Kayaking Cabo Sea Caves: How to Paddle the Arch, Lover's Beach and Land's End

The rock at the tip of the peninsula is where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, and a kayak is the slow way to see it. Boats race past the Arch and take the photo. In a kayak you drift into the cuts and hollows in the granite, listen to the sea lions bark, and look straight down at fish in water clear enough to count them. Here is how we do it.

What you paddle past

Land's End is a short run from the Cabo San Lucas marina. From the water you get the Arch itself, Lover's Beach tucked into the rocks behind it, and the sea lion colony that has claimed the lower ledges. Neptune's Finger, a tall rock formation the dive boats use as a landmark, is right there too. On the Sea of Cortez side, Pelican Rock is one of the best beginner sites in Cabo, and the water around it is where you see tropical fish, rays and the occasional sea turtle. The sea caves are not deep tunnels. They are open cuts and overhangs in the rock that you can nose a kayak into on a calm morning, and back out of when the swell says so.

The trips that put you in a kayak

Cabo Snorkel & Land's End Arch

This is the one we send first-timers on. A speedboat runs you out to the Arch, Lover's Beach and Land's End, past the sea lion colony, then anchors in a clear bay for snorkeling with turtles, rays and tropical fish. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are on hand at the stop, along with underwater scooters if you want to try one. Handmade quesadillas and drinks are included. It runs 3 hours, departs at 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM from the Cabo San Lucas marina, and hotel pickup is available for an added fee. The minimum age is 5, the rating is a 4.7, and the price is $98 USD plus 16% IVA.

Luxury Two-Bay Snorkel

A longer, more comfortable day. A Leopard Powercat catamaran cruises past the Arch and Land's End, then snorkels two of the best bays on the coast, Chileno and Santa Maria, with sea turtles, tropical fish and sea lions. Paddleboards and snorkel gear are on board, plus a fresh lunch and a premium open bar. It runs 4 hours from Boulevard Paseo de la Marina Lt 7-A at 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM, minimum age 5, rated a 4.9. The price is $149 USD plus 16% IVA, with optional hotel pickup for an added fee.

Guided or on your own

Go with a crew. The Pacific side of Land's End is open ocean, the swell wraps around the rocks, and conditions change through the day. On the trips above the kayak time is a stop with a crew watching, which is the right way for most visitors to do it. If you have real sea kayaking experience, you can ask the crew for more time on the water. If you do not, let the whitewater at the base of the rocks be a thing you look at.

When to go

Peak season runs November through April, with December through March the busiest. Mornings are the calm part of the day year round, which is why we like the 9:00 AM departures. In summer, plan ocean time before lunch and expect a brief afternoon shower in August. Between December and April the whales are moving through, and it is not unusual to see one from the boat on the way out.

Practical notes

• Book the morning slot. Calmer water, better light, fewer boats around the Arch.
• Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat that ties on, and water shoes for the rocky edges.
• Phones go in a dry bag or a waterproof case. Kayaks flip.
• Tip the crew in cash at the end.
• Ages 5 and up on both trips, and the crew decides who paddles alone.

Morning departure, a crew you trust, and a slow paddle into the rock instead of a fast lap around it. See the full list of what we run on the water on our adventures in Cabo page.