Los Cabos Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat with Photos Included

Cabo’s best moments may be just offshore. This three-hour outing combines a quick ride on a 28-foot Apex speedboat with snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez, plus views of The Arch, Lands End, Lovers Beach, and the local sea lion colony. I especially like the small-group format, capped at 15 people, and the fact that your photos and videos are included rather than sold as an afterthought.

I also like the care given to nervous swimmers and first-time snorkelers. Guides such as Mario, Fernando, Francisco, Ivan, Luen, Peter, and Alex have helped people into the water and pointed out fish, starfish, rays, turtles, sharks, and whales. The main caution is simple: ocean conditions can change, the meeting point can be hard to spot, and one person reported poor equipment and limited instruction, so you should confirm your gear fits before heading away from the marina.

Key points to know before you book

• A small 28-foot Apex boat: The boat is built for a more personal outing, with a maximum of 15 people and a step platform and ladder for easier water access.
• Snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez: You may see colorful fish, rays, turtles, sea lions, starfish, and occasionally larger animals such as whales.
• Photos and videos are included: Guides take professional-style images during the outing, giving you a useful souvenir without a separate photo charge.
• A guide-led experience: Certified guides help with entering and leaving the water, explain local sea life, and point out Cabo landmarks.
• $89 for about three hours: The price is strong if you value the small group and included media, though towels and sunscreen are not provided.
• A marina meeting point with a catch: The central location is convenient, but the exact Baja Vikings Ecoventures office can be obscure. Arrive early.

Why the Sea of Cortez makes this trip worthwhile

The Sea of Cortez is not just a pretty backdrop for a boat ride. It is one of the planet’s most varied marine areas, with more than 5,000 types of marine invertebrates and over 900 fish species recorded in the region. That helps explain why a short snorkeling session can produce such a surprising mix of sights.

Your guide will introduce you to the local ecosystem rather than simply dropping you beside a reef and wishing you luck. That extra context matters. You learn why the water supports so much life, how the area’s animals fit together, and what you are looking at when a flash of silver or a ray moves across the bottom.

The tour also links the underwater experience with Cabo’s famous coastal sights. The Arch, Lands End, Lovers Beach, and the sea lion colony are all part of the outing’s wider setting. You get a taste of Cabo from the water, not only from the beach or a restaurant terrace.

The famous rock formations are particularly useful early in the trip, since they give you a clear sense of Cabo’s position where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The boat ride adds movement and open views, but remember that a speedboat can feel lively when the sea is rough.

Leaving the marina on a 28-foot Apex

The tour begins at Baja Vikings Ecoventures, located at Boulevard Marina, Edificio Plaza API, Modulo B-20, in the Cabo San Lucas marina. It is a central starting point and close to public transportation, but the office and dock can be difficult to identify on your first visit.

I would arrive with enough time to find the exact meeting point without rushing. Peter and Alex reportedly helped people who had trouble locating the boat, and Mario has also been praised for guiding people toward the correct dock. Still, it is better to arrive prepared than to depend on a last-minute rescue.

The custom 28-foot Apex is small enough to keep the group friendly and large enough to carry the required snorkeling equipment, water, snacks, juice boxes, and camera gear. The limited size is one of the most appealing parts of the experience. You are not being moved around in a large group where the guide must divide attention among dozens of people.

The boat has a custom step and platform, along with a ladder. That setup can make a big difference when you are climbing back aboard with fins, wet hands, and little confidence in your sea legs. The crew can give personal assistance, especially if you are a first-time snorkeler or not a strong swimmer.

Cabo’s famous sights from the water

The route includes views of The Arch, Lands End, Lovers Beach, and the sea lion colony. These are not minor points along the way. They are the recognizable coastal landmarks that make a boat outing in Cabo feel distinct from a standard snorkeling session.

The Arch is the best-known natural feature in the area, and seeing it from the water gives you an angle you cannot get from land. Lands End has a rugged, striking profile, while Lovers Beach adds a quieter beach setting near the rock formations. The sea lion colony brings movement and sound to the route, though wildlife is never perfectly scheduled.

The boat ride can also produce unexpected sightings. Several outings have included humpback whales, and one group saw an orca family. Turtles, rays, and sea lions have also appeared during the ride or near the snorkeling area.

You should treat these encounters as a bonus, not a promise. The tour is built around snorkeling and coastal sightseeing, not guaranteed whale watching. Ocean conditions and animal behavior decide what you see on a given morning.

Finding a quieter snorkeling area

One of the strongest reasons to choose this trip is the effort to use safe, less crowded snorkeling locations. The crew takes small groups to sites where you may have more room to move and more time to pay attention to the fish instead of avoiding fins and elbows.

Several outings reached a spot where the group was the only one present. That kind of setting can make the water feel calmer and more personal, especially if you are new to snorkeling. It also gives the guide a better chance to point out animals and answer questions.

The exact site can change. The crew chooses based on conditions and safety, so you should not expect a fixed reef every time. That flexibility is sensible on the Sea of Cortez, where wind and waves can alter the comfort of a location.

Once in the water, guides have pointed out colorful fish, starfish, rays, turtles, and small sharks. One group saw a baby shark, while another found a ray and a shark after rough weather. These encounters show the range of life in the area, but they also underline the need to follow your guide’s instructions and keep a respectful distance from animals.

Support for first-time snorkelers

You do not need to be an expert swimmer to consider this outing. The crew is specifically prepared to help people enter and leave the water, and the platform and ladder provide practical assistance.

