Chileno Bay vs Santa María Bay: which cove to snorkel, and how to do both

If you only have time for one, snorkel Santa María Bay. It is a sheltered horseshoe cove 6.7 miles (11 km) from Marina Cabo San Lucas, with reef along both points and clear water. Chileno Bay is the next cove over, at 7.9 miles (13 km), and on a 5 to 8 hour private charter you can snorkel both.

Update, October 10, 2026: Santa María Bay is closed for snorkeling for now; we expect it to reopen in November. Until then, the snorkel stop is Pelican Rock, next to the Arch, on the 2 hour charter.

Many people asking "Chileno Bay or Santa María Bay" are picking one beach to drive to for the morning. The answer changes if you come by boat, because then the two coves are a short hop apart and you don't have to choose.

How do Santa María Bay and Chileno Bay compare?

Both coves sit on the tourist corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, on the Sea of Cortez side. Both have reef along their edges. The differences are in shape and in how they fit into a day.

Santa María is the cove on the standard 4 hour snorkel route. Its horseshoe shape keeps it sheltered, which makes it a comfortable first snorkel for beginners. You can read more about the cove on our Santa María Bay page.

Chileno has more sand in the middle, so the snorkeling is along the edges, where the reef sits on both sides. It is a good second stop because it feels different from Santa María: open sand, then rock and fish at the margins. Details are on the Chileno Bay page.

Which is better for snorkeling, Santa María or Chileno?

For a first snorkel, or for kids and nervous swimmers, Santa María. The cove is sheltered, the water is usually clear, and the reef runs along both points, so there are fish to see on either side.

For a second stop on a longer day, Chileno. By then you have your mask sorted and you're comfortable in the water, so swimming out to the reef along its sides is easy.

If the sea is up on a given day, your captain decides which cove is calmer and where to anchor. That call comes from looking at the water that morning, so trust it.

Santa María Bay snorkeling by boat: the 4 hour route

The standard snorkel charter is 4 hours. The route runs 15.5 miles round trip:

1. Leave Marina Cabo San Lucas and stop at Pelican Rock, inside the bay.
2. Pass the sea lion colony and the Arch at Land's End.
3. Run up the coast to Santa María Bay and anchor to snorkel.
4. Swim stop on the way back, then return along Médano Beach.

That gives you the Arch photos and a long snorkel in one morning. The snorkel experience page has the full outline. July, October and November are the months we rate best for it, with water at 80°F (27°C) or warmer and little rain.

Doing both coves: the 5 to 8 hour route

The full day adds Chileno Bay. The route is 18.5 miles round trip: the Arch and the sea lions, then Santa María and Chileno with time to snorkel each, lunch at anchor, and back along Médano Beach.

This is the day for groups that want to spend more time in the water than on the boat ride. You can order food in the planner (box lunches start at MXN 238, and a Mexican feast for 6 to 8 people is MXN 2,600, cash prices), or bring your own. Guests 18 and over can bring their own drinks.

What does a snorkel charter cost?

Prices are per boat, not per person, with 16% tax included. The customary crew tip is 15% and is not included. Here is the Sea Ray 40, a 40 ft flybridge yacht for up to 12 guests, which comes with captain and deckhand, water, ice, towels and snorkel gear:

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.

Split among 12 people, 4 hours on the Sea Ray 40 works out to about USD 125 each before the tip.

Smaller groups have cheaper options. The Chaparral 28 takes up to 10 guests and costs USD 909 / MXN 17,399 for 4 hours, with snorkel gear and a lily pad floating mat. The Bayliner 33 takes up to 8 and costs USD 1,139 / MXN 21,699 for 4 hours. For a bigger boat with a deckhand and towels, the Sea Ray 36 takes up to 12 and costs USD 1,219 / MXN 23,299 for 4 hours. The fleet page lines up every yacht side by side.

Can you get to Santa María or Chileno without a boat?

Yes. Both are public beaches with free parking lots just off the corridor highway, so you can drive or take a taxi from your hotel. The lots are small and fill up early in high season, so plan to arrive in the morning.

Chileno has a paved path from the parking lot plus restrooms and outdoor showers near the entrance. Santa María is more basic: nothing is sold on the beach, so bring water, snacks and something for shade.

By land you'll swim out from the beach, and you only get one cove unless you drive to the other. By boat you anchor right over the reef, see the Arch on the way, and add the second cove without repacking the car. Which suits you depends on group size and budget. For a couple, a beach morning by car costs very little. For a group, the math changes: ten people on the Chaparral 28 pay about USD 91 each for 4 hours, before the tip.

What you see on the way

Both coves are on the far side of Land's End from the marina, so every snorkel charter passes the landmarks first. You stop at Pelican Rock, a calm snorkel spot inside the bay, then idle past the California sea lions on the rocks next to the Arch. The Arch itself is granite, at the very tip of the Baja peninsula, and the best angle is from the water.

That is a big part of why a boat day beats driving for many groups. You get the Arch photos, the sea lions and the reef in one outing, and nobody has to drive.

Tips for snorkeling the corridor coves

• Go in the morning. The wind usually builds after midday, and calmer water means better visibility.
• Wear reef-safe sunscreen, and don't stand on the reef.
• Check the water temperature for your month. It runs about 72 to 74°F (22 to 23°C) from January to April and about 85°F (29°C) from August to October. Our trip guide has every month.
• If you get cold easily, a rash guard or a shorty wetsuit makes a long snorkel more comfortable in winter.
• Bring cash for the crew tip, in dollars or pesos.

For more spots closer to the marina, see our guide to the best snorkeling in Cabo. If you're fitting the boat day into a short trip, our 3, 4 and 5 day Cabo itineraries show where a morning snorkel fits.

Picking your day

For one cove and the Arch, book 4 hours. For both coves and lunch at anchor, book 5 hours or more. If your group is 10 or fewer and the budget is tight, look at the Chaparral 28; for up to 12 with towels and a flybridge, the Sea Ray 40.

Put your date, group size and hours into the planner. We reply in writing within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, and you pay through a secure Stripe link once the date is confirmed.

Yachts in this guide

Sea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hChaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hBayliner 33Express cruiser · up to 8 guestsfrom $599 / 2 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 h

Questions people ask

Is Santa María Bay or Chileno Bay better for snorkeling?

Santa María is the more sheltered of the two, a horseshoe cove with reef along both points, so it is usually the first pick. Chileno has a sandy bottom with reef on both sides and is the next cove over, 7.9 miles (13 km) from Marina Cabo San Lucas.

Can you snorkel Santa María and Chileno on the same day?

Yes. By boat, the 5 to 8 hour Santa María and Chileno route stops at both coves with time to snorkel each, plus lunch at anchor. On a Sea Ray 40 that starts at USD 1,769 / MXN 33,699 for 5 hours, per boat, tax included.

How far is Santa María Bay from Cabo San Lucas by boat?

Santa María Bay is 6.7 miles (11 km) from Marina Cabo San Lucas. The standard 4 hour snorkel route, with the Arch first and a swim stop on the way back, covers 15.5 miles round trip.

Can you get to Chileno Bay and Santa María Bay without a tour?

Yes. Both are public beaches on the tourist corridor with free parking lots off the highway. The lots are small and fill early in high season, so arrive in the morning.

Is snorkel gear included on a private yacht?

Snorkel gear is on the included list for eleven of our thirteen yachts, including the Sea Ray 40 and the Sea Ray 55. On the Pontoon 38 and McKinna 70 it isn't listed, so ask when you book.

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