Private yacht or shared boat tour in Cabo? An honest comparison for your group

Cabo boat tours come in two kinds. A shared catamaran or party boat sells tickets per person and runs on a fixed schedule with other groups on board. A private boat is one group per yacht, leaving when you want and going where you ask, from USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for two hours for the whole boat. Once your group reaches six or more people, the private option often costs less per person than travelers expect: the Pontoon 38 for 18 guests works out to about USD 48 each for two hours.

Here is how the two compare, and when each one makes sense.

How shared boat tours in Cabo work

Shared tours are the big catamarans and party boats you see leaving Marina Cabo San Lucas. You buy a seat, show up at the posted time, and share the deck with everyone else who bought one. Many of the sunset trips include an open bar and snacks, with music on board.

Most of them cover the same landmarks a private boat does on a short trip: the Arch, Lover's Beach and the sea lions on the rocks at Land's End. The difference is that the boat follows its own timetable and route, and nobody changes them for one group.

How a private charter works

With a private charter, the boat is yours for the hours you book, and no other group comes aboard. You choose the departure time anywhere from 7 AM to 7 PM. The minimum is two hours on every yacht except the Sea Ray 55, the Sea Ray 65, the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70, which start at three.

The route is up to you and the captain. Two hours covers Pelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach, then back along Médano Beach. Four hours gets you to Santa María Bay to snorkel. If you want to skip a stop or spend longer at one, you tell the crew.

Food and drinks are your call too. We don't sell or serve alcohol, so guests 18 and over bring their own, and you can order food from our menu in the planner. You also pick the playlist.

Private yacht vs shared tour, side by side

The shared tour price is fixed per ticket, so it's easy to compare. Multiply the ticket price by your group size, then compare it with the private boat numbers below.

Private boat cost per person for groups of 6 or more

Every private price is per boat, with the 16% IVA tax included. The 15% crew tip is a suggestion, paid in cash on board, and isn't included in these prices.

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.

For two hours, the suggested tip is about USD 130 for the Pontoon 38 crew and about USD 78 for the Chaparral 28 crew, paid in cash on board.

For smaller groups the math changes. Two people on the Bayliner 30 would pay about USD 275 each for two hours. That's when a shared ticket usually comes out cheaper, unless the privacy is the point (proposals and anniversaries, for example).

For every yacht and every length, see our Cabo yacht rental price guide.

The Cabo party boat question

If you want a Cabo party boat without strangers on it, the Pontoon 38 is built for that. It's a 38-foot double-deck party pontoon for up to 18 guests, with a water slide from the upper deck, an enclosed head with a freshwater shower, a cooler with ice, and a captain and deckhand.

Since you bring your own drinks, you decide what's in the cooler. And because it's your boat, the music is yours from the moment you leave the dock.

It's also a natural fit for a bachelorette group. Our Cabo bachelorette boat day guide covers group size, drinks rules and decorations.

When a shared tour makes more sense

Some cases are clear:

• You're one or two people and price comes first.
• You want a big crowd and a bar someone else runs.
• You don't mind the set departure time and route.

If that's you, a shared catamaran is a fine way to see the Arch.

When a private boat makes more sense

Private wins once the group, the timing or the occasion matters:

• Groups of six or more, where the per-boat price splits well.
• Families with kids, who need to set the pace, find shade and stop for a swim when the water is calm. See our family day page.
• Birthdays, bachelorettes and proposals, where you want your own music, cake and photos without other passengers in them.
• Sunset timing. You choose when to leave so you're in the right spot when the sun goes down, and yachts from the marina can stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM.
• Snorkeling. A four-hour charter reaches Santa María Bay, a sheltered horseshoe cove with reef along both points.
• Cruise passengers with a few hours in port. The cruise port day option is built around a typical two-hour trip.

What you'll see on a two-hour trip

On a private two-hour charter, the usual route is the Arch and Land's End loop, about 4.7 miles round trip. You start at Pelican Rock, a calm snorkel spot at the foot of Land's End, then pass the sea lion colony, where captains slow down and idle so you can watch without disturbing them.

Then comes the Arch itself, the granite arch at the tip of the Baja peninsula, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Lover's Beach is on the calm bay side; Divorce Beach faces the open Pacific, with big surf and a strong undertow, so it's for photos from the boat. You come back along Médano Beach.

If you'd rather do this at golden hour, read our guide to the best sunset cruise in Cabo.

Questions to ask before booking any Cabo boat tour

Whether you book a catamaran tour, a party boat or a private yacht, the same handful of questions saves surprises on the day. Here they are, with our answers for the private fleet.

On boarding: twelve of the thirteen yachts leave from Marina Cabo San Lucas, a walk from the Médano Beach hotels and a taxi ride from the resorts along the corridor. You get the exact slip with your confirmation. The Sea Ray 65 meets you at Fisherman's Landing restaurant, by the Cabo Escape terminal.

On weather: the Port Captain (Capitanía de Puerto, part of the Mexican Navy) closes the harbor only under a hurricane or storm threat or another extraordinary situation. Most closures fall between September and mid-October, and a closure applies to shared tours and private charters alike.

One more thing about the fleet: only the McKinna 70 does fishing trips, on its sport-fishing charter. The other yachts are pleasure yachts without fishing permits.

How to book a private boat

Start with the size of your group. That narrows the fleet quickly: up to 6 fits every yacht, up to 12 opens nine of the twelve, 13 to 15 means the Sea Ray 55 or the Pontoon 38, and 16 to 18 means the Pontoon 38. Then pick a time of day, or browse the experiences for ideas like sunset, snorkeling or a birthday.

The planner shows the exact price in USD and MXN for your yacht and hours, and lets you add food. Once we confirm your date in writing, you pay with a secure Stripe link. We reply within two hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

For older guests, the private-versus-shared question has a comfort answer too: our yacht day for seniors guide covers shade, bathrooms and boarding.

Yachts in this guide

Bayliner 30Cabin cruiser · up to 6 guestsfrom $549 / 2 hBayliner 33Express cruiser · up to 8 guestsfrom $599 / 2 hChaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 h

Questions people ask

Is a private boat in Cabo San Lucas worth it over a shared tour?

For groups of six or more it usually is, because you pay per boat. The Pontoon 38 takes up to 18 guests for USD 869 for two hours, about USD 48 each before the 15% tip.

What is the cheapest private boat in Cabo?

The Chaparral 28 starts at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for two hours, tax included, for up to 10 guests. Snorkel gear, a lily pad floating mat, a cooler and a Bluetooth sound system come with it.

Is there a private party boat in Cabo for big groups?

Yes. The Pontoon 38 is a double-deck party pontoon for up to 18 guests, with a water slide from the upper deck and an enclosed head with a freshwater shower.

Do private boats in Cabo include an open bar?

Most don't, since alcohol is not sold or served on board and guests 18 and over bring their own. The Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 are the exceptions, each with complimentary drinks served by its crew.

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