemasters and instructors on request.
How many guests can join?+
By Mexican regulation, day charters carry a fixed maximum per vessel — usually ten guests on a 46-footer, up to twenty on larger yachts. Overnight charters cabin a smaller number more comfortably.
Can we book a private yacht for a proposal or a birthday?+
Absolutely. We coordinate flowers, a photographer at anchor, a chef-prepared celebration menu, cake, live music and Champagne. Marriage proposals at anchor at sunset are one of our most requested experiences.