Snorkeling the reef
The official tourism board describes shallow water with hundreds of species of tropical fish along the rocks 1.
Places · Snorkel cove · Tourist corridor
Santa María BayBahía Santa María, Los Cabos
A horseshoe cove on the tourist corridor, sheltered by two large rock formations 1. It is one of the favorite snorkel stops in Los Cabos, and the reason our longer routes head up the coast.
- From the marina6.7 mi 11 km
- Blue FlagA+
- Also by carCorridor km 12
- Charters from4 hours
Photo: Fulvio Spada from Torino, Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0
Updated October 10, 2026: Santa María Bay is closed for snorkeling for now; we expect it to reopen in November 2026. Until then, the snorkel stop is Pelican Rock, next to the Arch, on the 2 hour charter.
What's there
A cove made for snorkeling.
Straight from the yacht
On a charter you snorkel from the boat, in the sheltered water between the two points.
The beach
Beachgoers come by car from a signed road at about km 12 of the corridor, then a short walk 2.
Looked after
The municipal beach authority runs regular cleanups here and samples the water quality 5.
The story
One of two A+ beaches in Mexico.
In May 2025 the Los Cabos municipality announced that Santa María holds Blue Flag A+, and that it and Palmilla are the only two beaches in Mexico with that category 3.
Keeping it means meeting 33 criteria in environmental education, water quality, environmental management, and safety and services, checked in a two-week audit 3.
The bay's modern story starts in 1977, when Texas oilman David J. Halliburton Sr. opened the Hotel Twin Dolphin next to it. The hotel closed in 2006, and Montage Los Cabos now sits on the bay 4.
Official descriptions of the federal protected area at Land's End do not include Santa María 6; its care comes from the municipality.
Getting there
On 2 of our 4 routes.
- 4 h · Santa María snorkelThe Arch first, then up the coast to snorkel Santa María Bay, with a swim stop on the way back.
- 5 to 8 h · Santa María & ChilenoThe full day: the Arch, both coves on the corridor with time to snorkel each, lunch at anchor.
Experiences that stop here
4 h · Santa María snorkel The Arch first, then up the coast to snorkel Santa María Bay, with a swim stop on the way back. 15.5 miles (25 km) round trip
Stops, with distance from the marina
MarinaLandmarkBeachSnorkelWildlifeWhale season area
Typical routes. Your captain adapts them to the sea that day. Coastline © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
By private yacht
What it costs to get here.
Every price is per boat for your whole group, not per person. The captain, the crew and the 16% tax are included. The yacht is yours alone, never shared.
| Route | Time on the water | From | Yacht at that price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa María snorkel15.5 mi · 25 km round trip | 4 h | $909 | Chaparral 28up to 10 guests |
| Santa María & Chileno18.5 mi · 30 km round trip | 5 to 8 h | $1,219 | Bayliner 30up to 6 guests |
Questions
People also ask.
Is Santa María Bay good for snorkeling?
Yes. The tourism board describes its shallow, sheltered water as home to hundreds of species of tropical fish 1.
How far is Santa María Bay from the marina?
About 6.7 miles (11 km) by water, which is why it is on our routes of four hours or more.
Is Santa María Bay a protected area?
It holds Blue Flag A+ and is looked after by the municipal beach authority 35, but official descriptions of the federal protected area at Land's End do not include it 6.
How much does a private boat to Santa María Bay cost?
A private charter on a route that includes Santa María Bay starts at $909 for 4 hours on the Chaparral 28, for up to 10 guests. The price is per boat, not per person, and includes the captain, the crew and the 16% tax.
See it from the water
Put Santa María Bay on your route.
A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
Sources
- Visit Los Cabos (official tourism board), Santa María Beach
- Los Cabos Guide, Playa Santa María
- Municipality of Los Cabos, Palmilla and Santa María hold Blue Flag A+ (May 2025)
- Elite Traveler, the transformation of Twin Dolphin Los Cabos
- Municipality of Los Cabos, ZOFEMAT cleanup at Playa Santa María
- Municipality of Los Cabos, natural protected areas
- Municipality of Los Cabos, 25 Blue Flag beaches
- Cabovisión, camping is prohibited on Los Cabos beaches
Photo credits
- Fulvio Spada from Torino, Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons