Snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas: Glass-Bottom Boat & Pelican Rock

Snorkel an exclusive reef while a glass-bottom boat shows you the landmarks first

Snorkel at Pelican Rock, an exclusive reef site in Cabo San Lucas accessible only by boat, after a scenic glass-bottom boat ride past the Arch and sea lion colony. Hotel pickup and drop-off, snorkel gear, lunch and a guide in English or Spanish are included; the full outing runs about five hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling and boat tour in Cabo

• Hotel pick-up
• Travel to marina
• Board glass-bottom boat
• Boat ride to landmarks
• View Arch and rock formations
• Snorkel at Pelican’s Rock
• Relax at the beach
• Enjoy deli-style lunch
• Return to marina
• Tequila tasting and shopping

The Experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and a drive to Marina Cabo San Lucas, where you board a glass-bottom boat for a 45-minute scenic ride. The boat passes the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, the rock formations at Land's End, and a sea lion colony before arriving at Pelican Rock. The glass bottom lets you watch the water below without getting wet first—tropical fish, starfish and sea urchins visible from your seat.

Once at Pelican Rock, you enter the water for a guided snorkeling session lasting about 55 minutes. The reef holds stingrays, sea horses, sea cucumbers and schools of tropical fish. Snorkel gear—visor, tube, fins and flotation vest—is sanitized and provided; you bring your shoe size so the fins fit. A guide leads the session in English or Spanish and stays with the group the whole time.

After snorkeling, you have free time on Lover's Beach to dry off and rest. Lunch arrives then: a fresh deli-style baguette (ham, turkey, tuna or vegetarian), chips, juice and an energy bar. Before returning to the marina, there's time for a tequila tasting and shopping in Cabo San Lucas.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• glass-bottom boat ride past the Arch of Cabo San Lucas and sea lion colony.
• snorkel gear (visor, tube, fins and flotation vest).
• guided snorkeling session at Pelican Rock.
• lunch with a choice of baguette filling, chips, juice and energy bar.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Esperanza's Tours

Is this one for you?The boat ride and snorkeling both happen on the same outing, so you see the landmarks and then dive into the reef without a separate trip—the schedule holds everything together and hotel pickup means no transport to arrange.

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Top questions

What will I see when I snorkel at Pelican Rock?

Pelican Rock holds tropical fish, starfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, stingrays and sea horses. The reef is only reachable by boat, so the site stays less crowded than beach-entry snorkeling spots.

Is snorkel gear included, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkel gear is included and sanitized for each use—visor, tube, fins and flotation vest. You'll need to provide your shoe size when you book so the fins fit properly.

Does the glass-bottom boat mean I don't have to get in the water?

The glass-bottom boat is the first part of the tour, a 45-minute ride to Pelican Rock where you see the Arch, rock formations and sea lions from your seat. The snorkeling itself happens in the water at the reef, after the boat ride ends.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is a fresh deli-style baguette with your choice of ham, turkey, tuna or vegetarian filling, plus chips, juice and an energy bar.

Will a guide be with me the whole time I'm snorkeling?

Yes, a live guide in English or Spanish leads the snorkeling session at Pelican Rock and stays with the group for the full 55 minutes in the water.

How long is the whole tour?

The full outing is about five hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, including the 45-minute boat ride, 55-minute snorkeling session, beach time and lunch.