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Cruises to Cabo
Cabo is a high-impact port call: one boat ride, one beach, or one marina wander can make the whole stop feel sharp.
Upcoming visits
252
Best fare
$83 per night
Cabo is a high-impact port call: one boat ride, one beach, or one marina wander can make the whole stop feel sharp.
Find Cabo on Google Maps before you plan the port day.
Cabo San Lucas does not need much setup. The port's strongest visuals are right there in the mix: sculpted rock, blue water, marina buzz, and beaches that split into very different personalities. For cruise passengers, the trick is not finding something to do. It is choosing the version of Cabo that matches your tolerance for crowds, boats, bars, and planning. A first visit usually belongs on the water, especially if El Arco is still unchecked on your mental postcard list.
The best Cabo day is usually built around one anchor. Pick El Arco if you want the image everyone associates with the port, Medano Beach if you want the easiest sand-and-bar plan, Chileno Beach if snorkeling matters more than scene, or Cannery Row if you would rather keep things loose near the marina. Lovers Beach adds a more cinematic edge, while hikes and desert gardens reward repeat visitors who have already done the obvious. Cabo is not a port to overstack. Choose a lane, then leave space to actually enjoy it.
El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is the cleanest argument for booking an itinerary that calls here. It is the kind of landmark that still works in person: a sea-carved arch rising out of rock, best approached from the water rather than admired from a distance. Glass-bottom boat tours make it a practical cruise-day move, especially for travelers who want a compact excursion with a big visual payoff. If you only have the energy for one organized thing in Cabo, this should probably be it.
First-timers, photographers, and anyone who wants the classic Cabo image without building an all-day plan.
Lovers Beach is not the default sand-and-sun stop, and that is the point. Set between the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez, it has a more dramatic setting than the busier beach options, with access by dinghy adding a little ceremony to the arrival. This is the pick for couples, photo-driven travelers, or anyone who wants their Cabo beach hour to feel separate from the marina crowd. Prioritize it if atmosphere matters more than convenience, and keep the plan simple around it.
Iconic sea arch rock formation. Glass-bottom boat tours.
Romantic sands between Pacific and Sea of Cortez. Dinghy access.
Swim with dolphins in natural lagoon. Family swims.
Marina shops, restaurants, and people-watching. Lively evening.
Current sailings visiting this port, sorted by the lowest tracked cabin price per night.
Built 1999
Los Angeles · Cabo · Ensenada
Built 1999
Los Angeles · Cabo · Ensenada
Built 1999
Los Angeles · Catalina · Cabo · Mazatlán
Built 2000
Los Angeles · Cabo · Ensenada
Built 2000
Los Angeles · Cabo · Ensenada
Built 2000
Los Angeles · Cabo · Ensenada
Built 2019
Los Angeles · Puerto Vallarta · Mazatlán · La Paz · Cabo
Built 2002
Los Angeles · Ensenada · Cabo · Mazatlán
Built 2019
Los Angeles · Puerto Vallarta · Mazatlán · La Paz · Cabo
Built 1999
Los Angeles · Catalina · Cabo · Mazatlán
Built 2004
Seattle · Cabo · Puntarenas · Panama Canal · Cartagena · Galveston
Built 2003
San Diego · Ensenada · Cabo · Mazatlán
Dinghy access makes it feel special, but it also means this is not the most casual walk-up beach choice.
Medano Beach is the low-friction Cabo plan: walk from the marina, find the main beach scene, and let the day turn into watersports, bars, and people-watching. It is not the quietest choice, and pretending otherwise will only lead to disappointment. But for cruise passengers who want sun without complicated logistics, it is hard to beat. Go here if your ideal port stop involves a lively shoreline and minimal decision-making. Skip it if you are chasing solitude or a more polished nature day.
Groups, beach-bar people, and anyone who wants a straightforward plan close to the marina.
Chileno Beach is the smarter choice when the beach is not just a backdrop. Its draw is snorkeling, with sea fans adding texture below the surface, and public access keeping the experience from feeling overly packaged. For cruise passengers, this is a more intentional beach day than Medano: less about bars, more about getting in the water with a purpose. It fits travelers who would rather spend their stop floating and looking than bouncing between restaurants, shops, and beach vendors.
Snorkelers and quieter beach seekers who are willing to plan beyond the easiest marina-adjacent option.
Cannery Row is not trying to outshine the beaches, and that makes it useful. With marina shops, restaurants, and constant people-watching, it works as a flexible add-on before or after a bigger plan, or as the whole plan for passengers who do not want to commit to boats or sand. The energy is livelier later in the day, but even on a shorter call it gives you an easy way to feel Cabo's resort-town pulse without turning the stop into a production.
Loose planners, mixed groups, and anyone who wants food, shops, and marina atmosphere over a structured excursion.
Cabo Dolphin Center gives the day a clear shape, which can be a relief for families or groups that do better with a scheduled activity than an open-ended beach plan. The setup centers on dolphin swims in a natural lagoon, with family swim options available. This is a personal-preference stop: some travelers love a close animal encounter, while others would rather put their time toward the arch or snorkeling. If it fits your travel style, it is one of Cabo's more structured port-day choices.
Families and travelers who prefer a planned experience over improvising around beaches and the marina.
Observatory Mount is the antidote to the obvious Cabo checklist. The appeal is a hike with bay views, especially for travelers who would rather earn a panorama than book another boat ride. It is best for repeat visitors, active cruisers, or anyone who wants a break from the beach-bar rhythm. Because the highlight is tied to the view and the sunset reputation, it is worth matching this idea to your ship's time in port before making it the centerpiece of the day.
Active repeat visitors who want bay views and a less standard Cabo story.
Main party beach with watersports and bars. Walk from marina.