Heidi BucoloCabo San Lucas is a resort city on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula, making it a popular port of call on Mexican Riviera cruises. From snorkeling and spotting famous landmarks to one-of-a-kind experiences with nature, cruisers will find plenty to enjoy during their time ashore. If you are planning a visit to this popular destination in the Mexican Riviera, we’ve put together a list of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas on a cruise.
The 7 Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas on a Cruise (2025)
1. Visit the famous El Arco
Perhaps the most famous landmark in Cabo San Lucas is El Arco, or The Arch. This massive rock formation is located at Land’s End, where the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez meet. This dramatic arch at the very tip of the longest peninsula in the world was slowly carved out over time by the ocean currents. Nearby this landmark is a sea lion colony and Lover’s Beach.
There are several tours that will take you to this famous attraction including catamaran tours, glass bottom boat tours, and water taxis. Many of these excursions will couple visits to El Arco with other popular activities like whale watching, beach breaks, or snorkeling.
Tour Duration: 1-4 hours
Price Range: $45-$110 per person
Best For: First-time visitors to Cabo and those who like being on the water
Sample Tour: Glass Bottom Boat to Land’s End
2. Head to the beach
If you are in the area, you might as well spend some time on Lover’s Beach, located on the Sea of Cortez side at Land’s End. This small yet picturesque beach is only accessible by boat. Lover’s Beach has calm waters which make for great swimming and snorkeling. In contrast, Divorce Beach — located on the Pacific Ocean side — is very turbulent and dangerous.
Medano Beach is another popular beach and is the main swimming area in Cabo along the east side of the harbor. Here, you will find many restaurants, bars, and street vendors. There are also water sports rentals like jet skis, kayaks, and more. Medano Beach is certainly the place to go if you are looking for that lively, party vibe. For a more relaxing beach day, check out Chileno Bay. It’s located about a 30-minute drive from the cruise port and is the ideal spot for a laid-back day in the sun with soft sand and crystal-clear water.
Tour Duration: 3-5 hours
Price Range: $80-$100 per person
Best For: Visitors of all ages who are looking for a relaxing day at the beach
Sample Tour: Beach Day in Cabo San Lucas with Lunch
3. Take a city and highlights tour
One of the best ways to explore Los Cabos is to take an organized tour of the city. Your guide will share tidbits on local culture and history along the way, with stops to points of interest such as the Church of San Lucas, the local glass blowing factory, and the Natural History Museum. Some tours include a visit north to the Colonial town of San Jose del Cabo, where you can explore the town square and surrounding buildings.
During the highlights tour linked below, you’ll have the opportunity to partake in a tequila tasting, where you’ll learn about how tequila is produced. The tour also includes a glass-bottom boat trip out to see the most famous landmark in Cabo San Lucas — El Arco — as well as nearby Lover’s Beach.
Tour Duration: 4-5 hours
Price Range: $65-$80 per person
Best For: First-time visitors and those interested in local architecture and history
Sample Tour: Cabo San Lucas City Tour and Glass Bottom Boat
4. Go bar hopping
Speaking of party vibes, maybe your idea of vacation is just relaxing and enjoying some drinks. Cabo San Lucas has plenty of popular bars for you to do just that. Mango Deck is located on Medano Beach and is your beach party scene with plenty of food and drinks. The Office is another cruiser favorite on Medano Beach. This “office” on the beach serves up great food and drinks while you enjoy some fun in the sun. Finally, Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina is another great stop on your Cabo bar hop. Here, you’ll find some great margaritas, snacks, and rock and roll memorabilia. The best part is that this bar is located within walking distance from the cruise pier.
Best For: Adults looking to experience the local watering holes
Cabo bars: Best Bars and Breweries
5. Set off on a whale watching adventure
Depending what time of year you visit Cabo San Lucas, a whale watching tour can be a very popular excursion. If this is something you’re interested in, we highly recommend booking a small boat tour.
A small speed boat is the perfect vessel to get you up close and personal with these creatures. These tours will cruise through the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean, where you will be able to learn, listen, and observe these sea mammals in their natural habitat. These waters see numerous humpback, gray, blue, and sperm whales each year. Have your cameras ready to capture the whales swimming and breaching from this perfect sea-level vantage point. Of course, if you’re not up for this small boat experience, larger catamarans also offer whale watching excursions.
Tour Duration: 2.5-4 hours
Price Range: $100-$130 per person
Best For: Visitors of all ages who love marine animals
Sample Tour: Whale Watching Cruise
6. Take a camel adventure
While in Cabo San Lucas, perhaps you’d prefer to partake in a more exotic animal encounter, like a camel ride. That’s right — during your visit to this Mexican Riviera port of call, you can actually ride a camel! Most cruise lines offer an excursion where you can hop on these gentle creatures for a caravan across the white sands of the beach. From your perch, you will score amazing scenic views, not to mention amazing memories from this one-of-a-kind experience. Most of these tours are followed by an authentic Mexican lunch to complete your fun-filled day in Cabo.
Tour Duration: 4-6 hours
Price Range: $120-$160 per person
Best For: Adventure-seekers and animal lovers
Sample Tour: Camel Quest and More
7. Enjoy the underwater views
Cabo San Lucas is known for being one of the best spots in the world to snorkel. Therefore, if you love swimming and marine life, spending some time in the water should be a top priority when visiting this world-class destination. Among the best spots for snorkeling in Cabo include Lover’s Beach, Chileno Bay, Santa Maria Bay, and Neptune’s Finger. The latter is a rock formation located near El Arco, and gets its name from its resemblance to a finger. A variety of sea creatures including fish, sea turtles, and rays can be spotted in this area, along with coral reefs and underwater rock formations.
In the excursion linked below, snorkeling is accompanied by glass-bottom kayaking, affording you beautiful views underwater before you even step out of your watercraft. This tour is also a great way to spot El Arco, as you’ll kayak right past it.
Tour Duration: 2-4 hours
Price Range: $100-$140 per person
Best For: Active visitors who love to swim
Sample Tour: Glass Bottom Kayak and Snorkel
Cabo San Lucas Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to take tender boats in Cabo San Lucas?
Yes, cruise ship passengers need to take tender boats to get from their ship to Cabo San Lucas and vice versa. There is no cruise ship pier in Cabo.
Is Cabo San Lucas walkable from the cruise port?
Yes, the marina where the tender boat drops off cruise visitors is located just a short walk away from Cabo’s vibrant downtown area.
How long do cruise ships stay in Cabo San Lucas?
Cruise ships typically stay in Cabo for 8-10 hours. This allows plenty of time to explore on your own, take a long excursion, or do a few shorter activities. Some cruise lines, including Carnival, even offer itineraries that include an overnight in Cabo. This provides a great opportunity for doing evening tours or enjoying the city’s nightlife.
Do you need your passport for a cruise to Cabo?
If you’re from the U.S. and are taking a cruise from a U.S. port that starts and ends in that same port, you may use your birth certificate and a government photo ID to cruise instead of a passport. This pertains to most cruises within these circumstances, including on sailings to Cabo. However, as always, we recommend you don’t cruise without a passport — regardless of whether it’s permitted or not.
Can you use U.S. dollars in Cabo San Lucas?
Mexican pesos are the official currency of Mexico, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted in resort cities like Cabo. However try to use your credit card or pesos if possible, because local merchants may charge you a bit more for using dollars.
Comments
Have you taken a Mexican Riviera cruise? If you’ve been to Cabo San Lucas, what did you do there/what’s your favorite thing to do there? Drop us an anchor below and share your Cabo San Lucas tips!
