Sea lions at rest
They pile onto the low rocks to rest and warm up, then slide back into the water. Captains idle nearby so you can watch without disturbing them.
Places · Wildlife · Land's End
Sea lion colonyLa lobera at Land's End, Cabo San Lucas
California sea lions haul out on the rocks beside the Arch. They are the only marine mammal that stays in these waters all year, so you can see them in any season 1.
- From the marina1.3 mi 2 km
- SpeciesCalifornia sea lion
- In MexicoSpecial protection
- Charters from2 hours
Photo: Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 4.0
What's there
Watching them from the boat.
The Arch in the same frame
The colony is right next to the Arch, so one photo can hold both.
Humpbacks in winter
Sea lions and humpback whales are the two marine mammals seen most often in the protected area; the whales come in winter to breed 2.
The story
Protected, and still uncounted.
The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is one of the two marine mammals seen most often in the Cabo San Lucas protected area; the other is the humpback whale 2.
In Mexico the species is listed under special protection in the official endangered species norm, NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 12.
No one publishes a head count for the Arch colony. CONANP's draft management program notes that the population is not monitored 1.
In the Gulf of California, sea lions breed from June to August and pups are born in May and June 3. No source confirms that pups are born at the Arch colony itself.
Photos
What it looks like.
Getting there
On 4 of our 4 routes.
- 2 h · Arch & Land's EndPelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch, Lover's and Divorce Beach, then back along Médano Beach.
- 2 h · Pacific sunsetAround Land's End to the Pacific side, facing the sun as it drops toward Cabo Falso.
- 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
2 h · Arch & Land's End Pelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch, Lover's and Divorce Beach, then back along Médano Beach. 4.7 miles (7.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arch & Land's End4.7 mi · 7.6 km round trip | 2 h | $519 | Chaparral 28up to 10 guests |
| Pacific sunset12 mi · 19 km round trip | 2 h | $519 | Chaparral 28up to 10 guests |
| 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 |
Good to know
- Watch from the boat while the captain holds a slow, steady distance.
- Keep at least 20 m (66 ft) from the sea lions, as CONANP advises 4.
- Keep voices down near the rocks.
Questions
People also ask.
Can you swim with the sea lions at the Arch?
Not at the colony. CONANP advises keeping at least 20 m (66 ft) from sea lions 4, and your captain keeps the boat at that kind of distance.
When can you see the sea lions in Cabo?
All year. They are the only marine mammal that stays in the area year-round 1.
How many sea lions live at the Arch?
There is no official count. CONANP's draft management program says the population is not monitored 1.
How much does a private boat to the sea lion colony cost?
A private charter on a route that includes the sea lion colony starts at $519 for 2 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 Sea lion colony on your route.
A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
Sources
Photo credits
- Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Shane Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons