A 3-hour Maxum cruise in Cabo is the kind of plan that turns sightseeing into a slow, salty hangout. What I like most is that it’s all-private (so you control the vibe) and all-inclusive with an open bar plus onboard time for swimming and snorkeling.
I especially love the mix of classic Cabo sights with real water time: the stop at El Arco for photos and sea lions, then a long stretch in the bay where you can snorkel, paddle board, and relax. One possible drawback is simple: it needs good weather, so if the day gets rough you’ll want flexibility.
In This Review
- Quick take: what matters most
- The Private 38ft Maxum Tour: what you’re really buying
- Who this feels best for
- Meet-up, timing, and the flow of your 3 hours
- Weather is the big wildcard
- Stop 1: El Arco, sea lions, and photo-friendly pacing
- What to do with those 30 minutes
- A small practical note
- Stop 2: The Pacific Coast for rocks, sea life, and open-air cruising
- What to expect emotionally
- Stop 3: The Bay of Cabo San Lucas for snorkeling, paddle boards, and real downtime
- Snorkeling and paddle boarding: the value isn’t just the gear
- Lovers Beach: if you want a swim with a view
- Food and open bar: what’s included, and why it changes the day
- Open bar details (included)
- Fresh-made snacks (included)
- Optional upgraded lunch
- The crew and the little things that make it feel high-end
- What I’d watch for during your trip
- Photos without stress: the arch stop does the heavy lifting
- A practical tip
- Price and value for a private yacht day in Cabo
- Who should book this, and who should skip it
- Book this if you want
- Consider another option if
- Should you book Dejavu Yachts Cabo’s 3-hour Maxum tour?
- FAQ
- How many people can be in the private group?
- How long is the yacht tour?
- What’s included in the food and drinks?
- Is snorkeling gear included?
- Do you stop at El Arco and how long is the stop?
- Is Lover’s Beach part of the tour?
- What happens if weather is poor?
Quick take: what matters most
- All-private feel for your group: Up to 8 in your party, with a tour cap of 14 total.
- Open bar that keeps flowing: Tequila, vodka, rum, beer, wine, mixers, sodas, water, and fruit juices.
- Water toys included: Snorkel gear, paddle boards, and a floating mat onboard.
- Two ways to see wildlife: Sea lions around El Arco, plus marine life possible along the Pacific coast.
- Food that doesn’t feel like a snack: Fresh-made guacamole, pico de gallo, chips, fruit, and quesadillas.
- Custom-friendly pacing: Play your own music and adjust the day since it’s private.
The Private 38ft Maxum Tour: what you’re really buying
On paper, this is a 3-hour yacht tour. In practice, you’re buying three things that usually don’t show up together in Cabo: privacy, a good onboard setup, and enough time to actually get in the water.
The yacht is a 38ft Maxum, and the tour is described as all-private and all-inclusive for your group. That matters because Cabo tours can range from relaxed to chaotic fast. Here, you’re not stuck sharing space, sound, or timing with strangers.
You also get private transportation and an A/C vehicle as part of the experience. That’s a small detail that can make the day feel smoother, especially in heat.
You can also read our reviews of more boat tours in Cabo San Lucas
Who this feels best for
This works well for couples, families with kids who handle water activities comfortably, and friend groups that want a real vacation mood. If you want a “sail around, drink something cold, and actually swim” day, this is built for that.
Meet-up, timing, and the flow of your 3 hours
You’ll meet at A9AVEPlaza Embarcadero on Blvd. Paseo de la Marina in the Marina area. The tour ends back at the meeting point, so you’re not dealing with a complicated return.
You’ll get a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided at booking time. On average, this tour is booked about 22 days in advance, which tells me it’s popular for peak plans like birthdays, families visiting from the US, and “one big Cabo day.”
