Los Cabos Fast Boat Whale Watching Tour to the Famous Arch

4.9 (745 reviews)2 h 15 minCabo San LucasWildlife & natureFits a typical call
Fits your day

Back at the ship by about 11:30 am, 3 h 30 min before the last tender. That keeps your 1 h safety margin with 2 h 30 min to spare.

Safety margin
Ship in portGetting ashore (45 min, tender)Safety margin (1 h 30 min)All aboard 3:30 pm
  1. 8:00 am
    Ship anchors in Cabo San Lucas45 min to get a tender and reach the pier
  2. 8:45 am
    Leave the pierThis tour meets at the pier
  3. 9:00 am
    Earliest tour startTour runs 2 h 15 min. Latest sensible start: 11:30 am.
  4. 11:15 am
    Tour ends15 min back to the pier
  5. 11:30 am
    Back at the tender pier3 h 30 min before the last tender
  6. 3:30 pm
    All aboardLast tender usually leaves about 3:00 pm

Estimates based on the tour's longest published duration, our researched travel times and typical pier queues. Confirm the departure time on the booking page and keep your watch on ship's time.

Our verdict

This tour fits a typical Cabo San Lucas call (8:00 am–3:30 pm). It runs 2 h 15 min; ashore by 8:45 am, you can start by 9:00 am and be back at the gangway around 11:30 am — 2 h 30 min to spare on top of a 1 h safety margin.

Rule of thumb: it keeps the safety margin as long as all aboard is 1:00 pm or later. Even a short 7:00 am–2:00 pm call works.

The operator offers pickup, but the listed pickup points are hotels, not the cruise port. Choose "I will meet at the departure point" when booking and allow 15 min each way by taxi — that is what we counted above.

Among the 400 Cabo San Lucas shore excursions we track, this is one of the shorter ones (the median runs 3 h); 86% of them fit a typical call. Cabo San Lucas is a tender port: we add 45 minutes to get ashore and keep you back 30 minutes before all aboard for the last tender.

Computed from the tour's published duration, the distance from the cruise pier to its start point and the typical Cabo San Lucas call. Adjust your ship's times above to recheck.

About this tour

The Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortes proudly welcome humpback whales to their shores every winter.  Join an expert group of mammal experts and experience the opportunity to see the whales in their natural habitat.  Specially designed, fast zodiac boats take you to the heart of the action, witnessing these amazing jumps, splashes and graceful movements in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. Listen to the whales communicating under the deep blue ocean with specially designed hydrophones onboard

Max 20 per group English, Spanish

What's included

  • Professional guide
  • Life jacket

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Round trip transportation fee paid at check in
  • Dock entrance fee

Itinerary

  1. 1
    Los Cabos
    Once on board your air-conditioned vehicle, drive to the marine of Cabo San Lucas where you will check in at the main center and meet your guide
    Pass by without stopping
  2. 2
    Marina Cabo San Lucas
    Walk down to the dock and board your powerful, inflatable fast boat, complete with guide and captain
    Pass by without stopping
  3. 3
    Sea of Cortez
    Speed out of the bay into the Sea of Cortes or the Pacific Ocean, searching for majestic Humpback whales. They visit yearly from December to April as part of their migratory route, and here you can see them play, breach, and compete in the deep blue sea. Listen to them sing with onboard hydrophones and learn all you want to know from the expert marine guides. These fast boats are specially designed so everyone can get a clear view of these graceful mammals in their natural habitat
    2 h
  4. 4
    Arch of Cabo San Lucas
    An exciting boat cruise would n ot be the same without a visit to the famous arch. As you head back to the marina, pass by the iconic arch, the sealion colony, and the famous lovers beach before arriving back to the dock
    Pass by without stopping
  5. 5
    Los Cabos
    Board your air-conditioned vehicle and head back for drop-offs at the hotels
    Pass by without stopping

Meeting point and getting there

Start point
See booking page
From the cruise pier
Meets at the pier
Allow 45 min to tender ashore first. Taxi fares and pier details.
Returns
Back to the start point

Good to know

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. If the operator cancels for bad weather, you can rebook or get a full refund.
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Minimum age is 5 years
  • Whale sightings are not guaranteed
  • Due to the boat design, bathrooms and shade are not available onboard
  • You shall be picked up before the tour start time. Click on the tour operator button on your booking to confirm pick up time and location
  • Expectant mothers may not participate

Traveler reviews

4.9
745 traveler reviews
5
94%
4
3%
3
1%
2
1%
1
1%

Read all 745 reviews

Operated by Cabo Adventures. Prices, availability and tour details come from the booking partner and can change; the booking page is authoritative.

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