Los Cabos Deluxe City Tour: San Jose, San Lucas and The Arch

The best part of this tour is the clear-bottom boat ride to the Arch of Cabo San Lucas. You get close views of Land’s End, rock formations, Medano Beach, the marina, and sometimes sea lions and fish below the boat. I also like the live glass-blowing demonstration and the tequila tasting, two stops that give the day more substance than a simple drive-by sightseeing trip.

The included lunch at Jazmin’s in San José del Cabo is another strong point, especially after a morning of stops. Guides such as Lenin, Lenny, Luis, and Lois have earned praise for their humor and local stories. The main drawback is the packed schedule: shopping stops can feel sales-oriented, and the 30 minutes in San José del Cabo may leave you wishing for more time.

Key points to know before booking

• The Arch boat ride is the day’s highlight: The clear boat cruises around the famous rock formations, with views of the bay, beaches, marina, and underwater life.
• You cover both Cabo towns: The route combines resort-heavy Cabo San Lucas with the quieter central square and mission area of San José del Cabo.
• Lunch is included at Jazmin’s: You receive a meal and one drink, such as lemonade, soda, beer, or, depending on the serving arrangement, a margarita.
• Expect sales stops: The glass factory is interesting, but the pearl or jewelry stop is less appealing if you are not shopping.
• Hotel pickup saves time: Pickup is offered from most Los Cabos hotels, with the exact time confirmed before the tour.
• This is a full six-hour group outing: The vehicle may hold up to 30 people, so this suits you if you like an organized overview more than a private, slow-paced day.

One day, two Cabos, and the famous Arch

At $119 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Cabo San Lucas. It is, however, a solid bundle if you want transportation, a boat trip, lunch, tastings, and guided sightseeing in one booking.

You are not paying only for a city drive. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water and sodas, an expert bilingual guide, a clear-bottom boat, lunch with one drink, and tequila tasting. There is also a small dock fee of MXN 100, or about $5, per person that you pay separately at check-in. Additional drinks at lunch are also extra.

I would compare this tour with the cost of arranging a taxi, boat ride, lunch, and separate visits on your own. Once those pieces are added together, the package makes reasonable sense, especially for a first visit. The trade-off is control. You follow the group’s timetable, and the day includes commercial stops that you may not choose for yourself.

The overall rating is 4.7 from 260 ratings, with 93 percent recommending it. That lines up with the strongest parts of the experience: the Arch boat trip, the guide, the food, and the convenience of pickup.

The glass factory opens the morning

The first stop lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on glass blowing. You watch an artisan shape heated glass into a piece such as a turtle, then browse finished work in a shop filled with color and light.

This is more than a quick souvenir stop because you see how the work is done. The demonstration gives you a better sense of the skill behind the glass bowls, animals, ornaments, and other pieces you may find for sale. If you like craft traditions, this is one of the more worthwhile commercial stops on the route.

Still, allow yourself to enjoy the demonstration without feeling that you need to buy something. The visit is short, and the factory is designed for shopping as well as viewing. I would treat the glasswork as the main event and the store as optional.

A clear boat brings you close to Land’s End

The boat trip is the strongest reason to book this tour. From the marina, you board a clear-bottom boat for roughly 40 minutes around the Arch and the rock formations at the tip of the Baja peninsula.

The boat does not land at the Arch. Instead, it circles the formations, giving you time for photographs and views through the clear section of the boat. You see Cabo San Lucas Bay from the water, including Medano Beach, the marina, hotels, and restaurants along the shore.

The boat crew adds another layer to the ride. Guides have been praised for their humor, help with photographs, and ability to point out details. You may see fish through the bottom and, if conditions cooperate, sea lions near the rocks. The water portion is short enough to feel manageable if you are not comfortable on boats, but long enough for photographs and a proper look at the Arch.

Bring sun protection and wear comfortable shoes. The tour specifically recommends casual footwear, and the boat is an active part of the morning rather than a place to sit indoors. If you want the best photos, keep your camera ready before the boat reaches the Arch. The boat may pause for views, but this is still a group excursion with a set schedule.

One practical detail matters here: the dock fee is not included. You pay MXN 100 per person at check-in. It is a small charge, but you should know about it before arriving so the advertised price does not come as a surprise.

Cabo San Lucas from the bay

The boat provides a better view of Cabo San Lucas than a bus window does. From the water, you see how the resort district, marina, beaches, restaurants, and rock formations fit together.

Medano Beach is the main beach along the bay, and the ride gives you a quick look at the busy waterfront without requiring a separate beach visit. This is sightseeing, not beach time. You will not be settling into a chair or swimming as part of this tour.

The route may also include time around the marina and nearby shopping areas. That gives you a chance to browse for souvenirs, but it also contributes to the commercial feel of the day. If your goal is to understand Cabo’s resort center quickly, the combination works well. If you prefer quiet neighborhoods and independent places, you may find the marina portion less appealing.

Tequila and mezcal with a sales pitch nearby

The tasting stop is presented as an introduction to tequila, with an explanation of different styles, regions, and production methods. You may sample several varieties, including artisanal mezcal, and learn the proper way to taste the spirits rather than simply taking shots.

This part receives some of the strongest praise because it is both informative and enjoyable. The presentation can help you understand why tequilas taste different and why bottles vary so much in price. If you want to bring a bottle home, staff can wrap it for checked luggage.

The tasting is also connected to shopping. You may feel some pressure to buy, although the strongest reports describe the presentation as informative without an aggressive sales approach. You can enjoy the samples and explanation without purchasing anything.

