Whale watching tour from San José del Cabo
- From Departs from San José del Cabo
- 4 hours
- up to 40 guests
- December to April
Photos: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · David Girard, suncabo.com, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Sncc210, CC BY-SA 4.0
Humpback whales from your own yacht out of Puerto Los Cabos, mid-December to the end of April: four hours on the water, with a swim at Palmilla.
What you do
- Swimming
- Whale watching
Highlights
- Humpback whales in their winter water
- Time to wait out a long dive and move between groups
- Boarding in San José del Cabo, with no drive to Cabo San Lucas
- A swim stop on the way back
About this trip
Every winter humpback whales come south to the warm water off Los Cabos to mate and to give birth. Most whale-watching boats here leave from Cabo San Lucas, where the federal rules close the port waters to whale watching because of heavy boat traffic. This is our route for meeting the whales from your own yacht out of Puerto Los Cabos, at the San José del Cabo end of the coast, about 17 nautical miles from Cabo San Lucas in a straight line.
Whale watching in Mexico is regulated: federal rules set when it may happen, 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 distances between the marina, the open water off San José and Palmilla Beach. The itinerary gives the timings.
Itinerary
After departure: 0:00
Board at Puerto Los Cabos Marina
Meet the crew at the dock in San José del Cabo and settle in while the boat clears the marina.
After departure: 0:15
On the whale grounds
Open water in the Sea of Cortez off San José. The captain works the water wherever whales are showing that day. Close to two hours.
After departure: 2:45
Anchor off Palmilla Beach
A protected cove for a swim, and lunch or snacks on deck if your boat serves them.
After departure: 3:25
Return
About half an hour back along the coast to the marina.
Yachts that run this trip
Questions
When is whale season in San José del Cabo?
The federal government sets the dates each year: for 2025-26 it set December 15 to April 30 for the Los Cabos whale-watching areas, and this trip runs only inside them. January and February are usually the busiest months.
Which whales will we see?
Humpbacks most often. They are the active ones, breaching and slapping the water with their long fins and tails. Gray whales and dolphins are also seen in the Los Cabos season, and orcas are rare.
Is whale watching better from San José del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas?
Both are in the same Los Cabos season. Cabo San Lucas has most of the whale boats and Land's End as a backdrop. Starting from San José del Cabo saves the drive along the coast if you are staying in San José or at the eastern end of the hotel coast.
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.
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 Puerto Los Cabos Marina in San José del Cabo. Heather Nikki and Number Juan are berthed there. Olivia Grace, Steel Aweigh and Neoprene are berthed at Marina Cabo San Lucas and come round to San José del Cabo 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