Cabo glass bottom boat or private yacht: how each one works and which fits your group

A Cabo glass bottom boat is a small shared boat that runs a loop of about 45 minutes from the marina or Médano Beach to the Arch and back, and it can drop you at Lover's Beach on the way. It's the quickest and cheapest way to see Land's End. A private boat costs more in total, starting at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) per boat for 2 hours, but you get a swim stop, your own route and nobody else on board, and the price is split across your whole group.

Both go to the same rocks. The difference is how long you stay, who you share the boat with and what you can do once you're there.

How do glass bottom boats and water taxis work in Cabo?

They're mostly the same boats. The water taxis in Cabo are small open boats that locals call pangas, with a canopy for shade, and many have a glass panel set into the floor. They shuttle between the marina, Médano Beach and Lover's Beach all day.

You'll find them along the marina boardwalk and on the sand at Médano Beach. You agree on the ride on the spot, pay per person, and usually share the boat with whoever else is going. Tours also sell online, with departures from the main docks through the day.

The standard loop takes about 45 minutes and passes:

• Pelican Rock, where the captain idles so you can look through the glass
• Lover's Beach, from the water
• The Arch, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) from the marina
• The sea lion colony on the rocks next to it
• The point where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific, with a look at Divorce Beach

Then the boat turns around and takes you back to where you started.

What do you actually see through the glass?

The glass panel is the least reliable part of the trip, and it's better to know that going in. It's a window in the floor of a moving boat, and what shows up in it depends on the water that day. On a calm, clear morning near Pelican Rock you can see reef fish under the hull. With chop or stirred-up water you see green.

The view above the water is the reason to go. The Arch, the granite pinnacles and the sea lions are all at eye level, and that part works in any conditions the boats go out in.

If seeing fish is what you're after, a mask in the water beats any panel. Our Pelican Rock page lists what lives there.

Taking a water taxi to Lover's Beach

This is the best use of a water taxi. Lover's Beach can only be reached by boat, and the pangas are how most people get there.

How the drop-off works:

1. You ask to be left at Lover's Beach instead of riding the loop back.
2. The boat noses in to the sand on the bay side. There's no dock, so it's a wet landing: you step off into the water, often up to your knees.
3. You agree on a pickup time with your skipper before he leaves.
4. He comes back at that time, and you wade out to the boat.

Things to know before you do it:

• There are no services on the beach, which means no bathrooms, shade or food. Bring water and something to sit under.
• Swim on the Sea of Cortez side only. A short walk across the sand is Divorce Beach on the Pacific, which has strong currents and waves and no lifeguards. Look, don't swim.
• Don't leave it late. Boats get scarce after 4 or 5 PM.
• Keep your phone and wallet in a dry bag for the landing, and carry your shoes.
• Remember which boat is yours. Take a photo of it and of the skipper when you get off.
• The beach is inside a federal protected area. CONANP lists a conservation fee of MXN 125 per person per day as of September 2026, with exemptions such as children under 12. Ask whether your ride includes it. On our charters it's already included in the price.

Our Lover's Beach guide covers where to swim and what the beach is like at different times of day.

Glass bottom boat vs private boat: the short comparison

A private boat also does things a panga doesn't. You can go around the point for a slow look at the Pacific side, anchor for a swim off the back of the boat, play your own music and bring your own cooler. Alcohol isn't sold or served on our yachts, but guests 18 and over may bring their own.

When is the glass bottom boat the right choice?

Quite often.

• You're one or two people and want the Arch photo for the least money.
• You have under an hour. A cruise passenger with a tight schedule or a family between lunch and a nap can do the loop and be back on the sand.
• You want beach time. A water taxi drop at Lover's Beach for an hour or two is a good half day for very little.
• You decided five minutes ago. Nothing to book, you walk up and go.

When is a 2 hour private boat the better call?

Four things tip it toward the private boat: the size of your group, who's in it, the swim and the clock.

