A day charter gives you the Caribbean for an afternoon. A long charter gives it to you overnight: dinner on deck, a sky full of stars and a morning swim before breakfast. With Riviera Charters, you can sleep onboard a luxury yacht or catamaran for 36 or 60 hours, departing from Cancún or Tulum. Here’s what to expect, which yachts are available and how to plan the perfect stay at sea.
There’s a moment on every great charter when you wish the day didn’t have to end. On a long charter, it doesn’t. Instead of heading back to the marina as the sun goes down, you stay out on the water with your own crew, your own chef and nowhere you need to be. It’s the most relaxed way to experience the Riviera Maya, and it turns a boat trip into a stay you’ll talk about for years.
What a Long Charter Actually Is
A long charter is a private yacht charter where you sleep onboard. Riviera Charters offers two lengths, 36 hours and 60 hours, from both Cancún and Tulum. Tulum charters depart from Puerto Aventuras.
Everything that makes a day charter special is still there: your captain, steward and deckhand, a chef cooking onboard and an unlimited premium open bar. The difference is time. With a night or two at sea, there’s no rush to fit everything in, and the yacht becomes your floating base rather than a day out.
36 Hours or 60 Hours?
The right length depends on how much time you have and how slow you’d like to go.
A 36-hour charter gives you one full night onboard with two days on the water around it. It’s perfect for a celebration, a romantic escape or a taste of life at sea without giving up too much of your holiday.
A 60-hour charter gives you more time to settle into the rhythm of the boat. It suits guests who want the yacht to be the heart of their trip, with more time for swimming, long meals and doing absolutely nothing.
Prices are for 1 to 2 guests, with each additional guest at $160 USD. The 51 ft Leopard Catamaran is the only yacht available for 60-hour charters, from either Cancún or Tulum. If you’re weighing up a motor yacht against a catamaran, our guide to choosing the right yacht is a helpful place to start.
What’s Included
A long charter is designed so you don’t have to think about a thing once you’re onboard. Every long charter includes your captain, steward and deckhand, a chef onboard, an exclusive menu with snacks and full meals, an unlimited premium open bar, towels and use of the sound system so you can play your own music. On Tulum 36-hour charters, a paddle board is included too.
A few costs sit outside the charter price: a dock fee of $20 USD per person from Puerto Aventuras or $15 USD per person from Cancún, paid at the marina before boarding, plus tips, where we recommend 10% to 15%. Transport between your hotel and the marina isn’t included, so ask our team about roundtrip options when you book.
Why Sleeping Onboard Is Worth It
The best moments on the water often happen outside day-charter hours. On a long charter, you get the golden light of late afternoon without watching the clock, dinner served on deck as the sky changes colour, and a quiet, starlit night at sea. Then you wake up already on the water, ready for a swim before breakfast while everyone else is still on their way to the marina.
It’s also the most private way to enjoy the Caribbean. There’s no hotel lobby, no queue for the pool and no shared spaces. Just your group, your crew and a lot of open water.
“A day charter shows you the Caribbean. A long charter lets you live on it for a little while.”
Riviera Charters TeamWho a Long Charter Suits
Long charters are a beautiful fit for honeymoons, anniversaries and milestone birthdays, when you want the occasion to feel bigger than a single day. They also suit small groups of friends or family who’d love to share something truly different on their trip. If you’re celebrating, let our team know when you book, and they can help with touches like a cake onboard, roses or a private photographer through our premium upgrades.
Planning Your Long Charter
A little planning goes a long way with an overnight stay at sea. Have a rough guest count ready, as it helps match you to the right yacht and pricing. Think about whether Cancún or Tulum suits your trip better, and how you’ll get to the marina. If anyone in your group has dietary needs or special requests, mention them when you enquire.
Long charters are a limited, special experience, so it pays to enquire early, especially if you have your heart set on a particular yacht or date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Riviera Charters offers long charters of 36 or 60 hours where you sleep onboard a luxury yacht or catamaran, departing from Cancún or from Puerto Aventuras for Tulum.
36-hour charters start from $6,900 USD on the 43 ft Azimut in Tulum, and 60-hour charters start from $17,600 USD on the 51 ft Leopard Catamaran. Prices are for 1 to 2 guests, with $160 USD per additional guest.
Your captain, steward, deckhand and chef, an exclusive menu with snacks and full meals, an unlimited premium open bar, towels and use of the sound system. Tulum 36-hour charters also include a paddle board.
The dock fee of $20 USD per person from Puerto Aventuras or $15 USD per person from Cancún, paid at the marina before boarding, tips, where we recommend 10% to 15%, and transport between your hotel and the marina.
60-hour charters run on the 51 ft Leopard Catamaran, from either Cancún or Tulum. For 36-hour charters, you can also choose the 43 ft Azimut, 58 ft Azimut or 60 ft Sunseeker Manhattan, depending on your departure area.
Spend a Night on the Caribbean
Choose your yacht, your departure area and your dates, and our team will take care of everything from the menu to the moment you step aboard.
