Sea lions in Cabo: where the colony is, the rules, and the boat ride out

The sea lion colony in Cabo is on the rocks beside the Arch at Land's End, 1.3 miles (2 km) from Marina Cabo San Lucas. You see it from a boat, and a 2 hour private charter that stops there starts at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for up to 10 guests. You can't swim with the sea lions at the colony: CONANP advises staying at least 20 m (66 ft) away.

The animals are California sea lions. They haul out on the low granite next to the Arch, and they are around all year.

Where is the sea lion colony in Cabo?

The sea lion colony sits at the very tip of the Baja peninsula, on the rocks next to the Arch. From the marina it is a short run across the bay: about 1.3 miles (2 km), past Pelican Rock and Lover's Beach.

The rocks where the sea lions rest sit at the waterline of Land's End, so a boat is how you see them. The captain slows down and idles nearby, and you get the sea lions and the Arch in the same frame.

What kind of sea lions live at Land's End?

They are California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). In the Cabo San Lucas protected area, they and humpback whales are the two marine mammals people see most often. The sea lions are the only marine mammal that stays in these waters the whole year. Humpbacks only come for the winter.

In Mexico the species is under special protection in the official endangered species norm, NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.

Nobody publishes a head count for the Arch colony. CONANP's draft management program for the area notes that the population is not monitored, so any number you hear on a tour is a guess. On a given day you might see a handful of animals stretched out on one ledge, or a packed rock with sea lions climbing over each other.

In the Gulf of California, sea lions breed from June to August, and pups are born in May and June. No source we found confirms that pups are born at the Arch colony itself, so we don't promise baby sea lions.

Can you swim with sea lions in Cabo?

Not at the colony. CONANP advises keeping at least 20 m (66 ft) from sea lions, and the crews we book follow it. The captain holds the boat at a slow, steady distance while you watch and take photos.

A few more rules apply around Land's End:

• Feeding sea lions, or throwing any food in the water, is not allowed. CONANP's draft management program lists feeding marine life as prohibited.
• Climbing onto the rocks where they rest is not allowed.
• Swimming up to the colony is off the table, even on a calm day.

You may still share the water with one. Divers who work Pelican Rock, the snorkel stop inside the bay, report sea lions passing through. If one swims by while you snorkel, enjoy it from where you are and let it move on. Don't chase it or reach for it.

Why is the water around the colony protected?

The waters around Land's End were declared an underwater refuge by a decree published on November 29, 1973. The goal was to protect the Sand Falls, rivers of sand that pour down into a submarine canyon just off the beaches. Today the area is the Cabo San Lucas Flora and Fauna Protection Area, and about 95% of it is sea.

For visitors, that means wildlife rules apply, and there is a conservation fee. CONANP lists MXN 125 per person per day as of September 2026, with exemptions such as children under 12. On our charters this fee is already included in the price.

When is the best time to see the sea lions?

Any month works, since the colony is there all year. What changes is the rest of the trip:

Time of day matters more than month. Mornings are usually calmer, because the wind tends to build after midday. Calm water makes it easier for the captain to hold a steady position off the rocks, and easier for you to get a sharp photo. Late afternoon has the softer light if you'd rather go at golden hour, and our sunset cruise passes the colony on the way out.

Humpbacks start showing up in November. The official whale-watching season, set each year by SEMARNAT, ran December 15 to April 30 for 2025 to 2026, with January and February as the peak. SEMARNAT publishes the 2026 to 2027 dates in October. A whale season outing passes the Arch too, so you can get sea lions and humpbacks on the same trip. Our whale watching guide covers the season month by month.

Which boat trips pass the sea lion colony?

All four of our typical routes go past it, because all four pass the Arch. Here they are with the lowest starting price for each. Every price is per boat, for your whole group, with the 16% tax included.

The first three "from" prices are the Chaparral 28. The full day starts with the Bayliner 30 at 5 hours.

The 2 hour Arch & Land's End loop is the usual choice for the sea lions. It goes to Pelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach, then back along Médano Beach. If you want a closer look at that route minute by minute, read our Arch boat tour guide.

How much does a private boat to the sea lions cost?

For a short sea lion and Arch trip, two boats cover most groups. The Chaparral 28 is a 28 ft sport boat for up to 10 guests, with snorkel gear, a lily pad floating mat, a cooler and a Bluetooth sound system. The Sea Ray 36 is a 36 ft express cruiser for up to 12, with a captain and deckhand, bottled water and ice, a cooler, towels and snorkel gear.

Split across a full boat, 2 hours on the Chaparral 28 comes to about USD 52 a person for 10 guests. On the Sea Ray 36 with 12 guests it's about USD 55 each. The customary crew tip is 15% and isn't included, so plan on roughly USD 78 for the Chaparral 28 or USD 99 for the Sea Ray 36 on a 2 hour trip.

One practical difference: every yacht in our fleet except the Chaparral 28 has a head (bathroom) on board. With kids or a longer day, the Sea Ray 36 is the easier pick. You can compare all thirteen boats on the fleet page.

Tips for watching the sea lions from the boat

• Bring a phone or camera with some zoom. At 20 m (66 ft) the sea lions are clear to the eye, but a little zoom gets you faces and whiskers.
• Keep voices down near the rocks. The animals are resting, and loud music carries over the water. Ask the crew to turn the speaker down for a few minutes.
• Let the captain choose the angle. They know where the boat can sit safely and where the light falls on the rock at that hour.
• Don't toss anything in the water, food included.

If you want more on the rock formation itself, our guide to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas covers how it formed, the sand under it and the view at sunset.

Planning your sea lion trip

For most people, the 2 hour Arch & Land's End route is the right length: sea lions, the Arch, a swim or snorkel stop and the ride back along Médano Beach. Pick the Chaparral 28 for up to 10 people, or the Sea Ray 36 for up to 12 or if you want a bathroom on board.

Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM, Cabo time. Send your date, group size and preferred time through the planner, and we reply in writing within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time. Once the date is confirmed, you pay through a secure Stripe link.

Yachts in this guide

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

Questions people ask

Where can you see sea lions in Cabo San Lucas?

On the rocks right next to the Arch at Land's End, about 1.3 miles (2 km) from Marina Cabo San Lucas. You see them from a boat, and every one of our four typical routes passes the colony.

Can you swim with the sea lions in Cabo?

Not at the colony. CONANP, Mexico's protected areas agency, advises keeping at least 20 m (66 ft) from sea lions, and your captain holds the boat at that kind of distance.

Are there sea lions in Cabo all year?

Yes. California sea lions are the only marine mammal that stays in the Cabo San Lucas protected area all year, so you can see them in any month.

How much is a private boat to see the sea lions?

A 2 hour private charter on the Arch route starts at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for up to 10 guests on the Chaparral 28. The price is per boat, includes the 16% tax, and does not include the crew tip.

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