Family resorts in Cabo and how to plan a boat day with the kids

Several resorts in Los Cabos are set up for children and say so on their own sites: Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas and Riu Santa Fe share a water park on Médano Beach, Hyatt Ziva has a Kidz Club with a water park, Hard Rock has a kids club and a teen space, and Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach runs a Kids Club for ages 4 to 11. The closest family hotels to the boats are Playa Grande, steps from the marina, and Casa Dorada, about 0.7 km away in a straight line.

A boat day with kids works best at 2 to 3 hours, leaving in the morning. We cover how it goes further down. We are an independent yacht charter agency with no ties to any of these hotels.

Family resorts in Cabo at a glance

Distances are to the nearest boarding dock in Marina Cabo San Lucas, in a straight line, with the drive time without traffic. At rush hour every drive takes longer.

The full list of hotels, with zones and distances, is on our hotels hub.

Near the marina: short rides, easy mornings

Playa Grande and Casa Dorada

Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa describes itself as a family-friendly resort and is steps from the marina, so you can walk to the boat. It has a mini golf course and a saltwater jacuzzi. Its beach is on the open Pacific, which is rough, so families swim in the pools or cross to Médano.

Casa Dorada, on Médano, has a playground and a pet-friendly policy, and the hotel describes its beach as swimmable. It is about 0.7 km from the marina in a straight line, around 2 minutes by car.

Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas and Riu Santa Fe

The two RIU hotels on the east end of Médano are next to each other. Riu Santa Fe has 1,288 rooms and the Splash Water World water park, added in 2018. Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas, with 692 rooms, is marketed to families, and its guests can use the water park next door. RIU says the designated swimming areas are about 2 km from these hotels, toward the marina. They sit about 2.4 to 2.5 km from the marina in a straight line, 7 to 8 minutes by car.

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach is a family resort of 749 suites on the Pacific side, inside Quivira Los Cabos. Children aged 4 to 11 have the Kids Club and teenagers the FunLab, with arcade games and billiards. The Pacific in front is not for swimming because of strong currents, so the six pools do the work. The resort runs a free shuttle to downtown, and the marina is about 2.3 km away in a straight line, around 9 minutes by car.

Farther out: bigger resorts, longer rides

Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos

Hard Rock has 639 rooms in Diamante, on the Pacific west of town. It is not adults only: it has a kids club, a teen space and water slides, plus a bowling alley inside the Moon Lounge. The official site says the ocean in front is not safe for swimming, so swimming happens in the five pools. It is about 7.3 km from the marina, around 18 minutes by car.

Hyatt Ziva, Royal Solaris and Krystal Grand

These three are on the San José del Cabo side, about half an hour from the marina without traffic. Hyatt Ziva reopened in 2015 with a Kidz Club that has a water park and a treehouse, and its pools include a water play area for children. Royal Solaris has a kids club with a mini water park for ages 4 to 11 and a Juniors Club for teenagers. Krystal Grand has Kamp Krystal for children and the Adventure Friends club for teens.

A boat day with kids: how it works

How long

Two to three hours. Two hours covers the Arch, the sea lions, Lover's Beach and a snorkel stop at Pelican Rock. Three hours adds time to swim and float. Our family day is usually 3 hours, and snorkel trips leave in the morning.

Snorkeling

Pelican Rock is the first snorkel stop on most routes, inside the bay at the foot of Land's End, with reef fish close to the surface. Plan on about 30 to 45 minutes in the water, which is about right for kids. Santa María Bay has been closed for snorkeling since October 10, 2026 and is expected to reopen in November; until then Pelican Rock is the stop. Snorkel gear comes on every yacht.

Life jackets, bathroom and shade

Tell us how many children are coming and how old each one is when you book, and the operator brings life jackets in the right sizes. Every yacht except the Chaparral 28 has a bathroom on board. The bigger boats have more shade and room to move.

Which yacht

Prices are per boat, not per person, with 16% IVA included. A 15% crew tip is suggested and not included. On the Pontoon 38 the kids can go down a slide from the upper deck into the water. The Sea Ray 55 brings a floating pool, a paddle board, a lily pad mat and a floating platform. For food, the planner menu has a burrito box lunch at MXN 289 and a Mexican feast for 6 to 8 people at MXN 2,600 (cash prices; card adds 16%).

Whale season runs from November to April, so in those months you may see whales on the way. More tips are in our guide to Cabo with kids.

Getting the family to the marina

Each yacht boards at its own dock in Marina Cabo San Lucas; your exact dock and a map link come on your boarding pass. From Playa Grande you walk. From everywhere else, a van is easiest with kids and beach bags. Our transportation service books a private van from your resort and back:

The driver collects the fare, separate from the yacht: the cash price, or 5% more by card on the driver's terminal. Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM. Tell us the kids' ages in the planner and we reply within 2 hours between 8 AM and 8 PM Cabo time.

Yachts in this guide

Sea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hPontoon 38Double-deck party pontoon · up to 18 guestsfrom $869 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hSea Ray 55Flybridge motor yacht · up to 15 guestsfrom $2,129 / 3 h

Questions people ask

Which Cabo resorts are best for families with kids?

Resorts that list kids clubs or water parks on their own sites include Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas and Riu Santa Fe on Médano, Hyatt Ziva and Royal Solaris in San José del Cabo, Hard Rock in Diamante, Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach on the Pacific side and Krystal Grand.

Which family resort is closest to the marina?

Playa Grande is steps from the marina, and Casa Dorada on Médano is about 0.7 km away in a straight line, around 2 minutes by car without traffic. Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach is about 2.3 km away, around 9 minutes.

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

Two to three hours. Two hours covers the Arch, the sea lions and a snorkel stop at Pelican Rock; three gives time for a swim. Our family day is usually 3 hours.

Do yachts have life jackets for children?

Yes. Tell us how many children are coming and their ages when you book, and the operator brings life jackets in the right sizes.

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