CABO SAN LUCAS — OUR FIRST PORT ON THE MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE

Getting Ashore — The Tender Experience

One thing to know about Cabo San Lucas before you go: the ship anchors in the bay rather than docking at a pier, which means you'll take a tender boat to get ashore. It's actually a fun part of the experience! We loaded onto the small tender boats and made our way across the beautiful blue-green water toward the marina. The views of the rocky coastline from the water are spectacular, and you get your first close-up glimpse of the famous rock formations even before you step foot on land. Just plan your timing wisely — our group found that the earlier you get your tender ticket, the smoother the process.

I do want to give you an honest heads up about the return tender back to the ship though. The wind had picked up throughout the day and the tide was high, making for a pretty rocky ride. But it was getting from the tender boat back onto the ship that was the really spooky part — the boats were bobbing and unbalanced and it genuinely had me holding my breath watching people try to make that transfer. For anyone who is a little unsteady on their feet, please don't hesitate to ask a crew member for assistance. They are right there to help and there is absolutely no shame in it. Better safe than sorry when you're stepping between a rocking tender and a cruise ship!

Getting to El Arco — Skip the Ship Excursion and Do This Instead

We didn't book a shore excursion through the ship for Cabo — instead we went straight to the pier and booked directly with the local water taxi operators. The moment you step off the tender you'll hear them — friendly and enthusiastic vendors calling out "Water taxi! Lover's Beach! Snorkeling! El Arco!" It's lively and fun and very much part of the Cabo experience!

We paid just $10 per person (plus $1 per person at the ticket booth) for the full boat tour out to El Arco and Lover's Beach — $44 total for our group of four. Agree on the price upfront before you commit and you're good to go. One thing you might notice — the money changes hands a few times between the various people involved in getting you to your boat. It's an informal but well-organized system of local operators, steerers and booth attendants, each with their own role in the process. Just a fascinating little behind-the-scenes glimpse of how Mexican port tourism works!

Our water taxi operator was also really helpful and knowledgeable — he offered to take us to the market via water taxi too, which is a great option to keep in mind. Here's why that matters: Lover's Beach has no food vendors, no restaurants and no water available once you're there. So if you're planning to spend time on the beach, either bring your own supplies or take the water taxi over to the market first. And yes — beer is sold at the market and everyone walks around drinking openly. Very festive, very Cabo! 🍺

We actually considered stopping at Lover's Beach ourselves but the tide was high that day, making it tricky to get onto the beach. We could see other water taxis making the run over there so it's definitely doable — just check conditions when you arrive and ask your operator before committing. A fellow cruiser on our boat made a very quick executive decision when she heard the words "you'll have to swim!" and honestly, we completely understood! The views of Lover's Beach from the water are stunning on their own.

Helpful Tips Before You Go

✔ The money changes hands between several people — operators, booth attendants and helpers. It looks chaotic at first but works surprisingly well.

✔ Lover's Beach has no food or water available, so bring supplies or stop at the market first.

✔ Beer is sold openly around the marina and the atmosphere is very festive 🍺

✔ We considered Lover's Beach ourselves, but the tide was high that day. Ask your operator about conditions before committing.

✔ Carry cash and agree on prices before you board.

El Arco — Cabo's Most Iconic Landmark

No trip to Cabo is complete without seeing El Arco de Cabo San Lucas — the magnificent natural stone arch at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula. We took the water taxi tour out to the arch and I cannot overstate how breathtaking it is up close. The turquoise water, the dramatic rock formations, the sea caves, the pelicans floating nearby — it's one of those places that genuinely stops you in your tracks.

The tour also took us past Lover's Beach, a stunning stretch of sand tucked between the rocks that you can only reach by water. The contrast between the Pacific Ocean side and the Sea of Cortez side is remarkable — rough crashing waves on one side, calm clear water on the other. Truly one of nature's most stunning natural boundaries.