The best yacht in Cabo for 8 people: a group of friends, with music, drinks and a swim stop

The best yacht in Cabo for 8 people depends on whether the eight want the lowest price, the music or the room. For the price, the Bayliner 33 takes exactly 8 for USD 599 (MXN 11,399) for two hours, about USD 75 each, boarding at O Dock 2, by Arte Surf, in Marina Cabo San Lucas. For a playlist, the Chaparral 28 has a Bluetooth sound system and takes 10, for USD 519 (MXN 9,799). For room to move and a flybridge, the Sea Ray 40 takes 12 for USD 879 (MXN 16,799), about USD 110 each. Prices are per boat with the 16% tax included; the 15% crew tip is extra.

With eight people, a private boat in Cabo San Lucas gets down to about USD 65 to 69 each for two hours on the two smallest boats, and the small boats run out of spare seats. The whole fleet by headcount is on the yacht by group size page.

The boats that fit 8, with prices

Set your group size and hours to see what each yacht costs per person.

What it costs per person

Guests:

8

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Per boat, 16% tax included, tip not included. Pick a yacht to see its page.

The Bayliner 30 doesn't appear because it takes 6. The Pontoon 38 (18) and the Sea Ray 55 (15) do take 8, but they're priced for bigger groups.

Eight on a budget: Bayliner 33 or Chaparral 28

Eight is the Bayliner 33's limit, so everyone has a seat and nobody has a spare one. The Bayliner 33 includes ice, bottled water, a floating mat and snorkel gear. We'd book three hours so there's time for a swim stop: USD 869 (MXN 16,599), about USD 109 each.

The Chaparral 28 is the lowest price in the fleet and the one with the Bluetooth sound system, plus a lily pad floating mat for the swim stop. It takes 10, so eight have two seats to spare, and it's an open sport boat. Three hours is USD 709 (MXN 13,599), about USD 89 each. The small boat rental guide compares the two in more detail.

Eight who want room: Sea Ray 36 or Sea Ray 40

The Sea Ray 36 and the Sea Ray 40 both take 12, so eight people have four empty seats and a deck to move around. The Sea Ray 36 adds a deckhand, towels and a cooler for USD 929 (MXN 17,799) for three hours. The Sea Ray 40 adds the flybridge, the upper deck where eight can sit together and look down on the Arch, for USD 1,199 (MXN 22,799) for three hours, about USD 150 each. Both are among the three yachts in the fleet that include towels.

For a milestone birthday among eight, we'd go up to the Azimut 45 Flybridge, a 45-foot flybridge yacht with a captain and deckhand, water and sodas, towels and snorkel gear, for USD 1,649 (MXN 31,399) for three hours. The top of the fleet is on the luxury yachts page.

Music and drinks for eight

The Chaparral 28 is the only yacht whose inclusions list a Bluetooth sound system. On the others, ask about the sound setup when you book. Either way, download the playlist to a phone before you leave the dock, because the music shouldn't depend on cell signal out by the Arch, and bring a charging cable. A DJ needs a yacht of 40 ft or more, like the Sea Ray 40, so on these boats the playlist is the plan; our DJ on a yacht guide explains.

The yachts don't sell or serve alcohol. Guests 18 and over bring their own and load it into the cooler at the dock. Buy it in town the day before, pick cans over glass, and bring more water than you think: the Bayliner 33 includes bottled water, the Chaparral 28 includes a cooler but no water (add it at MXN 17 a bottle), and the Sea Ray 36 and 40 include bottled water and ice.

Food for eight

Food is optional and ordered in the planner at cash prices in pesos (card adds 16%). For eight, the Mexican feast for 6 to 8 is MXN 2,600, a burrito platter MXN 901, and a medium cheese board MXN 1,440. Box lunches from MXN 238 work if everyone wants their own.

A three-hour day for eight friends

1. Board at your yacht's dock in Marina Cabo San Lucas (it's on your boarding pass), late morning. Arrive 15 minutes early to load the cooler.
2. Out past Pelican Rock, a slow pass by the sea lion colony, photos at the Arch.
3. A look at Divorce Beach from the boat (big surf, no swimming), then anchor on the calm bay side near Lover's Beach for the swim stop, with the floating mat in the water.
4. Back along Médano Beach with the beach clubs in view.

For a sunset instead, leave about 90 minutes before the sun goes down; yachts from the marina may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM. Our yacht day itinerary guide covers two, three and four hours.

If the eight are a girls' trip or a bachelor party

The boats above work for both. Our girls' trip yacht guide and bachelor party yacht guide cover the timing, the drinks and the extras for each. For a bride's group, the bachelorette experience page has the usual route.

What every boat for 8 includes

• A captain, and a deckhand on the Sea Ray 36 and up.
• The CONANP conservation fee for the protected area around the Arch.
• Departures from 7 AM to 7 PM, sailing until 8 PM, anchored in the bay until 10 PM from the marina.
• A new date or a full refund if the Port Captain closes the harbor, which happens mostly between September and mid-October.

Decorations are cardstock and a sign only; the Port Captain no longer allows balloons on board. None of the boats allow fishing.

A different group size?

For six, read the best yacht in Cabo for 6; for ten to twelve, the best yacht for 10 to 12 guests.

Booking a boat for eight

Open the planner, enter eight guests, your date and hours, and it shows every boat that fits with the price in USD and MXN. We reply in writing within two hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, or on WhatsApp at +52 624 300 8029. Once the date is confirmed, you pay by secure Stripe link, so one person books and collects the shares. Start with the Bayliner 33 for the price or the Sea Ray 40 for the room.

Yachts in this guide

Bayliner 33Express cruiser · up to 8 guestsfrom $599 / 2 hChaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 h

Questions people ask

What is the best yacht in Cabo for 8 people?

For the price, the Bayliner 33: it takes exactly 8 and costs USD 599 (MXN 11,399) for two hours, about USD 75 each. For music, the Chaparral 28 with its Bluetooth sound system at USD 519. For room and a flybridge, the Sea Ray 40 at USD 879 (MXN 16,799), about USD 110 each.

How much is a boat for 8 in Cabo San Lucas?

From USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for two hours on the Chaparral 28, about USD 65 each, to USD 1,249 (MXN 23,799) on the Azimut 45 Flybridge, about USD 156 each. Prices are per boat with the 16% tax included; the 15% crew tip is extra.

Can 8 friends bring their own drinks on a yacht in Cabo?

Yes, for guests 18 and over. The yachts don't sell or serve alcohol, so the group brings its own and loads it into the cooler at the dock. Cans beat glass on deck.

Which boat for 8 in Cabo has a sound system?

The Chaparral 28 lists a Bluetooth sound system among its inclusions. On the other yachts, ask about the sound setup when you book, and download the playlist before you leave the dock.

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.

Check availabilitySee the fleet