Whale Watching Cabo San Lucas: Glass Bottom Boat & Tequila

Whales from below the surface, tequila on the dock

A four-hour whale watching cruise from Cabo San Lucas aboard a glass bottom boat, departing from Marina Cabo San Lucas with hotel pickup and a local guide in English or Spanish. You watch whales in an intimate setting away from larger catamaran crowds, photograph the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, taste multiple types of tequila with an explanation of how it's made, and have time to shop in town. Best between December and April when whales migrate through the Sea of Cortez.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale watching and local experiences

• Visit the Arch and take photos
• Whale watching on Glass Bottom Boat
• Taste and learn about Tequila
• Shopping time in Cabo San Lucas

Stops and time spent at each 3 stops

1. Arch of Cabo San Lucas Entry included 20m
2. Sea of Cortez Entry included 1h 40m
3. Marina Cabo San Lucas 30m

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned minivan.
• two hours of whale watching aboard the glass bottom boat.
• visit to the Arch of Cabo San Lucas for photos.
• tequila tasting with an explanation of how tequila is made.
• shopping time in Cabo San Lucas.
• a local guide in English or Spanish throughout the tour.

Times

• Every day 09:00 11:00 13:00

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 42 1 private ›

Live guide English and Spanish Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (10 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with back problems Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Esperanza's Tours

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The boat leaves the marina and heads into the Sea of Cortez for two hours of whale watching from a glass bottom boat. A setup that lets you see the water column and the animals moving through it without the noise and press of standard tour vessels. The guide narrates in English or Spanish, pointing out the whales as they surface and move. On the way back, you stop at the Arch of Cabo San Lucas to photograph the landmark before returning to shore.

Once back at Marina Cabo San Lucas, the tequila tasting begins. You sample several types of tequila while the guide walks through how it's made: the agave harvest, fermentation, distilling, the whole process. The tequila served here has won international awards. This part of the day runs long enough to actually learn something instead of just knocking back shots.

After tasting, you get shopping time in Cabo San Lucas town before the minivan brings you back to your hotel. The whole outing takes four hours from pickup to drop-off. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the minivan is air-conditioned. A local guide travels with the group the entire time.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

When is the best time to see whales on this cruise from Cabo San Lucas?

December through April is when whales migrate through the Sea of Cortez, making it the ideal season for this tour. Outside those months, whale sightings are not guaranteed.

What exactly is a glass bottom boat and how does it work for whale watching?

The glass bottom boat has a viewing chamber with windows below the waterline, so you can see into the water column and watch whales move through their environment without leaving the boat or getting wet. It's a different vantage point than a standard open-deck catamaran.

Does the price include everything, or are there extra fees?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the boat ride, whale watching, tequila tasting, and shopping time are all included. A port access fee is required by the marina authority and is not included in the tour price. You'll pay this separately at the dock.

If I'm arriving by cruise ship, can I still book this tour?

Yes, cruise passengers can book this tour. At the time of booking, you'll need to provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time so the operator can time the pickup and return correctly.