Cabo San LucasCruise Port Guide
Your tender lands right on the marina boardwalk. The Arch is a short boat ride away, the main square a 12-minute walk, and the plans below fit the hours in between.
Welcome to Cabo San Lucas
Pro Picks
Boat & snorkel · 2 hrsArch & Lover's Beach Boat Tour with Snorkeling
A small boat from the marina loops past Lover's Beach, the sea lions and the Arch, then stops at Pelican Rock for a guided snorkel before you swim back to the boat. It meets by the surfboard sculptures a few minutes from the tender pier and runs two hours, so it fits even a short call; bring your own towel.
From $52.14/ person
Book Now →
Whale watching · 2 hrsWhale-Watching Boat with an All-Women Crew
A small-group boat (14 guests at most) heads past the Arch to look for humpback whales, with a marine biologist, a hydrophone to hear them sing, and photos included; no whales means a second trip free. It runs only in whale season, roughly mid-December to mid-April, and meets on the marina.
From $91.98/ person
Book Now →
Camel & UTV · 3.5 hrsCamel Ride & Off-Road UTV Combo
Ride a camel along Migriño Beach on the Pacific side, then drive a UTV through desert trails, dry riverbeds and canyons with a guide. Transport is included but the beach is a long drive out of town, so this 3.5-hour trip takes most of a port day.
From $110.04/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Cabo San Lucas in 2 hours
Boat & Snorkel
Arch & Lover's Beach Boat with Snorkeling
Two hours by boat past the Arch and the sea lions, with a guided snorkel at Pelican Rock. It meets on the marina a few minutes' walk from the tender pier.
From$52.14
Time required2 hours
Whale Watching
Whale-Watching Boat (All-Women Crew)
A two-hour hunt for humpbacks with a photo stop at the Arch, leaving from the marina. Whale season only, roughly mid-December to mid-April.
From$91.98
Time required2 hours
Cabo San Lucas in 4 hours
Boat Tour & Beach
Arch Boat Ride & Beach Drop-Off
A 45-minute boat loop past Pelican Rock, the sea lions and the Arch, then up to two hours on a beach before the ride back. It leaves from beside the surfboard sculptures near the tender pier; arrive 15 minutes early and bring cash.
From$18.39
Time required3 hours
Kayak & Snorkel
Kayak to the Arch & Snorkel
Paddle a two-person kayak from Playa Empacadora to the Arch, land on Lover's Beach and snorkel at Pelican Rock. Pickup is included but arranged by message, so tell them you're arriving by tender.
From$88.19
Time required2.5 hours
Horseback Riding
Horseback Ride at Migriño Beach
Two hours on horseback along a Pacific beach and desert paths to a lookout, with tequila tasting after. The van ride out of town comes on top of the ride itself, so budget a half day.
From$81.46
Time required2 hours
Walking Tour
Cabo History Walk
A guided walk through the old streets to the San Lucas church and the main square, with tequila tasting and a small museum entry. It meets in the Puerto ParaÃso mall, about 15 minutes along the marina from the tender pier.
From$35
Time required2.5 hours
Cabo San Lucas in 7 hours
Catamaran Snorkel
4-Hour Snorkel Cruise to Santa MarÃa Bay
Sail past the Arch and Lover's Beach to snorkel in Santa MarÃa Bay, with an open bar and a light lunch on the way back. Pickup must be arranged 48 hours ahead, so book early and confirm a marina meeting point.
From$102.89
Time required4 hours
Day Trip
Todos Santos Day Trip
A six-hour small-group trip to Todos Santos: the mission church, the town square, the Hotel California and galleries, with a lunch option. It's about an hour's drive each way, so check the return time against your last tender.
From$84.18
Time required6 hours
Sightseeing Combo
Glass-Bottom Boat, Glassblowing & San José del Cabo
A six-hour combo: a glass-bottom boat to the Arch, a glassblowing workshop, tequila tasting, then lunch and shopping in San José del Cabo. It departs from central Cabo San Lucas; the listing shows no price until you pick a date.
Time required6 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Five stops on foot from the marina tender pier, where every ship's tenders land. Médano Beach, the nearest swimming beach, is across the marina: about 25 to 30 minutes on foot, or a short water-taxi hop from the pier.
Market · 0.1 mi · ~3 min
Marina Mercado
Rows of small stalls selling souvenirs, clothes and home décor, just to the left as you step off the tender. Good for a first browse, or the last one while you wait for the boat back.
Landmark · 0.1 mi · ~5 min
Surfboard sculptures
A cluster of painted surfboard sculptures on the boardwalk, a handy landmark: several Arch boat trips meet beside it.
Eat · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Baja Cantina
A restaurant on the west side of the marina boardwalk. An easy place to sit down for lunch without straying far from the pier.
Plaza · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Plaza Amelia Wilkes
The town's main square, up from the marina in the old centre. The church and the natural history museum are both on its edges.
Museum · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Museo de Historia Natural de Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas's natural history museum, facing the main square. Worth a look on the walk through the old town.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Cabo San Lucas.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
Getting ashore
Do cruise ships dock or tender in Cabo San Lucas?
Cruise ships don't dock in Cabo San Lucas: it's a tender port, so ships anchor in the bay near the Arch and small boats carry you to a pier inside the marina. The ride takes about 10 to 15 minutes and lands you right on the waterfront boardwalk. Every line uses the same landing; Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney and Cunard all call here.
