REVIEW · CABO SAN LUCAS
Private Luxury 42ft Sailing with Snorkeling in Los Cabos
Book on Viator →Operated by Cabo Sailing Ocean Adventures · Bookable on Viator
Cabo is famous for its postcard sights, but this plan adds the part most people skip: snorkeling from a private sail. You’ll cruise toward Pelican Rock first, then float past El Arco and Playa de los Amantes, with the Sea of Cortez doing its thing in between. I love the ease of a true private boat—your crew can tailor the ride—and I love the included comfort perks: lunch, snacks, and unlimited beer and wine. One thing to consider: there’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll need to get yourself to the marina meeting point.
This is a smooth 3-hour style outing built for good time management. The crew gets the sails up when it makes sense, and you’ll get both the water time and the sightseeing time without feeling rushed. If you or your group are sensitive to motion, it’s still a sailboat, so it can help to plan for that.
In This Review
- Key Highlights You’ll Actually Care About
- A Private 42ft Sail Day That Feels Like Yours
- Pelican Rock Snorkeling: The Main Event
- El Arco and Lovers Beach: Classic Cabo, From the Water
- Onboard Food, Drinks, and the Little Comfort Wins
- How the 3-Hour Flow Actually Works
- Customizing Without Breaking the Day
- Price and Value: When $990 Makes Sense
- Meeting Point, Tickets, and Getting There Without Headaches
- Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Reconsider)
- Guide and Crew Care You Can Feel
- Should You Book This Private 42ft Sail and Snorkel?
- FAQ
- How long is the sailing and snorkeling tour?
- How much does the tour cost?
- Is it a private tour?
- Where do we meet for the tour?
- Is hotel pickup included?
- What snorkeling gear is provided?
- What food and drinks are included?
- Is the tour offered in English?
- What’s the cancellation policy?
Key Highlights You’ll Actually Care About

- Pelican Rock snorkeling with tropical fish right in the warm Cabo water
- El Arco and Playa de los Amantes cruise for the classic Cabo views
- Sea lion colony area as you pass by Lovers Beach
- Unlimited onboard drinks + lunch and snacks included for the full experience
- Private 42ft sailing (up to 4 passengers per boat) so your day stays flexible
A Private 42ft Sail Day That Feels Like Yours

This tour is built around a simple idea: you hire the boat, not a crowded group schedule. You’ll board at F Dock, Marina, Cabo San Lucas and spend about 3 hours cruising and snorkeling on your own timeline. That private setup changes the vibe fast. You can move at a comfortable pace, ask questions in real time, and adjust the plan if you want more water time or a longer sailing window.
The boat is a 42ft luxury sail style experience, with room for up to 4 passengers per boat. The price is $990 per group (one boat, up to 4). When a trip is priced per boat, you’re really buying a shared experience with friends or family—so it can feel like a good value when your group is small and you’d otherwise pay for separate tours.
You’ll also notice the crew focus in the reviews. People highlight how the captain and first mate helped with safe getting in and out for folks who needed a steadier hand, and how the crew handled family needs like seasickness and kids along for the ride. That matters because Cabo sailing is gorgeous, but it is still time on open water.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Cabo San Lucas.
Pelican Rock Snorkeling: The Main Event

Snorkeling at Pelican Rock is the part most people will remember. The plan sends you there early, so you get your best chance at calm, clear water conditions before the day fills with sightseeing time. The goal is right in front of you: float, snorkel, and look for tropical fish in Cabo’s Sea of Cortez waters.
What makes this stop feel “worth it” is that it’s not a quick, rushed dunk-and-go. You’ll have time to play in the water and enjoy the break. And because snorkeling equipment is included, you don’t need to figure out rentals or packing the right gear.
A practical consideration: you’re on a sailboat, so you’ll be getting in and out from the water. Reviews mention the crew helping with safe boarding and water entry, which is reassuring for anyone who doesn’t love slippery steps or who brings older relatives along. If you have mobility concerns, it’s still best to plan for a little ladder or step movement and ask the crew how they prefer to handle it for your group.
El Arco and Lovers Beach: Classic Cabo, From the Water
After snorkeling time, the cruise shifts into sightseeing mode. You’ll sail past El Arco, which is Cabo San Lucas’s most famous rock formation—one of those views that always looks better when you’re actually on the water instead of standing on land.
Then you’ll head to Playa de los Amantes (Lover’s Beach), including the area associated with the sea lion colony. Even if you’ve seen photos, watching the coastline from a moving boat gives you the proportions right away: where the rock sits, how the shoreline bends, and why the water around this part of Cabo looks the way it does.
Two things I like about doing these stops by sail:
- You get uninterrupted sightlines for photos without managing crowds.
- You’re not “between places.” You’re doing views as part of the motion.
The possible drawback is timing. This is about a 3-hour total duration, so the experience is paced. You’ll see the big hits—just don’t expect a long stay on shore at each viewpoint because this is a cruise-first day.
Onboard Food, Drinks, and the Little Comfort Wins

