First time in Cabo? Travel tips to know before you go

Four things catch first-time visitors to Cabo. The clock: Cabo stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving. The drive: the airport is 40 to 50 minutes from Cabo San Lucas. The water: drink bottled, not tap. The beaches: only the bay side is for swimming, and Divorce Beach on the Pacific side is not.

The rest of this list covers money, tipping, the sun, weather and how to book a boat without surprises. We run private yacht charters out of Marina Cabo San Lucas, so the boat tips come from how our bookings work.

What time zone is Cabo in?

Cabo San Lucas uses Mountain Standard Time all year and doesn't change clocks, the same as Arizona. That means:

• From mid-March to early November, while the US is on daylight saving time, Cabo matches California.
• From early November to mid-March, Cabo matches Denver.

Phones usually switch on their own, but double-check the first morning, especially if you booked anything for an early start. Every time in your charter confirmation is Cabo time.

How far is the airport from Cabo San Lucas?

Flights land at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), which is about 30 miles from Cabo San Lucas. Plan on 40 to 50 minutes by road to the marina. San José del Cabo is much closer, 15 to 25 minutes from the airport.

That gap matters for where you stay. If boat days, beach time and nightlife are the priority, Cabo San Lucas puts you next to them. If you want a quieter town and a short transfer, San José works, with about a 30 minute drive to the boats. Our Cabo San Lucas vs San José del Cabo guide compares the two.

Don't book a boat for the afternoon you land. Flights run late, and a relaxed first evening is worth more than a rushed charter.

Pesos or dollars?

US dollars are widely accepted in the tourist areas, around the marina and Médano Beach. You lose a little on the rate, though. Shops and taxis that take dollars often round in their favor, so paying in pesos usually gets you more for your money, especially at small shops and for taxis.

A few habits help:

• Use a card for larger purchases.
• Take pesos from an ATM inside a bank branch. ATMs give pesos, not dollars.
• Hotel exchange desks usually give the worst rates.
• If you pay in dollars, ask whether change comes in dollars or pesos.

On our site, every charter price is shown in both USD and MXN, at 19 pesos per dollar. You pay through a secure Stripe link by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The optional food menu is the one exception: its prices are cash prices in pesos, and paying by card adds 16%.

How much should you tip?

On a boat, the customary crew tip is 15%, and it's not included in the price. Our charter prices are per boat with 16% IVA tax included, so the tip is the only thing to add.

Many groups bring the tip in cash. Our guide to tipping a boat crew in Cabo covers who it goes to and cash versus card.

Can you drink the tap water?

Stick to bottled water. Drink bottled or the purified water served at hotels and restaurants, and keep a bottle with you on day trips.

On the water, several yachts include bottled water, among them the Bayliner 30, Bayliner 33, Sea Ray 36, Sea Ray 40 and Sea Ray 55. On any yacht you can add drinks from the menu in the planner: bottled water is MXN 17, a soda MXN 51 and Gatorade MXN 68.

Which beaches are safe to swim?

Cabo has two kinds of water. The bay side, on the Sea of Cortez, is calm. The Pacific side has big surf and strong currents.

• Médano Beach is the town's swimming beach, on the bay and a walk from the marina.
• Lover's Beach is on the calm bay side of Land's End, reached by boat.
• Divorce Beach, right behind it, faces the open Pacific. Big surf and a strong undertow make it a beach for photos from the boat. Don't swim there.

Check the flag every time you go in. In the Los Cabos system, a black flag means the beach is closed to swimming and a red flag means high hazard. Our Cabo beaches safe to swim guide goes beach by beach.

Respect the sun

Cabo is sunny most of the year, and on the water it reflects back at you. Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and wear a rash guard for snorkeling, which also helps when the water is cool from February to April. Shade varies by boat, so if your group needs a lot of it, ask when you book.

Pack a light layer for evenings, especially from December to February. Our what to wear and bring on a boat in Cabo checklist covers the details, including towels, which are included only on the Sea Ray 36, the Sea Ray 40 and the Azimut 45.

When is the best time to go?

The best month depends on what you want. These ratings come from our trip guide, which uses 10-year weather averages:

Here is the live forecast for Cabo San Lucas.

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. Christmas to New Year is the busiest stretch of the year, and March brings spring break crowds, so book early for both.

What if the weather closes the port?

Only the Port Captain (Capitanía de Puerto, part of the Mexican Navy) can close the harbor, and only under a hurricane or storm threat or another extraordinary situation. Most closures fall between September and mid-October. If your charter date is affected, you choose a new date or get a full refund. Our weather and cancellation guide explains how it works.

How to book a boat in Cabo without surprises

Book your boat ahead and get the details in writing, so everyone agrees on what you're getting. When you book with us:

1. You send your date, hours and group size through the planner.
2. We confirm the yacht, the route and the price in writing. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
3. Only after that confirmation do you get a secure Stripe payment link.

Before you pay, check four things. The price should be per boat, with tax included. The guest limit has to fit your group, since most yachts take up to 12. Look at what's included, such as snorkel gear, towels or a slide. And check where you board.

A few rules surprise first-timers. Our charters are private, one group per yacht. We don't sell or serve alcohol, but guests 18 and older can bring their own; the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 are the exceptions, each with complimentary drinks served by its crew. Fishing is only on the McKinna 70, on its sport-fishing charter; the other yachts are pleasure yachts without fishing permits.

Getting to the marina on charter day

Twelve of our thirteen yachts board at Marina Cabo San Lucas, in downtown, each at its own dock. Your exact dock and a map link come on your boarding pass, so send it to everyone in your group. The Sea Ray 65 meets you at Fisherman's Landing restaurant, by the Cabo Escape terminal.

Arrive 15 minutes before departure. Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM, yachts sail until 8 PM, and those leaving from the marina may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM.

If you get seasick

Plan a morning charter. The water is usually calmer before midday, when the wind tends to build. The bay and Land's End are generally calm, while the Pacific side has more swell. A 2 hour route to the Arch stays mostly in the bay. Our seasickness guide has more.

A few more first-timer notes

• For safety questions, our is Cabo safe for tourists article goes into more detail.
• Cabo is famous for sportfishing, and fishing boats work from the same marina. If fishing is on your list, book a dedicated fishing charter for that day.
• Our 3, 4 and 5 day itineraries show where a boat day fits in a short trip.

Planning your first boat day

Start with the trip guide for weather and sunset times in your month. Then compare the thirteen yachts on the fleet page, with guest limits, hours and what's included, and send your date and group through the planner.

Yachts in this guide

Chaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hBayliner 30Cabin cruiser · up to 6 guestsfrom $549 / 2 h

Questions people ask

What time zone is Cabo San Lucas in?

Cabo is on Mountain Standard Time all year and does not use daylight saving time, the same as Arizona. From mid-March to early November that matches California time; in winter it matches Denver.

How far is Cabo San Lucas from the airport?

Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is about 30 miles from Cabo San Lucas, a 40 to 50 minute drive. San José del Cabo is closer, about 15 to 25 minutes from the airport.

Should I bring pesos or dollars to Cabo?

Dollars are widely accepted in the tourist areas, but paying in pesos usually gets you a better rate. ATMs give pesos, and an ATM inside a bank branch is the safest choice.

Can you drink the tap water in Cabo?

It's best not to. Drink bottled water or the purified water served at hotels and restaurants. Several of our yachts include bottled water, and the onboard menu sells it for MXN 17.

How much do you tip a boat crew in Cabo?

The customary crew tip is 15%, and it is not included in the charter price. On a 4 hour Sea Ray 40 at USD 1,499, that comes to about USD 225.

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