Is your cruise stopping in Cabo San Lucas? Not sure what to do? It doesn’t matter whether you are travelling solo or with a big group, this Cabo San Lucas Cruise Stop Port Guide to Avoid Vacation Meltdowns will make your Cabo San Lucas Cruise Stop a breeze. I’m sharing insider tips and the very best thing to do in this Cabo San Lucas Cruise Stop Port Guide, so let’s go!
Do ships dock or tender in Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo San Lucas is a tender port. This means that cruise ships CANNOT dock in Cabo San Lucas. This also means that you MUST take a smaller boat to get to shore.
All fees to take the smaller boats (or tender boats) to shore ARE included in your cruise fees. There are no extra fees so be sure not to miss this port of call.
Before going ashore to Cabo San Lucas, pack your prescription medicine, sunscreen, cash, and whatever else you might need for the day. Since Cabo San Lucas is a tender port, going back-and-forth to the cruise ship is time-consuming.
Bring what you need with you for the day so that you can maximize your time in Cabo San Lucas and enjoy a hassle-free port stop.
In many ways, the tender boat feels like you a travelling in a speed boat. Here is a quick snippet of our experience aboard the tender boat to Cabo San Lucas:
What is a tender ticket on a cruise ship?
A tender ticket on a cruise ship is a special pass that gives you permission to board a tender boat at a specific time.
A tender ticket is essentially a “fast pass” that gives you priority access to board the tender boat. This means that you can “cut the queue” and walk past hundreds of people waiting in line (without feeling guilty). There is no fee for a tender ticket.
Tender tickets are commonly provided to those that have signed up for a shore excursion. However, on Norwegian Cruise Line, you do NOT need to sign up for a shore excursion to get a tender ticket.
Tender tickets are usually handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis a day or two prior to the port stop. Typically, tender tickets are for a specific departure time (so that not everybody on board is wanting to get off the ship at the same time).
Depending on the cruise line, tender tickets may be available for reservation the same way you book show tickets (i.e. via the onboard kiosks). Watch for announcements or seek assistance from customer service on how to secure your tender tickets for your particular cruise.
Can I use US dollars in Cabo San Lucas?
The official currency throughout Mexico (including Cabo San Lucas) is the Mexican Peso; however, US Dollars are gladly accepted at most tourist venues.
Canadian Dollars and Euros are not readily accepted in Cabo San Lucas so be sure to convert your money to US dollars or Mexican Pesos before you go.
What to do in Cabo San Lucas cruise port?
When cruising to Cabo San Lucas, chances are that you will have limited time at this port. Forget about the “Top 50 Things to do in Cabo San Lucas”. You won’t have time for all of that anyway. You will have time for one activity (or maybe two) at best.
What is the best thing to do in Cabo San Lucas?
Without a doubt, the best thing to do in Cabo San Lucas is to take a Glass-Bottom Boat Tour of Arch of Cabo, Pelican Beach, Lover’s Beach, and Divorce Beach. This tour is one of the most popular tours in Cabo San Lucas and typically takes around 45 minutes plus an included stopover (typically one or two hours) at Lover’s Beach or Pelican Beach. This is a high value tour when you organize it on your own.
The Arch of Cabo is definitely worthy of an Instagram post.
By opting for the complimentary stopover at either Lover’s Beach or Pelican Beach, you can extend this tour by one or two hours. A stopover longer than two hours is NOT recommended since there are no amenities (i.e. no washrooms) on Lover’s Beach nor Pelican Beach.
Be sure to arrange a pick-up time with your boat operator before you make a stopover. Also, take a photo of the name of the boat (they all start to look the same after a while) so you know which boat to catch for the ride back to shore.
How much is the Cabo San Lucas Glass Bottom Boat Tour?
You can purchase a Cabo San Lucas Glass Bottom Boat Tour on your cruise ship for upwards of US$100 per person OR you can easily book your own tour directly with a guide for around US$20-$30 per person when you get ashore.
Booking your own boat tour in Cabo San Lucas is easy and requires no reservations. There is no need to book ahead as there are plenty of operators offering this same tour.
How to I book a Cabo San Lucas Boat Tour on my own?
As soon as you get off the tender boat and through the dockyard gates, there will be sales people waiting for your arrival. Most sales people will be holding up a laminated sheet of available tours.
Here is a sales person in action:
There is also a booth that offers the Cabo San Lucas Boat Tours opposite Señor Frogs. (Señor Frogs will be the first restaurant that you see as you enter Cabo San Lucas.) The booth will look something like this:
Tamiko’s Tours in Cabo San Lucas Booth for Boat Tours
We booked our boat tour at this booth through Tamiko’s Tours and we were happy with our tour.
Many tour guides also offer the Cabo San Lucas Boat Tour with Snorkelling. In most cases, the snorkelling package is the same boat tour PLUS snorkel gear rental (which you pay a pretty premium for). Personally, I’d stick with the basic boat tour….unless you really love snorkelling in cold water without a wet suit.
The Glass Bottom Boat Tour is not a private tour. The tour guides will aim to fill up the boat (usually with other tourists) before setting sail.
