All Inclusive Beach Club, Water Sports, Horse Ride, Food & Drinks

Stone Island gives you a simple Mazatlan beach day with transportation, lunch, drinks, and activities bundled into one price. The setting is easygoing rather than polished, with a beach restaurant, shaded tables, lounge chairs, and a menu of short water or horse activities.

I like the strong value at $59, especially if you plan to eat, have a few drinks, and use the included activities. I also like the care with cruise timing, since pickup and return times can be adjusted around your ship’s schedule. The main drawback is that the horse ride and water activities may last only 5 to 15 minutes, and food and drink choices are limited.

Key points at a glance

• Stone Island beach setting: You spend the main part of the day at a beach restaurant on Isla de las Piedras.
• Two activities included: Choose from a horse ride, banana boat ride, boogie board, or horse wagon ride.
• Cruise-friendly transfers: Pickup and drop-off are arranged around your ship’s schedule, with meeting details sent before arrival.
• Food and drinks included: Lunch, alcoholic beverages, and bottled water during transfers are part of the package.
• Simple rather than luxurious: Expect plastic beach furniture, basic food, limited drink options, and possible vendors.
• Short activity times: The included rides are useful extras, but they are not full-length excursions.

What your $59 buys at Stone Island

At $59 per person, this is best understood as a bundled beach day, not a private luxury outing. You are paying for transportation, access to the beach club, lunch, drinks, and two activities. That can be a solid deal if you would otherwise pay separately for a taxi, meal, beach access, and watersports.

The value depends on how you use the package. Someone who spends the day under shade, eats lunch, has several drinks, and takes both included activities may find the price attractive. If you mainly want a long horseback ride or a full morning of water sports, the package is less convincing.

The food package includes lunch prepared at the beach restaurant. You should expect a limited selection rather than a large buffet. One of the available ratings described the food as flavorful but limited, while another found it average. That tells you what to expect: enough to keep you fed during a beach day, but not a reason to choose the tour by itself.

Drinks are included too, including alcoholic beverages. Available choices have been described as rum, vodka, piña coladas, and lime margaritas, with a self-serve setup. The selection is narrow, but the drinks may be generously poured. Bottled water and complimentary drinks are also provided during transfers.

If you want premium spirits, a wide cocktail list, or bottled water at the beach, you may need to pay extra. One account reported a charge for bottled water at the beach, so I would bring some cash and ask which drinks are included before ordering.

Reaching Isla de las Piedras from the cruise terminal

The tour starts at about 9 a.m., but cruise passengers receive more exact pickup details close to arrival. The meeting point inside the terminal is the Green Bar, before the gazebo. After leaving the building, look for the first umbrella.

That detail matters. Mazatlan’s cruise terminal can be confusing when several transport operators are waiting outside. You should keep the meeting instructions handy and allow enough time to walk from the ship through the terminal. The operator receives your cruise schedule from the National Maritime Authority and adjusts pickup and return times around it.

Transfers use an air-conditioned vehicle, which is welcome in Mazatlan’s heat. The journey also includes movement between transportation points before reaching the beach. One description reports a van ride to a catamaran, followed by open-air buses to the beach. Conditions may feel basic, and the open-air vehicles may have worn seats.

The transport setup is part of the experience, not just a technical detail. You may change vehicles or wait during the transfer, and the route is not as smooth as a direct private car ride. On the positive side, the included transfers save you from arranging transportation on your own, and one driver named Rickie was praised for staying with the group and helping throughout the day.

The operator also adjusted timing when a ship schedule changed, with plenty of time left for the return. That is exactly the kind of service you want on a port day. Still, stay aware of your all-aboard time and tell the operator if your ship’s schedule changes.

Arriving at the beach restaurant

The main stop is Stone Island, also called Isla de las Piedras. Here, the beach restaurant provides the base for your day. You can sit near the sand, use shaded areas, order included food and drinks, and take part in your selected activities.

This is a working beach restaurant, not a resort. Furniture is mainly plastic, which may disappoint anyone expecting cushioned loungers or a polished beach club. The setup is practical for sand, salt air, and high tides, but it can feel plain.

Lounge chairs may be available, though late arrivals may have fewer choices. The shaded restaurant tables and chairs provide a useful backup. If a chair in the sun matters to you, arrive on time and ask staff where you should settle. Bring your own towel, since towels are not included.

The beach itself has shallow water and some waves. Reports differ on the water temperature, with one person finding it cold. Conditions can vary, but you should not assume warm, calm Caribbean water. This is better for a casual swim and beach sitting than for a dramatic snorkeling stop, since snorkeling is not part of the package.

Choosing your two included activities

You choose two activities from the available options. The choices include horseback riding, a banana boat ride, boogie boarding, and a horse wagon ride. Guides accompany the activities and speak English, so you can ask questions and receive instructions clearly.

The key point is timing. The activities generally last about 10 to 15 minutes, and some horseback rides have been described as only a few blocks or a short stretch along a back street. You should treat these as quick extras rather than major adventures.

Horseback riding and horse wagon rides

A horse ride can be a pleasant way to add local flavor to a beach day, but expectations matter. This is not a long ride along miles of open sand. The route may be very short, and some of it may take place on a back street near the beach.