How long does the tender take in Cabo, and when should I be back?
The tender ride in Cabo San Lucas takes only about 10 to 15 minutes, but the queue to board one can take far longer, especially first thing in the morning and when several ships are in. Your deadline is the last tender back, not the sailing time, so check it in the daily planner and join the line well before it. Rough seas or wind can also delay or cancel tenders.
What is there to do at the Cabo San Lucas cruise port?
Yes, if you want the town on foot: the tender lands on Cabo San Lucas's marina boardwalk, with shops, bars, tour stands, ATMs and the Marina Mercado's souvenir stalls right at the pier. There's no terminal building, seating or Wi-Fi at the pier itself. The main square, church and natural history museum are about a 12-minute walk, and the Arch and Lover's Beach are a short boat ride from the same marina. See the walking map.
Is Cabo San Lucas walkable from the cruise port?
Yes. Cabo San Lucas is walkable from the cruise tender pier: the marina boardwalk starts at the pier, and Plaza Amelia Wilkes, the main square, is about 0.5 miles away, roughly 12 minutes on foot. The Puerto ParaÃso mall at the head of the marina is about 0.7 miles. The walking map shows the stops.
How far is Médano Beach from the Cabo cruise port?
Médano Beach is about 1.1 miles from the Cabo San Lucas tender pier, a walk of 25 minutes or more, because you have to go around the marina to reach it. Water taxis at the pier are the shortcut; agree the fare before you get in. Médano is on the calm Sea of Cortez side and uses a flag system, so check the day's flag before swimming.
Beaches & water
How do I get to Lover's Beach and the Arch from the cruise port?
Lover's Beach and the Arch in Cabo San Lucas can only be reached by boat, and boats leave from the same marina where your tender lands. Water taxis and glass-bottom boats make the trip in about 10 minutes; agree the price, and the pickup time for the ride back, before you board. There's no way to walk to Land's End.
Can you swim at Lover's Beach or Divorce Beach?
Swimming is prohibited at Divorce Beach, the Pacific side of the sandbar behind Lover's Beach in Cabo San Lucas, because of heavy shore break and rip currents. Enjoy it from the dry sand and stay well back from the water. For a swim, Médano Beach on the Sea of Cortez side is the usual choice; check its flag first.
Where can I snorkel in Cabo San Lucas on a port day?
Most snorkeling from the Cabo San Lucas marina happens at Pelican Rock near Land's End, on 2-hour boat trips or 2.5-hour kayak tours, or farther out at Santa MarÃa Bay on a 4-hour snorkel cruise. Gear is included on all of them. The 2-hour boat trip meets a few minutes' walk from the tender pier, so it fits even a short call; see the 2-hour plans.
Can you see whales from Cabo on a cruise?
Yes, in season: whale-watching boats leave from the Cabo San Lucas marina roughly mid-December to mid-April, with January to March the peak. The trips take about two hours and start a short walk from the tender pier. Outside the season, the regulated whale tours don't run.
Time ashore
What are the best excursions in Cabo San Lucas for cruisers?
The best-reviewed excursions from the Cabo San Lucas marina are the 2-hour Arch and Lover's Beach boat with snorkeling (4.9 from 362 GetYourGuide reviews) and whale watching in season (4.9 from 318). On land, the most-reviewed trips are ATV and camel-and-UTV rides through the desert to Pacific beaches. Longer days reach San José del Cabo, about 20 miles away. See our Pro Picks.
Is Cabo San Lucas on ship time?
Cabo San Lucas stays on UTC−7 all year, since Mexico dropped daylight saving time. If your ship keeps US Pacific time, the clocks match from March to early November and Cabo is one hour ahead in winter. Check whether the daily planner lists ship or local time, and go by the last tender back, not the sailing time.
Getting around
How do taxis work from the Cabo cruise port, and can I use Uber?
Taxis, mostly sedans, wait at the Cabo San Lucas marina near the tender pier; agree the fare, and whether it's per person or per car, before you get in. Uber operates in Los Cabos, but the taxi unions contest it and some places don't allow Uber pickups, so don't count on one at the marina. San José del Cabo is about 20 miles away, 30 to 50 minutes each way.
Money & documents
Do they take US dollars in Cabo San Lucas?
Yes, US dollars are accepted around Cabo San Lucas's marina and tourist area, but pesos are preferred. Bring cash in pesos and small US bills: water taxis, street vendors and smaller restaurants prefer cash, and cards don't always work or may carry a surcharge. There are ATMs at the cruise end of the marina, steps from the tender pier.
Do I need a passport for a cruise stop in Cabo San Lucas?
US citizens on a closed-loop cruise that stops in Cabo San Lucas can return with a birth certificate and government photo ID, according to US Customs and Border Protection, though CBP warns the countries you visit may ask for a passport. If you miss the ship and have to fly home from Mexico, you'll need a passport book.
Safety & health
Is it safe to cruise to Cabo San Lucas?
The US State Department rates Mexico as a whole at Level 2, "Exercise increased caution" (advisory dated May 28, 2026). For a day in Cabo San Lucas, if you head to the beaches, know that swimming is prohibited at Divorce Beach because of heavy shore break and rip currents, so swim only where it's allowed and check the beach flag.
Can you drink the water in Cabo San Lucas?
No, guides advise visitors not to drink the tap water in Cabo San Lucas. Stick to sealed bottled water or ask for purified water (agua purificada), and skip the ice if you're unsure where it came from.