Snorkel & Explore Pelican Rock by Glass Boat + Photos

The best part of this Cabo outing is the short boat ride that brings you face to face with El Arco, sea lions, and Pelican Rock’s clear water. The snorkeling area is reached by boat, and guides such as Shaggy, Lupe, Jonathan, Aurelio, and Braulio have helped first-timers feel safe while pointing out fish and other sea life.

I like the combination of sightseeing and water time, especially the chance to see puffer fish, sea stars, seahorses, manta rays, and schools of tropical fish. I also like that hotel pickup, a boxed lunch, sanitized equipment, and underwater photos are included. The main caution is that this is a half-day sightseeing package, not a dedicated snorkeling charter, so the time in the water may feel short for the $125 price.

Key points before you book

• Pelican Rock is the main attraction: Reach this boat-only snorkeling site near Land’s End and look for tropical fish, sea stars, urchins, rays, crabs, and possible seahorses.
• El Arco comes first: The glass-bottom boat passes Cabo’s famous Arch, rock formations, pelican colonies, and sea lions.
• The five-hour schedule includes more than snorkeling: Cabo San Lucas shopping and tequila tasting take up part of the day.
• Guides help nervous swimmers: The crew has stayed close to beginners and less confident swimmers, with flotation vests included.
• Food and photos are built in: Expect a baguette-style lunch, snacks, bottled water, and digital underwater images, though photo delivery has not always been trouble-free.
• Morning departure may be worth choosing: Available times are 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m., but the earliest departure has had a different breakfast-style meal in at least one reported case.

A boat ride to El Arco and Pelican Rock

This experience begins with hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle. You are asked to wait in the main lobby 10 minutes before your selected departure time, then ride to the Los Cabos Marina in Cabo San Lucas.

The boat route is the scenic heart of the trip. From the marina, you head across the Sea of Cortez toward Land’s End, where the famous Arch rises from a cluster of weathered rocks. The boat also passes the Pacific side of the peninsula, other rock formations, and areas where sea lions and pelicans gather.

The glass-bottom feature lets you look below the boat during the ride, though you should set your expectations carefully. One person found the boat was not fully glass-bottom, so this is best viewed as a sightseeing boat with a glass viewing area, not a large underwater observatory.

The ride is worthwhile even before you reach the snorkeling stop. Water conditions can change the view from one day to the next. A calm crossing may give you clear views into the water, while choppier conditions can make the boat ride bumpy and limit what you see below.

Pelican Rock is the real reason to go

At Pelican Rock, you receive a sanitized mask, snorkel, fins, and flotation vest. The guide stays near the group and identifies marine life as you swim around the site.

The area has produced some memorable sightings: puffer fish, octopus, eels, manta rays, starfish, sea cucumbers, urchins, stingrays, crabs, seahorses, and large schools of tropical fish. The clear water is a strong point, and several people found the fish viewing better than expected.

You do not need to be an expert swimmer. A guide has stayed beside a frightened first-time snorkeler and helped a less experienced swimmer’s husband through the activity. That kind of personal attention matters, particularly because the water can feel intimidating when you are trying a mask and snorkel for the first time.

Still, you should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour includes boarding a boat, handling snorkeling equipment, and swimming in open water. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The snorkeling conditions are not fixed. One day brought excellent visibility and plenty of fish. Another brought tiny jellyfish that caused stinging and kept the group in a smaller area. The crew may limit where you swim for safety, which can reduce the sense of exploration but is the sensible choice when conditions turn poor.

How much snorkeling time should you expect?

This is the most important point to understand before paying. The advertised experience lasts about five hours, but that time includes transportation, boat sightseeing, snorkeling, lunch, tequila tasting, and shopping.

The scheduled stops at El Arco and Pelican Rock are each listed at about 55 minutes. In practice, the time in the water has varied. Some accounts describe roughly an hour of snorkeling, while another reported about an hour and a half. A separate outing took only about two hours from leaving and returning to the dock, despite the published five-hour estimate.

Gear preparation can also eat into the swimming period. At least one group waited in the water while the guide fitted equipment one person at a time. If you want every possible minute at Pelican Rock, ask the operator how much actual water time is planned for your departure date and how the gear will be distributed.

I would choose this tour for a balanced day in Cabo, not for serious snorkeling. If your priority is spending several hours in the water, a dedicated snorkel charter may offer better value. If you want to see El Arco and sea lions, swim with a guide, eat lunch, and add a little town time, the format makes more sense.

Lunch, beach time, and the Cabo add-on

After snorkeling, the experience includes time at the beach and a boxed meal. The standard food is a deli-style baguette, fresh fruit, chips, cookies, and bottled water. A granola bar and juice are also listed among the food items.

The baguette lunch has been well received, and it is a useful inclusion after a morning in the sun and water. A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it when booking.

There is one food detail worth clarifying in advance. A party that chose the earliest departure expected the advertised baguette but received a lettuce salad and water, described as breakfast. The operator should explain whether the 9 a.m. departure receives a different meal, so you are not left hungry after snorkeling.

The Cabo San Lucas portion includes tequila tasting and free time for shopping at a flea market. This gives you a quick look at the town and may suit you if you want a souvenir stop without arranging separate transport.

But this is also where the tour can lose focus. Some people enjoyed the extra time in town, while others felt that tequila tasting and shopping took time away from snorkeling and seemed designed to encourage spending. You should see this part as included sightseeing, not as a quiet cultural visit or an optional stop you can always skip.

