Zamá / Journal / The complete guide
Private yacht charter in Cancún.Everything before the deposit.
The Caribbean at Cancún runs from cobalt to translucent turquoise in a few metres, and the way to see it properly is from your own boat, away from the beach clubs and the shared catamarans. This is what a private charter includes, what it costs, which boat fits your group, and when to go.
What “private charter” means
The whole boat is yours: no other guests, no shared schedule, no strangers. You set the pace, choose where to anchor, decide when to swim and when to leave. A shared catamaran tour puts 40–80 people on a fixed itinerary with a buffet; a private charter costs more per ticket on paper, but split across ten to fifteen people it is often the same money or less — and a different day. Quick maths: a shared tour at $80–120 a person for ten guests is $800–1,200; a private Sea Ray for the same ten is $1,150, or $115 each, with the boat, the drinks, the gear and a crew that works for you alone. The full comparison is here.
What is included
Inclusions vary between operators, so always confirm. With Zamá, every Isla Mujeres day charter includes six hours aboard (10:00 out, about 16:00 back); 24 waters, 24 sodas and 24 beers on ice; a full snorkel set for every guest; a licensed bilingual captain and a crew member; life vests and safety equipment; fuel and port fees; and the route to Isla Mujeres with the reef stop and Playa Norte. Add-ons: decorations $200, a professional photographer + drone $300, catering $45 a person; extra drinks and longer hours on request. The one cost outside the price is the marina’s own gate fee, 180 pesos, paid at the dock.
What it costs in 2026
| Experience | Time | Guests | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isla Mujeres day charter | 6 hours | up to 15 | $1,150 |
| Sunset hours | 4 hours in the 4–10 pm window · 6 on request | up to 15 | from $900 |
| Jet ski tour | 1 hour | per ski | from $125 |
| The Zamá Signature (charter + jet ski + drone/GoPro) | full day · 8 h on request | up to 15 | from $1,600 |
Prices are for the boat, not per person. Be careful with quotes far below these: it usually means a shared departure, an older boat, no certified crew, or upselling at the marina.
Which boat for your group
Sea Ray 440 Sundancer
The leaner of the two: a sleek profile, a spacious cockpit, a bow sun pad, and a full cabin with air conditioning below. Fast enough to make the crossing efficiently and stable at anchor — the boat that runs the Isla Mujeres day most often.
Sea Ray 455 Sundancer
The flagship: extended swim platform, two private staterooms, a saloon with leather seating and a master cabin. If the group includes couples who want somewhere private, or the day is an occasion, this is the boat. Both take up to fifteen guests. See the fleet.
The Isla Mujeres route, hour by hour
10:00 — depart Marina Mundo Marino (Blvd. Kukulcán km 6.5, hotel zone), out through the lagoon, under the bridge and into open water. 10:45 — the reef on the island’s north tip; visibility of 15–20 metres is normal. 11:30 — anchor in the shallows off Playa Norte: swim, float, lunch on the island if you like. 13:30 — the slow way home along the west coast, a second swim stop if the group wants it. 16:00 — back at the marina. The day in full detail.
When to go
December to April is the calmest and driest stretch, and the busiest — book early. May and June are quieter with the same water and often the best reef visibility. July and August bring Mexican summer holidays and brief afternoon storms. September and October are peak hurricane season: many days are perfect and prices are lowest, and the seven-day free cancellation covers you if a port closure is called.
What to ask before paying a deposit
- Is the boat exclusively ours, and which boat exactly?
- Is the captain licensed, and is there a second crew member?
- What is included — drinks, snorkel gear, fuel, port fees — and what is paid at the marina?
- What happens if the captain cancels for weather? (With Zamá: full refund or free reschedule.)
- How is the deposit taken, and what is the cancellation window? (30%, free cancellation up to seven days before.)
Questions people ask
With Zamá, $1,150 for a six-hour Isla Mujeres day charter for up to fifteen guests, everything but the 180-peso marina fee included. Sunset hours from $900; jet skis from $100 per ski; the Signature package from $1,600.
Up to fifteen guests on either Sea Ray Sundancer. For larger groups we can sometimes arrange two boats leaving together.
For the boat. Four people or fifteen, the charter is $1,150. Only jet skis are priced per ski.
The marina’s gate fee (180 pesos, paid at the dock), gratuity, and the add-ons: decorations $200, photographer + drone $300, catering $45 a person, extra drinks and longer hours on request.
Choose the experience, group and date on the booking page; a 30% deposit by card holds the date and the balance is paid at the marina. Free cancellation up to seven days before.