How a large group fits on a boat in Cabo: 15, 18, 20 and more

Ready to book? See which yacht fits your group, with prices per boat and per person.

The biggest single boat for a large group in our Cabo fleet is the Pontoon 38, a double-deck party pontoon for up to 18 guests, from USD 869 / MXN 16,599 for two hours. The Sea Ray 55 takes up to 15, and every other yacht takes 12 or fewer. For 19 people or more, you book two boats for the same time and route. Prices are per boat, 16% tax included, 15% crew tip not included.

How many people fit on a boat in Cabo?

Here are the yachts that matter for bigger groups, with their guest limits and two- and four-hour prices.

Six more yachts also take 12: the Maxum 45, Regal 45, Azimut 45 Flybridge, Sea Ray 65, Azimut 70 and McKinna 70. The Chaparral 28 takes 10, the Bayliner 33 8 and the Bayliner 30 6. The fleet comparison has all of them with photos.

Are the guest limits strict?

Yes. The number on each yacht page is the maximum, and the crew won't take a 19th person on an 18-guest boat. Count everyone who's coming, kids included, before you pick.

Book for the final headcount, not for the people who have said yes so far. If a few more might join later and you're near a limit, either book the next size up or plan for two boats from the start.

Best boat for 13 to 15 people

Two yachts take this size of group, and they're very different days.

The Pontoon 38 is the party option. It has two decks, a water slide from the upper deck, an enclosed head with a freshwater shower, and a cooler with ice, with a captain and deckhand on board. Three hours cost USD 1,269 / MXN 23,999.

The Sea Ray 55 is a 55-foot flybridge motor yacht with air conditioning, cabins and heads, plus bottled water, sodas and ice. For the swim stop it carries a floating pool, a paddle board, a lily pad and a floating platform. It's the better fit for a family reunion with grandparents and small kids, or a group that wants somewhere cool to sit between swims. Three hours cost USD 2,129 / MXN 40,399.

With 15 people on board for three hours, the Pontoon works out to about USD 85 / MXN 1,600 each, and the Sea Ray 55 to about USD 142 / MXN 2,693. The 15% crew tip is a suggestion, paid in cash on board, and isn't included in these prices.

A boat for 16 to 18 people

At 16, 17 or 18 guests, the Pontoon 38 is the only single boat that fits. Full, it's also the lowest two-hour price per person in the fleet: two hours for 18 people is about USD 48 / MXN 922 each, before the suggested tip.

If your group of 18 would rather have air conditioning and cabins than a slide, the answer is two boats, for example the Sea Ray 55 for 15 and a smaller boat for the rest. That's covered next.

Cabo boat for 20 people (or more)

No yacht in our fleet takes 20. For 19 or more, book two boats for the same departure time. Both can run the same route, so the whole group sees the Arch, the sea lions and Lover's Beach on the same afternoon, just from two decks.

Some pairings that work, with prices for three hours on both boats together:

The 15% crew tip is a suggestion, paid in cash on board, and isn't included in these prices.

A few things to settle when you book two boats:

• Board in the same place. Every yacht in this table boards at Marina Cabo San Lucas downtown. The Sea Ray 65 is the exception (it leaves from Fisherman's Landing restaurant, by the Cabo Escape terminal), so keep it out of a two-boat plan unless you want two meeting points.
• Split the group on purpose. One easy split is the party crowd on the Pontoon and the people who want a quieter ride on the other boat.
• Tell us it's one group. Put both boats in the same request so the times line up, and say you'd like both on the same route.
• Drinks and food go on both boats. Each one needs its own cooler and its own order from the menu.

Party boat for a large group

For bachelorette weekends, birthdays and spring break groups, the Pontoon 38 is our party pick: two decks, the slide, and room for 18. Drinks are BYO, since alcohol isn't sold or served on board, and everyone drinking has to be 18 or over. The Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70 are the exceptions, each with complimentary drinks served by its crew, but both top out at 12 guests.

Marina yachts sail until 8 PM and can stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM, so a late-afternoon party can carry on after sunset. More on that in our Cabo party boat guide and the bachelorette boat day guide.

What a large-group charter costs per person

Since you pay per boat, the price per person drops as you fill it. These are full boats.

Set your group size and hours to see what each yacht costs per person.

What it costs per person

Guests:

16

Hours2 h3 h4 h6 h

1. Loading

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

The 15% crew tip is a suggestion, paid in cash on board, and isn't included in these prices. The tip goes to each crew separately. With two boats, that's two tips.

Feeding a big group on the water

Food is optional and ordered in the planner. Menu prices are cash prices in pesos, and paying by card adds 16%. For a large group, the items that scale best:

• Mexican feast for 14 to 16 people: MXN 4,550 (about USD 239)
• Mexican feast for 6 to 8 people: MXN 2,600 (about USD 137)
• Burrito platter: MXN 901 (about USD 47)
• XL board: MXN 3,120 (about USD 164)
• Bottled water MXN 17 and sodas MXN 51 each

For 18 people on the Pontoon, a feast for 14 to 16 plus a burrito platter or a board is a sensible starting order for a three-hour afternoon. The Sea Ray 55 already includes bottled water, sodas and ice, so check what's on your boat before ordering drinks.

Company groups and incentive days

Groups traveling for work usually need answers on payment and on fitting the boat around a conference agenda. The corporate experience page covers the basics, and our corporate yacht event guide goes through it for planners.

Timing for a group day

Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM, and most yachts have a two-hour minimum (three on the Sea Ray 55, the Sea Ray 65, the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70). Mornings usually have the calmest water, which helps if some of your group get seasick. A two-hour run covers the Arch, the sea lions, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach. With four hours you can go up the coast to snorkel Santa María Bay.

The harbor only closes when the Port Captain (Capitanía de Puerto, Mexican Navy) orders it, under a hurricane or storm threat or another extraordinary situation. Most closures fall between September and mid-October. If your date is affected, you pick a new date or get a full refund, on both boats.

Booking a boat for a large group

Start in the planner with your headcount, the date and how many hours you want. For 13 to 15, compare the Sea Ray 55 and the Pontoon 38. For 16 to 18, it's the Pontoon. For 19 or more, add a second boat such as the Sea Ray 36 or Sea Ray 40 and tell us it's one group. We reply within two hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, and send a secure Stripe link once the date is confirmed in writing.

Yachts in this guide

Pontoon 38Double-deck party pontoon · up to 18 guestsfrom $869 / 2 hSea Ray 55Flybridge motor yacht · up to 15 guestsfrom $2,129 / 3 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 h

Questions people ask

How do I rent a boat for 20 people in Cabo?

Book two boats for the same time. The Pontoon 38 (18 guests) plus the Bayliner 33 (8 guests) holds 26 people, and three hours on both costs USD 2,138 / MXN 40,598 in total.

Can we put a few extra people on the boat?

No. Each yacht's guest limit is firm, so count everyone who's coming, kids included, and pick a boat or a pair of boats that fits the whole group.

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