Cabo sunrise times by month, and how to spend one on a private boat

Sunrise in Cabo San Lucas runs from about 5:34 AM in mid-June to about 7:03 AM in mid-January. Cabo stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving, so the time never jumps by an hour. Our earliest boat departure is 7 AM, which puts you on the water right at sunrise from December to February and in the first hour or two of daylight the rest of the year.

What time is sunrise in Cabo San Lucas, month by month?

These are the times on the 15th of each month, Cabo time, calculated for the marina. They're the same figures the trip guide uses.

Within a month the time drifts. In December, for example, sunrise moves from 6:44 AM on the 1st to 7:00 AM on the 31st. The planner shows sunrise and sunset for the exact date you pick.

The year has a narrow range. The shortest day, around December 21, still has about 10 hours 44 minutes of light, and the longest, around June 21, has about 13 and a half hours.

Why Cabo's sunrise never jumps an hour

Baja California Sur is on UTC-7 all year. Mexico dropped daylight saving time on October 30, 2022, and this state didn't keep it.

For visitors that means Cabo matches Denver in winter and Los Angeles in summer, and it matches Phoenix all year. If you fly in from the US or Canada in March or November, check which side of your own clock change you're on before you set an alarm for a 7 AM boat.

Where does the sun rise in relation to the Arch?

The sun comes up on the Sea of Cortez side. Cabo San Lucas bay opens toward the east, and Land's End is the rocky ridge that separates the bay from the Pacific, with the Arch at its tip, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) from the marina.

So the first light lands on the bay side of Land's End: Pelican Rock, Lover's Beach and the bay face of the Arch. The Pacific side, where Divorce Beach is, stays in shadow for a while. Sunset is the reverse, which is why sunset routes go around the point and face the sun as it drops toward Cabo Falso.

The exact spot on the horizon moves with the season:

• In December the sun rises about 25 degrees south of due east. From a boat in the bay, that's over open water.
• Around March 20 and in late September it rises due east.
• In June it rises about 25 degrees north of due east, closer to the coastline that runs toward San José del Cabo.

For photos, ask your captain for both angles. With the sun behind the boat the granite turns warm and you see every crack in it. With the sun behind the rocks you get the Arch as a dark outline against the sky.

Can you be on the water for the actual sunrise?

In winter, yes. Charters depart between 7 AM and 7 PM, so the answer depends on when the sun comes up that month.

From about December 3 to February 24 the sun rises at 6:45 AM or later. Those are the weeks when a 7 AM departure is a true sunrise trip: you leave the dock within about 15 minutes of sunrise and reach the Arch with the sun still low over the water.

In summer the sun has been up for an hour or more by 7 AM. You won't get the dawn colors, but you do get the coolest part of a day that reaches about 88°F (31°C) in July, August and September.

In the planner, choose Sunrise as your departure time and it sets the earliest slot, 7:00 AM.

Is the water calmer in the morning?

Usually. The wind in Cabo tends to build after midday, so the first hours of the day are the quietest on the bay. They're also quiet in the other sense: at 7 AM you get Land's End before most tour boats are out.

A few things to plan around:

• Winter mornings on the water are cool once the boat is moving. Bring a light jacket. Towels are included on the Sea Ray 36, the Sea Ray 40 and the Azimut 45 Flybridge; on the other yachts, bring your own.
• Whales start arriving in November, and the official season ran from December 15 to April 30 in 2025 to 2026. Flat morning water makes a blow easier to spot.
• If anyone in your group gets queasy, the early slot is the kinder one. Our seasickness guide covers what to eat and where to sit.

What a 2 hour sunrise boat for two looks like

The couples trip we set up most often is the 2 hour Arch & Land's End route, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) round trip. A typical morning goes like this:

1. Board at Marina Cabo San Lucas. If you ordered breakfast, it's already on the boat.
2. About 15 minutes in, the Arch in first light.
3. About 45 minutes in, Lover's Beach on the calm side, with the Pacific breaking on the other.
4. A slow cruise along the bay while you eat on deck.
5. Back at the dock two hours after you left.