The schedule is structured but not rigid. The big pieces are:
- a shorter stop at El Arco
- cruising time along the Pacific coast
- a longer hang in the Bay of Cabo San Lucas with swimming and snorkeling
Weather is the big wildcard
The tour explicitly requires good weather. On a calm day, you’ll feel the relaxed side of being on a boat. If conditions change, the operator may reschedule or offer a full refund due to poor weather, so watch that closely when you book.
Stop 1: El Arco, sea lions, and photo-friendly pacing
El Arco is the headline for a reason: it’s the natural arch at Cabo San Lucas, and it’s one of the most recognizable rock formations in the area. The tour includes time there, with a stop that runs about 30 minutes.
Here’s what makes this stop more than a quick “look and go.” You’re also in the right spot for a colony of sea lions that swim and sunbathe around the rocks. Even if you’re not trying to make a whole wildlife documentary, seeing them in their natural routine adds a living dimension to the arch.
You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Cabo San Lucas
What to do with those 30 minutes
- Get your main photos early, before the boat crowds the view angles.
- Enjoy the sea lion watching without treating it like a checklist.
- Take a moment to just watch from the waterline. It’s different from seeing it from shore.
A small practical note
Admission is listed as free for this stop, so you’re not wasting part of your budget on an add-on here. You’re paying for the private boat day, and this stop uses the boat to give you the angle.
Stop 2: The Pacific Coast for rocks, sea life, and open-air cruising
After El Arco, you cruise toward the Pacific coastline. The idea is to see Cabo from the water and enjoy rock forms, beaches, and potential marine life sightings.
The tour description specifically says you might see whales, fish, dolphins, jellyfish, and more, with help from the crew. That matters because marine life spotting is partly patience and partly having someone on board who knows how and where to look.
This stop is also about 30 minutes. That time feels right in a private tour because you’re moving enough to keep the day lively, but not so long that you feel like you’re “only riding.”
What to expect emotionally
This is the part where Cabo stops being a place you visit and starts becoming a coastline you travel along. The boat view makes the distance and scale make sense fast.
If you’re traveling with kids, this is a good segment to keep energy up: points of interest plus a chance to spot animals.
Stop 3: The Bay of Cabo San Lucas for snorkeling, paddle boards, and real downtime
The Bay of Cabo San Lucas is the long stay on this itinerary—about 2 hours—and that’s the heart of the tour.
This is where you can:
- relax on the water
- swim
- snorkel
- use paddle boards
- enjoy food and drinks
The tour includes snorkeling equipment, paddle boards, and a large floating mat onboard. That combination is the difference between “we stopped near the beach” and “we actually got to play.”
Snorkeling and paddle boarding: the value isn’t just the gear
Yes, the snorkeling equipment is included. But the better value is that you don’t have to time your day around a separate excursion or rental.
You can go from holding a drink and watching the water to putting on gear and getting in. That flexible flow is what makes private boat days feel like vacation instead of logistics.
Lovers Beach: if you want a swim with a view
The itinerary also notes that you can view, swim, or even paddle board over to Lover’s Beach. That’s one of those Cabo moments that feels extra memorable because you’re moving through the same space others can only reach by walking or taking photos from shore.
Food and open bar: what’s included, and why it changes the day
This tour leans hard into comfort. You get an open bar and freshly prepared snacks, plus natural fruit juices, sodas, and water.
Open bar details (included)
- Tequila
- Rum
- Vodka
- Beer
- Wine
- all mixers
- soda
- water
- natural fruit juices
In real terms, this means you’re not stuck rationing drinks or hunting for a bar later. It also helps if your group has different preferences. One person wants something spirit-forward, another wants beer or juice, and you’re good.
Fresh-made snacks (included)
The tour lists:
- fresh guacamole
- pico de gallo
- salsas
- tortilla chips
- fresh fruit
- cheese quesadillas made onboard
That’s more satisfying than the usual “here’s a bag of chips” approach. It’s the kind of lunch replacement that keeps people happy during water time, when heading back to shore isn’t an option.
Optional upgraded lunch
Lunch upgrade is listed as mixed fajitas and ceviche for $20 per person. If your group gets hungry in a more serious way, this is your lever. Otherwise, the included onboard food is positioned as the base meal/snack.
