Las Vegas cruises and boat tours

The best things to see and do in Las Vegas are as diverse as the city's entertainment industry itself. There are family activities, there are activities for adult couples, there are plenty of options for gambling fanatics and there are also plenty of plans that connect with the natural beauty of this western American setting. Las Vegas boat tours fall into the latter category of activities and stand out for the fact that they are a water-based activity in one of the driest parts of the United States.

So in this post I'll briefly explain each type of boat tour available to you to enjoy during your visit to Las Vegas. I will also explain the defining characteristics of each of these alternatives so that you have a better idea of what distinguishes one from the other.

At the time of its creation during the Great Depression, the Hoover Dam was the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world and also the most impressive concrete construction to date within the United States. Its unique beauty has always been a tourist destination for those touring the Southwest and a trip to the Hoover Dam in Las Vegas is often combined with a boat ride on nearby Lake Mead.

Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir in the nation and provides water to Las Vegas and Arizona as well as other communities in Southern California. A tour of this kind usually starts in Las Vegas, where a meeting point is set up for all tour participants or a pick-up route starts at some of the major hotels on the Las Vegas strip.

From there, a journey begins in a luxurious and modern minibus that is usually reserved for 20 to 25 people who will participate in the tour. You will arrive at the dam after about an hour and there you will have a guided tour in which the same escort of the bus route will tell you all the historical details of this important work of modern civil engineering.

Finally, it's time for the boat ride on Lake Mead, which usually lasts about 90 minutes and depending on the chosen package may include a picnic dinner to enjoy the sunset. The boat is usually a sleek steamboat, but there are also occasions when it's a shorter ride of about an hour, using a boat with inflatable rims to navigate from Lake Mead to the vicinity of the Hoover Dam across that small stretch of the Colorado River.

Details of interest:

• Price: prices for these activities vary widely, with some starting from around €60 excluding the boat ride. When including the boat ride, the price goes up to 120 euros and even up to 180 euros if it is a steam cruise that includes live music and dinner as part of the river navigation experience.
• Duration: If it's a conventional tour, where you only go around the dam along with a short boat ride on the section of the Colorado River closest to the dam, then you're looking at about 5 hours. However, if you include dinner on the steamboat, it would be 7 hours in total from the time you leave your hotel and return in time to participate in the Las Vegas night tours you are most interested in.
• Advantages: These types of tours are not as extensive and allow participants to still have energy when they return to the city to continue participating in other tourist activities.
• Disadvantages: The boat ride is not as long as many tourists would like it to be, at least in the non-dinner alternatives on the smaller boat.

The best tours from Las Vegas are those that know how to combine several activities into one itinerary to give the most complete experience possible for their participants. That's why a small trip like this one can be entertaining, as it allows you to see the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam and the Black Canyon, while navigating the calm and beautiful waters of the latter.

This is a tour that also starts with an early morning departure from Las Vegas, but the itinerary changes due to the fact that the Grand Canyon and its natural attractions would be the first stop on the tour route. You will arrive specifically at the West Rilm Trail, which is a nature trail that offers you one of the most privileged and free panoramic views of this natural wonder.

Next would be the visit of Lake Mead and then the arrival at the Hoover Dam, where the guide who has accompanied you throughout the trip also details many interesting aspects of the history of this impressive construction. From there it's on to the part that interests you the most, which is a tour of the Black Canyon in a small, modest boat that allows you to get a close-up view of the breathtaking beauty that characterises these geological formations.

Keep in mind that there is also usually an option on this type of itinerary that allows you to add a helicopter tour departing from Boulder City for the first half of the trip. Which means that in the same day you could see the beauty of the different Colorado River canyons from the sky, the land and finally from the water on a boat ride.

Details of interest:

• Price: an itinerary that also includes a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas along with a boat ride on some of the nearby navigable bodies of water usually costs around 550 euros per person. However, if it's a tour that only includes navigation of the Colorado River through Black Canyon then it's more likely to be around 150 to 250 euros per person.
• Duration: knowing that there are so many activities in the same tourist segment it is logical to understand that it is a trip that usually lasts 11 hours in its entirety. However, it should be noted that the navigation section of the Colorado River only lasts an hour and a half at the most on most occasions.
• Advantages: For a one-time fee, you get a complete sightseeing experience that allows you to see the Grand Canyon both on a boat ride, as you wish, as well as from the air in a modern and impressive helicopter.
• Disadvantages: This type of trip to the Colorado River is not short at all, and if there is a delay it can easily extend for 12 hours, so it is only a viable option for those who have a whole day available for this activity.

On the other hand, if you're all about the adrenaline rush when it comes to boating in Las Vegas then you'll want to check out these tours that focus on the more turbulent sections of the Colorado River as it winds its way through the meandering geography of the Grand Canyon. The rapids range from category 3 to 6 in their level of intensity.

These Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas begin in the early morning hours at the designated starting point in the city and consist of a bus that usually transports 30 to 40 people to the community of Peach Springs. There, you'll board a sturdy boat to navigate a stretch of the Colorado River that stretches for approximately 40 miles. You'll also be provided with safety equipment ranging from life jackets to helmets and elbow pads.

