Luxury Yacht Charter in Cabo San Lucas – Ferretti 88ft.

Cabo’s famous El Arco is best seen from the water, and this private Ferretti yacht gives your group a polished way to reach it without sharing the boat with strangers. You’ll also cruise the Pacific Coast, then anchor near Medano Beach for swimming, snorkeling, food, and drinks.

I like the private group format and the unusually full food-and-drink package, which includes fresh fruit, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, chips, charcuterie, a three-course menu, and an unlimited premium bar. The main drawback is the price: $5,600 is reasonable only if you can fill much of the 15-person capacity, and crew gratuity is extra.

Key points to know before booking

• El Arco and the sea lion colony: You get about 30 minutes near Cabo’s famous rock arch for photos and views of the animals.
• A full Pacific Coast cruise: The longest sightseeing stretch lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes, with rock formations, beaches, and marine life.
• Private Ferretti 88-foot yacht: Only your group participates, with room for up to 15 people.
• Medano Beach water time: The yacht anchors in the bay for swimming, snorkeling, and use of the supplied water toys.
• Food is a major part of the package: Snacks, a charcuterie board, a three-course meal, soda, and an unlimited premium open bar are included.
• Weather and timing matter: You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours ahead, but poor weather may lead to a new date or refund.

A private yacht day built around Cabo’s best views

This is a compact luxury charter rather than a full-day sailing trip. In roughly three hours, you’ll see Cabo’s signature rock formations, cruise along the Pacific shoreline, and spend time in the bay with food and water activities.

That tight schedule works well if you want the feel of a private yacht without giving up an entire day. It also means you should have realistic expectations. You are not getting hours at sea or a long passage to a remote beach. The appeal is the mix of sightseeing and easy recreation, all handled by a private crew.

The boat is a Ferretti 88-foot yacht, a large and suitably upscale setting for a special occasion, family outing, or group celebration. The exact onboard layout and cabin features are not specified, so I would not book this expecting a detailed list of sleeping quarters, sun decks, or entertainment systems. What is clear is the scale, privacy, air-conditioned transportation listed with the experience, and the broad food and drink service.

The boat carries up to 15 people. That capacity is important when you look at the price. A $5,600 charter works out to about $373 per person if you have all 15 aboard, before gratuity. With 10 people, it becomes $560 per person. With only six, the cost rises to about $933 each. This is best treated as a group purchase, not an economical solo excursion.

Starting at Marina Cabo San Lucas

The meeting point is at Hotel Tesoro, on Boulevard Paseo de la Marina, Lotes 9 and 10, in the Centro and Marina area of Cabo San Lucas. The experience ends back at the same meeting point.

That central location keeps the start simple if you are already near the marina. The package also lists private transportation and an air-conditioned vehicle, but the supplied details do not explain exactly when or where that vehicle is used. If you are staying outside the immediate marina area, confirm the pickup arrangement before booking rather than assuming a hotel transfer is included.

You receive confirmation within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. That is worth noting if your travel dates are fixed or if you are planning the charter around a cruise ship schedule, wedding, or birthday. The tour is offered in English, and service animals are allowed.

El Arco: Cabo’s essential first look

The first stop is El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, the stone arch at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. You get about 30 minutes in the area, enough time to take photographs and look toward the large sea lion colony.

From the boat, the arch is a natural photo stop rather than a place to walk around. That is part of the charm. You see Cabo’s most recognizable rock formation from the same setting that makes it famous, with the cliffs and water filling the view instead of a crowded pavement or overlook.

The sea lions add movement and sound to the stop. The information provided does not promise a close approach or a particular number of animals, so think of this as a chance to view the colony from the yacht. Bring a camera that handles distance well, and keep your phone ready before the boat reaches the arch. Thirty minutes can pass quickly when the group is taking photos.

This stop is free, meaning there is no separate admission charge. It is also a good reason to choose the boat if El Arco is high on your Cabo list. You do not need a separate sightseeing cruise to see it, then another excursion for swimming.

One hour along the Pacific Coast

After El Arco, the yacht tours the Pacific Coast for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is the longest sightseeing portion of the outing and gives you time to look at Cabo’s rock formations, beaches, and marine life from offshore.

The Pacific side has a different feel from the calmer bay. The coast is the main visual portion of the charter, so I would keep some time free from eating, drinking, and water activities during this stretch. The details do not specify individual named beaches or exact viewing points, so the experience is more about the coastal sweep than a checklist of stops.

That can be a good fit if you prefer a relaxed cruise to a rushed series of photo stops. You can sit with a drink, watch the shoreline, and let the crew handle the route. The boat’s air-conditioned setting gives you a place to cool off, though you’ll likely want to spend at least part of the time outside if the weather is pleasant.

The tradeoff is that sightseeing is passive. If you want constant activity, this hour and 15 minutes may feel long. If you like having room to talk with your group and enjoy the view without a crowd, it is one of the more useful parts of the charter.

Medano Beach for swimming and water toys

The final stop is Medano Beach, where the yacht anchors in the bay for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is the active part of the tour. You can swim, snorkel, and use the water toys provided, then return to the boat for food and drinks.

Snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from renting basic gear separately. The information does not list the types or quantity of water toys, and it does not describe the snorkeling conditions. If a particular toy or activity is important to your group, ask Papillon Yachts what will be available on your date.

Medano Beach is a practical anchoring point because it puts the water time into the bay rather than asking you to spend the whole charter in open-water transit. Still, an hour and 15 minutes is not an unlimited beach day. You’ll want to organize your group before entering the water, especially if some people plan to swim while others stay aboard.

The yacht is the base for the meal service. You are not simply being dropped at the beach with a snack bag. The package includes a three-course full menu with three options to choose from, plus fresh fruit, guacamole, salsas, pico de gallo, chips, and a charcuterie board.

Food, drinks, and the value of the package

Food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this charter. The included snacks cover the easy-to-share items people usually want on a boat, while the three-course meal makes the outing feel more like a hosted occasion than a basic sightseeing ride.

The meal includes three choices, but the details do not identify the dishes. If anyone in your group has allergies, dietary restrictions, or strong food preferences, contact the provider before you go. Do not assume that one of the three choices will meet a particular need.

The unlimited premium open bar is also included. Soda and other nonalcoholic drinks are listed, so people who do not drink alcohol are not limited to water. The package is especially valuable for a group that would otherwise order food and drinks separately aboard a private yacht.

There is one practical caution: the word dinner appears in the package, but the charter itself lasts about three hours and the exact departure time is not given. Confirm how the meal is timed for your booking. If you are planning this around lunch, dinner, or another reservation, the start time matters.

A previous customer singled out the food, the view, and the staff, describing the meal as excellent and the excursion as impressive. That lines up with the strongest parts of the package: the setting is naturally dramatic, but the food service and crew help determine whether the experience feels worth the high price.

How the $5,600 price works for your group

The flat group rate is easy to understand, but it rewards a full or nearly full party. At the maximum of 15 people, the per-person cost compares more favorably with other luxury outings, especially since it includes the yacht, private participation, food, premium drinks, snorkeling equipment, and water toys.

With a smaller group, the math changes quickly. You are paying for the private boat regardless of how many seats you use. That can still make sense for a birthday, wedding party, family reunion, or corporate outing where privacy matters more than the lowest price.

I would compare this with the cost of arranging a standard boat trip plus separate meals, drinks, and water rentals. The included food and bar service reduce surprise expenses, but they do not make the charter inexpensive. Also budget for a crew gratuity, which is not included in the stated price.

The tour’s 4.4 rating from five submitted ratings suggests a generally positive but limited record. That is enough to note, not enough to treat as a guarantee. The most specific praise focuses on the views, staff, and food, which are also the areas that will shape your experience most.

Who will get the most from this charter

This works best for people who want a private, polished outing and can share the cost across a sizeable group. It suits families who want different activity levels, since some people can swim or snorkel while others remain aboard with food and drinks.

It is also a sensible choice for a celebration. The private setup gives your group control over the mood without requiring strangers to share your table or water time. The three-course meal and premium bar support that special-occasion feel.

I would think twice if you are traveling alone, as a couple, or with a very small group and mainly want to see El Arco. A shorter shared cruise could cost much less. I would also look elsewhere if your priority is a long day of beach time, a detailed snorkeling program, or a specific set of water sports, since the available equipment and exact snorkeling conditions are not described.

Most travelers can participate, and the experience is near public transportation. Service animals are allowed. The private format is useful for families and groups who prefer not to adjust their pace to strangers.

Weather, cancellation, and a few practical checks

This experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

Inside that 24-hour window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. The cut-off follows Cabo’s local time. Keep that rule in mind if your plans are uncertain.

Before booking, I would confirm four things: the exact departure time, the menu choices, the water toys available, and the details of any private transportation. Those questions are especially useful for groups with dietary needs, children, older relatives, or tight connections.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a way to protect your phone from spray. Those are practical suggestions for any boat outing, not special inclusions promised by the provider. The formal inclusions are snorkeling equipment, food, drinks, soda, private transportation, and use of the supplied water toys.

Should you book the Ferretti 88 charter?

Book it if you have a group large enough to spread the $5,600 cost and you want Cabo’s main coastal sights, a private yacht, a meal, an open bar, and water time in one neatly packaged outing. The strongest case is a celebration or family day when privacy and convenience matter as much as price.

Skip it if your group is small, your budget is tight, or you mainly want a quick photo at El Arco. The charter earns its price through the private boat and generous food-and-drink package, not through a long duration. For the right group, that is a fair trade. For everyone else, it may be more luxury than you need.

FAQ

How much does the private yacht charter cost?

The price is $5,600 per group, with up to 15 people allowed.

How long does the experience last?

The charter lasts approximately three hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Hotel Tesoro, Boulevard Paseo de la Marina, Lote 9 y 10, Centro, Marina, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates.

What will I see at El Arco?

You will stop near the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas for photographs and views of the large sea lion colony.

Can I swim and snorkel?

Yes. The yacht anchors at Medano Beach, where you can swim and snorkel. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The package includes snacks, fresh fruit, guacamole, salsas, pico de gallo, chips, a charcuterie board, soda, an unlimited premium open bar, and a three-course meal with three choices.

Is crew gratuity included?

No. Gratuity for the crew is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.