The best excursions in Cabo, ranked, with how long each takes and who it suits
Nine Cabo excursions ranked, from the Arch by boat to a Todos Santos day trip, with the time each needs and who it suits.
In this guide
- Cabo excursions ranked
- 1. A boat trip to the Arch
- 2. Snorkeling at Santa María Bay
- 3. Whale watching
- 4. Sunset cruise
- 5. A full day on the corridor
- 6. ATV and camel rides
- 7. Zipline and adventure parks
- 8. A day trip to Todos Santos
- 9. The Art Walk in San José del Cabo
- Cabo excursions for couples
- Cabo excursions for families
- Private boat or shared tour?
- Putting your excursions together
The best excursion in Cabo is a boat trip to the Arch at Land's End. It's 1.2 miles from Marina Cabo San Lucas, and in 2 hours you also see Pelican Rock, the sea lions and Lover's Beach, from USD 519 (MXN 9,799) per boat for a private charter. After that come snorkeling at Santa María Bay, whale watching from November to April, and a sunset cruise. On land, the top picks are an ATV ride in the desert, a zipline park and a day trip to Todos Santos.
We book private yachts, so the water excursions here link to our own trips and prices. For the land ones we list what they are and how long they take, without names or prices, because we don't sell them.
Cabo excursions ranked
| # | Excursion | Time needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boat to the Arch | 2 hours | Everyone, first-timers |
| 2 | Snorkel Santa María Bay | 4 hours | Swimmers, families |
| 3 | Whale watching | 3 hours | Everyone, November to April |
| 4 | Sunset cruise | 2 hours | Couples, small groups |
| 5 | Full day on the corridor | 5 to 8 hours | Groups, celebrations |
| 6 | ATV and camel ride | Half day | Adults and teens |
| 7 | Zipline park | Half day | Active groups |
| 8 | Todos Santos day trip | Full day | Couples, culture |
| 9 | San José Art Walk | One evening | Couples, Thursdays Nov to Jun |
The ranking favors what you can't do anywhere else and what fits into a short trip. Numbers 1 to 4 each take a few hours, so you can do one in the morning and still have the afternoon at the pool.
1. A boat trip to the Arch
The Arch, El Arco, is the granite arch at the very tip of the Baja peninsula, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The best angle is from the water, which is why every boat route passes it.
The standard 2 hour route goes from the marina to Pelican Rock, the sea lion colony, the Arch, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach, then back along Médano Beach. It's 4.7 miles round trip. On a private boat, your captain slows down where you want photos and idles near the sea lions without disturbing them.
It suits everyone: first-timers, families, groups, cruise passengers on a port day. Our Cabo Arch boat tour article goes through the route stop by stop.
2. Snorkeling at Santa María Bay
Santa María Bay is a sheltered horseshoe cove up the coast, with reef along both points and clear water. It's one of the favorite snorkel stops in Los Cabos, 6.7 miles from the marina, and it's worth the ride on charters of four hours or more.
Our snorkel experience is a typical 4 hour charter: the Arch first, then Santa María, with a swim stop on the way back. July, October and November are the best months, when the water is about 81 to 85°F (27 to 29°C). Mornings are usually calmer, since the wind tends to build after midday.
On a shorter trip, Pelican Rock is the snorkel stop. It's a rocky point inside the bay, minutes from the dock, where reef fish swim close to the surface. Every yacht includes snorkel gear.
3. Whale watching
Humpback whales start arriving in November. The official whale-watching season set by SEMARNAT ran December 15 to April 30 in 2025 to 2026, and January and February are the peak, with mothers and calves in the area. SEMARNAT announces each season's dates in October.
Our whale watching trips are a typical 3 hours. On a private boat you don't share the rail with a crowd, and your captain keeps the distance Mexican rules require. It works for all ages. More on timing is in our Cabo whale watching season guide.
4. Sunset cruise
A sunset cruise is a typical 2 hours. One route stays near the Arch for golden hour. The other rounds Land's End to the Pacific side and faces the sun as it drops toward the old Cabo Falso lighthouse, 12 miles round trip.
Sunset ranges from about 5:35 PM in November to about 7:08 PM in July, Cabo time, so plan to leave the dock about an hour and a half before. Yachts from the marina may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM, so you can watch the town lights come on before heading in. The best months are November through March, plus June.
5. A full day on the corridor
The longest boat excursion is 5 to 8 hours: the Arch, then Santa María and Chileno Bay, with time to snorkel each and lunch at anchor. The route is 18.5 miles round trip.
This suits birthday groups, bachelorette weekends and families who want the whole day on the water. You can order food from our menu in the planner, such as a Mexican feast for 6 to 8 people (MXN 2,600) or box lunches from MXN 238, all cash prices. Paying by card adds 16%.
6. ATV and camel rides
The most popular land excursion is a desert combo: a camel ride along a Pacific beach, then ATVs through the desert and along the coast. Most of these tours run about 3 hours, and some fuller versions run 5, usually with hotel pickup. Expect dust and sun, so wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.
It suits adults and teens who want something different from the beach. It's a morning or afternoon on its own, so it pairs well with a sunset cruise the same day.
7. Zipline and adventure parks
Adventure parks in the canyons outside town combine ziplines with things like ATVs, swings and animal encounters. Plan on a half day. These suit active groups and older kids. Check the age, height and weight limits with the operator before you book.
