Ally Cat Sailing Adventures
Ally Cat Sailing Adventures
Ally Cat Sailing Adventures
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About
Come experience an unforgettable adventure aboard our Catamaran "Ally Cat" a 56 ft, Luxury Yacht. We are a family run business, Sailing, Snorkeling, Fishing & Whale Watching, in Banderas Bay since 1985. The trips have been TONS of FUN for the whole family!!!! We are lucky to have a fantastic crew that has worked together for the past 25 years (except Noah the Captain, (Pancho's son), who is only 25 yrs old), but has been with this crew since he was born :-) With our new boat ...... "Ally Cat".... our family has created a genuine sailing adventure that is great for all ages & occasions....... A True Adventure To Remember! From the moment you step aboard you will be greeted by the Captain & crew. Sit back & relax on one of our many comfortable deck seats, sink into one of our marine bean bags, or sun bathe on our two front large trampolines, as we whisk you off to paradise. "Ally Cat" provides top of the line snorkeling equipment, 4 kayaks, 2 paddle boards, "Boom Netting," fishing gear, and a refreshing outdoor fresh water shower. There is a beautiful cabin with 2 sofas for lounging, and a full bar area. With built-in stereo speakers all throughout the boat, Day Trips include: Light Breakfast, Snacks, Mexican Lunch prepared on the boat, Open Bar, & all the boat toys for the day. Our Main trip is from the La Cruz Marina to Las Marietas Islands, where it is home to the Blue Footed Boobie birds & beautiful reefs full of colorful tropical fish. We also will sail anywhere in the bay that you would like to go. Trips are from 9:30 am - returning around 4-5 pm. There is no substitute for quality and experience. Fun...Smiles...Exiting...Memorable... that's what we're all about... TO LIVE THE DREAM!
Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,396 reviews
Excellent
1,357
Very good
28
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
7
Armando D
11 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
So I wasn’t sure what to expect from Ally cat sailing. We found them online and had never even been to Sayulita. My wife and I were planning a wedding and decided to do it at Villa Amor ( which I highly recommend, ask for Karen) and wanted to do something for the guests the day after the wedding. We booked a Sunset cruise, 4 -7pm so everyone could sleep in and have the energy for the boat ride.
Everyone meets at the Ally Cat office and they shuttle you down to the marina. About 30min drive which is super easy with a beer in hand. When we got there we were greeted by “Buoy” a very friendly and charismatic guy. You’ll love him! Once on the boat the party gets going. The crew is there for you! Food, drinks, questions, tequila shots , whatever is on your mind they are there to get your party going.
We decided to do swimming activities first and then whale watching for the end. They have all the cool float devices, paddle boards, and a high dive if you’re on that type of boat. It became one of the best boat trips of my life. As the sun was setting a whale breached the water and amazed us with its power. Music playing, people cheering , and drinks going down easier than a beer on a Friday night. I highly recommend this company! With the right group of friends/family you’ll remember this ride for the rest of your life!
Added is a picture of my friend and his wife taking a selfie right at the moment the whale came up!
Cheers!
Armando
Everyone meets at the Ally Cat office and they shuttle you down to the marina. About 30min drive which is super easy with a beer in hand. When we got there we were greeted by “Buoy” a very friendly and charismatic guy. You’ll love him! Once on the boat the party gets going. The crew is there for you! Food, drinks, questions, tequila shots , whatever is on your mind they are there to get your party going.
We decided to do swimming activities first and then whale watching for the end. They have all the cool float devices, paddle boards, and a high dive if you’re on that type of boat. It became one of the best boat trips of my life. As the sun was setting a whale breached the water and amazed us with its power. Music playing, people cheering , and drinks going down easier than a beer on a Friday night. I highly recommend this company! With the right group of friends/family you’ll remember this ride for the rest of your life!
Added is a picture of my friend and his wife taking a selfie right at the moment the whale came up!
Cheers!
Armando
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola Armando,
Congratulations! What an adventure your wedding guests were able to experience while whale watching and decompressing from the wedding activities the day before. Our Sunset Cruise was definitely the way to go the next evening, and we are sure the sunset didn't disappoint. Wish we could see your photo on this page, I'll bet it was amazing! We look forward to seeing you on your First Anniversary for an all day trip on Banderas Bay!
Pancho, Noah, and the Ally Cat Crew
Written April 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
L3434EEbethm
22 contributions
Dec 2019
We had a family group with ages that ranged from 20 to 80 that thoroughly enjoyed our day with the Ally Cat guys.
Weather wise it was the worst day of our whole trip...chilly, rainy and choppy, but the crew did a great job keeping us all fed, hydrated and entertained. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of whales we saw and the snorkeling was great too. Exploring the islands was a bit of a let down, but that was due to the rough conditions. If you do go on a rough day, know that you have to be a strong swimmer to do the islands. The snorkeling was fine, but I think there were some who should have skipped the island part.
