Cabo Yacht Day Checklist: What to Book, Bring and Expect Before You Board

A yacht day in Cabo is the easiest great day you will have here, as long as three things are sorted before you walk down the dock: the right boat for your headcount, the right time slot, and a small bag with the right things in it. We run these charters all year. This is the checklist we send guests the week before, with the real boats and rates.

1. Pick the boat for your headcount

Every rate below is the whole boat for a 3-hour charter plus 16% IVA, with an open bar included unless noted. Each boat has an included guest count and a maximum. The rate covers the included number, so if your group runs past it, ask about adding guests up to the maximum when you book.

Couples and small groups. The Sailboat 42ft is the romantic option: no engine noise, three private cabins, 6 guests included and 12 maximum, $850. The Bayliner 35ft is the everyday yacht for families and first-time charterers, 6 included, 8 max, $1,050. The Yacht Cruiser 37ft adds a front sunbed and snorkel gear, same 6 included and 8 max, $1,150. And the Yamaha 28ft is the sport boat for a bay run with snorkel stops, 2 hours, up to 8 guests, $350, with refreshments rather than an open bar.

Groups of 8 to 16. The SeaRay Sundancer 45ft is the sweet spot: AC interior, big bow seating, 8 included and 14 max, $1,650. The Azimut 46ft is the quiet Italian flybridge your photographer will love, 10 included, 16 max, $2,000.

Big groups and celebrations. Catamarans carry the crowd. The Catamaran 47ft takes 14 included and up to 40 guests with a dance area and two bathrooms, $2,050. The Luxury Catamaran Leopard 52ft has two trampolines, two decks and an AC interior, 14 included and 35 max, $2,350. The Lagoon 65ft Catamaran is the premium one, 20 guests, $6,500. On the motor yacht side, the Azimut 68ft has VIP cabins and an onboard chef for 12 included and 20 max at $3,550, the Sunseeker 80ft has four bedrooms and a flybridge sun deck for 10 included and 30 max at $4,400, and the Azimut 95ft, the largest charter yacht in Cabo, has a Jacuzzi on board, 12 included, 30 max, $5,900.

2. Pick the time slot

• Morning for calm water. Seas are flatter, the light is cleaner and you have the best odds of marine life. If it is your first charter, book the morning.
• Sunset for the Arch. Time the last hour so you pass El Arco as the sun drops. The crew knows the spot.
• December through April is whale season. Humpbacks and grays from your own deck. Book ahead, it is also peak season.
• June through October is warm-water season. Best for snorkeling. It is also hurricane season, so the crew watches the weather closely.
• Shoulder season is the value. Late April, May and early November have fewer crowds and the same sunsets.

3. Pack the bag

The crew's own list, boat by boat, is short: towels, sunscreen, swimsuits, hats, sunglasses, and your phone if you want it. Add a dry bag for the phone, reef-safe sunscreen, and a light layer for the ride home. Leave the hard-sided cooler at the hotel. The open bar and food are on board.

4. Know where you meet

Every boat departs from the IGY Marina in Cabo San Lucas. The exact dock is confirmed the day of by your captain, so keep your phone on that morning. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. Boarding on time is the difference between three full hours on the water and two and a half.

5. The day-of checklist

• Headcount confirmed with the crew, including kids.
• Swimsuits on under your clothes. It saves time on board.
• Cash for the tip. Crews earn 15 to 20 percent and appreciate pesos or dollars.
• A playlist queued. Ask the crew about connecting your music.
• Motion sickness pills taken before boarding if you need them.
• Snorkel gear checked. It comes with the Yacht Cruiser 37ft and the Yamaha 28ft, so ask about the others.

6. Expect this

The route on almost every charter passes Land's End and the Arch, then anchors for a swim or snorkel stop. In winter you will likely stop to watch whales. Weather calls are the captain's, not yours. Trust them.

Right boat, right slot, small bag, early to the dock. Every yacht above, with photos and live availability, is on our Cabo yacht charters page.