Marina Yucalpetén
Yucatán's main commercial and recreational harbor — protected, modern, with fuel, ice and full services. Your charter leaves directly from the slip.
Pick your Progreso yacht
15 private crewed boats out of Marina Yucalpetén. Tap any card for full specs, gallery and direct booking.
15 yachts available · from MXN $7,999 to $49,999
Yucatán north coast · crewed charters
Private Yacht & Boat Charters in Progreso — Marina Yucalpetén
Private boat and yacht charters from Marina Yucalpetén, Progreso's protected harbor. Unlike Cancún's busy Caribbean scene, the Gulf side offers calm coastal cruising, world-class sport fishing and expedition access to Arrecife Alacranes — the largest reef in the Gulf of Mexico and a UNESCO-backed biosphere reserve.
All charters are crewed (captain + mate), include fuel, ice, drinking water and safety equipment, and depart from Marina Yucalpetén, 10 minutes from downtown Progreso and 40 minutes from Mérida. Perfect for small groups, families and anglers who want a quieter, more authentic alternative to the Caribbean charter circuit.
Charter packages scale from 4-hour sunset cruises to full-day Alacranes expeditions. Menu, drinks and water-toys are customizable.
Why charter from Progreso
Why Progreso is Mexico's best-kept charter secret
Protected marina, calm Gulf waters, reef access and honest yucateco service — a very different charter experience from Cancún.
Arrecife Alacranes
The largest reef in the Gulf of Mexico, 130 km north. UNESCO biosphere reserve. Full-day snorkel and fishing expeditions for serious guests.
Sport fishing paradise
Grouper, red snapper, kingfish, cobia, mahi-mahi, sailfish. Deep-sea charters with pro guides, rods and tackle included.
Sunset coastal cruises
Cruise the Progreso malecón at golden hour, watch the pier lights come on. Drinks, canapés and yucateca playlist on board.
Private, not shared
Every charter is yours alone — no mixing with other groups. Plan your route, menu and timing with the captain.
Honest pricing
Progreso prices are 30–40% below Cancún for equivalent boats. No resort markup. No charter-broker middleman — direct with operator.
Best conditions
When to charter in Progreso
Gulf waters are calmest Apr–Aug. "Nortes" (cold fronts, Oct–Mar) bring strong winds — coastal half-day charters are fine, but Alacranes expeditions and offshore fishing are weather-dependent and we reschedule if swell exceeds 2 m.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak season
Good
Low
6–12
Guests on board
3–12 h
Charter length
Yucalpetén
Departure marina
130 km
Alacranes distance
⭐
4.9/5
350+ reviews
🛡️
Secure booking
Direct with operator
✅
Free cancellation
Up to 48 h before
⚡
Instant response
Within 1 hour
Charter types from Marina Yucalpetén
Pick your adventure — all crewed, all private, all configurable.
4 hours
Half-Day Coastal Cruise
Cruise the Progreso–Chicxulub coast, anchor for a swim and ceviche lunch. Perfect intro for families and first-timers.
3 hours
Sunset Charter
Depart 2 hours before sunset. Drinks, canapés, live playlist. Golden hour along the malecón and pier — very photogenic.
6–8 hours
Deep-Sea Fishing
Sport-fishing charter 20–40 mi offshore. Grouper, snapper, kingfish, mahi, cobia, sailfish seasonal. Rods, tackle and ice included.
Signature
Full day (12h)
Arrecife Alacranes Expedition
Dawn departure for the UNESCO reef 130 km north. Snorkel or dive among the largest reef system in the Gulf. Fast boat required.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the charter depart from?
All our charters depart from Marina Yucalpetén, Progreso's protected harbor. It's 10 minutes from downtown Progreso, 40 minutes from Mérida. We send exact slip details and parking instructions 24 h before your charter.
How many people can come?
Depends on the boat: 4–6 guests for sport-fishing boats, 8–12 for mid-size cruisers, up to 20 on our larger yachts. Tell us your group size and we'll match you to the right boat.
Can we reach Arrecife Alacranes in a day?
Yes, but only on a fast charter (25+ knots) in calm weather. Total distance is 260 km round-trip — about 3 h each way. Dawn departure, 4 h on the reef, sunset return. Weather-dependent — we reschedule if swell exceeds 2 m.
What fish can I catch?
The Yucatán shelf is famously productive. Coastal: grouper, red snapper, kingfish, barracuda, amberjack. Offshore: mahi-mahi, cobia, sailfish (Feb–Jun peak), occasional tuna. Our fishing captains know the local pinnacles and wrecks.
Is there a closed fishing season?
Commercial grouper closes Feb–Mar but sport-catch-and-release is allowed. Otherwise Yucatán has no general closed seasons for sport fishing. We'll guide you on the day's best target species.
What's included on a charter?
Captain, mate, fuel, ice, drinking water, safety equipment, life vests, standard snorkel gear (coastal charters), fishing rods and tackle (fishing charters). Food and alcohol are typically bring-your-own or we can arrange a catered menu for an extra fee.
Can we combine with Mérida cultural visits?
Yes — this is our most common package. Morning charter + afternoon Mérida, or the reverse. We can coordinate Uber/transport so you don't lose time.
Is there a specific yacht I can pick?
Yes — our Progreso fleet listing above has 15 boats ranging from a 25 ft Bayliner lancha up to a 77 ft Cupecoy mega-yacht. Each card links to a full page with gallery, specs, pricing and direct booking. If you'd rather tell us your group size and budget, we'll pick the right match.
How is this cheaper than Cancún?
Progreso is a working fishing port, not a resort zone. Dockage, fuel and crew costs are 30–40% lower, and there's no tourist-tax layer. You get the same quality boat for noticeably less money.
What if weather cancels my charter?
Full refund or free reschedule if we cancel for weather. Nortes and tropical storms are the main concern Oct–Mar and Aug–Sep respectively. We monitor NOAA and local harbormaster forecasts.
Ready to charter from Progreso?
Our Yucatán team responds within 1 hour. Bookings via phone or email — we'll send boat options, pricing and dock details.
Yacht Charter in Progreso
Marina Yucalpetén departures