The fantastic crew (okay and the whales) made the trip, though. We went on a similar cruise in Hawaii and it wasn't nearly as fun. These guys do everything from sail the boat, to make and serve great food and drinks, to chase whales to perform silly shows on the bow of the boat. For example, my brother in law is the last person in the world I would expect to see with a giant smile on his face in the conga line.
Weather wise it was the worst day of our whole trip...chilly, rainy and choppy, but the crew did a great job keeping us all fed, hydrated and entertained. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of whales we saw and the snorkeling was great too. Exploring the islands was a bit of a let down, but that was due to the rough conditions. If you do go on a rough day, know that you have to be a strong swimmer to do the islands. The snorkeling was fine, but I think there were some who should have skipped the island part.
The fantastic crew (okay and the whales) made the trip, though. We went on a similar cruise in Hawaii and it wasn't nearly as fun. These guys do everything from sail the boat, to make and serve great food and drinks, to chase whales to perform silly shows on the bow of the boat. For example, my brother in law is the last person in the world I would expect to see with a giant smile on his face in the conga line.
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings!
We want to thank you for making the best of the bad weather in which, with your upbeat attitude, it turned out to be a good day for you. Mother Nature plays a hand in our business, and our crew does their best to help everyone to have a good time despite the cold, choppy waters. Family F u N is what the Ally Cat Crew is all about; Safety first, serving food and drink, entertaining, and taking care of everyone. Glad you had a "super fun" day!
Pancho, Noah, and the Ally Cat Crew
Written January 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Megan C
San Diego, CA13 contributions
Feb 2020
We rented the Fat Cat for an excursion the day before our wedding for anyone from our wedding that wanted to join. We ended up having 51 people and there was plenty of room for everyone. Booking was super easy and all information was communicated well for knowing where and when everyone was to meet.
The trip itself was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. Everything was so well organized from pickup to activities on the boat and being safely returned to Sayulita. It just happened to be Valentines Day the day we went, the Ally Cat crew was decked out and gave each of the ladies roses as they boarded. They did a special entrance for myself and my then fiancé which was so much fun. The crew made sure everyone had a drink at all times and there was great food basically the whole time. We chose to do the cruise up the coast to look for whales. And holy cow did we find whales. We followed a few groups for a bit and Buoy was fantastic with sharing his knowledge and obvious passion about the whales. We even got in the water at one point to try and hear the whales singing underwater, which we could, and was an experience I'll never forget. We continued to cruise and found whales breaching which was insane and so freaking cool.
Once we got our fill of whales for a bit we anchored near a beach and pulled out all the floaty toys. All of our guests had an amazing time hanging on the ocean toys and paddling or kayaking to the nearby beach. We spent about an hour there and then continued to cruise. Lunch was served and was actually healthy and so good!
The crew was great at keeping the party going and we had quite the dance party on the boat. They did a few things with my fiancé and I that made us feel so special.
I really cannot say enough amazing things about this trip. Everyone, including older people within our party, could not stop raving about how much fun the whole day was. Thank you so much to the Ally Cat crew for helping to make our wedding weekend something we will never forget!!
The trip itself was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. Everything was so well organized from pickup to activities on the boat and being safely returned to Sayulita. It just happened to be Valentines Day the day we went, the Ally Cat crew was decked out and gave each of the ladies roses as they boarded. They did a special entrance for myself and my then fiancé which was so much fun. The crew made sure everyone had a drink at all times and there was great food basically the whole time. We chose to do the cruise up the coast to look for whales. And holy cow did we find whales. We followed a few groups for a bit and Buoy was fantastic with sharing his knowledge and obvious passion about the whales. We even got in the water at one point to try and hear the whales singing underwater, which we could, and was an experience I'll never forget. We continued to cruise and found whales breaching which was insane and so freaking cool.
Once we got our fill of whales for a bit we anchored near a beach and pulled out all the floaty toys. All of our guests had an amazing time hanging on the ocean toys and paddling or kayaking to the nearby beach. We spent about an hour there and then continued to cruise. Lunch was served and was actually healthy and so good!
The crew was great at keeping the party going and we had quite the dance party on the boat. They did a few things with my fiancé and I that made us feel so special.
I really cannot say enough amazing things about this trip. Everyone, including older people within our party, could not stop raving about how much fun the whole day was. Thank you so much to the Ally Cat crew for helping to make our wedding weekend something we will never forget!!
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Megan,
A Private Charter for your wedding party was the way to go! Being able to choose where you wanted to sail and catering to all your friends and family on board, what could be better? You had all the time you wanted to whale watch, and all the time you wanted to anchor and play with the water toys. All of this while the crew kept everyone entertained, happy and comfortable during the trip. Thank you for choosing Ally Cat for your wedding party, and we hope to see you back for your First Anniversary!
