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

Cabo on a private catamaran beats the usual tour shuffle. This private sailing experience around Cabo San Lucas Bay mixes the iconic photo stops with time in the water, plus food and open bar included.

What I like most is the comfort for a small group, plus the amount of stuff you actually get to do. You’ll be on a custom-made catamaran with a restroom on board and an MP3/iPod sound port, and you get snorkeling gear, a paddle board, and a floating mat for everyone.

One thing to consider before you book: the boat capacity is limited, and snorkeling can be hit or miss depending on water clarity. The charter is priced per group up to 15, but the boat itself has a maximum of 8 people, so if you’re more than 8, you’ll want to confirm how your group fits.

Quick hits

• El Arco photo time built in, with a short stop at the Arch for selfies
• Pelican Rock water activities for about 1.5 hours, including snorkeling gear and SUP
• A calm-beach break where you can swim, sunbathe, and hang out at an easy pace
• Sea lion viewing from the water, plus great opportunities for wildlife spotting
• Included ice coolers, mixers, and burritos, so you do not have to think about snacks

A Private Sailing Day Around Cabo San Lucas Bay

This is a “small group, do it your way” kind of Cabo cruise. You’re sailing in the bay with the kind of visibility and iconic shoreline views that make Cabo famous, but without the constant stop-and-go of bigger boats. Expect about 3.5 hours on the water, with passes by the signature sights and real time to swim and play.

You also need to be comfortable handling your own start point. There is no hotel pickup, and you meet at G Dock in Centro (23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico). That is normal for dock-based boat tours, but it helps to plan a simple taxi or a short walk. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, so you are not left wondering how to get home.

The 32-Foot Catamaran Comfort You Notice Right Away

The boat is a 32-foot custom-made catamaran, designed for a comfortable ride rather than squeezing in as many people as possible. The private boat setup matters because you can actually move around. There is a restroom on board, which sounds basic until you are out on the water for hours and you’re grateful it exists.

You’ll also like the practical extras. The cruise includes a sound system with an MP3/iPod port, so you can keep the vibe mellow or fun depending on your group. And because it is private, you are not stuck watching other people’s day through a wall of shoulders.

Group size is where you should pay attention. This is sold as a private charter priced per group up to 15, but the boat itself lists a maximum of 8 people. In other words, if you show up as a bigger crew, you may be asked to split up or be handled differently than you expect. I would treat that as a key question to ask when you book.

Playa de los Amantes and the Arch: The “Get Your Photos Fast” Part

The day starts with passes by Playa de los Amantes, a famously photogenic beach spot. This is one of those areas where you can see why people come back again and again. Even if you only catch glimpses from the water, it sets the tone, Cabo-style, right away.

Then comes the big photo moment: El Arco de Cabo San Lucas. You get a short stop around 5 minutes to view the Arch and take selfies. It is short on purpose, and that is a good thing. You get the iconic shot without wasting your time stuck when you’d rather be in the water later.

Here’s the practical advantage: the crew times this so you still have energy for the main activity blocks. If you prefer photos but you also want a real swim day, this pacing usually works better than long sightseeing-only cruises.

Pelican Rock: Snorkeling, SUP, and Wildlife Photos

Pelican Rock is where the cruise shifts from “look at Cabo” to “play in Cabo.” You spend about 1 hour 30 minutes at this stop, with snorkeling and stand-up paddle-boarding both in the mix.

You get the snorkeling gear included, and the tour provides paddle boards plus a floating mat. That combination is smart for a mixed group. If someone in your party is not a strong swimmer, they can still enjoy the water from the mat, while others can try snorkeling. If you are comfortable on a board, SUP gives you another way to enjoy the coastline without needing to be underwater.

Wildlife spotting is part of the point here too. There are opportunities to see sea lions and snap photos from the water. The tone is casual, not a long lecture. You just have time to look, swim, and paddle.

Now, the consideration: snorkeling can depend on conditions, especially water clarity. A couple of people noted that snorkeling was limited due to visibility after choppy or changing conditions. You cannot control that part of the ocean, but you can control your expectations: plan to enjoy the water time even if the snorkeling visibility is not perfect.

The Beach Break: Where You Actually Relax

Between the headline stops, you also get a quieter stretch to slow down. One highlight is docking near a semi-private beach for swimming and relaxation. This is where you stop thinking in checklists and start thinking in sun, snacks, and shade.

This stop is especially good if your group ranges from active people to “just let me float” people. You can swim, you can sit on the boat, and you can use the floating mat if you want something between swimming and just relaxing. It also helps with logistics. With your own private charter, you can take your time getting back in the water and keep the group moving at a pace that feels right.

