Cabo arch boat tour: a private two-hour ride to the Arch, stop by stop
The 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.
In this guide
A private boat tour to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas takes two hours and starts at USD 519 / MXN 9,799 for the whole boat on the Chaparral 28, for up to 10 people. The route leaves Marina Cabo San Lucas and loops past Pelican Rock, the sea lion colony, the Arch, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach, then comes back along Médano Beach: about 4.7 miles round trip. Prices are per boat with the 16% tax included; the 15% crew tip is not.
How much is a private boat ride to the Arch?
Every yacht in our fleet runs this route, so the cheapest way to see the Arch is the smallest boat that fits your group. These are the four lowest two-hour prices:
| Boat | Guests | 2 hours | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaparral 28 | 10 | USD 519 / MXN 9,799 | Snorkel gear, lily pad mat, cooler, Bluetooth sound |
| Bayliner 33 | 8 | USD 599 / MXN 11,399 | Ice, bottled water, floating mat, snorkel gear |
| Bayliner 30 | 6 | USD 549 / MXN 10,499 | Captain, cooler with ice, water and sodas, snorkel gear |
| Sea Ray 36 | 12 | USD 659 / MXN 12,599 | Captain and deckhand, water and ice, cooler, towels, snorkel gear |
Set your group size and hours to see what each yacht costs per person.
What it costs per person
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Per boat, 16% tax included, tip not included. Pick a yacht to see its page.
Split across a full boat, that's about USD 52 / MXN 980 each on the Chaparral 28 with 10 people, or about USD 55 / MXN 1,050 each on the Sea Ray 36 with 12. The 15% crew tip is a suggestion, paid in cash on board, and isn't included in these prices.
The fleet page has the other eight yachts if you want more room or a flybridge. They all go to the same places; you're paying for space and what's on board.
What happens on a two-hour Arch tour
The distances at Land's End are short. Pelican Rock is 0.8 miles from the marina, Lover's Beach 1 mile and the Arch 1.2 miles, so most of your two hours is spent at the stops, not getting there. A typical way the time splits (the captain adjusts the order to the sea and to your group):
| Time | Where | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Marina Cabo San Lucas | Board, meet the crew, head out across the bay |
| 0:10 | Pelican Rock | Snorkel or swim in calm, clear water |
| 0:50 | The Arch and sea lions | Photos at the Arch, idle near the colony |
| 1:15 | Lover's and Divorce Beach | Swim in at Lover's Beach, see Divorce Beach from the boat |
| 1:45 | Médano Beach | Cruise back along the beach to the marina |
Pelican Rock
A rocky point at the foot of Land's End, inside the bay. The water is calm and clear, and reef fish swim close to the surface, so even first-timers see plenty. It's the first snorkel stop on most charters, and all four boats above include snorkel gear.
The Arch and the sea lion colony
The granite arch sits 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 route passes it. Right next to it, California sea lions haul out on the rocks. Captains slow down and idle nearby so you can watch them without disturbing them. See the sea lion colony page for more.
Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach
Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor) is a strip of sand on the calm bay side of Land's End, reached by boat. This is the side where people swim, and your crew can drop you close.
Divorce Beach is the back of the same strip, facing the open Pacific. It has big surf and a strong undertow, so it's for photos from the boat, not for swimming.
Back along Médano Beach
The return runs along Médano Beach, Cabo's swimming beach, with the hotels and beach clubs facing the bay. On an afternoon trip, this is when the town lights start coming on.
Best time of day for the Arch
It depends on whether you care more about the water or the light.
Morning is the calmer option. The water is usually calmest early, before the afternoon wind picks up, and visibility for snorkeling is at its best. If anyone in your group gets seasick, or you mainly want the swim at Pelican Rock, book a morning departure. Departures start at 7 AM.
Late afternoon is for the light. Golden hour turns the rock at Land's End warm, and you come back along Médano as the sun goes down. If the sunset itself is the priority, there's a separate two-hour Pacific sunset route that goes around Land's End and faces the sun as it drops toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse (about 12 miles round trip). Our sunset cruise guide has sunset times by month and which route to pick.
Yachts sail until 8 PM, and the last departure is 7 PM.