The horse wagon option gives you a different way to ride without handling a horse yourself. It may suit families or anyone who wants a gentler activity, though the available description does not give a longer route or detailed sightseeing schedule.

If horseback riding is the main reason you are booking, I would not choose this package solely for that activity. The short duration has been a clear weak spot. If you see it as a 10-minute add-on before returning to lunch and the beach, it fits the day better.

Banana boat ride

The banana boat is the most obviously playful choice. It gives you a brief burst of speed and splashing, usually with staff managing the ride and safety instructions. The supplied information does not provide a route, boat size, or exact ride length, so ask the guide how the activity will work on your day.

This choice is likely best for people who want a quick group thrill. It is less suitable if you want a calm, quiet afternoon or have mobility limits that make boarding difficult.

Boogie board

The boogie board option lets you use the beach waves without committing to a long water excursion. Since the water is described as shallow with waves that remain swimmable, it may work well for a short play session near shore.

Again, the activity is brief. I would select it because you enjoy casual water time, not because you expect formal instruction or a long guided lesson. Ask where to collect the board and how long you may use it.

Food, drinks, shade, and beach comfort

The restaurant’s shaded area is important because five hours in direct sun can wear you down quickly. You can use the shade to eat, cool off, and take a break between activities. The beach setup also lets you choose your own pace instead of following a packed sightseeing schedule.

Lunch is part of the price, but the selection is limited. You may find only a handful of choices, so picky eaters should plan accordingly. The food has been described both as flavorful and merely average, which suggests a basic meal that does its job without being a culinary highlight.

The drink plan is also basic. Expect a short list of alcoholic drinks rather than a full bar. The self-serve arrangement may feel convenient, but it can also mean less personal service. If you do not drink alcohol, confirm what nonalcoholic options are available before you rely on the all-inclusive label.

Vendors may approach you on the beach. Staff try to keep them away from the restaurant area, but they may still come by to sell items. If you prefer an uninterrupted beach day, this is worth considering. A polite but firm no should help, though you may be approached more than once.

How organized is the day?

The experience can run smoothly, especially when the transport team communicates well. Several details point to useful customer care: English-speaking guides, flexible cruise pickup, and drivers who may stay with the group and help throughout the day.

The weak point is organization around the activities. The choices may not be explained clearly at first, and you could wait while staff arrange the rides. I would ask early which two activities are available, where each one starts, and how long each will last.

A maximum group size of 99 people is listed. That is a sizable group, even if the full capacity is not reached on your date. Large groups can mean more waiting for transfers, meals, chairs, and activities. On the other hand, the beach restaurant gives you room to spread out once the group arrives.

You should also allow for the fact that the route involves several transport stages. This is not the kind of outing where every minute is tightly timed. The flexible schedule helps cruise passengers, but it can also make the day feel less exact.

Who should book this Mazatlan beach day?

I would recommend it to you if you want a low-effort beach outing with the main costs bundled together. It suits cruise passengers who want transportation handled, a casual beach setting, lunch, drinks, and a couple of short activities.

It is also a good match if you value a relaxed day more than sightseeing. You can sit in the shade, eat, swim, take a short ride, and enjoy a drink without trying to pack several Mazatlan attractions into five hours.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the choice of activities. One person can choose a banana boat while another prefers a horse wagon or boogie board. English-speaking guides make the instructions easier to follow.

I would be more cautious if you want luxury, quiet, a full open bar, or long organized rides. The furniture is basic, the drinks are limited, vendors may approach, and the horse ride may be much shorter than expected. Anyone using a fully motorized wheelchair should contact the operator before booking, since a previous arrangement created coordination problems.

For a cruise visit, the most important practical detail is the return. Confirm the final pickup time once it is sent the evening before your arrival. Keep your ship schedule available, and tell the operator immediately if your port timing changes.

Cancellation and booking details

Confirmation is provided when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Canceling within 24 hours or changing the booking during that period does not qualify for a refund.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, you may be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but anyone with mobility concerns should discuss arrangements in advance.

Should you book the Stone Island beach club?

Book this if you want a practical, all-in-one beach day at a reasonable price. The transportation, lunch, drinks, and two activities make the package useful for a cruise stop, and the flexible pickup plan is a real advantage.

Skip it if your priority is a long horseback ride, refined food, premium drinks, or resort-level comfort. The best way to enjoy this outing is to keep expectations simple: use the activities as short extras, claim some shade, bring a towel, and see Stone Island as a relaxed beach break rather than a major adventure.

FAQ

Where does the experience take place?

The main stop is Stone Island, also known as Isla de las Piedras, in Mazatlan, Mexico.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five hours.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 9 a.m. Cruise pickup and drop-off times may be adjusted around your ship’s itinerary.

Where do cruise passengers meet the tour?

Meet inside the terminal at the Green Bar, before the gazebo. After exiting the building, look for the first umbrella.

Which activities are included?

You can choose two activities from horseback riding, a banana boat ride, boogie boarding, and a horse wagon ride.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the package.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages are included, although the available choices are limited.

Are towels provided?

No. Towels are not included, so you should bring your own.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded.