Small boat rental in Cabo San Lucas: the best private boat for 2, 4, 6 or 8 people

A small boat rental in Cabo San Lucas means a private boat with a captain for 2 to 8 people, from USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for two hours. Three boats in our fleet fit that size: the Chaparral 28 (up to 10, the lowest price), the Bayliner 30 (up to 6, with a cabin) and the Bayliner 33 (up to 8, cabin and head). Prices are per boat with the 16% tax included, so a couple on the Bayliner 30 pays USD 549 (MXN 10,499) for two hours, about USD 275 each, and six people on the same boat pay about USD 92 each.

For 10 or more, see the best yacht in Cabo for 10 to 12 guests; for 15 and up, the large groups guide; for everything by headcount, the yacht by group size page.

The three small boats, side by side

All three board in Marina Cabo San Lucas, downtown: the Chaparral 28 at Orange Dock 1-B and the Bayliner 30 at Dock 1-A (Zaidas), both by Captain Tony's, and the Bayliner 33 at O Dock 2, by Arte Surf. All three have a two-hour minimum. Towels are not included on any of them (in the fleet, only the Sea Ray 36, Sea Ray 40 and Azimut 45 include towels), so bring your own.

The Bayliner 30 has no paddle board because the boat is too small to carry one, but it does have a floating mat. None of these boats allow fishing: they're pleasure boats without fishing permits.

Best boat for 2 people: Bayliner 30

For a couple, the Bayliner 30 is the boat we point to first. The cabin gives you shade, a place to change and somewhere to put a bag, and the captain handles everything else. Bottled water and sodas are included, and guests 18 and over can bring their own drinks; the boats don't sell or serve alcohol.

Two hours is USD 549 (MXN 10,499), about USD 275 each. Three hours, USD 799 (MXN 15,199), lets you add a swim stop to the sunset. Our romantic things to do in Cabo list has the sunset and breakfast versions of this trip, and the couples experience page shows both.

If the price matters more than the cabin, the Chaparral 28 is USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for two hours, with a Bluetooth sound system for your playlist and a lily pad mat for the swim stop.

Best boat for 4 people: Bayliner 30 or Bayliner 33

Two couples or a family of four fit either Bayliner. The Bayliner 30 is a touch less per hour and includes sodas along with the water; the Bayliner 33 is a touch more, includes bottled water and ice, and has two more seats if someone joins. Four people on the Bayliner 33 for two hours is USD 599 (MXN 11,399), about USD 150 each; on the Bayliner 30, about USD 137 each.

For four who want a bigger boat with towels included, the step up is the Sea Ray 36 at USD 659 (MXN 12,599) for two hours (about USD 165 each), with a captain and deckhand, cooler, towels and snorkel gear.

Best boat for a family of 6: Bayliner 33

Six on the Bayliner 30 fills it exactly, which works for six adults. With kids, the Bayliner 33 gives you two spare seats, a cabin for a nap and an enclosed head, for USD 599 (MXN 11,399) for two hours, about USD 100 each. Tell us the children's ages when you book so the life jackets on board fit them, and keep the first trip short: two hours in the morning, when the water is calmest, is plenty for small kids.

The family day page covers the routine, and our Cabo with kids guide goes into life jackets, shade and food.

Best boat for 8 friends: Bayliner 33 or Chaparral 28

Eight is the Bayliner 33's limit, and at USD 599 (MXN 11,399) for two hours that's about USD 75 each. The Chaparral 28 takes 10 at USD 519 (MXN 9,799), about USD 65 each for eight, and its Bluetooth sound system makes it the pick for a group that wants music. Neither has a lot of spare deck for eight, so if your group wants to move around, the Sea Ray 36 (up to 12, USD 659 for two hours, about USD 82 each for eight) is the next size.

Eight for a bachelorette or a birthday? Those usually book bigger boats; the party boat guide explains why.

Per-person cost by group size

Two hours, per boat with tax included, before the 15% crew tip.

Set your group size and hours to see every boat that fits.

What it costs per person

Guests:

4

Hours2 h3 h4 h6 h

1. Loading

Per boat, 16% tax included, tip not included. Pick a yacht to see its page.

On every private boat the price is per boat, so each extra person lowers the cost per head until you reach the guest limit, which is firm.

Where a small boat goes in two hours

Every charter runs the Arch route: out of the marina past Pelican Rock, a slow pass by the sea lion colony, photos at the Arch, a look at Lover's Beach on the calm side and Divorce Beach on the Pacific side, then back along Médano Beach. It's 4.7 miles round trip, and the CONANP conservation fee for the protected area around the Arch is included in the price.

Three hours adds a proper swim stop on the bay side near Lover's Beach. Four hours is enough for the ride up the coast to Santa María Bay when it's open for snorkeling (closed for now, expected to reopen in November); meanwhile the snorkel stop is Pelican Rock, right next to the Arch.

A small boat moves more than a 55-footer, so if someone gets seasick, book the morning, stay on the bay route and skip the Pacific side. Our seasickness guide has the rest.

Food and drinks on a small boat

Food is optional and ordered in the planner at cash prices in pesos (card adds 16%): box lunches from MXN 238, a burrito platter at MXN 901, cheese boards from MXN 780, breakfast dishes from MXN 325. On the Chaparral 28, bring your own water or add it to the order (MXN 17 a bottle; sodas are MXN 51). The Bayliner 33 includes bottled water and ice, and the Bayliner 30 includes bottled water and sodas.

What every small boat charter includes

• A captain. On every boat we book, the captain is part of the price.
• The CONANP fee for the Arch area.
• Departures from 7 AM to 7 PM, sailing until 8 PM, and the option to stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM.
• A new date or a full refund if the Port Captain closes the harbor, which happens mostly between September and mid-October.

Booking a small boat

Open the planner, enter your group size, date and hours, and it shows every boat that fits with the price in USD and MXN. We reply in writing within two hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, or on WhatsApp at +52 624 300 8029. Once the date is confirmed, you pay by secure Stripe link.

For two, start with the Bayliner 30. For six to eight, the Bayliner 33. For the lowest price at any size up to 10, the Chaparral 28.

Yachts in this guide

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

Questions people ask

How much is a small boat rental in Cabo San Lucas?

A private small boat with a captain starts at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for two hours on the Chaparral 28, which takes up to 10. The Bayliner 33 (up to 8) is USD 599 (MXN 11,399) and the Bayliner 30 (up to 6, with a cabin) is USD 549 (MXN 10,499). Prices are per boat with the 16% tax included.

What is the best boat in Cabo for 2 people?

The Bayliner 30, a 30-foot cabin cruiser with a captain, a cooler with ice, bottled water and sodas, snorkel gear and a floating mat. Two hours is USD 549 (MXN 10,499) per boat, so a couple pays about USD 275 each before the 15% crew tip.

What is the best boat for a family of 6 in Cabo?

The Bayliner 33 if you want room to spare: it takes 8, has a cabin and a head, and two hours is USD 599 (MXN 11,399). The Bayliner 30 takes exactly 6. Tell us the kids' ages when you book so the life jackets fit.

Can a small boat in Cabo go to the Arch?

Yes. Every charter runs the 2-hour Arch route: Pelican Rock, the sea lion colony, the Arch, Lover's and Divorce Beach and back along Médano Beach, 4.7 miles round trip. The conservation fee for the protected area is 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