Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Sept. 26, 2026 — A private yacht of about 60 feet sank Saturday afternoon near the Ameca River mouth off Puerto Vallarta, with everyone aboard rescued and no injuries reported.
The vessel went down about a mile offshore near Boca de Tomates, close to the Jalisco-Nayarit boundary, according to an initial report published Saturday afternoon. Nearby private boats and aquatic-rescue personnel helped get those aboard to safety.
The number of people aboard remained unclear Saturday night. The initial account reported 10 passengers and two crew members, while a later report published in Nayarit said 25 people were aboard. Both reports said everyone was rescued without reported injuries.
Private boats reached the yacht before rescuers arrived
The first account said nearby vessels noticed the yacht was in trouble and moved in to help as personnel from the aquatic-rescue service responded.
Passengers and crew were helped off the yacht and later transported to Puerto Mágico in Puerto Vallarta, according to that report. The cause of the sinking had not been determined when the first account was published at 5:52 p.m. Saturday.
A later account identified the yacht as the Loreta and described coordination involving authorities from Puerto Vallarta, Bahía de Banderas and maritime personnel. However, that report did not explain why its passenger count differed from the earlier account.
Our review of publicly available municipal and Mexican Navy information Saturday night did not locate a same-day official incident bulletin resolving the conflicting headcounts. For that reason, PVDN is not treating either passenger total as independently confirmed.
No reported injuries as Puerto Vallarta faced rougher seas
The sinking occurred during a period of increased marine risk along Puerto Vallarta’s coastline.
Puerto Vallarta maintained red-flag restrictions on its beaches Saturday because of high surf, according to Vallarta Daily’s beach conditions report. National civil protection officials also advised people in coastal areas to stay out of the sea and away from breaking waves because of elevated surf and dangerous currents.
Conditions had already been changing around Boca de Tomates. On Friday, municipal Civil Protection Director Misael López Muro said elevated surf and high tide were expected to affect the coast beginning Saturday afternoon and potentially continue through Tuesday. A local report said tide-driven water had reached restaurant structures at Boca de Tomates despite sandbags placed along the shoreline.
No verified evidence links those conditions or Hurricane Polo to the yacht’s sinking. The initial incident report specifically said the cause remained unknown.
Immediate impact centered on the marine rescue
The reports reviewed by PVDN described no injuries among those rescued and no separate emergency involving people in the water after the evacuation.
They also did not report a broader interruption to Puerto Vallarta’s commercial port operations. The immediate response centered on the disabled yacht, nearby private vessels, aquatic-rescue personnel, and the transfer of those rescued to Puerto Mágico.
Municipal authorities continued urging residents and visitors Saturday to respect red-flag beach restrictions while elevated surf remained along the Puerto Vallarta coastline.
