Snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas: Wild Dolphins & Reefs
Chase dolphins in open water, then snorkel secluded reefs
A private snorkeling day trip from Cabo San Lucas to La Ventana and Cerralvo Island, where you search for wild dolphins and other marine life from a 26–28ft boat, then snorkel at a sea lion colony and a remote reef. The guide and captain work together to track dolphins in their natural habitat. Lunch is a boat picnic on a secluded beach. Suitable for families with children from age 4, though the 2.5-hour drive each way is long.
What’s included
- Private transportation from Cabo to La Ventana and back.
- snorkeling equipment for both reef sites.
- a breakfast pack and a picnic lunch with your choice of sandwiches or ceviche, fruit, chips, cookies and water.
- a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
Next departure: 1 Apr 2027
Information
Snorkel with wild dolphins, sea lions and reef fish in Baja Sur from Cabo San Lucas. Private boat, guide.
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The experience
You leave Cabo in the early morning for a 2.5-hour drive north to La Ventana, a fishing village on the edge of Cerralvo Island. The operator provides a breakfast pack along the way and can arrange a break if you need one. Once you reach the boat (a 26–28ft Panga with shade and a ladder), your guide connects with the captain, who knows the waters and where dolphins typically move. From there, you spend six hours on the water looking for whatever shows up: bottlenose dolphins are regular, but spinner dolphins, mobula rays, whales and orca are all possible. Nothing in nature is guaranteed, so the itinerary includes snorkeling stops regardless of what you see.
The snorkeling happens at two sites: a sea lion colony and a secluded reef where the water is clear and the reefs are intact. You get snorkeling equipment, and the boat stops long enough for you to swim and explore. Lunch is a picnic on a small beach where you can get off the boat, eat, and rest before heading back. The meal includes sandwiches or ceviche, fruit, chips, cookies and water served in reusable bottles, no single-use plastic. By late afternoon you're back in the car for the return drive to Cabo.
The tour runs as a private booking when you have at least four people signed up. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French, and children from age 4 are welcome, though parents should know the full day, including the long drive, works best for kids comfortable in a vehicle. The operator is a PADI 5 Star Eco Dive Center, so the focus is on respectful wildlife viewing in a natural setting, not captive encounters.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.
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.
What's the difference between seeing dolphins from the boat and snorkeling with them?
Dolphins are regularly spotted from the surface of the boat, and you'll often see them jump and swim alongside. Snorkeling with them in open ocean happens when conditions and dolphin behavior allow, but it's not guaranteed on every trip. The sea lion colony and reef snorkeling are scheduled stops regardless of dolphin sightings.
How long is the drive from Cabo, and can we stop along the way?
The drive to La Ventana is 2.5 hours each way. The operator provides a breakfast pack at the start and can arrange a break during the drive if you request one.
What animals might we see besides dolphins?
Spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, mobula rays, whales and orca are all possible in these waters. Sea lions are at one of your snorkeling stops. The captain and guide know the area and search for whatever is active that day, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
What snorkeling equipment do I need to bring?
All snorkeling gear is provided: mask, fins and snorkel. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen and a light layer for sun protection on the boat.
What's included in the lunch?
Lunch is a boat picnic at a secluded beach with your choice of sandwiches or ceviche, plus fruit, chips, cookies and water. The operator uses reusable bottles and refills them from large drinking-water containers, so there's no single-use plastic.
Operated by Cabo Private Guide. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 13 days ago
Snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas: Wild Dolphins & Reefs
12h · EN · ES · FR · IT · at your hotel
from US$ 295 per person
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