Celebrating a birthday on a yacht in Cabo San Lucas
What a birthday yacht in Cabo costs, how to handle cake and decorations, when to time the sunset and what to put on the invite.
In this guide
A Cabo birthday yacht for three hours costs USD 709 (MXN 13,599) for up to 10 guests on the Chaparral 28, or USD 1,199 (MXN 22,799) for up to 12 on the Sea Ray 40 flybridge. Prices are per boat, 16% tax included, crew tip not included. Three hours covers the Arch, a swim stop and a sunset, and the boat is yours alone.
Below you'll find which yacht to pick, how to handle cake and decorations, when to leave for the best light, and what to tell your guests. The birthday experience page has the route and photos.
How much does a birthday yacht cost in Cabo?
Birthdays usually run three hours. Two hours is the minimum on most yachts and works for a quick sunset; three gives you time to swim, eat and still catch golden hour. Here's three hours on the yachts that fit birthday groups.
Set your group size and hours to see what each yacht costs per person.
What it costs per person
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Per boat, 16% tax included, tip not included. Pick a yacht to see its page.
| Yacht | Max guests | 3 hours, per boat |
|---|---|---|
| Chaparral 28 | 10 | USD 709 / MXN 13,599 |
| Bayliner 33 | 8 | USD 869 / MXN 16,599 |
| Sea Ray 36 | 12 | USD 929 / MXN 17,799 |
| Pontoon 38 | 18 | USD 1,269 / MXN 23,999 |
| Sea Ray 40 | 12 | USD 1,199 / MXN 22,799 |
| Azimut 45 Flybridge | 12 | USD 1,649 / MXN 31,399 |
| Sea Ray 55 | 15 | USD 2,129 / MXN 40,399 |
| McKinna 70 | 12 | USD 4,499 / MXN 85,499 |
The price is the same whether you bring 2 people or the full limit. Plan on the customary 15% crew tip on top, in cash: about USD 180 on a 3-hour Sea Ray 40.
Every yacht on the list leaves from Marina Cabo San Lucas in downtown Cabo. For every yacht and every length, see the fleet comparison.
Sea Ray 40 or Azimut 45 for a birthday?
Both take up to 12 guests, and both are flybridge yachts, which means an upper deck above the main cabin. That's where you want to be for the cake moment and the group photo with the Arch behind you.
The Sea Ray 40 is the better value. It comes with a captain and deckhand, bottled water and ice, a cooler, towels and snorkel gear. It also has an 8-hour option, at USD 2,419 (MXN 45,999), if the birthday turns into a full day.
The Azimut 45 Flybridge is five feet longer and costs USD 1,649 (MXN 31,399) for three hours. It includes a captain and deckhand, a cooler with ice, water and sodas, towels and snorkel gear. The extra five feet mean more deck space for a group of 12.
For more than 12 guests, step up to the Sea Ray 55 (up to 15, with air conditioning and cabins) or the Pontoon 38 (up to 18, with a water slide from the upper deck).
Birthday cake and decorations on board
You can bring a cake. Tell us when you book so the crew expects it and can tell you where it'll ride. Bring it boxed, and pick something that handles heat: a soft buttercream cake sitting in the Cabo sun for an hour won't look like the photo you ordered. Bring a lighter and a few spare candles, because the wind on the water blows them out fast.
Decorations are welcome too, with one rule: the Port Captain doesn't allow balloons on board, so decorations are cardstock and a sign. A cardstock "happy birthday" sign, paper decorations and a sash for the birthday person all work. Leave loose confetti and glitter at home; it blows into the water and sticks to the deck. If you have something else in mind, ask when you book and we'll check with the operator.
The drinks are yours to bring. The yachts don't sell or serve alcohol, and guests 18 and older can bring their own. The exceptions are the Azimut 70, with complimentary drinks and food served by its crew, and the McKinna 70, which adds a chef and a multi-course menu cooked on board.
On the other yachts, food is optional and you order it in the planner. Cash prices in pesos (card adds 16%):
- Boards and cheese from MXN 780 (small) to MXN 3,120 (XL)
- Mexican feast: MXN 2,600 for 6 to 8 people, MXN 4,550 for 14 to 16
- Burrito platter: MXN 901
- Soda MXN 51, bottled water MXN 17
Getting the birthday photos at the Arch
The Arch sits at Land's End, 1.2 miles from the marina, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The best angle is from the water, and every route passes it. Ask your captain for a slow pass so you can get the group shot.
