Private Luxury Sailing Cruise in Los Cabos with Lunch and Open Bar

Set sail for Cabo’s best views. This private four-hour cruise combines the famous Arch, a quiet bay, water activities, lunch, and an open bar aboard a private sailboat. With room for up to 15 people, it is built for families, birthday groups, and friends who want the boat to themselves.

I especially like the private charter, which gives your group far more freedom than a large shared excursion. The included lunch and unlimited drinks also make the $2,299 group price easier to understand, particularly when 10 to 15 people share the cost. The main drawback is simple: smaller groups may find the price steep, and the snorkeling bay can have other boats nearby rather than feeling fully secluded.

Key things to know before booking

• The Arch comes first: You cruise past El Arco and Land’s End for photos before heading toward a swimming and snorkeling bay.
• The price favors larger groups: At the full 15-person capacity, the cost works out to about $153 per person before the small dock fee.
• Hotel pickup is included: Cabo San Lucas pickup and drop-off save you from arranging taxis or driving to the marina.
• Lunch is more than a snack: Expect food such as grilled shrimp, seafood ceviche, pasta, dips, and other Baja-style dishes.
• The crew shapes the experience: Names praised for friendly, attentive service include Roger, Pablo, Victor, and Miguel.
• Bring a towel: Towels are not included, and everyone must remove footwear before boarding.

A private sailboat, not a standard group cruise

The central selling point is privacy. Your group alone takes part in the activity, so you are not sharing the boat with a large crowd of unrelated people. That matters on a celebration trip, where you may want your own music, conversation, seating area, and pace.

The boat accommodates up to 15 people. That is a useful size for a family reunion, birthday, bachelor or bachelorette gathering, or a group of friends staying together in Cabo. A private charter also means the day feels less like a fixed sightseeing bus ride and more like time spent together on the water.

Still, private does not mean completely unstructured. The captain controls the route and sailing conditions, and the advertised plan centers on El Arco, a bay for swimming and snorkeling, lunch, and the return sail. You get flexibility within that framework, not an unlimited choice of destinations.

The experience is offered in English. The crew handles the sailing, food, drinks, and equipment, so you can focus on the views and your group.

Pickup from Cabo San Lucas

Round-trip private transportation is included from Cabo San Lucas. Pickup is generally about one hour and 30 minutes before the cruise start time, with the exact time and location confirmed within 24 hours of booking.

That early pickup time is worth noting. The cruise itself lasts about four hours, but your total outing takes longer once the transfer is included. Look for a white van or bus at the confirmed pickup point. If your hotel does not appear in the booking search, try entering its name manually in the search field.

The pickup arrangement is convenient, but it can require a little attention. Confirm the meeting details through the tour operator contact option instead of assuming the time shown at checkout is the final pickup time. One account of the day described the meeting location as a bit hectic, though the ride to the boat became smooth once the guide took over.

If you are staying in San José del Cabo, check the pickup details carefully. The provided transportation information specifically highlights pickup in Cabo San Lucas, so do not assume every hotel or area is covered without confirmation.

El Arco and Land’s End from the water

The first major sight is El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, the curved rock formation at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. From the water, you get the view that makes Cabo famous: steep golden rock, open sea, and the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez.

The boat spends about 15 minutes cruising past the Arch and Land’s End. That is enough time for photographs, but not a long stop for exploring. You do not land at the Arch. The value is the easy water-level view, with no need to squeeze onto a crowded sightseeing boat.

Have your camera ready early. The Arch is the first scheduled stop, and the boat then continues toward the open ocean and a bay for swimming. This portion is scenic rather than active, so it works well as a relaxed start while the crew prepares food and drinks.

The views are one of the strongest parts of the outing. You can settle on deck, feel the wind, and watch Cabo recede as the boat moves away from the marina. If you prefer a quiet start, take advantage of this time before the swimming and lunch portions begin.

Appetizers, sailing, and time on deck

Once the boat leaves the main Cabo sights, the crew serves freshly prepared appetizers. The sample menu includes grilled shrimp with dip, while the food served during the day can also include guacamole, chips, and cooked shrimp.

This is where the private format begins to feel worthwhile. You are not rushing from one attraction to the next. You can sit on deck, enjoy a drink, talk with your group, and let the crew manage the practical details.

The open bar includes unlimited drinks. The drinking age is 18, and the bar service is one of the most consistently praised parts of the experience. The crew is described as keeping drinks available soon after boarding and maintaining an upbeat atmosphere without making the boat feel like a loud party vessel.

Music is also part of the onboard mood. If your group wants a celebratory day, the combination of music, drinks, sun, and sailing gives the trip plenty of energy. If you prefer a quiet cruise, the private setting gives you more control over how social the day feels, although the crew remains an active part of the experience.

Several crew members have been singled out for warm service. Roger is praised as a friendly host, while Pablo and his crew are described as professional and fun. Victor and Miguel also receive strong marks for attentive service. Staffing can change, but these names give you an idea of the personal touch the company aims for.

Swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboards

The boat continues to a picturesque bay selected for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Snorkeling equipment and stand-up paddleboards are included, so you do not need to rent those items separately.

The water is described as clear and inviting, making this the most active part of the day. You can swim from the boat, use the snorkeling gear, or try a paddleboard before returning to the deck. If you would rather stay dry, this is also a good time to stretch out in the sun and enjoy the scenery.

Set realistic expectations about the snorkeling. The bay may have several other boats, and the stop may not feel completely private once you are in the water. One account of the experience specifically wished for a more secluded snorkeling location and a longer period in the water.