This is where the “luxury” label is felt in real life. You’ll have lunch, snacks, and unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks onboard. That means you’re not hunting food between stops, and you can focus on the day’s rhythm: snorkel, cruise, snack, repeat.
Reviews also mention margaritas alongside beer, plus a calm, friendly service that kept families comfortable. One family even celebrated a daughter’s birthday with a cake arranged for the day—so if you’re traveling for a milestone, it’s worth asking ahead of time what the crew can help with.
The best part is how the included stuff supports the plan. A snack and drink break during cruising helps you stay relaxed between the water time and the sightseeing time. And for families, having food and drinks right there matters more than people expect—especially when a kid or a parent gets tired or a little seasick.
If you’re sensitive to motion, there’s no magic fix promised here, but the review stories suggest the crew takes care of comfort. In one case, the captain and first mate worked with a small child who was dealing with seasickness and still kept the group feeling safe and cared for.
How the 3-Hour Flow Actually Works

The day runs like a well-paced loop. You start at the marina, then the crew heads toward Pelican Rock for snorkeling. After time in the water, you’ll enjoy lunch and snacks onboard. Then the sail transitions to cruising the iconic points—El Arco and Playa de los Amantes—before heading back toward the marina.
Sails also come into the mix. The crew will hoist the sails and sail smoothly toward the Pacific direction when it fits the schedule and conditions. That’s not just for show. It’s part of the reason the ride feels different from a motor-only transfer: you get that classic sailing motion that makes the coastline feel bigger and the water feel calmer.
Because it’s a private boat, you won’t be stuck waiting on other groups. Your timing stays tied to your crew’s plan, and the experience is designed around being able to fit everything into the 3-hour window.
Customizing Without Breaking the Day
You’re not locked into a rigid checklist. The plan is a recommendation, and you can ask for changes like:
- more snorkeling time
- longer sailing time
- a different route approach based on what your group wants
If you have special requests, contact the operator after booking. For a group celebration, this is also the time to ask about how you want to handle the cake situation or onboard surprise details.
Price and Value: When $990 Makes Sense

At $990 per boat (up to 4 passengers), this isn’t the cheapest way to do Cabo. But it can be a strong value when you price it like a private experience instead of a per-person sightseeing ticket.
Here’s the simple math: if you fill the boat with 4 people, you’re effectively paying less than if you booked separate activities for each person. You’re also buying:
- a private crew attention level
- flexibility to adjust the plan
- included lunch, snacks, and unlimited drinks
- snorkeling equipment without rental stress
What you might notice is that most people who end up loving this tour aren’t chasing a bargain—they’re chasing control over the day. Private sailing helps with that. You don’t need to match your schedule to strangers, and you don’t lose time to boarding chaos.
One more value point: the included snorkeling gear plus the time on the water means you’re not spending extra effort and money piecing the day together. You’re already paying for the core pieces inside the total price.
Meeting Point, Tickets, and Getting There Without Headaches

You’ll meet at F Dock, Marina, Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point. There’s no hotel pickup, so build in time to reach the marina on your own.
Good news: the meeting spot is noted as near public transportation, so if you’re not renting a car, you may still find a practical way to get there.
You’ll also receive a mobile ticket, and confirmation happens at booking. The tour is offered in English, and the crew may be multi-lingual depending on who operates your day.
If you want a smoother start, show up a bit early. On a private boat day, small delays can feel bigger because you’re not sharing with multiple groups.
Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Reconsider)

This is a great pick if you want:
- a private experience for a small group (family, friends, couples)
- snorkeling without the planning hassle
- the main Cabo sights, seen from the water
- included meals and drinks so the day stays relaxed
It also seems to work for mixed-age groups. Reviews mention help getting safely in and out of the water for older visitors, and support when traveling with a very young child. That suggests the crew is used to handling different needs with care.
You might reconsider if:
- you’re expecting shore time at each major stop
- you need hotel pickup
- you’re traveling solo and don’t want to pay a full boat price
Guide and Crew Care You Can Feel
Even without changing the itinerary, the crew tone shapes the experience. Reviews highlight a team that’s attentive and thoughtful. Names that come up include Ivan and Jesus for caring service, plus captains and first mates such as Captain Gary, First Mate Pedro, and captain Edwin with help from crew like Jaisther. People also mention clear directions for boarding and an easy booking process.
That matters because a private sailing day can go two ways: either it feels like a smooth, friendly service, or it feels like you’re left to figure things out. Here, the repeated praise centers on guidance, safety help, and a calm attitude when plans meet real-life needs like seasickness or careful entry into the water.
Should You Book This Private 42ft Sail and Snorkel?
Book it if you want Cabo done the “slow and scenic” way—snorkel first at Pelican Rock, then cruise the big icons like El Arco and Playa de los Amantes with lunch and unlimited drinks included. If you’re traveling with family, it’s especially appealing because the crew has shown they’ll help with safer water access and comfort.
Skip it only if you need hotel pickup, you want lots of long shore stops, or you’d rather pay less and accept a more crowded experience. For most small groups that want a high-comfort day on the water, this one makes sense.
FAQ
How long is the sailing and snorkeling tour?
It’s about 3 hours.
How much does the tour cost?
The price is $990 per boat (per group), up to 4 passengers.
Is it a private tour?
Yes. It’s a private tour, and only your group participates.
Where do we meet for the tour?
You meet at F Dock, Marina, Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.
Is hotel pickup included?
No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
What snorkeling gear is provided?
Snorkeling equipment is included.
What food and drinks are included?
Lunch, snacks, and unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks are included.
Is the tour offered in English?
Yes. The tour is offered in English, and the operator may also use a multi-lingual guide.
What’s the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time. If you cancel within 24 hours of the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.














