What to wear and bring on a boat in Cabo San Lucas
A packing list for a Cabo yacht day, covering what to wear, what's on board, what to bring and what to leave behind.
In this guide
For a boat day in Cabo, wear a swimsuit under a cover-up or light clothes, flat soft-sole shoes you can take off, and a hat with a strap. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a light layer for the ride back, and cash for the customary 15% crew tip, which isn't included in the price. Drinks are BYO for guests 18 and older, and towels come on only some yachts, so check yours before you pack.
Below is the full list: what to wear, what's already on board each yacht, what to bring, and what to leave at the hotel. It applies to every private charter we book from Marina Cabo San Lucas and the Cabo Escape terminal, from a 2-hour sunset to a full day of snorkeling.
What to wear on a boat in Cabo
Dress for sun, water and a deck that moves.
Put your swimsuit on at the hotel. Changing on a small boat is awkward, and only some yachts have a cabin. The Sea Ray 55 has cabins, heads and air conditioning, and the Pontoon 38 has an enclosed head with a freshwater shower, but on a sport boat like the Chaparral 28 you'll want to arrive ready to swim.
Over the swimsuit, wear something loose that dries fast: a cover-up, linen shirt, shorts or a sundress. Skip anything that's ruined by salt water or sunscreen.
On your feet, wear flat shoes with soft soles that you can kick off once you're aboard, like sandals, slides or boat shoes, so you can go barefoot on deck if you like. Heels and hard black soles are a bad idea on a wet, moving surface.
For your head, choose a hat with a strap or one you don't mind losing, plus sunglasses with a strap. The breeze picks up once the boat is moving, and the bay will happily keep anything that blows off.
A layer for sunset
If your charter runs into the evening, bring a light long-sleeve layer. Yachts sail until 8 PM, and yachts that leave from the marina may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM. Once the sun is down, the breeze on a moving boat feels a lot cooler than the dock did. Check the trip guide for the weather by month and the sunset time on your dates.
What's already on board?
Every yacht includes its crew. Beyond that, the inclusions vary, so check your yacht before you pack. This is what the yacht pages list.
| Item | Included on | If not included |
|---|---|---|
| Towels | Sea Ray 36, Sea Ray 40, Azimut 45 | Bring hotel or beach towels |
| Snorkel gear | Every yacht | Nothing to bring |
| Bottled water | Bayliner 30, Bayliner 33, Sea Ray 36, Sea Ray 40, Azimut 45, Sea Ray 55 | Order it in the planner, MXN 17 a bottle |
| Floating mat | Every yacht | Nothing to bring |
| Paddle board | Azimut 45, Sea Ray 55, Sea Ray 65, Azimut 70 | Ask when booking |
Every yacht has a cooler too, and the Bayliner 30, Pontoon 38, Maxum 45, Regal 45 and Azimut 45 list it with ice. The fleet page shows every yacht's inclusions side by side.
Food is optional on all yachts except the McKinna 70, which has a chef and a multi-course menu cooked on board. On the others, you can order breakfast, box lunches, boards and drinks in the planner and they'll be on board when you arrive.
What to bring on a yacht in Cabo
The checklist:
Traveling with kids? Tell us their ages when you book so the right life jacket sizes are on board. Our Cabo with kids guide covers the rest.
Drinks on board: the BYO rules
The yachts don't sell or serve alcohol. Guests 18 and older can bring their own. That covers beer, wine, a bottle of tequila for the group or champagne for a toast.
Buy it in town the day before and bring it in a bag or soft cooler. We'd pick cans over glass bottles, since you're on a moving deck with bare feet. Bring water too, more than you think you'll need.
The Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 are the only exceptions. It includes complimentary drinks served by its crew, along with a chef and food, so you don't bring anything.
Cabo bachelorette outfits and group looks
Groups on a Cabo bachelorette boat day tend to plan outfits around photos, and the water in Cabo is a good backdrop for that. A few ideas that hold up on a boat:
- Matching swimsuits or a shared color for the group, with the bride in white.
- A sash, veil or hat for the bride that can be tied down or clipped.
- Cover-ups you can take off in a second when the boat stops to swim.
- Flat sandals for everyone, so nobody has to choose between the photo and their balance.
Leave loose glitter and confetti at the hotel. The wind carries it into the water and it sticks to the deck. Our bachelorette boat guide covers which yacht fits your group size and how to plan the rest of the weekend.
What to leave at the hotel
Some things don't belong on a private charter:
- Fishing gear. Only the McKinna 70 fishes, on its sport-fishing charter; the other yachts are pleasure yachts without fishing permits.
- Loose confetti and glitter.
- Anything you'd hate to get wet, from expensive watches to leather bags.
- Heels and hard-soled shoes.
- Glass, where you have the choice of a can.
Cabo travel tips for your boat day
Cabo runs on Mountain Standard Time all year with no daylight saving. If you're coming from the US or Canada, double-check your boarding time against Cabo time on your phone after you land.
Every yacht except the Sea Ray 65 boards at Marina Cabo San Lucas in downtown Cabo, each at its own dock. It's a walk from the Médano Beach hotels and a taxi ride from the resorts along the corridor. Your exact dock and a map link come on your boarding pass. Arrive about 15 minutes early.
Prices on the site are shown in USD and MXN, at a rate of 19 pesos per dollar. They're per boat, not per person, and include the 16% tax. Payment goes through a secure Stripe link, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, once your date is confirmed in writing.
If the Port Captain closes the harbor because of a hurricane or storm threat, you get a new date or a full refund. Most of those closures fall between September and mid-October.
Ready to book
Pick the yacht that fits your group on the fleet page, or browse trips by type on the experiences page. When you know what you want, the planner lets you choose the date, hours and food in one go. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, or on WhatsApp at +52 624 300 8029.
Heading out to snorkel? See where the clearest water is in our best snorkeling in Cabo guide.
Yachts in this guide
Questions people ask
What should I wear on a boat in Cabo?
A swimsuit under a cover-up or light clothes, flat soft-sole shoes you can slip off, and a hat with a strap. Add a light layer if you'll be out at sunset, since yachts can sail until 8 PM.
Are towels included on Cabo yacht charters?
On some yachts. The Sea Ray 36, Sea Ray 40 and Azimut 45 include towels; on the others, bring your own from the hotel.
Can I bring my own drinks on a private yacht in Cabo?
Yes, guests 18 and older can bring their own alcohol, because the yachts don't sell or serve it. The Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 are the exceptions, each with complimentary drinks served by its crew.
How much should I tip the crew on a Cabo boat?
The customary tip is 15% of the charter price and it is not included. On a 3-hour Sea Ray 40 at USD 1,199, that comes to about USD 180, best brought in cash.
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.
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