8. A day trip to Todos Santos
Todos Santos is a Pueblo Mágico about 48 miles north, roughly an hour's drive up Highway 19 along the Pacific. It has galleries, cobblestone streets and a slower pace than Cabo. Plan the whole day, and rent a car or hire a driver.
It suits couples and anyone who wants to see a different side of Baja. If you'd rather go farther, Cabo Pulmo National Park, a protected coral reef on the Sea of Cortez, is about two hours by car.
9. The Art Walk in San José del Cabo
Every Thursday from November to June, from 5 to 9 PM, the galleries in San José del Cabo's historic center stay open late, and the streets around Plaza Mijares fill with people. Entry is free. San José is about 20 miles from Cabo San Lucas, roughly a 30 minute drive. Our Cabo San Lucas vs San José del Cabo article covers the town.
Here are the places from this guide on a map.
Tap a number to find it on the map.
- The ArchBest seen from the water, 1.2 miles from the marinaDirections
- Santa María BaySheltered cove with reef, 6.7 miles from the marinaDirections
- Chileno BaySandy bottom with reef on both sidesDirections
- Todos SantosPueblo Mágico about an hour northDirections
- Calle ObregónGallery street, closed to cars on Art Walk nightsDirections
Cabo excursions for couples
Prices are per boat, so two people pay the same as a full boat, and the smallest yachts keep that price low. You also set the plan. These are the ones couples book most:
- A sunset trip for two, typically 2 hours, to the Arch at golden hour
- A sunrise breakfast on the water, with departures from 7 AM and breakfast from the menu, such as chilaquiles or banana pancakes (MXN 325 each, cash price)
- The McKinna 70 for a splurge, with a chef, a multi-course menu and complimentary drinks served by its crew, from USD 4,499 (MXN 85,499) for 3 hours
The Chaparral 28 is the simplest option for two, from USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for 2 hours. On land, add the Art Walk or Todos Santos.
Cabo excursions for families
With kids, shorter and calmer is better. A 3 hour trip with the Arch, the sea lions and a snorkel stop at Pelican Rock keeps everyone busy without wearing them out. Tell us the kids' ages when you book so the crew brings the right life jackets.
| Yacht | Guests | 3 hours | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Ray 36 | Up to 12 | USD 929 / MXN 17,799 | Towels and snorkel gear included |
| Sea Ray 40 | Up to 12 | USD 1,199 / MXN 22,799 | Flybridge, towels included |
| Pontoon 38 | Up to 18 | USD 1,269 / MXN 23,999 | Water slide, big families |
| Sea Ray 55 | Up to 15 | USD 2,129 / MXN 40,399 | Air conditioning, cabins |
Prices are per boat with 16% IVA tax included. The customary 15% crew tip is not included. Our Cabo with kids boat day article has more on shade, heads and timing.
Private boat or shared tour?
Shared boat excursions sell seats on a set schedule and route. A private charter carries one group, picks the departure time and stops where you want. Our private yacht vs shared boat tour comparison covers the differences and the per-person math.
Two things to know about our boats: we don't sell or serve alcohol, though guests 18 and older can bring their own (the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 are the exceptions, with complimentary drinks), and there's no fishing on board except on the McKinna 70's sport-fishing charter, since the other yachts are pleasure yachts without fishing permits.
Putting your excursions together
On a 4 or 5 day trip, most people fit in one boat day and one land excursion. A morning on the water and an afternoon free works well, because the bay is calmer early and you're back by lunch.
Browse the trips by occasion on our experiences page, check weather and sunset times by month in the trip guide, then put your date and group size into the planner. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
Yachts in this guide
Questions people ask
What is the best excursion in Cabo San Lucas?
A boat trip to the Arch at Land's End. The Arch is 1.2 miles from Marina Cabo San Lucas, and a 2 hour route also covers Pelican Rock, the sea lion colony and Lover's Beach. Private boats start at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) per boat.
What are the best Cabo excursions for couples?
A 2 hour private sunset cruise to the Arch, a sunrise breakfast on the water, or the Thursday Art Walk in San José del Cabo from November to June. For a splurge, the McKinna 70 adds a chef and complimentary drinks.
What are the best Cabo excursions for families?
A 3 hour boat trip with a snorkel stop at Pelican Rock, where the water is calm and fish swim near the surface. In whale season, a 3 hour whale watching trip works well for kids too.
How long are boat excursions in Cabo?
Two hours covers the Arch, the sea lions and Lover's Beach. Four hours adds snorkeling at Santa María Bay, and 5 to 8 hours covers both Santa María and Chileno Bay with lunch at anchor.
When can you go whale watching in Cabo?
Humpbacks start arriving in November. The last official whale-watching season ran December 15 to April 30, and the 2026 to 2027 dates come out in the DOF, Mexico's federal register, each autumn. January and February are the peak months.
Plan your day on the water
Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
Keep reading
Things to doThings to Do in Cabo San Lucas: Water, Land and NightCabo San Lucas on the water and on land, with distances from the marina and the best months for each.9 min read
Yacht chartersCabo Arch Boat Tour: Private 2-Hour Ride From USD 519The two-hour private route to the Arch, the four lowest-priced boats for it, what happens at each stop and the best time to go.8 min read
Yacht chartersBest Sunset Cruise in Cabo: Private vs Shared, TimesPrivate vs shared sunset cruise in Cabo, sunset times by month, the Pacific route past the Arch, luxury yachts for sunset and what each costs.10 min read
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