Group size matters most. A panga is priced per person, so the bill grows with every head. A private boat is one price whether you bring four people or ten. Split evenly, the numbers look like this:

Those prices include the 16% tax. The customary 15% crew tip isn't included.

The second reason is the people you're bringing. Small kids, grandparents and anyone unsteady on their feet do better on a boat with seats, shade and space than on a panga with a knee-deep landing. Our family day page has more on that.

The third is the swim. Two hours is enough for the full Arch & Land's End route: Pelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach, then back along Médano Beach, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) round trip. That leaves time to stop and get in the water with the snorkel gear that's already on board.

Timing is the last one. A private boat leaves when you say. If you want the Arch at sunset, a 7 AM start before the bay gets busy, or a pickup that fits your ship's all-aboard time, that takes a boat that's waiting for you.

Which private boat for a 2 hour trip to the Arch?

Three boats cover most groups that are weighing a glass bottom boat against something bigger.

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

What it costs per person

Guests:

8

Hours2 h3 h4 h6 h

1. Loading

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

The Chaparral 28 is a 28 ft sport boat for up to 10 guests. It comes with snorkel gear, a lily pad floating mat, a cooler and a Bluetooth sound system. At USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for 2 hours, it's the lowest price in the fleet.

The Bayliner 33 is a 33 ft express cruiser for up to 8. It includes ice, bottled water, a floating mat and snorkel gear, from USD 599 (MXN 11,399) for 2 hours. It suits a family or two couples who want more boat under them.

The Sea Ray 36 is a 36 ft express cruiser for up to 12, with a captain and deckhand, bottled water and ice, a cooler, towels and snorkel gear. Two hours are USD 659 (MXN 12,599).

If you want a third hour to slow everything down, it's USD 709 (MXN 13,599) on the Chaparral 28, USD 869 (MXN 16,599) on the Bayliner 33 and USD 929 (MXN 17,799) on the Sea Ray 36. The fleet page compares all thirteen yachts side by side, and our article on private vs shared boat tours goes deeper into the trade-offs.

Can you do both?

Yes, and on a longer stay it makes sense. Take a water taxi to Lover's Beach one morning for the beach itself. On another day, take a private boat for the swim, the sea lions and the Pacific side, or for the Arch at sunset.

Booking a private boat to the Arch

Tell us your date, group size and the time you'd like to leave in the planner. We reply in writing within 2 hours, between 8 AM and 8 PM Cabo time. Once the date is confirmed you pay through a secure Stripe link, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Boarding is at Marina Cabo San Lucas, downtown, the same marina the water taxis leave from. Your confirmation has the exact slip.

Yachts in this guide

Chaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hBayliner 33Express cruiser · up to 8 guestsfrom $599 / 2 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hPontoon 38Double-deck party pontoon · up to 18 guestsfrom $869 / 2 h

Questions people ask

How long is a glass bottom boat tour in Cabo?

About 45 minutes for the standard loop to the Arch and back. It gets longer if you ask to be dropped at Lover's Beach and picked up later.

Can a water taxi take you to Lover's Beach?

Yes. Water taxis from the marina and Médano Beach drop passengers at Lover's Beach and come back at a time you agree on. It is a wet landing, since there is no dock, and boats get scarce after 4 or 5 PM.

Can you really see fish through a glass bottom boat?

Sometimes. The glass is a panel in the floor, and what you see depends on how clear the water is that day. The best view is in the shallows near Pelican Rock, where reef fish swim close to the surface.

How much is a private boat to the Arch in Cabo?

Two hours start at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) on the Chaparral 28 for up to 10 guests. The price is per boat, not per person, with the 16% tax included. The customary 15% crew tip is extra.

Is a private boat worth it for a small group?

From about six people, usually yes. Ten guests on the Chaparral 28 pay about USD 52 each for 2 hours, with a swim stop, snorkel gear and a route you choose.

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