Sunset cruise from your Cabo hotel: what time to leave, by month and by hotel zone

For a 2-hour sunset cruise, the yacht leaves Marina Cabo San Lucas about 90 minutes before sunset, and you leave your hotel early enough to be at the dock 15 minutes before that. In mid-January the sun sets around 5:57 PM, so the boat goes at about 4:30 PM. From a corridor resort such as Las Ventanas al Paraíso, about 21 minutes from the marina without traffic, that means leaving the hotel around 3:30 PM.

What time is sunset in Cabo San Lucas each month?

These are sunset times around the middle of each month, from Weather2Travel's Cabo San Lucas sunrise and sunset tables, with our suggested departure for a 2-hour cruise. Cabo stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving.

The sun moves fast in some months. In October it sets about 25 minutes earlier at the end of the month than at the start (6:07 PM on October 1 and 5:42 PM on October 31, per Weather2Travel), so we confirm the exact time for your date. Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM, so every month has room for a sunset trip.

Our sunset page lists January, February, March, June, November and December as the best months.

How long does it take to get from my hotel to the marina?

That depends on the zone. These drive times are without traffic, to the nearest boarding dock, with the distance in a straight line. In the afternoon the drive into Cabo San Lucas is usually slower than in the morning, and at rush hour it takes longer.

Our rule: drive time without traffic, plus 15 minutes at the dock for the safety briefing, plus 15 to 30 minutes of cushion. That gives you the "leave the hotel" column.

"Before" means before the yacht's departure time. Our hotel guides have the same numbers for all 40 hotels we cover.

A worked example: January, from the corridor

You are at One&Only Palmilla in mid-January, with a 2-hour sunset charter.

The same trip in July moves everything about 70 minutes later, because the sun sets around 7:08 PM. And if you are staying on Médano Beach, you can walk to the marina and skip the table above.

Which sunset route do you take?

The 2-hour Pacific sunset route goes around Land's End to the Pacific side, past the Arch, the sea lions and Divorce Beach, and faces the sun as it drops toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse. It is about 12 miles round trip.

After sunset you don't have to rush back. Yachts sail until 8 PM, and yachts from the marina can stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM, with the lights of Médano coming on. The Sea Ray 65 is the exception: it boards at Fisherman's Landing, by the Cabo Escape terminal, and must be back by 8 PM. In June and July, with sunset after 7 PM, that leaves less time on the water after dark.

Our sunset cruise guide compares private and shared trips, and the sunset experience page has the details of the trip.

Which yacht for a sunset from your hotel?

Two-hour prices, per boat with 16% IVA tax included. A 15% crew tip is suggested and not included.

For a bigger night, the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 have a 3-hour minimum, from USD 4,199 (MXN 79,799) and USD 4,499 (MXN 85,499). Both include food, which turns the sunset into dinner at anchor.

What should I bring on a sunset cruise?

If you want photos of the group rather than of the view, a professional photographer is an optional extra in the planner: USD 180 final price for all the photos from the charter, paid directly to the photographer. You can also order food for the boat there, such as a small cheese board at MXN 780, cash price.

How do I get from my hotel to the marina for sunset?

We arrange a private ride from your hotel to the marina and back, priced per vehicle by zone and paid to the driver on the day: the cash price, or 5% more by card on the driver's terminal. One way starts at USD 75 cash (79 by card) for an SUV from Zone 1, and round trip is USD 160 cash (168 by card) in an SUV or van from Zones 1 to 4.

Use the hotel finder on the transportation page: type your hotel's name into "Find your hotel" or tap a dot on the map to see your zone's prices. For a sunset trip, round trip is the easy choice, because the driver takes you back after dark. If you plan to stay anchored in the bay after sunset, tell us so we set the return time.

Book your sunset from the hotel

Pick your date and yacht in the planner, add your hotel and the transfer, and we confirm the departure time for that day's sunset. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, and you pay through a secure Stripe link once the date is confirmed in writing. We are an independent booking agency with no affiliation to the hotels listed here.

Yachts in this guide

Sea Ray 65Express motor yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $2,509 / 3 hBayliner 30Cabin cruiser · up to 6 guestsfrom $549 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hAzimut 45 FlybridgeFlybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $1,249 / 2 h

Questions people ask

What time should I leave my hotel for a sunset cruise in Cabo?

Add the drive without traffic, 15 minutes at the dock and 15 to 30 minutes for afternoon traffic. From One&Only Palmilla, about 29 minutes from the marina, that means leaving 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes before the yacht departs.

What time is sunset in Cabo San Lucas?

Around the middle of the month it ranges from about 5:35 PM in November to about 7:08 PM in July, according to Weather2Travel. Cabo stays on Mountain Standard Time all year.

What time does a sunset cruise leave in Cabo?

For a 2-hour sunset cruise, the yacht leaves about 90 minutes before sunset: around 4:30 PM in January and 5:40 PM in July. We confirm the exact time for your date.

Can the yacht pick me up at my hotel for the sunset?

The yacht leaves from the marina, not from hotels. We arrange a private ride from your hotel to the marina and back, from USD 75 one way per vehicle in cash, or 5% more by card, paid to the driver.

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