Pancho, Noah, and the Ally Cat Crew
Written March 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mone1725
3 contributions
Mar 2021
Words can not describe how amazing the tour was. Ally Cat staff went above and beyond to make our trip memorable. We rented out the sunset Fat Kat tour with about 60 guest, (the day after our wedding) and boy did they make it one of the best experiences ever. Great music, great food, and they truly know the definition of customer service! They staff recreated a mini wedding ceremony that was soooo amazing, even made me cry like a baby all over again. We saw whales and got to swim and play! Please do not hesitate and just book, you will NOT be disappointed. To this day, my guest talk about how they want to go back to PV just to rent the Fat Kat and staff!!! We plan to book with them again this coming July!
Written April 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JayBart
Huntington Beach39 contributions
Aug 2021
The wife & I wanted to get out of the city one day during our trip to Sayulita, so we took a trip aboard the FatCat & loved it! First off, the communication/booking was quick & easy. The day of the excursion everybody meets at a small restaurant in town & gets bussed to the port (approx 45min-1 hr). There were about 40 of us aboard including the crew & did not seem any bit crowded whatsoever, as this is a huge double decker boat. The crew are amazing at their jobs & really make this excursion what it is! Always upbeat, joking around, easy to talk to, & always made sure we had a full drink! There were a few passengers that had gotten somewhat sea sick right after departure & the crew really went out of their way to help in any way they could to assist them in feeling better. The food was very good, fresh, & plentiful throughout the day starting with different fruits & pastries in the morning, nachos, quesadillas, & quacamole for snack & chicken fajitas with veggies, rice & beans for lunch. The all day vibe is great, fun & relaxing. Trust me the 5 star reviews are accurate many times over & I would highly recommend during your stay in Sayulita. Tip- if you get any bit sea sick, take precaution before getting on the boat as the swells can be rough in the mornings. Also be sure to tip the crew at the end of the day. They work their a**es off to make sure everyone has a great time!
Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
estey14
Fort McMurray, Canada19 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
From the moment you’re greeted on the spacious beautiful yacht the staff go above and beyond to make sure everyone is happy and they go out of their way in any way possible to satisfy the guests. Can’t say enough about the staff and how awesome they are and it is definitely a luxury yacht. A guest even lost their Apple Watch while at the last stop to swim and multiple staff went out diving and found it and gave it back to him in the best way possible. Definitely don’t choose any other tour company while there well worth the money and can’t wait to do it again.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings!
Thank you for choosing Ally Cat for your day on Banderas Bay. Good to hear the Apple Watch got rescued; just one of the many things our crew do to go above and beyond to make your adventure special. Our crew will be waiting for you to return for your next trip to the Riviera Nayarit.
Pancho, Noah, and the Ally Cat Crew
Written March 31, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sandavmar
Guelph, Canada49 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Did the whale watching and Marietas this past week with Ally Cat. Couldn’t have had a better experience. Our cruise was extended because we had to stop to see so many whales and the captain is ever respectful of the rules. Never too close, engine off. Marietas was amazing. We did not go to the hidden as it is a difficult swim in. The other side of the island is far more beautiful and much more fun. Thanks for the wave in the face victor. Lol. That was hilarious.
The chef was amazing and we were being fed constantly. Fresh food is a nice treat on a tour.
The entertainment on board was too much fun and they made sure to have everyone involved. Stopping and paddle boarding and diving off the boat was oh so refreshing. I wish I could remember the names of the whole staff besides Victor and Miguel, but honestly they were all fantastic. I would recommend this tour on the fat cat for all ages
The chef was amazing and we were being fed constantly. Fresh food is a nice treat on a tour.
The entertainment on board was too much fun and they made sure to have everyone involved. Stopping and paddle boarding and diving off the boat was oh so refreshing. I wish I could remember the names of the whole staff besides Victor and Miguel, but honestly they were all fantastic. I would recommend this tour on the fat cat for all ages
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings!
The FAT CAT is our newest, biggest, roomiest, most comfortable catamaran to go Whale Watching on. Our crew delights in entertaining all of our guests, with an eye toward safety for everyone on board and in the water. Besides the whales the highlight of the trip, while at anchor, is being able to jump in the water from the top deck, play with the water toys, and just plain have F u N in Banderas Bay.
Pancho, Noah, and the Ally Cat Crew
Written February 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ShoshGiz
Berkeley, CA10 contributions
Jan 2020
Went out on the water with Ally Cat adventures to Las Marietas Islands last week. Waters were rough so we did not get to go to the beach and snorkeling was so-so due to the rough waters. However, the staff made up for the nature related hiccups by far! Friendly, fun and hard working--shout out esp to Armando and Buey who entertained kids, danced and made the water play fun! We swam, jumped off the boat, enjoyed the sailing and ate well. Overall a good time!