As the day goes on, the breeze can shift, so I like to bring layers. One simple tip from real-world experience: if you go at an afternoon start, the sun can cool off later, so a light jacket or cover-up can make the last stretch much more comfortable.

Marina Pass-By and Cabo Bay Views from the Water

You’ll also cruise around Cabo San Lucas Bay and pass by the marina area. That means you get more variety than just wildlife and rock formations. You can glance at the shops, restaurants, and bars from the water as you sail past.

The practical value here is that it helps keep the day feeling full, even if you do not jump in every single time. It is scenic time, but it also acts like a buffer between activity blocks. You are not always in “hands-on mode,” and that makes it easier for mixed-age groups.

Food, Open Bar, and the Little Things That Make It Easy

Let’s talk about the stuff that keeps people happy: food and drinks. This cruise includes ice coolers with ice, soft drinks, bottled water, and mixers. It also includes chips and salsas, plus Mexican burritos as snacks.

Alcoholic beverages are included too. You should treat it as a true open bar setup, not just one drink token. In practice, that makes a difference when you are on a boat with family or friends, because it keeps the energy relaxed instead of turning into a snack run in the middle of the trip.

If you want extra control, the tour also allows you to bring your own food and drinks, and you can bring your own alcohol as well. The key is that the cruise already covers the basics, so you do not have to overpack just to eat. I like that it gives you options based on your group’s style.

One small practical note: bring your appetite, but you can still supplement. A few groups planned ahead and added extra snacks because they wanted more than the included bites. If you have big eaters, it is an easy fix.

Crew Matters: Safety, Flexibility, and How the Day Runs

The crew experience is a big deal on small private charters. Names like Max, Javier, Cecilia, Lorena, Javi, Paul, and Balthazar show up in the kind of feedback you want to see, because they suggest you are dealing with real people, not a rotating script.

From what you can expect, the crew focuses on keeping everyone safe while still making the fun happen. They explain how to use the board and how to get in and out of the water options. And if conditions or someone’s comfort changes, they are set up to adjust the plan to keep the day enjoyable.

This is also where private group touring beats group cattle-call cruises. If your group has kids, older adults, or anyone who is a little unsure about transitioning onto the boat, a good crew can slow things down and help. That matters more than most people think, until they’re the one stepping up to the deck.

Price and Value: What You Really Get for $2,235

At $2,235 per group (up to 15), value depends on how many people you actually put on the boat. Since the boat maximum is 8, the real math is between 2 extremes:

• If you fill the boat with 8 people, you are roughly paying under $300 per person for a private sailing cruise.
• If you book for fewer people, the cost per person rises quickly, but you still get the private experience plus included gear, food, and open bar.

That bundle is the part that makes this price make sense. You are not just paying for transit around the Arch. You are paying for:

• snorkeling gear and time in the water,
• a paddle board and a floating mat,
• snacks like chips, salsa, and burritos,
• and open bar drinks with mixers.

It is a good fit for families and friend groups who want to spend the day together and actually use the water activities. If you are a couple or a solo traveler, it can still be great, but you’ll likely feel the price more. In that case, it is worth comparing against shared day sails and deciding whether the private comfort and included water toys are worth the premium.

What to Bring for a Smooth Cabo Cat Day

You do not need to overthink packing, but there are a few essentials that make the day easier.

Bring:

• sunscreen and a hat,
• towels,
• bathing suits and sunglasses,
• comfortable sandals or water shoes if you like extra traction.

If you tend to get cold when the sun drops, pack a light jacket too. Even in Cabo, being on the water changes how you feel, especially near the end of the cruise.

Also, because snacks and drinks are included, pack like a person on vacation, not like you are provisioning a camping trip. If you have a specific diet, you can bring extra food since the tour allows outside food.

Should You Book This Private Cabo Cat Experience?

I think you should book if you want Cabo in a more personal format, with a mix of iconic sights and actual water time. This charter is especially appealing for groups who care about comfort, a restroom on board, and a true included food and drink setup. The included snorkeling gear, SUP, and floating mat make it a day your group can enjoy even if not everyone wants to swim at the same level.

I would be cautious if your group includes more than 8 people, because the boat capacity listed is max 8. I’d also be mentally flexible about snorkeling quality, since visibility can change with ocean conditions.

If those two points look fine, you will probably love the way this tour balances the “famous Cabo photos” with time that feels like a real day on the water, not a checklist.