Whale watching tour from Cabo San Lucas
- From Departs from Cabo San Lucas
- 4 hours
- up to 40 guests
- December to April
Photos: Juan Cruzado Cortés, CC BY 4.0 · Cal Wolfe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones, CC BY-SA 2.0
Humpback and gray whales off Land's End from your own yacht, mid-December to the end of April: four hours on the water, with time to find them.
What you do
- Swimming
- Whale watching
Highlights
- Humpback and gray whales in their winter water
- Time to wait out a long dive and move between groups
- A deck to yourselves, with room for children to move
- A swim stop on the way back
About this trip
Every winter humpback and gray whales come south, some from as far as Alaska, to the warm water off the tip of Baja to mate and to give birth. This is our route for meeting them from your own yacht out of Cabo San Lucas.
The boat heads out past Land's End to where the spouts are, off the cape where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Whale watching is not allowed in the port or within 2 km of the Arch, so the search starts beyond them.
Whale watching in Mexico is regulated: federal rules set how close a boat may go, for how long, and who may run a trip. The questions below set them out.
We designed the route from the official whale-watching zones and the distances between the marina, the Arch and Medano Beach. The itinerary gives the timings.
Itinerary
After departure: 0:00
Board at Marina Cabo San Lucas
Meet the crew at the dock and settle in while the boat clears the harbour.
After departure: 0:15
The Arch and the sea lion colony
A slow pass along Land's End on the way out to open water.
After departure: 0:35
On the whale grounds
Out past the closed zone, the captain works the water wherever whales are showing that day. Close to two hours.
After departure: 2:50
Anchor off Medano Beach
Back in the sheltered bay for a swim, and lunch or snacks on deck if your boat serves them.
After departure: 3:40
Return
A short run across the bay to the marina.
Yachts that run this trip
Questions
When is whale season in Cabo San Lucas?
The federal government sets the dates each year: for 2025-26 it set December 15 to April 30 for Cabo San Lucas, and this trip runs only inside them. January and February are usually the busiest months.
Are we guaranteed to see whales?
No. They are wild animals, and nobody can promise a whale. Refunds follow our cancellation policy, which covers a trip we are unable to complete because of weather, maintenance or other unforeseen circumstances and says nothing about a trip on which no whale is seen. Terms vary by boat, and we confirm them in writing before you book.
How close does the boat get?
Mexico's whale-watching standard, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010, keeps a boat over 10 metres at least 80 metres from a humpback or a gray whale and 120 metres from a blue or fin whale. Every boat on this trip is over 10 metres. No more than four boats may stay with one group, for at most 30 minutes, and swimming with whales is not allowed. Only boats with a SEMARNAT authorisation may run whale-watching trips. Every boat on this trip is run by one operator, which states that it holds that authorisation and shows its permit number on board.
Which whales will we see?
Humpbacks and grays, most of the time, and humpbacks most often. Humpbacks are the active ones, breaching and slapping the water with their long fins and tails. Blue whales and orcas are rare, and dolphins sometimes swim alongside.
Will we get seasick?
The whale grounds are open water. Mornings are usually the calmest, and the swell tends to build in the afternoon, so choose a morning start and take a remedy beforehand if you are prone to it.
What should we bring?
A light jacket for the cooler mornings, plus a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and binoculars or a camera with a long lens. Bring swimwear if you want the swim stop.
Where do we board?
At Marina Cabo San Lucas, in the middle of town. Two boats on this trip, Heather Nikki and Number Juan, are berthed at Puerto Los Cabos Marina in San José del Cabo and come round to Cabo San Lucas for it; their pages show the fee for starting there.
What is included in the price?
It depends on the boat, and each boat's page lists what its price covers. Some add tax, a fee per guest above a base group size, or meals on top. The price shown for this trip is the lowest charter price among its boats for this length of trip.
How many people can come?
The boats listed for this trip take from 14 to 40 guests and run from 60 to 108 feet. The smallest, Olivia Grace and Steel Aweigh, take 14; Number Juan, at 100 feet, takes 40. Each boat's page gives its limit, and some price a base group and charge per guest above it.
How do I book, and what happens in bad weather?
A 50% deposit confirms the date, and the balance is due 7 days before the trip. If the trip cannot run because of weather, you get a full refund or a new date. Cancellation terms otherwise vary by boat, and we confirm them in writing before you book.
Is the crew's tip included?
Usually not. Every boat on this trip names 15% to 20% of the charter price as the usual tip, and the amount is yours to decide.
$2,196+ Tax
4 hours · 2 guests