A Cabo yacht day itinerary for 2, 3 or 4 hours: what each length covers, hour by hour

A yacht charter in Cabo should be two hours if you want the Arch and everything around it, three if you want an hour-long swim stop or a sunset with time at anchor afterward, and four if you want the coves up the coast. Two hours is the minimum on every yacht except the Sea Ray 55, the Sea Ray 65, the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70, which start at three. Two hours covers the Arch route (Pelican Rock, the sea lion colony, the Arch, Lover's and Divorce Beach and the ride back along Médano Beach, 4.7 miles round trip) and costs from USD 519 (MXN 9,799) per boat on the Chaparral 28, up to 10 guests, boarding at Orange Dock 1-B, by Captain Tony's, in Marina Cabo San Lucas. Prices include the 16% tax; the customary 15% crew tip is not included.

Choose the hours first and the boat second. When you get to the boat, our guide to choosing a yacht in Cabo goes by group size, and the yacht by group size page sorts the fleet by headcount.

The four routes, with distances

Santa María Bay is closed for snorkeling for now and expected to reopen in November; meanwhile the four-hour charter's snorkel stop is Pelican Rock, inside the bay next to the Arch, where reef fish swim close to the surface. The CONANP conservation fee for the protected area around the Arch is included in every price.

The 2-hour itinerary: the Arch and Land's End

Most people book two hours, and it's enough time to see all of Land's End. Hour by hour:

The two-hour Pacific sunset version swaps the Lover's Beach stop for rounding Land's End to face the sun as it drops toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse, 12 miles round trip. Our sunset cruise guide compares the two.

Two hours costs USD 519 (MXN 9,799) on the Chaparral 28 (10 guests), USD 549 (MXN 10,499) on the Bayliner 30 (6, with a cabin) and USD 879 (MXN 16,799) on the Sea Ray 40 (12, with a flybridge).

The 3-hour itinerary: the Arch plus an hour at anchor

A three-hour charter is the two-hour route with the swim stop stretched from fifteen minutes to an hour. The captain anchors on the calm bay side near Lover's Beach, the toys go in (the lily pad on the small boats, the floating pool and platform on the Sea Ray 55, the slide on the Pontoon 38), and food ordered in the planner comes out at anchor.

Three hours also works for a sunset with time at anchor afterward: leave 90 minutes before sunset, watch it from the Arch or the Pacific side, then anchor off Médano Beach as the town lights come on. Yachts from the marina may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM; the Sea Ray 65 meets you at Fisherman's Landing restaurant, by the Cabo Escape terminal, and must be back by 8 PM.

Three hours is USD 709 (MXN 13,599) on the Chaparral 28, USD 1,199 (MXN 22,799) on the Sea Ray 40 and USD 2,129 (MXN 40,399) on the Sea Ray 55. Our yacht with water toys guide lists what each boat puts in the water.

The 4-hour itinerary: up the coast to the coves

With four hours, the route goes farther. After the Arch, the boat runs up the coast on the Sea of Cortez side to Santa María Bay, a sheltered horseshoe cove 6.7 miles from the marina with reef along both points, 15.5 miles round trip.

While Santa María is closed, the four-hour day keeps the same shape with the snorkel stop at Pelican Rock and a longer anchor time near Lover's Beach. Five to eight hours adds Chileno Bay, the next cove over with a sandy bottom, and lunch at anchor, 18.5 miles round trip.

Four hours is USD 909 (MXN 17,399) on the Chaparral 28, USD 1,499 (MXN 28,499) on the Sea Ray 40, USD 2,709 (MXN 51,499) on the Sea Ray 55, and USD 5,299 (MXN 100,699) on the Azimut 70 with a menu and complimentary drinks included. Snorkel gear is included on every yacht; the snorkeling experience page has the current status of the bay.

What time to leave

• Morning, from 7 AM: the calmest water, the Arch front-lit, back before lunch. Best with kids, with anyone who gets seasick, and for a snorkel day.
• Midday: the strongest color in the water and the hottest sun. Best for a swim-stop day on a boat with shade.
• Late afternoon: leave about 90 minutes before sunset. Sunset runs from about 5:35 PM in late November and December to about 7:10 PM in early July; the trip guide has your date. Cabo stays on Mountain Standard Time all year.

Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM, yachts sail until 8 PM, and yachts from the marina may stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM.

Which hours for which day

The hourly rate drops the longer you book: on the Sea Ray 40, two hours is about USD 440 an hour and six hours about USD 330 an hour. Our price guide has every yacht by the hour, and the Arch boat tour guide describes the two-hour route stop by stop.

What every itinerary includes

• A captain, and a deckhand on most yachts. The captain decides where to anchor based on the day's water.
• The CONANP fee for the protected area.
• Bring-your-own drinks for guests 18 and over (the yachts don't sell or serve alcohol; the Azimut 70 and McKinna 70 serve complimentary drinks as a courtesy).
• A new date or a full refund if the Port Captain closes the harbor, which happens mostly between September and mid-October.

No fishing, except on the McKinna 70's sport-fishing charter; the other yachts are pleasure yachts without fishing permits.

Booking the hours

Open the planner, choose the yacht, the date and the hours from the table above, and it shows the price in USD and MXN with the departure times available. We reply in writing within two hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, or on WhatsApp at +52 624 300 8029, and send a secure Stripe link once the date is confirmed.

Yachts in this guide

Chaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hBayliner 30Cabin cruiser · up to 6 guestsfrom $549 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hSea Ray 55Flybridge motor yacht · up to 15 guestsfrom $2,129 / 3 h

Questions people ask

How long should a yacht charter be in Cabo?

Two hours for the Arch route (Pelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch, Lover's and Divorce Beach, back along Médano Beach, 4.7 miles round trip). Three hours for an hour-long swim stop or a sunset with time at anchor afterward. Four hours to reach Santa María Bay up the coast when it's open.

What can you see on a 2-hour boat trip in Cabo?

Everything at Land's End: Pelican Rock, the sea lion colony, the Arch, Lover's Beach on the calm side, Divorce Beach on the Pacific side and the ride back along Médano Beach. It's 4.7 miles round trip, so there's no rush between stops. From USD 519 (MXN 9,799) per boat.

Is a 4-hour yacht charter in Cabo worth it?

Yes if you want the coves: the 4-hour route adds Santa María Bay, a horseshoe cove 6.7 miles up the coast, 15.5 miles round trip (closed for snorkeling for now, expected to reopen in November; meanwhile the stop is Pelican Rock). Four hours on the Chaparral 28 cost USD 909 (MXN 17,399) per boat.

What time should a yacht charter leave in Cabo?

Mornings from 7 AM have the calmest water. For a sunset, leave about 90 minutes before it: sunset runs from about 5:35 PM in late November and December to about 7:10 PM in early July. The last departure is 7 PM and yachts sail until 8 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.

Check availabilitySee the fleet