The Cabo Catamaran Snorkeling Tour to Santa Maria Bay with Open Bar

This one runs on a mid-sized catamaran with a shade cover, not the biggest boat in the marina crammed with three tour groups at once. On the way out you get a photo cruise past El Arco, Lover's Beach and the resident sea lion colony at Land's End before the boat swings into Santa Maria Bay, a protected cove tucked into the corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo where the water sits calmer and clearer than most beaches closer to town.

At $74 it's rated 4.2 stars from 107 reviews and pairs an actual snorkel stop with a genuinely social boat ride, which is why it sits apart from the other snorkeling tours in Cabo San Lucas on this site. Snacks and a light lunch come with the unlimited open bar, so the three hours cover sightseeing, swimming and a proper meal without feeling rushed.

Between the cruise out and the snorkel stop, expect to see:

• El Arco (the Arch) and the sea lion colony at Land's End on the way out
• Lover's Beach, wedged between the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez
• The clear, calm cove of Santa Maria Bay, protected inside its own marine sanctuary
• Angelfish, sergeant majors and parrotfish over the rocky reef along the bay's edges
• A wide, sandy cove backed by desert hills, with some of the best inshore visibility near Cabo
• The occasional ray or turtle passing over open sand, though sightings vary by day

What's Included

• A 3-hour catamaran cruise from Cabo San Lucas to Santa Maria Bay and back
• High-quality snorkel gear — mask, tube and fins
• Unlimited domestic open bar (margaritas, beer, cocktails, sodas and water)
• Fresh snacks and a light lunch served on board
• All fees and taxes
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

Not Included

• Gratuities for the crew (optional but appreciated)
• Personal photos or video of the trip

It's an easy half-day, but a little prep keeps it smooth.

• What to bring: swimwear under your clothes, a towel, a hat and reef-safe (biodegradable) sunscreen
• What to leave behind: regular sunscreen — Santa Maria Bay is a protected marine sanctuary and only reef-safe sunscreen is allowed in the water
• Not allowed: touching or standing on the reef, and taking anything (shells, coral, sand) from the protected cove
• Safety note: never swim on the Pacific side of Land's End, sometimes called Divorce Beach. The currents there are dangerous, unlike the sheltered Sea of Cortez side where this tour snorkels

Want more time, two bays and a full sit-down lunch instead of snacks? The luxury catamaran with lunch covers Santa Maria and Chileno Bay with SUP included. Looking for a louder, more party-focused afternoon instead?

The party catamaran cruise leans harder into the music and open bar side of the trip.

This is the pick if you want a real snorkel stop and an easygoing, well-stocked bar without the loudest party boat in the harbor.

• Travelers who'd rather ride a shaded, mid-sized catamaran than a packed party barge
• Groups who want unlimited drinks and food without the loudest onboard scene
• First-time snorkelers who want calm, clear, protected water at the stop
• Couples and friends who want the Arch and Lover's Beach photo cruise plus real time in the water

Not ideal for

• Groups chasing the loudest possible onboard party — the party catamaran cruise leans further that way
• Travelers who want a full sit-down lunch rather than snacks — see the luxury catamaran with lunch
• Non-swimmers who'd rather stay dry for the whole three hours