Your captain adapts the order to the sea that day. Leaving at 7 AM, you're back by 9, and the whole day is still ahead of you.

Breakfast on board: what's on the menu

Food is optional. You order it in the planner when you book, and it's loaded before you arrive.

At the site's rate of 19 pesos per dollar, MXN 325 is about USD 17 and MXN 520 is about USD 27. These are cash prices, and paying by card adds 16%.

Alcohol isn't sold or served on these yachts, but guests 18 and over may bring their own. If you want mimosas with breakfast, bring the sparkling wine and the juice with you.

Which yacht for a sunrise cruise?

For a couple who wants room and a high seat, the Sea Ray 40 is our first suggestion. It's a 40 ft flybridge yacht, so you can sit on the upper deck and look over the bow toward the sun. It comes with a captain and deckhand, bottled water and ice, a cooler, towels and snorkel gear.

The Azimut 45 Flybridge is the step up: 45 ft, also with a flybridge, and it includes water and sodas in the cooler along with towels and snorkel gear.

Two people don't need 40 feet, though. The Chaparral 28 is the lowest price on the water, and the Bayliner 30 is a cabin cruiser sized for two to six, with bottled water and sodas included.

Every price is per boat for your whole group, with the 16% tax included. The customary 15% crew tip isn't included. The boat is yours alone, so two people pay the same as a full group.

Sunrise or sunset: which one should you book?

Sunset is the trip most people ask for. You go around to the Pacific side and watch the sun go down over open ocean. Our guide to the best sunset cruise in Cabo has the timing for each month.

Sunrise suits a different mood. The bay is emptier, the air is cooler, and you eat breakfast instead of opening a bottle. It also leaves the evening free for dinner in town. Plenty of couples on a longer stay do both, and our Cabo honeymoon guide shows how the two fit into one trip.

One practical difference: a winter sunset cruise ends around 6 PM in the dark, while a winter sunrise cruise ends at 9 AM with the whole day left.

Booking a sunrise departure

Open the planner, pick your date and choose Sunrise. Add breakfast there if you want it. We reply in writing within 2 hours, between 8 AM and 8 PM Cabo time, and once the date is confirmed you pay through a secure Stripe link.

Twelve of the thirteen yachts board at Marina Cabo San Lucas, downtown, and your confirmation has the exact slip. For a 7 AM departure, plan to be at the marina a few minutes early so the boat is moving when the light is at its best.

For which small boat suits two people at that hour, our best yacht for 2 guide compares them by time of day, and the calm-morning version for a pregnant partner is in the babymoon on a yacht guide.

Yachts in this guide

Sea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hAzimut 45 FlybridgeFlybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $1,249 / 2 hChaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 h

Questions people ask

What time is sunrise in Cabo San Lucas?

It depends on the month. Sunrise is about 5:34 AM in mid-June, the earliest of the year, and about 7:03 AM in mid-January, the latest. Cabo keeps Mountain Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving.

Does the sun rise over the ocean in Cabo?

Yes. The sun comes up on the Sea of Cortez side, so it lights the bay, Lover's Beach and the bay face of the Arch first. The Pacific side of Land's End is the sunset side.

Can I book a sunrise cruise in Cabo?

Yes. The earliest departure is 7 AM. From early December to late February the sun rises between about 6:45 and 7:03 AM, so a 7 AM boat leaves the dock right around sunrise. In summer the sun is already up by then.

How much does a private sunrise boat in Cabo cost?

Two hours start at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) on the Chaparral 28. The Sea Ray 40 is USD 879 (MXN 16,799) and the Azimut 45 Flybridge is USD 1,249 (MXN 23,799). Prices are per boat with tax included; the crew tip is not.

Can we have breakfast on the boat?

Yes. You order it in the planner and it is loaded before you board. Chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, French toast and banana pancakes are MXN 325 each, cash price.

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