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings,
We always like to hear how our crew goes above and beyond to make sure our guests are having a great time, even in inclement weather. Entertaining the kids is a favorite thing for them to do and there is always Safety First with everyone! Hope to see you back soon.
Pancho, Noah, and the Ally Cat Crew
Written January 19, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emily I
6 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
This crew and cruise was beyond amazing! We did the three hour private sunset tour the day after our wedding in late January with about 70 people (on the Fat Cat, a 150 person catamaran) and everything about the experience was awesome. My partner and I hadn’t looked at any of the reviews, so we were completely surprised by how attentive, engaging and hilarious the crew was going to be. I won’t spoil too much, but we had a second wedding ceremony with a pineapple bouquet and raucous dance party reception after while the booze flowed and the sun went down. From seeing humpback whales and their calves almost right away, to the swimming cove where we hung out and almost everyone got in the water, to that “wedding” ceremony, it was all timed out perfectly to get everyone relaxed and involved. One of the favorite memories is watching one of the crew swim out with a tray of margaritas and a bottle of tequila to twelve people on a float. The food was good and the drinks kept flowing. It was such a well rounded experience - amazing service, fantastic boat, food and drinks and wonderful entertainment thar engaged everyone. I would absolutely recommend these folks.
Written February 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CSB
Bremerton, WA6 contributions
Nov 2019
We booked a full day aboard and were not disappointed. Although we felt like the parents of the group, we had a blast. The staff is friendly and attentive, they provided food and drinks immediately and it kept coming. The captain was experienced and we felt safe and relaxed. We visited the Marietas Islands which are protected, you wont be able to use sun screen so dont forget to re apply once you leave. They make a fun experience of the whole day with lots of sight seeing, music and fun. At the end of the day the anchor for an hour or so so you can just swim and play. It was a true highlight of our time in Sayulita.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greetings!
Ours is a family owned business and our crew takes care of everyone from very young to the seniors aboard. From going to the Marietas to anchoring offshore, our crew entertains and keeps the experience F u N for all. Glad to hear this was a highlight of your time in Sayulita, and hope to see you on a return trip.
Pancho, Noah, and the Ally Cat Crew
Written January 19, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We are looking to book a tour for December this year. I was having difficulty getting the office to respond to inquiries. Can anyone who has recently used their service verify that they are still in business? Thank you
Written November 15, 2022
Usuallly they answer the phone. If not, go into the office, it’s right in town and if they are out they leave a sign on the door for when they will return.
Written October 18, 2021
What is the maximum amount of people per boat (ally cat, ally cat too, fat cat)? Do they usually get pretty crowded if you don't book a private charter?
Written January 26, 2020
I don't know the maximum amount of people. We had about 40 and it was a blast. I would think that would be a good number so you could move around with ease. Great trip!
Written March 1, 2020
Where is the marina where you meet for Yelapa? Since we will be staying in Punta Mita would it be to our advantage to take a cab to your office in Sayulita?
Written December 30, 2019
I’m sorry I do not know the answer to this question. We were staying in Sayulita. I am geographically challenged. Others made all the arrangements. But it’s a great excursion!!!
Written February 12, 2020
Hi there!
Going to Puerto Vallarta in 2weeks and would LOVE to experience Aly Cat Adventures. Do you only operate out of Sayulita, or do you also have a location in PV?
Written July 8, 2018
Nohad,
Thank you for looking us up, Always a fun time on the All Cat,
For best detailed info, please go to our website:
Up on the menu, we have a contact us
After we hear from you, we will send you all info,
please let us know where in P.V you are staying.
Our office is in Sayulita
We depart out of the Marina La Cruz
Hope you join us for a Super fun day`
Thank you !!!
Written July 9, 2018
Cindy, We are going to be going every Monday.
Our next trip is this Monday May 28th.
If you are here in Mexico now??? Plz send us a message, we will be happy to pass you all info for this Monday's trip on our New Boat called the FAT CAT.
Lots of fun ! Beautiful Boat ! a Trip not to be missed ~
Thank you. Debi & the Ally Cat Crew.
Written May 24, 2018
Do your guests get to swim through the entrance into Hidden Beach at the Marietas?
Written March 6, 2018
We do go to the hidden beach on some of our Private Charters.
On our day trips out to the islands, we go to the back side of Marietas. Real fun and th back side is even more beautiful then the cave ! Hope you join us!
Written April 28, 2018
How rough are the waters? I often get seasick but would love to do this trip. Anyone have experience with this problem and this trip? Thanks.
Written February 21, 2018
Our day was fairly smooth and no one got sick
Written April 8, 2018
We’re on 8:30 am tour on Feb 8, 2018? We are looking for photos from our day!
Written February 9, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.