River rafting usually lasts about 5.5 hours, but that's usually in addition to a helicopter ride to appreciate the beauty of this national park from above. This means that the return to Las Vegas is usually not until after 10 hours in total. Just like the rest of the best national park tours from Las Vegas, lunch is also included and is usually eaten right after the Grand Canyon rapids session.

Among all the alternatives mentioned above, this is the one that best combines the extreme and exciting essence of Las Vegas with the peculiar beauty that characterises the area where the capital of leisure and entertainment in the United States is located. However, you have to keep in mind that the minimum age for participation is 8 years old and therefore it is not an activity for the whole family for safety reasons.

Details of interest:

• Price: the price of this tour route is very similar to the previous alternative, due to the fact that they also combine aerial helicopter tours with sailing sessions, only in this case it is much more extensive and much more exciting. It usually costs around 650 euros per person and that includes lunch and payment for each and every guide on the trip itinerary.
• Duration: 11 hours is the approximate duration for such a trip, but traffic may be in your favour as well as the water level in the river. So the trip can be reduced to 10 hours, which is still more than enough time to keep you entertained throughout the morning and afternoon of your day.
• Pros: Rafting is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and being able to do it in a place as special as the Grand Canyon is a real privilege that shouldn't be taken for granted if you can take advantage of a trip like this.
• Disadvantages: Age limitations can make a whitewater rafting trip like this an unfeasible plan for whole family groups. This would make the youngest members of the household feel left out and affect the tourist dynamic for everyone.

There are several ways to book a Las Vegas boat tour, but for different reasons the best of all alternatives will always be an online purchase of the service. The first is convenience, as you can do it from home at the very moment you have the money on your credit card to do so.

The second is a matter of logistical convenience, because by purchasing online you can choose the date and time that suits you best. This ensures that you have availability for the day you want to enjoy this tour on your visit to Sin City.

Keep in mind that nowadays most entertainment events or tourist services are purchased this way. So an online purchase is also often the best way to book a limousine tour of Las Vegas or to book a dining tour of the city's best establishments.

As you may have noticed in each of the tours above, a Las Vegas boat tour can last as long as the partying identity of the most nocturnal city on the west coast of the United States. On average, they tend to last between 1 and 2 hours if it's a leisurely tour in a medium or large boat, such as the boats that take you to the Hoover Dam or those that offer a picnic dinner with live music.

However, boat tours on the rapids of the Colorado River tend to last much longer and on average can extend for 4 or 5 hours. Keep in mind that this form of boating is much more exhausting than the other two, but you won't run out of energy to continue enjoying the best casinos in Las Vegas when you return to the city at night.

The first thing I can highlight among the things you'll see on a Las Vegas boat tour is the stretch of desert you'll have to travel through to get from the city to Lake Mead or to the Colorado River. Which is an environment that in itself has quite a significant charm and makes a road trip one of the best things to do in Las Vegas in winter.

Now, Lake Mead as such is a very interesting place, as it is the epicentre of all water activities such as paddle surfing, boating or open water swimming for the entire population that is close to the Grand Canyon. This last site is one of the great natural wonders of the United States and any description I try to make falls short for a site with its majesty.

Finally, the Black Canyon is another equally interesting geological formation, but in this case it is for the landscape that is formed between the level of the Colorado River and the mountains that surround it. The scenery is much more abundant at this point of its journey and contrasts with the high rock cliffs of volcanic and millenary origin.

There are several tips I can give you to make the most of your Las Vegas boat ride on your next visit to the city. The first is to take sunscreen with you, as the incidence of UV rays in this desert part of the far west is extremely strong and if you don't take care of your skin you will no doubt return to the city with a sunburn that will be quite uncomfortable.

The second is to choose comfortable, breathable clothing, especially if you will be taking part in the Grand Canyon whitewater ra fting. In this case, you will definitely get wet and it is preferable to have quick-drying shorts with you. Actually, in this case, it is advisable that you carry in your bag some change of clothes that will guarantee you comfort for your bus ride back to the city.

You cannot forget to take with you entertainment options for the road trip in case of travelling with kids, knowing that it is one of the things to see and do in Las Vegas with kids that take place outside the city. Also, it's advisable to take some cold food with you that you can eat quickly at some of the stops, as you never know when you'll work up an appetite and on an 11-hour tour it's best to take precautions like this.

It will always be a better option to go on a guided tour like the ones I have mentioned, rather than having to go to the Colorado River or Lake Mead on your own. The first reason I say this is a logistical issue, as on a prefabricated tour you just worry about enjoying yourself knowing that you have a team that is ready to solve any inconvenience as soon as it arises.

The second reason is a time and money management issue, as when travelling on your own you will have to rent a private car, put gas in the tank and drive to the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead. All this with absolutely no knowledge of how access to these sites works.

You'll also have to figure out on your own how to get to the boat docks, and worse, you'll have to find out if there are any agencies that offer tours for people who haven't booked them in advance. So an expertly planned itinerary is always a good idea, just like the best tour buses in Las Vegas and their tours of the famous Strip.