Private Cabo 35ft cat experience Food and open bar included!

The best part of this Cabo outing is the private catamaran setting. You cruise past the Arch, Lover’s Beach, Pelican Rock, and the sea lion colony with only your own group aboard, then stop for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and time on a quieter beach. It feels more like your group’s day on the water than a standard sightseeing boat ride.

I like the flexibility, since the crew can shape the outing around your group’s mood, and I like the thoughtful setup: a restroom, music connection, coolers, water gear, a floating mat, and food. The main caution is that the details list different passenger limits and different claims about included alcohol, so confirm those points before paying the $2,235 group price.

Key points at a glance

• Iconic Cabo views: Cruise close to El Arco, Lover’s Beach, Pelican Rock, and the sea lion colony.
• Water time built in: Snorkeling gear, a stand-up paddleboard, and a floating mat are included.
• Private beach stop: The crew can bring you near a quieter beach for swimming, sunbathing, and exploring.
• Food on board: Mexican burritos, chips, salsa, snacks, bottled water, soft drinks, ice, and mixers are provided.
• Comfort for families: The catamaran has a restroom, music connection, and room for a private group.
• Check capacity first: The information gives several boat sizes and passenger limits, so get the final number in writing.

A private morning on Cabo’s water

Cabo San Lucas is at its best from the sea. The famous rock formations look more impressive from a boat than from shore, and the water gives you a clear view of the meeting point between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.

This is not a sightseeing cruise where you sit in one place while a guide points at the scenery. The plan mixes a short scenic cruise with a long water stop at Pelican Rock, followed by time around Cabo San Lucas Bay. You can swim, float, snorkel, paddleboard, eat, listen to music, or simply stretch out and enjoy the sun.

The outing is described as lasting about three and a half hours, although the main description calls it a four-hour cruise. That difference is small, but it matters when you are planning a port day, dinner reservation, or airport transfer. Treat it as a roughly four-hour activity and leave extra time around it.

The private format is the real reason to consider this trip. You are not sharing the boat with a large crowd, and the crew can adjust the pace for children, older family members, swimmers, and people who would rather stay dry. One group even changed plans when someone felt seasick, returning to calmer water instead of continuing farther offshore.

From G Dock to El Arco

The meeting point is G Dock in central Cabo San Lucas, at Centro, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico. The boat returns to the same place at the end, and hotel transportation is not included.

If you arrive by cruise ship, the dock is about a 10-minute walk from the cruise port, or you can take a taxi. Give the operator your ship name and arrival time when booking. For everyone else, plan your own way to G Dock and allow time to find the correct departure point.

The first views come as you pass Playa de los Amantes, better known as Lover’s Beach. This is one of Cabo’s most photographed stretches of sand, backed by the bold rock formations around Land’s End. You pass by rather than spend a long time ashore, so think of this as a scenic introduction, not a beach visit.

Next comes El Arco, the curved stone landmark that appears in nearly every Cabo postcard. The scheduled stop is brief, about five minutes, which is enough for photos but not for lingering. Have your phone ready before the boat reaches the Arch, since the boat may position itself for a quick picture and then move on.

Pelican Rock lies close by and offers a different kind of Cabo experience. Here, the attraction is not only the rock itself but also the clear water, marine life, and chance to get in. The boat spends about an hour and a half in this area, making it the main active portion of the trip.

Pelican Rock, snorkeling, and the floating mat

The boat provides snorkeling equipment, but you should keep your expectations sensible. Water clarity changes with conditions, and several outings had weak visibility after rough weather or high surf. You may see colorful marine life and enjoy the rock formations, but this is not a guaranteed clear-water snorkeling excursion.

I like that you have several ways to use the stop. Strong swimmers can snorkel near Pelican Rock. Children and cautious swimmers can use the floating mat close to the boat. The stand-up paddleboard gives you another way to move around without committing to a long swim.

The crew helps explain how to use the equipment safely. That matters on a private boat, especially when your group includes children or people who do not spend much time in the water. One particularly thoughtful touch described in the trip details was a captain paddling a young child toward shore when the child did not want to swim there.

You can also skip the water entirely. The catamaran has space to sit, enjoy a drink, take photos, and watch the scenery. If one person in your group is not a swimmer, this is a better setup than a tour built around nonstop snorkeling.

Sea lions are another possible highlight. The route includes a chance to photograph a sea lion colony, and whale sightings have occurred during the migration season. Wildlife is never guaranteed, so book this for the boat day and Cabo scenery first, with animals as a welcome extra.

A quieter beach and the Cabo San Lucas Bay cruise

The schedule includes time near a semi-private or quiet beach. Exact beach access can depend on conditions and the captain’s plan, but this portion gives you a break from the main sightseeing route. You can swim, sunbathe, paddle, or simply sit on the sand.

This beach stop is especially useful for mixed-age groups. Older family members can enjoy the view without spending the whole time in the water, while children can move between the beach and the floating mat. If your group wants a long beach visit, ask the crew how much time is normally available, since the listed itinerary also gives substantial time to Pelican Rock and the bay cruise.

The cruise around Cabo San Lucas Bay lasts about 45 minutes in the stated schedule. You pass the marina, with its shops, restaurants, and bars, then see Cabo from the water rather than from the crowded waterfront.

The bay cruise is a good wind-down after swimming. You can use the boat’s music connection, dry off, eat, and take photos without feeling rushed. A Bluetooth or MP3/iPod connection is mentioned in the boat details, so bring your playlist if music is important to your group. Ask the crew what connection is available on your boat.

