Cabo with kids: planning a private boat day the whole family enjoys

Yes, Cabo works well with kids, and a private boat is one of the easiest outings to plan with them. Charters start at 2 hours, every yacht except the Chaparral 28 has a bathroom on board, and we put the right life jacket sizes on board once you tell us the children's ages. A 2 hour route covers the Arch, the sea lions and a calm snorkel stop.

Here is how a family boat day works in practice, which yachts suit which families, and a few things to do on land between beach days.

Why a private boat works for families

On a private charter, your family is the only group on board. That changes a lot when kids are involved:

• You pick the start time, anywhere from 7 AM to 7 PM, so the boat fits around naps and meals.
• There are no strangers to worry about if a toddler melts down or someone needs to head back early.
• You bring the snacks and drinks your kids actually eat, or order food in the planner.
• The captain adapts the route. If someone gets bored or tired, you skip a stop.

Prices are per boat, not per person. Six people on the Bayliner 30 for 2 hours pay about USD 92 each, before the tip. Our family day experience is built around calm water, shade and room to move, and it is typically 3 hours.

Life jackets: tell us the ages when you book

This is the single most useful thing to include in your request. Tell us how many children are coming and how old each one is, and the operator brings life jackets in the right sizes.

Put the jackets on the little ones before you leave the dock, and keep them on while the boat is moving. For snorkeling, a life jacket or float lets nervous swimmers stay on the surface and look down without effort.

How long should a boat trip with kids be?

Two to three hours is the sweet spot for most families. Here are the two routes that fit:

The first stop is usually Pelican Rock, a rocky point inside the bay where the water is calm and clear and reef fish swim close to the surface. It is minutes from the dock, so kids are in the water before anyone gets restless.

Then come the sea lions. California sea lions haul out on the rocks next to the Arch, and captains slow down and idle nearby so the kids can watch them without disturbing them.

At Lover's Beach, the bay side is where people swim, and the crew can drop you close. Its back side, Divorce Beach, faces the open Pacific with big surf and a strong undertow. It is for photos from the boat only.

If your kids are older and strong swimmers, the 4 hour snorkel route to Santa María Bay is worth it. For under-10s, we'd stick to 2 or 3 hours.

Morning or afternoon?

Morning, for most families. The water is usually calmer before the wind picks up after midday, and the deck is cooler. If anyone is prone to seasickness, a morning start in the bay is the gentlest option.

A late-afternoon sunset cruise is the other good slot, especially in winter when sunset is between about 5:35 and 6:30 PM. Kids are back for dinner and bed, and you see the Arch at golden hour.

Which yacht for a family with kids?

Every yacht welcomes kids. What changes is space, shade and bathrooms. Prices are per boat with 16% tax included; the customary 15% crew tip is not included.

Bayliner 30: one family, simple and covered

The Bayliner 30 is a 30 ft cabin cruiser for up to 6 guests, so it fits two parents and up to four kids or grandparents. A professional captain, a cooler with ice, bottled water and sodas, and snorkel gear are included. The cabin gives little ones a place to get out of the sun.

Sea Ray 55: air conditioning and cabins

The Sea Ray 55 is a 55 ft flybridge motor yacht for up to 15 guests, with air conditioning, cabins and heads. For babies, toddlers or grandparents, that cool space below deck makes a big difference. Captain and deckhand, bottled water, sodas and ice are included; bring your own towels. At the swim stop, kids get a floating pool, a paddle board, a lily pad and a floating platform to play on. It is our first pick for multigenerational families or two families sharing a boat.

Pontoon 38: the slide

If your kids are confident in the water, the Pontoon 38 is the fun one. It is a double-deck pontoon for up to 18 guests with a water slide from the upper deck, plus an enclosed head with a freshwater shower for rinsing off. Big groups and two or three families fit easily.

Sea Ray 36: middle ground

The Sea Ray 36 takes up to 12 and includes captain and deckhand, water and ice, a cooler, towels and snorkel gear. For a family of seven to twelve, it costs only USD 110 more than the Bayliner 30 for 2 hours.

Smaller budgets can look at the Chaparral 28, but keep in mind it has no bathroom, so it suits older kids on a short trip better than toddlers. The fleet page compares all thirteen yachts.

Food and drinks for kids on board

You can bring your own snacks and drinks. Alcohol is not sold on board, and only guests 18 and over may bring it. If you'd rather not carry a cooler, order food in the planner. A few kid-friendly options (cash prices; card adds 16%):

• Banana pancakes or French toast, MXN 325
• Yogurt and granola, MXN 325
• Turkey breast box lunch, MXN 238, or burrito box lunch, MXN 289
• Soda MXN 51, Gatorade MXN 68, bottled water MXN 17

For a long morning, a small cheese board (MXN 780) keeps everyone happy between swims.

What to pack for kids

Things to do in Cabo with kids on land

A boat day is one piece of a family trip. Some ideas for the other days:

• Médano Beach is Cabo's swimming beach, facing the bay and a walk from the marina. It is the easy beach day.
• Chileno Bay and Santa María Bay, up the corridor, are public beaches with free parking. Chileno has restrooms and showers near the entrance, and both are good snorkel coves.
• From roughly August to November, olive ridley sea turtles hatch on Los Cabos beaches, and several resorts and conservation groups run hatchling releases.
• From November to April the whales are here, and a boat day can turn into a whale sighting.

For which beaches are safe to swim with children, see our guide to Cabo beaches that are safe for swimming. For a beach day next to the marina, read our Médano Beach guide.

Booking a family boat day

Send us the date, how many adults and kids, and each child's age. Mention if anyone is a weak swimmer or prone to seasickness, and we'll suggest the yacht and a route that fits. The planner takes the request, and we reply in writing within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time. Payment is by secure Stripe link once the date is confirmed.

For a family of six, our best yacht for 6 guide compares the boats with spare seats and a cabin, and for grandparents on board too, the family reunion on a yacht guide covers three generations.

Yachts in this guide

Bayliner 30Cabin cruiser · up to 6 guestsfrom $549 / 2 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hPontoon 38Double-deck party pontoon · up to 18 guestsfrom $869 / 2 hSea Ray 55Flybridge motor yacht · up to 15 guestsfrom $2,129 / 3 h

Questions people ask

Are kids allowed on private yacht charters in Cabo?

Yes, children are welcome on every yacht. Tell us their ages when you book so the right life jacket sizes are on board.

How long should a boat trip with kids be in Cabo?

Two to three hours suits most families. The 2 hour Arch route covers Pelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch and Lover's Beach, and our family day is typically 3 hours.

Do the yachts have bathrooms for kids?

Every yacht in our fleet except the Chaparral 28 has a head (bathroom). The Sea Ray 55 has cabins, heads and air conditioning, and the Pontoon 38 has an enclosed head with a freshwater shower.

What is the best time of day for a boat trip with kids in Cabo?

Morning. The water is usually calmer before the wind builds after midday, and it is cooler on deck. Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM Cabo time.

How much is a family boat tour in Cabo?

Prices are per boat, tax included. A 2 hour charter starts at USD 549 / MXN 10,499 on the Bayliner 30 for up to 6 guests; the Sea Ray 55, for up to 15, starts at USD 2,129 / MXN 40,399 for 3 hours. The 15% crew tip is not included.

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