That does not make the stop a poor choice. It simply means you should book this cruise for the full package, not for a serious snorkeling expedition. The main strengths are the private boat, food, sailing, and social time. Snorkeling is a pleasant addition.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness for the activity. Expect to move around the boat, enter the water, and use a paddleboard if you choose. Expectant mothers may not participate.

Baja-style lunch on the boat

Lunch is served back aboard the sailboat. The sample menu includes fresh seafood ceviche and Italian pasta with sundried tomatoes, along with a starter of grilled shrimp and dip. Other food described during the outing includes Caesar salad with chicken, fresh fruit, pasta salad, chips, guacamole, and cooked shrimp.

The exact spread may vary, but the overall meal is more substantial than the usual boat excursion snack. You get fresh seafood alongside familiar options, which helps when your group includes people with different tastes.

Vegetarian food is available if requested at booking. Make that request early rather than hoping the crew can improvise on the day. Since ceviche and seafood are central to the menu, this is an important detail for anyone who does not eat fish or meat.

The food receives unusually strong praise for a sailing trip. It is described as fresh, well presented, and surprisingly good. That matters because the lunch and open bar are a large part of the value calculation. You are not paying only for transportation and a view. You are also paying for a catered meal served in a memorable setting.

Sailing back toward Cabo San Lucas

After lunch, the crew pulls up anchor, raises the sails, and sets a course back toward Cabo San Lucas. This return section is less about checking off another attraction and more about enjoying the boat itself.

The return sail gives you another chance to photograph the coast, sit with a drink, or simply watch the water. It also provides a natural pause after swimming and lunch. The day has a comfortable rhythm: sightseeing first, food and water activities in the middle, then a quieter sail back.

The cruise lasts about four hours altogether. That is long enough to include the main activities without turning the outing into an all-day commitment. If you want several hours of sailing with a full meal, it is a good middle ground. If your main goal is extended snorkeling, you may find the water stop too short.

At the end, private transportation takes you back to your hotel. That is particularly useful after an open-bar cruise. You can enjoy the drinks without worrying about driving back to your accommodation.

What the $2,299 price really buys

The listed cost is $2,299 per group of up to 15 people. There is also a $2-per-person dock fee. At maximum capacity, the base cost works out to about $153 per person, which is reasonable for a private four-hour boat outing with lunch, unlimited drinks, hotel transportation, snorkeling equipment, and paddleboards.

The value changes sharply with group size. For 10 people, the price is about $230 per person before the dock fee. For six people, it is roughly $383 per person. A couple or small family would likely get better value from a shared cruise unless privacy is the main reason for booking.

Compare the price with what you would otherwise pay for a boat charter, food, drinks, transport, and water equipment. The private setting and catering do a lot of the work here. You are also paying for the convenience of having the crew handle the day from hotel pickup to return.

I would book this for a group that can fill at least half the boat, especially if the occasion matters. For a large birthday group, the cost becomes easier to justify because everyone shares the boat and the experience feels tailored to the occasion.

Small details that can make the day easier

Wear a swimsuit under your clothes if you plan to swim, though the tour information does not specifically require this. Bring a towel, since towels are not included. You may also want sun protection and a dry bag for personal items, but those items are not listed as provided.

You must remove footwear before boarding. Choose clothing and shoes that are easy to take off and put back on, and remember that the boat deck may become wet after the swimming stop.

The experience requires good weather. If conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For your own planning, avoid placing this cruise on the final possible day of your vacation if you have no room to reschedule.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded or accepted, and the cutoff follows local time.

The tour is recommended by 98 percent of its 365 ratings, with an overall score of 4.9 out of 5. The strongest praise focuses on the crew, food, boat condition, drinks, and the celebratory atmosphere. The clearest reservation concerns the snorkeling area, which may be shared with other boats.

Who should book this Cabo sailing cruise?

I would choose this experience for:

• A group of friends who want the boat to themselves
• Families celebrating a birthday or milestone
• Couples traveling with several other couples
• Visitors who value food and drinks as much as swimming
• People who want hotel transportation included
• Anyone who prefers a polished boat day over a serious snorkeling trip

I would think twice if you are traveling alone, as a couple, or with a very small group. The per-person price rises quickly. I would also look elsewhere if your top priority is a long snorkeling session in a remote bay.

The boat, crew, lunch, and open bar receive the most praise, and those are the features that justify the cost. The Arch provides the classic Cabo photographs, while the sailing time gives the day a calm, scenic quality that a fast motorboat trip may lack.

Should you book it?

Book this private Los Cabos sailing cruise if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want a comfortable celebration on the water. The strongest reasons are the private boat, attentive crew, fresh lunch, open bar, and hotel transportation.

Skip it if you want the cheapest way to see El Arco or if snorkeling is your only goal. For the right group, though, this is a polished four-hour outing with enough activity to keep you busy and enough open-deck time to let Cabo do the showing off.

FAQ

How much does the private sailing cruise cost?

The cruise costs $2,299 per group of up to 15 people. A $2 dock fee per person is not included.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately four hours. Hotel pickup generally takes place about one hour and 30 minutes before the cruise start time, so the total time from pickup to drop-off is longer.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip private transportation is included, with pickup and drop-off in Cabo San Lucas. The exact time and location are confirmed within 24 hours of booking.

Is the cruise private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity, with a maximum group size of 15 people.

What food is served?

The sample menu includes grilled shrimp with dip, fresh seafood ceviche, and Italian pasta with sundried tomatoes. Food served may also include guacamole, chips, cooked shrimp, salad, fresh fruit, and pasta salad.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited drinks from an open bar are included. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Are snorkeling gear and paddleboards provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and stand-up paddleboards are available to use during the cruise.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time.