There is also a “docking fee” of around US$2 per person. This docking fee is payable at the gate as you enter dockyard and is NOT included in your Glass Bottom Boat Tour. This docking fee feels like a scam, but just pay it and be on your merry way. There is no sense squabbling over a fee that is less than your Starbucks morning coffee.
Should I stop at Lover’s Beach?
Maybe.
There are no docks at Lover’s Beach. This means that you must use the boat’s ladder to get on-and-off the boat if you make a stopover at Lover’s Beach. Using the boat’s ladder to disembark and embark is not as easy as it sounds. Getting off the boat is easier than getting back on. You will require muscle strength to hoist yourself onto the boat.
Depending on the tide and boat operator, the boat will hover a few feet from shore while waves shift the boat back-and-forth. This makes it particularly challenging to use the boat’s ladder. It may look like no sweat to use the boat ladder, but conditions may make it more challenging than meets the eye.
Some boat operators come closer to shore than others. In all cases, you will get your feet wet if you disembark at Lover’s Beach or Pelican Beach so be prepared to remove your socks and shoes.
There will be people to “help” you get off the boat by taking your shoes to shore for you. These people do expect payment for their “help”.
If you require special assistance, I do NOT recommend a stopover at either Lover’s Beach or Pelican Beach. Likewise, if you are NOT physically fit, just do the boat tour and forget about doing a stopover.
Know your limitations.
Getting on and off the boat using the boat’s ladder can be stressful if you’ve never done it before or if you not in physical shape to do so.
What is a Glass Bottom Boat?
Don’t be fooled. A Glass Bottom Boat is NOT the same as a Transparent Boat. A Glass Bottom Boat typically has one or two clear viewing panes; whereas, a Transparent Boat is typically made entirely of plexiglass.
Glass Bottom Boats are more common than Transparent Boat tours. This makes taking a Transparent Boat tour more expensive that a Glass Bottom Boat tour.
A “Glass Bottom Boat” is basically two viewing panes in a boat. This is what our Glass Bottom Boat looked like:
How to get to Lover’s Beach in Cabo San Lucas?
The easiest way to access Lover’s Beach is by boat. A stopover at Lover’s Beach in included with your Glass Bottom Boat Tour.
Lover’s Beach is a secluded sandy beach that shores the Sea of Cortez. Although the waters are calm at Lover’s Beach, there are no lifeguards on duty. There are also no amenities (i.e. no washrooms) on Lover’s Beach.
Opposite Lover’s Beach is Divorce Beach. Divorce Beach is on the Pacific Ocean and is NOT swimmable due to the high tides and a strong undertow. A sandy beach separates the two beaches. It is possible to easily walk from one beach to the other.
The waters are rough and the undertow is strong at Divorce Beach. Although Divorce Beach is a picturesque beach, you should not swim there.
Although you may see some idiots swimming at Divorce Beach, don’t be one of them. Even the locals say DO NOT swim at Divorce Beach.
Should I stop at Pelican Beach or Lover’s Beach in Cabo?
If you love to snorkel, Pelican Beach is the place to go. Pelican Beach has a rocky shoreline that is home to a variety of fish and seals.
Here is a sampling of the fish that you can expect to see at Pelican Beach:
This video was taken on our Glass Bottom Boat Tour looking through the boat’s viewing panes.
If you enjoy snorkelling, Pelican Beach is a great spot to see a variety of fish. However, it is also rocky so be sure to bring along beach shoes.
Is it safe to walk around Cabo San Lucas?
We felt safe walking around Cabo San Lucas during the day. There is a plethora of shops, restaurants, tour guides, and tourists that line the marina in Cabo San Lucas.
We exercised caution while walking around Cabo San Lucas and followed a few safety guidelines, including:
- Stay in Tourist Areas — We did not go off the beaten path and stayed in areas where there were lots of tourists.
- Don’t be Flashy — We did not wear flashy watches, purses, or jewelry. We kept a low profile and did not wear attire that would attract attention.
- Drink Responsibly — If you decide to drink, please drink responsibly. Do not drink excessively and stay with your group.
- Be Smart — Don’t buy drugs. Don’t fall for scams. Don’t take rides with strangers. Always remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
Are there public bathrooms in Cabo San Lucas?
Yes, there are public washroom facilities in Cabo San Lucas (mainland), but there are no amenities (i.e. no washrooms) on Lover’s Beach or Pelican Beach.
Where is the public washroom in Cabo?
There are FREE public washrooms located between Señor Frogs and Cabo Adventures.
As you walk past Señor Frogs towards Cabo Adventures (water on your right and buildings on your left), there will be “Washroom” signs. However, the washroom itself is not well-labelled.
The washroom is located right beside “El Budster Sport Fishing Charters” as shown below:
Once you enter the doors (as shown in the photo above), there will be separate male and female washroom facilities. There is no fee to use these toilets.
After a day in the sun, you will be ready to get back on the ship and say goodbye to this Cabo San Lucas Cruise Stop.
Is your cruise also stopping in Ensenada? Be sure to check out my Ensenada Itinerary that doesn’t break the bank.
Before you go, bookmark my Cruise Jokes that will make you Belly Laugh.
Have a wonderful day!
Shelley