Food, drinks, and what to bring

The included food is practical rather than elaborate. You get Mexican burritos, chips, salsa, snacks, bottled water, soft drinks, ice, coolers, and mixers. Some groups especially enjoyed the guacamole prepared by a crew member named Balthazar.

The burritos help turn this from a short boat ride into a half-day outing, but large groups with big appetites may want extra food. Bring additional snacks if you know your group eats early or often. The operator allows you to bring your own food and drinks, and biodegradable disposable dishes are supplied.

There is a confusing point about alcohol. The package information says alcoholic beverages are included, while one account says no alcohol was provided and the group bought beer during a quick market stop. The FAQ also says you may bring your own alcohol. For a private celebration, ask exactly what alcohol is supplied, in what quantity, and whether you should bring your own.

Sunscreen, towels, bathing suits, and sunglasses belong in your day bag. You may also want a light jacket, particularly for a later departure when the sun begins to drop. Keep valuables limited, since this is a water-based outing and you will be moving between the boat, beach, and water.

The boat, crew, and group experience

The boat is described in different places as a 32-foot custom catamaran and a 35-foot catamaran. It includes a private restroom, coolers, a sound system connection, and room to sit comfortably while under way. A catamaran’s wide layout can feel more stable and social than a narrow boat, although no boat is completely free of motion.

The crew is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Names connected with past departures include Max, Javier, Cecilia, Paul, Lorena, Javi, and Balthazar. The crew’s role goes beyond steering: they help with water equipment, serve food and drinks, watch out for children, and adjust the route when conditions or comfort call for it.

Photography may also be available. Some outings included a professional photographer who captured family and group photos during the cruise. Confirm whether photography is included in your specific booking or available at an extra cost, since it is not clearly listed among the standard inclusions.

The private format works well for a family reunion, birthday, wedding-related outing, or a group of friends who want control over the day. It also suits a group with different comfort levels. One person can snorkel while another stays on the mat, and someone feeling unwell can ask to return to calmer water.

What $2,235 is really buying

The price is $2,235 per group, advertised for up to 15 people. If 15 people are allowed, that works out to about $149 per person. For 12 people, it is about $186 each, and for eight people, about $279 each.

That can be fair for a private boat with crew, food, drinks, snorkeling equipment, a paddleboard, a floating mat, and several hours on the water. A shared cruise may cost less per person, but it will not give your group the same control over the pace, music, swimming stops, or meal setup.

The value drops if your group is small and mainly wants a short look at the Arch. In that case, a shared sightseeing cruise may cover the main views for less money. This private trip earns its price when you will use the boat for several hours, spend time in the water, eat on board, and appreciate not sharing the space with strangers.

Capacity needs special attention. The tour information refers to a boat seating up to 12, says a maximum of eight people on the boat, and prices the booking for up to 15. Several group accounts also describe parties of 10, 11, 12, and 14 people. These details do not match.

Before booking, send a direct message asking for the exact boat model, legal passenger limit, and maximum number for your date. Do not rely on the largest number shown in the price field. Get confirmation if your group has more than eight people.

Timing, weather, and practical limits

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you receive a choice of another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Sea conditions affect more than safety. Rough water can reduce snorkeling visibility, make paddleboarding less comfortable, and cause seasickness. If anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, tell the crew at the start and be open to staying in the bay rather than heading toward rougher water.

Most people can participate, and the operator says the experience can be made accessible with advance notice. Put mobility needs in the special requirements field when booking so the boat can be prepared. The information does not describe the exact boarding setup, so ask about steps, transfers, and beach access if those details matter to you.

The outing is near public transportation, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. That is easy enough in central Cabo, but it adds planning if you are staying outside town or fitting this into a cruise-ship schedule.

Who should book this Cabo catamaran

I would choose this outing for a group that values privacy over the lowest possible price. It is particularly well suited to families, multigenerational groups, and friends who want a relaxed day with optional activity rather than a strict lesson or athletic excursion.

You should also consider it if your group wants a celebration with food, drinks, music, and photos. The boat gives you a social space, while the Arch, beach, and water stops keep the day from feeling like a restaurant meal at sea.

I would be more cautious if snorkeling is your main goal. Pelican Rock can be excellent, but visibility varies, and several departures found the snorkeling disappointing. Choose this for the full mix of scenery, swimming, food, and private time, not for guaranteed underwater conditions.

Should you book it?

Book this private Cabo cruise if you have a large enough group to share the cost and want a flexible boat day with iconic views, a helpful crew, Mexican food, and easy access to swimming gear. The strongest advantages are the private setting, the long stop near Pelican Rock, and the crew’s willingness to adapt for children, older family members, and changing sea conditions.

Before you commit, confirm three things: the exact passenger limit, whether alcoholic drinks are supplied, and the true duration. If those details match your needs, this is a strong choice for a family or friend-group celebration. If you are only two or three people, or if clear snorkeling is your single priority, the price is harder to justify.

FAQ

How long is the private Cabo catamaran tour?

The activity is listed as approximately three hours and 30 minutes, while the main description calls it a four-hour cruise. Allow about four hours, plus extra time for getting to and from G Dock.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at G Dock in central Cabo San Lucas and returns to the same meeting point. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes. Water, soft drinks, ice, coolers, mixers, snacks, chips, salsa, and Mexican burritos are provided, and you may bring extra food or drinks.

Can I bring my own alcohol?

Yes, you may bring your own alcohol. The information also says alcoholic beverages are included, but one account reported buying beer separately, so confirm the alcohol arrangement before departure.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

Yes. The boat has a private restroom.

Can cruise-ship passengers join the tour?

Yes. The dock is approximately a 10-minute walk from the cruise port, or you can take a taxi. Provide your ship name and arrival time when booking.