The crew and the little things that make it feel high-end
You can tell a lot about a yacht tour by how smoothly the crew runs the day. Reviews highlight friendly, attentive service, and a professional approach to safety.
Names that show up in the experience include Martin, Carlos, Luis, Omar, David, and Abraham. Since crews can vary by date, don’t expect the exact same team every time. But it’s a good sign that the operation is staffed and organized enough for people to remember specific host/captain names.
What I’d watch for during your trip
- Safety check and guidance at the start
- fast drink refills
- helpful snorkel and paddle board support
- photo-taking that doesn’t feel awkward or rushed
Private tours often succeed or fail on those small moments. This one is described as attentive and friendly, so the odds are good you’ll feel looked after rather than ignored.
Photos without stress: the arch stop does the heavy lifting
A lot of Cabo’s best photos come from moving water. El Arco is your main “camera moment,” and you get enough time for it.
Reviews also mention excellent photos and photo help from the crew during the arch stop. Even if you’re not a serious photographer, that matters. It’s easy to get great shots when someone else knows how to position a guest and angle the boat.
A practical tip
Bring a way to protect your phone from splashes. You’re on the water with snorkeling gear and paddle boards nearby, so accidental wet is common. You don’t need fancy gear—just plan ahead.
Price and value for a private yacht day in Cabo
The price is $1,100 per group, up to 8 people. That’s the key value detail: it’s not a per-person fare that jumps when you bring family. Instead, you’re paying for a boat experience with a set group size.
A quick mental math:
- If you fill all 8 spots: about $137.50 per person
- If you book fewer than 8, the per-person number rises fast
So the value is strongest when you’re traveling with friends or family and you can actually use the “up to 8” capacity. If it’s just two adults, it can still be worth it if you’re comparing to other Cabo excursions that cost about as much but don’t give you the same privacy and onboard included items.
The included package is where the price starts to make sense: open bar, snorkeling equipment, paddle boards, floating mat, fresh food, and private transportation. You’re paying for an experience that keeps you on the water and reduces extra spending during the day.
Who should book this, and who should skip it
Book this if you want
- A true private boat day, not a shared shuttle situation
- open bar plus snacks that feel like part of the meal
- water time as the main event (snorkel, swim, paddle board)
- classic Cabo sights from the water: El Arco and the bay
Consider another option if
- you want a long, shore-based walking itinerary (this is boat-first)
- your group can’t handle possible weather delays
- you’re hoping for a long snorkeling-only focus (the bay time is long, but the whole tour is designed as a balanced sight-and-play cruise)
Should you book Dejavu Yachts Cabo’s 3-hour Maxum tour?
If you’re planning a short Cabo stay and want one “wow” day that feels like a real vacation—this is a strong pick. You’re getting a private 38ft Maxum experience, open bar, included snorkeling and paddle boarding gear, and a schedule built around Cabo’s best photo landmark plus serious water time in the bay.
Book it especially if you can fill the group up to 8, so the per-person value stays reasonable. And keep your schedule flexible enough for weather, since good conditions are part of the deal.
FAQ
How many people can be in the private group?
The price is listed per group up to 8. There’s also a maximum of 14 travelers for this activity.
How long is the yacht tour?
It’s about 3 hours.
What’s included in the food and drinks?
You get an open bar (tequila, rum, vodka, beer, wine, mixers, sodas, water, and natural fruit juices) plus fresh onboard snacks such as guacamole, pico de gallo, chips, fresh fruit, and cheese quesadillas.
Is snorkeling gear included?
Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with paddle boards and a floating mat onboard.
Do you stop at El Arco and how long is the stop?
Yes. You stop at El Arco for about 30 minutes.
Is Lover’s Beach part of the tour?
The itinerary notes you can view, swim, or paddle board over to Lover’s Beach.
What happens if weather is poor?
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.



































