Your options
Glass-bottom boats are open pangas with a viewing panel in the hull, so you can see fish over the sandy bottom and rocks. The standard tour is a one-hour loop; some operators sell longer packages that add time on a beach. Clear-hull "transparent" boats are a newer variant of the same trip.
Water taxis are the same kind of boat used as a shuttle: they pass the landmarks and drop you at Lover's Beach, then return at an agreed time. For a longer day on the water, sailing and sunset cruises from the marina also round the Arch, as do many snorkel trips heading east along the Corridor.
- Glass-bottom tour: about 1 hour, round trip
- Water taxi: drop-off and agreed pick-up at Lover's Beach
- Longer combos: tour plus 1 to 3 hours of beach time (varies by operator)
Where tours leave from
Two departure points serve almost all short Land's End tours: the main docks of the Cabo San Lucas Marina, and Médano Beach, where the boats pull up on the sand. One established Médano operator lists marina departures from 9 a.m. and beach departures from 10 a.m., on the hour, with a minimum of two and a maximum of twelve passengers per boat. Staying at Villa 1, the beach departure is the simplest: walk down to the sand rather than heading to the marina.
What you'll see
A standard loop leaves the harbour mouth and follows the granite headland out to its tip. Expect to pass Pelican Rock, a seabird roost that is also a snorkeling spot; the sea lion colony on the rocks near the Arch; Lover's Beach on the bay side and Divorce Beach on the Pacific; Neptune's Finger; and Pirate's Cove, before returning past Médano Beach.
From December to April, humpback whales migrate past Cabo, and sightings are possible even on a one-hour tour. The whole route lies inside the Cabo San Lucas protected area, and the captains keep their distance from the sea lions and whales.
Prices and practical tips
Operators publish their own fares, which vary by season and by booking online or on the beach. One Médano Beach operator lists about US$16 to US$20 per person for the one-hour glass-bottom tour, and aggregator listings start in the same range. Confirm whether the CONANP protected-area wristband is included; the published fee is MXN 125 per person per day, with children under 12 exempt.
Mornings are usually calmest, and the underwater view is best when the sun is high and the water is clear. Bring cash in small bills for tips and a dry bag for phones.