Remember that this is a tasting during a sightseeing day, not a visit to a remote agave farm or a long production tour. The value comes from the explanation and the range of samples. If you already know a great deal about tequila, this stop may feel basic. For most first-time visitors, it adds useful context.

The pearl and jewelry stop is the weak link

Several versions of the day include a pearl or jewelry shop. This stop is not listed among the main highlights, but it appears in the actual flow of the experience and deserves a clear warning.

You may receive a beer or tequila sample, hear a presentation, enter a raffle, or see jewelry for sale. One person even won a pearl from an oyster. Those extras can be fun, but they are also part of a sales strategy. A $250 purchase can seem tempting in the moment, so decide in advance how you want to handle the stop.

I would not book this tour for the jewelry visit. Some people enjoy browsing, while others would rather have that time in San José del Cabo. If shopping is not your interest, use the stop as a break, enjoy the drink if offered, and avoid feeling obligated to buy.

Lunch at Jazmin’s in San José del Cabo

After the Cabo San Lucas portion, the vehicle heads to San José del Cabo for lunch. The meal at Jazmin’s is included, along with one drink such as lemonade, soda, or beer. Some accounts also describe a margarita being included, so the exact drink option may depend on the day or meal arrangement.

The restaurant is one of the tour’s pleasant surprises. The fixed menu offers several choices, and the food has received strong praise. Lunch comes after a morning of glasswork, walking, a boat ride, and tasting, so the timing makes practical sense.

The main caution is timing. One account describes lunch arriving around 3 p.m., which is late for some people. Eat a proper breakfast, and carry a snack if you tend to get hungry. Bottled water and sodas are included, but extra drinks at lunch cost more.

The long ride to San José del Cabo is also a point to consider. One person felt the drive was not worth making only for lunch, while others felt Jazmin’s and the town made the trip worthwhile. My view is that San José del Cabo is important to the day because it gives you a different setting from Cabo San Lucas, but the route will feel less efficient if your only interest is the meal.

Plaza Mijares and the older side of town

San José del Cabo’s Plaza Mijares is in the center of the historic district, near the old mission. The square has been renovated and provides an easy place to begin seeing the town on foot.

You receive roughly 20 to 30 minutes of free time, depending on the day’s pace. That is enough for a quick walk, a few photographs, and a look at the square. It is not enough for a slow town visit, extended shopping, or a relaxed meal followed by wandering.

This is where the tour’s schedule feels most restrictive. I like the chance to see San José del Cabo, but I would gladly trade some of the pearl-shop time for more time in the square. The town has a more relaxed feel than Cabo San Lucas, and you may want to explore its shops and restaurants instead of returning to the vehicle so soon.

If San José del Cabo is your main interest, book a separate visit or plan to return on your own. If you want a first look at both towns in one day, the short stop works well.

Guides can make or break the day

The guide has a major effect on a group tour like this. Lenin, also called Lenny in some accounts, is repeatedly praised for being friendly, funny, and informative. Luis Aguilar is also singled out for explaining local history, resources, and current life in the area. Lois receives similar praise for a warm manner and clear information.

The boat has its own crew and guide, so you may have two different personalities during the day. That is a plus because the boat guide often handles photographs, jokes, and details about the Arch while the main guide manages transportation and the larger route.

Not every experience is perfect. One account describes a poor first bus and another mentions a warm, full vehicle. A group can reach about 30 people, and one outing had 28. Vehicle comfort may vary, and you should expect a shared excursion rather than a small private van.

Pickup is offered from most Los Cabos hotels. Exact pickup times are confirmed before the activity, and several outings had prompt hotel pickups and drop-offs. If you are arriving by cruise ship, you are collected from a nearby hotel about five minutes from the dock, not directly at the ship. You must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking.

Who should book this Los Cabos tour?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants to cover the two main Cabo towns without arranging several separate bookings. It works especially well for couples, families, and friends who want a day with many different elements: craftwork, a boat ride, spirits, lunch, shopping, and a town square.

You will like it if you value convenience and want a guide to explain what you are seeing. The hotel pickup is useful, the boat ride is easy to add to the day, and lunch removes another planning task.

I would hesitate if you dislike shopping stops, crowded vehicles, late lunches, or fixed schedules. You may also prefer another option if your priority is a long, quiet visit to San José del Cabo or a longer boat excursion. This tour gives you a broad taste of Los Cabos, not a slow look at one place.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Poor weather can also lead to a new date or full refund, which matters because the boat portion depends on conditions.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the Arch, both Cabo towns, lunch, and tastings in one organized day. The boat ride is the clear highlight, and the glass factory, tequila presentation, and Jazmin’s meal give the day variety.

Skip it if you want a private pace or have no interest in commercial stops. If you do book, eat breakfast, bring sun protection, carry a little cash for the dock fee, and treat the jewelry visit as optional. For a first visit to Los Cabos, the package offers good value, as long as you accept that convenience comes with a fairly tight schedule.

FAQ

How long does the Los Cabos Deluxe City Tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours and begins around 8:00 a.m. Exact hotel pickup times are confirmed before the activity.

What is included in the $119 price?

The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off from most Los Cabos hotels, a bilingual guide, lunch with one drink, bottled water and sodas, tequila tasting, the clear-bottom boat ride, and tours of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

Is the dock fee included?

No. You must pay an additional dock fee of MXN 100, or about $5, per person at check-in.

Does the boat land at the Arch?

No. The boat cruises around the Arch and nearby rock formations. You view the landmark from the water and do not disembark there.

Are cruise ship passengers able to join the tour?

Yes. Cruise ship passengers are picked up from a hotel about five minutes from the cruise dock. When booking, you must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.