Right next to it, California sea lions haul out on the rocks of the sea lion colony. Captains slow down and idle nearby so you can watch them without disturbing them.
For the best light on the rock, go late in the day, when the low sun turns the granite gold.
A professional photographer can join for USD 180, with all the photos from your charter, paid directly to the photographer. Add it in the planner, or take your own with your phone or camera.
When to time a birthday sunset cruise
Sunset in Cabo runs from about 5:36 PM in late November and December to about 7:09 PM in early July. Cabo is on Mountain Standard Time all year and skips daylight saving, so check the trip guide for the exact time on your date.
For a 3-hour birthday, leave about two hours before sunset. You get the Arch and a swim stop in good light, the cake as the sun drops, and the last hour heading back.
Two other things to know about evening timing:
- The last departure is 7 PM, and yachts sail until 8 PM.
- Yachts from the marina may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM. Cake and a toast at anchor with the town lights coming on is a good way to end it.
If you want the sun to drop into open ocean, ask for the Pacific sunset route. It goes around Land's End to face the sun as it sets toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse, about 12 miles round trip. The sunset cruise guide compares it with staying on the bay side.
The birthday experience works best from November through June. Harbor closures happen only under a hurricane or storm threat, mostly between September and mid-October, and if the harbor closes on your date you get a new date or a full refund.
What to put on the birthday invitation
A boat party needs a few details a dinner invite doesn't. Put these on yours:
- Boarding point: Marina Cabo San Lucas, downtown. We send the exact slip with your confirmation.
- Arrival time: 15 minutes before departure, so the boat leaves on time.
- Headcount: the yacht's guest limit is firm, so ask for RSVPs.
- Drinks: BYO for guests 18 and older, unless you've booked the McKinna 70.
- What to wear: swimsuit underneath, flat soft-sole shoes, and a light layer for after sunset.
For outfits, a color theme photographs well against the water. All white works, so does one bright color for everyone, or put the birthday person in a different color from the rest. Hats need a strap or they end up in the bay. There's a full list in what to wear and bring on a boat in Cabo.
Birthday ideas by group size
A birthday for two works on the smallest boats. The Chaparral 28 is USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for two hours and comes with a lily pad floating mat and a Bluetooth sound system.
A milestone birthday, a 40th or 50th where you want to be looked after, fits the McKinna 70. It has a crew of five, including the captain, deckhands and a chef, and complimentary drinks, with a 3-hour minimum.
A big family or friends group of 16 to 18 fits the Pontoon 38, which has two decks and a water slide.
If the birthday trip doubles as a bachelorette weekend, our bachelorette boat guide covers groups and itineraries in more detail.
Booking a birthday yacht
Open the planner, choose the yacht, date and hours, and add food. Mention the cake and any decorations when you book. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, and you can also reach us on WhatsApp at +52 624 300 8029.
You pay through a secure Stripe link (card, Apple Pay or Google Pay) after the date is confirmed in writing. For most groups of up to 12, start by comparing the Sea Ray 40 and the Azimut 45 Flybridge.
For an anniversary instead of a birthday, our anniversary dinner on a yacht guide plans the sunset evening by month, and a baby on the way has its own page: baby shower or gender reveal on a yacht.
Yachts in this guide
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to rent a yacht for a birthday in Cabo?
Three hours, the usual length for a birthday, runs from USD 709 (MXN 13,599) on the Chaparral 28 for up to 10 guests to USD 1,199 (MXN 22,799) on the Sea Ray 40 for up to 12. Prices are per boat with 16% tax included; the 15% crew tip is extra.
Can I bring a birthday cake on the yacht?
Yes. Tell us about the cake when you book so the crew knows it's coming, and bring it boxed. A cake that holds up in the heat travels better than a soft buttercream one.
What time is sunset in Cabo for a birthday cruise?
Sunset runs from about 5:36 PM in late November and December to about 7:09 PM in early July. Cabo stays on Mountain Standard Time all year with no daylight saving.
Can a birthday yacht stay out after dark in Cabo?
Yachts sail until 8 PM, and yachts leaving from Marina Cabo San Lucas may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM. The last departure is 7 PM.
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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