That does not mean the sea becomes effortless. Snorkeling requires comfort with a mask, breathing through a tube, and moving in open water. If you have never tried it, tell the guide at the start rather than trying to appear confident.

The crew’s personal approach is one of the most praised elements of the experience. Mario, in particular, has been credited with helping people feel safe and explaining marine life with real enthusiasm. Fernando, Alex, Peter, Francisco, Ivan, and Luen have also received warm praise for friendly, attentive service.

There is one important qualification. A July outing produced a serious complaint about bad snorkeling equipment and not enough instruction on how to use it. That is a single poor account alongside many positive ones, but it is still useful advice: check your mask seal, breathing tube, and fins before entering the water. If something feels wrong, ask for a replacement immediately.

What the included photos are really worth

The tour includes all photos and videos taken by the crew. That is a meaningful part of the $89 price, especially if you want a record of the day but do not want to manage a camera while swimming.

The images have been praised as professional-looking, and people have received memorable pictures of the boat ride, marine life, and snorkeling session. You can focus on the experience instead of worrying about protecting a phone from salt water.

There is a small practical caveat. One person was still waiting for the pictures after the trip, so delivery may not always be immediate. Another person noted that the files were large when trying to upload them. Make sure you know how and when the crew will send the images, and leave enough phone storage if you expect to download everything.

The value is still good. A separate photo package can quickly add to the cost of a water activity. Here, the media is built into the $89 rate, along with equipment, snacks, drinking water in reusable cups, and juice boxes.

Water, snacks, and the things you need to bring

Drinking water is provided on board, which is essential in Cabo’s sun and heat. It comes in reusable cups, and juice boxes and snacks are included as well.

You need to bring sunscreen and a towel. Neither is provided. Sunscreen is especially important during the boat ride, when the reflection from the water can increase your exposure even if the breeze makes the temperature feel comfortable.

The tour does not list hotel transportation, so plan to reach the marina meeting point yourself. The activity ends back where it begins, which makes the return simple once you have found the correct dock.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The tour is also near public transportation. If you have concerns about swimming ability or physical comfort, contact the operator before booking and explain what assistance you may need.

How rough water can change the outing

The sea is not always flat. One family went out the day after a storm and found the water quite rough. The crew still reached the snorkeling site, and the family saw fish, a ray, and a shark, but the ride back caused motion sickness for one child.

That experience gives you a realistic picture. A certified guide and a capable boat help, but they cannot remove wind, waves, or seasickness. If you are sensitive to motion, consider taking your usual preventative measure before departure, though the supplied information does not specify any particular medication or procedure.

Bad weather can also lead to cancellation. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund. The tour requires a minimum number of participants as well, and if that minimum is not met, you are offered a different date or experience, or your money back.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, so pay attention to local Cabo time.

Is $89 a fair price?

At $89 per person, this is a reasonable price for a three-hour marine outing, particularly if the group remains small and the photo package works as promised. You are paying for a speedboat, guide support, snorkeling equipment, water, snacks, juice, and all photos and videos.

The value is strongest for people who care about service and convenience. A first-time snorkeler may get more from a guide who helps with the equipment and water entry than from a cheaper, larger boat with less personal attention.

The price is less compelling if your only goal is a long snorkeling session. Part of the three hours is spent traveling along the coast and viewing landmarks, so this is a combined sightseeing and snorkeling trip, not a full-day water expedition.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 46 ratings and is recommended by 98 percent of people who booked it. Those numbers suggest a reliable experience, while the isolated complaints about gear, instruction, meeting-point confusion, and delayed photos tell you what to double-check.

Who should book this Cabo boat tour?

I would recommend it to couples, families, and small groups who want a friendly outing rather than a mass-market boat ride. It is also a good fit for first-time visitors who want to combine Cabo’s main coastal sights with a manageable snorkeling session.

Families should consider the sea conditions and the swimming ability of each child. The crew can assist, but the water may still feel challenging when the weather changes. People hoping to see whales, turtles, sharks, or orcas should enjoy the possibility without treating it as a guarantee.

Strong swimmers may appreciate the uncrowded sites and the chance to spend time looking for fish. Less confident swimmers may value the crew’s help even more, provided they speak up about their comfort level before entering the water.

I would be more cautious if you dislike speedboat rides, become seasick easily, or need a long, slow introduction to snorkeling. In those cases, ask about current conditions and the type of boat before you commit.

Final verdict: a strong small-group choice in Cabo

I would book this tour if you want three useful things in one outing: a look at Cabo’s landmark coast, a guided snorkeling session, and ready-made photos of the day. The strongest parts are the small group, the personal help in the water, the included media, and the chance to reach quieter sites.

I would not book it expecting guaranteed whales or perfectly calm water. Arrive early because the marina meeting point can be confusing, inspect your snorkeling gear, bring sunscreen and a towel, and confirm how the photos will be delivered.

At $89, Baja Vikings Ecoventures offers good value for a short, personal experience. The tour is at its best when you want an easy introduction to the Sea of Cortez, with a crew that can make a first snorkeling attempt feel much less daunting.

FAQ

How long is the Los Cabos snorkeling tour?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $89 per person.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Baja Vikings Ecoventures at Boulevard Marina, Edificio Plaza API, Modulo B-20, Marina, Cabo San Lucas. It ends back at the same meeting point.

Are snorkeling equipment and refreshments included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, snacks, drinking water in reusable cups, and juice boxes are included.

Are photos and videos included?

Yes. All photos and videos taken during the experience are included.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of bad weather?

You are offered a different date or a full refund. The same choice applies if the minimum number of participants is not met.