Is one hour enough to see the Arch?
We don't run one-hour trips. Most yachts have a two-hour minimum; the Sea Ray 55, the Sea Ray 65, the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 start at three. Two hours is what the full loop needs if you want to get in the water at Pelican Rock and Lover's Beach instead of just driving past.
If you'd like more time, three hours on the Chaparral 28 is USD 709 / MXN 13,599, and on the Sea Ray 36 it's USD 929 / MXN 17,799. The extra hour lets you stay longer in the water at each stop. Four hours opens up the run up the coast to Santa María Bay for snorkeling.
Which boat should you pick for the Arch?
- Up to 10 people on the lowest budget: the Chaparral 28. It has a Bluetooth sound system and a lily pad floating mat.
- Up to 8 people: the Bayliner 33, a 33-foot express cruiser with bottled water, ice and a floating mat, for USD 80 more than the Chaparral.
- Up to 12 people, or anyone who wants towels on board: the Sea Ray 36, with a captain and deckhand.
- A couple or a family of up to 6: the Bayliner 30, a 30-foot cabin cruiser that includes water and sodas.
For more on the rock itself, including how it formed and whether you can see it from land, read our guide to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas.
A private Arch ride for two
You don't need a group to make a private boat worth it. For a couple, the Chaparral 28 at USD 519 / MXN 9,799 is still the lowest price, and the Bayliner 30 at USD 549 / MXN 10,499 is a cabin cruiser sized for up to six. A late-afternoon departure puts you at the Arch in golden light. The couples experience page has sunrise and sunset ideas for two.
What to know before you go
- It's private. One group per boat, so the route and the time at each stop are yours.
- Drinks are BYO. Alcohol isn't sold or served on board, and guests 18 and over can bring their own.
- No fishing, except on the McKinna 70's sport-fishing charter. The other yachts are pleasure yachts without fishing permits.
- The tip isn't included. 15% is customary: about USD 78 / MXN 1,470 on a two-hour Chaparral 28, or about USD 99 / MXN 1,890 on the Sea Ray 36.
- Weather. The Port Captain closes the harbor only under a hurricane or storm threat or another extraordinary situation, mostly between September and mid-October. If that happens, you get a new date or a full refund.
Coming in on a cruise ship? Two hours fits most port days. The Sea Ray 65 is the one yacht that meets you at Fisherman's Landing restaurant, by the Cabo Escape terminal, from USD 2,509 / MXN 47,699 for three hours; it runs the same Arch, Lover's Beach and Médano route. Our cruise port guide explains the timing.
Booking your Arch boat tour
Open the planner, choose the boat, two hours and your start time, and it shows the price in USD and MXN. We reply within two hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time. Once the date is confirmed in writing, we send a secure Stripe link (card, Apple Pay or Google Pay). You'll get the exact slip at Marina Cabo San Lucas with your confirmation.
To decide between two, three and four hours on the water, our yacht day itinerary guide lays out each length hour by hour, and the yacht with water toys guide lists what each boat puts in the water at the swim stop.
Yachts in this guide
Questions people ask
How much is a boat ride to the Arch in Cabo?
A private two-hour boat to the Arch starts at USD 519 / MXN 9,799 on the Chaparral 28, which takes up to 10 people. That's per boat with the 16% tax included; the 15% crew tip is extra.
How long is the boat ride to the Arch in Cabo?
The Arch is about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) from Marina Cabo San Lucas, so the ride out is short. A private charter lasts at least two hours, which covers the full 4.7-mile loop with Pelican Rock, the sea lions, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach.
Can you get off the boat at Lover's Beach?
Yes. Lover's Beach sits on the calm bay side of Land's End and is reached by boat, and your crew can drop you close so you can swim in. Divorce Beach, on the Pacific side, is for photos from the boat only.
Is there a one-hour boat tour to the Arch?
Not on our yachts. Most charters have a two-hour minimum (three hours on the Sea Ray 55, the Sea Ray 65, the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70), and two hours is what the full Arch loop needs with time to swim.
What is the best time for a boat tour to the Arch?
Morning for calm, clear water and snorkeling at Pelican Rock. Late afternoon for golden light on the Arch and a sunset on the way back.
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
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