The photo package is a useful extra, with a catch

Underwater photos are one of the more unusual features of this tour. The guide may photograph you holding a puffer fish, starfish, or other sea life, and some outings have included both still images and video.

Braulio, Shaggy, Lupe, Jonathan, and other crew members have received praise for getting people into position and capturing family pictures. For many first-time snorkelers, these images are worth something because it can be hard to take your own photos while managing a mask, fins, and flotation vest.

The tour information describes a CD of digital images and a souvenir snorkel tube. Older experiences refer to a DVD, while newer information describes digital photos. Confirm the current delivery method before you go.

Photo service has not been perfectly consistent. One person received only one image, and it was not their group. Another had to wait for the photo email. Most accounts describe good pictures, but I would treat the photos as a bonus rather than the main reason to book.

Guides, safety, and group size

The crew is a major strength of the experience. Guides including Shaggy, Jonathan, Lupe, Aurelio, Braulio, Martin, and Edson have been singled out for friendly help, clear explanations, photography, and attention to safety.

The best reports describe guides who stayed with nervous swimmers, helped people adjust their gear, and checked that everyone was comfortable. The captain and water guide may also point out sea life and explain the rock formations during the boat ride.

The group can have as many as 30 people, although smaller departures have happened. One couple ended up with a private outing because no one else had booked their time slot. You should not count on that, but the maximum group size is useful to know when considering how personal the snorkeling instruction may feel.

There is also a practical safety lesson here. One person fell while getting from the boat into the water and struck their back. That incident does not define the whole operation, but it is a reminder to move slowly, listen to the crew, and use the handholds carefully when boarding or entering the water.

Price and overall value at $125

At $125 per person, the price covers a lot: hotel pickup and return, boat transport, El Arco sightseeing, snorkeling equipment, guide service, lunch, snacks, bottled water, photos, a snorkel tube, tequila tasting, and Cabo shopping time.

That bundle can be good value if you would otherwise pay separately for transportation to the marina, a Land’s End boat ride, a snorkel trip, lunch, and a short town visit. Families may also appreciate having the day organized from the hotel, with the crew handling equipment and water supervision.

The value drops if you mainly want snorkeling. The actual time in the water may be around one hour, sometimes longer, and the rest of the day is divided among sightseeing, food, transport, and shopping. A dedicated snorkeling trip could be a better fit for strong swimmers who want more time at sea.

There is also a $1 government fee per person, and crew gratuities are not included. Tips are optional but appreciated for strong service. Ask about the return ride as well. One person reported needing to pay for an Uber after pickup was provided but hotel drop-off was refused, so confirm that both directions are included for your specific resort.

Who should book this Cabo outing?

I would recommend it to families, couples, and first-time snorkelers who want a guided introduction to Cabo’s sea life without arranging several separate activities. The flotation gear, attentive guides, lunch, and photos make the day easier for people who are not confident in open water.

It also suits you if El Arco is high on your Cabo wish list. You see the Arch, sea lions, pelicans, and rock formations from the boat, then add a swim at Pelican Rock rather than spending the entire outing on a sightseeing cruise.

I would be more cautious if you are an experienced snorkeler. The water time may feel limited, and the shopping and tequila stop may not appeal to you. The tour also depends on ocean conditions, so poor visibility, waves, or jellyfish can change the experience.

The tour is offered in English, though a multilingual guide may operate the outing. Departure times are 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. I would ask about meal arrangements for the first departure, confirm hotel drop-off, and clarify the photo format before booking.

Final call: a good mixed day, not a pure snorkel trip

Book this experience if you want a convenient mix of Land’s End sightseeing, guided snorkeling, lunch, photos, and Cabo town time. The crew’s care with beginners is a real benefit, and the Sea of Cortez can deliver excellent fish viewing when conditions cooperate.

Skip it if you are paying mainly for extended time in the water. The title may suggest a snorkeling-first outing, but the day is divided among several stops. At $125, it works best when you value the full package rather than judging it by snorkeling minutes alone.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. The tour requires good weather, and a weather cancellation brings the choice of another date or a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the tour take place?

The experience operates in the Los Cabos area, with hotel pickup in San Jose del Cabo and a boat departure from the Los Cabos Marina in Cabo San Lucas.

How long does the tour last?

The published duration is approximately five hours. That total includes hotel transportation, the boat ride, snorkeling, lunch, tequila tasting, and shopping time.

What departure times are available?

The available departure times are 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. You should contact the local operator with your preferred time.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered from the main lobby of your hotel, and you should be ready 10 minutes before departure.

What equipment is provided?

The tour provides sanitized snorkeling equipment, including a mask, snorkel, fins, and flotation vest.

What marine life might I see?

The area may include tropical fish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, urchins, stingrays, seahorses, crabs, puffer fish, octopus, eels, and manta rays. Sightings depend on sea conditions.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The listed food includes a deli-style baguette, fruit, chips, cookies, and bottled water. Granola bars and juice are also included among the snack items.

Is a vegetarian meal available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you request it when booking.

Are photos included?

Yes. Digital underwater photos are included, along with a souvenir snorkel tube. The current delivery format should be confirmed with the operator.

Can children join the tour?

Yes, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The experience also recommends a moderate level of physical fitness.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

What is the cancellation deadline?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.