Snorkel & Explore Pelican Rock by Glass Boat + Photos

Cabo works best when you split your day between wildlife and time to roam. This glass-bottom boat outing takes you to El Arco, then to Pelican Rock for guided snorkeling in a spot only reachable by boat. The price is $125, and for many people the value comes from the combo of big-name sights plus actual time in the water.

I especially like how the crew builds in an easy sightseeing flow: you get sea lions and rock formations along the ride, then you snorkel with a guide right there. I also like the fact that you leave with underwater photos on a disc plus a souvenir snorkel tube. The main drawback to keep in mind is that snorkeling time can feel short compared with the tour title, and a few past guests felt the rest of the day leaned a bit hard into shopping stops.

Key takeaways before you go

• Pelican Rock is boat-only so you’re not doing a generic shore snorkel
• Guides stay with you during snorkeling and help with safety and gear
• Underwater photo CD and souvenirs make it feel more like an activity than just a ride
• El Arco + sea lions from the glass boat gives you wildlife even if water time is brief
• Lunch and snack setup varies by departure time, so start hungry and don’t assume a specific sandwich
• Group size stays small (max 30), which usually helps with getting gear on and off quickly

El Arco and Pelican Rock: why this day feels like two trips

If you’re in San Jose del Cabo and you want your Cabo day to feel efficient, this tour hits a sweet spot. You start with the famous rocks of Land’s End and the chance to spot sea lions up close, then you shift gears to snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez’s shallower life zone at Pelican Rock. It’s not just a sightseeing loop with a quick water stop.

What makes the combo work is pacing. The boat portion gives you views while you travel, and you’re still in the action when you arrive at each site. Then snorkeling is guided, not a free-for-all, so first-timers usually feel more comfortable.

What you’ll likely see around El Arco

At El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, you’ll cruise past the arch and rock formations, and you may catch colonies of sea lions from the boat. Even when snorkeling isn’t the whole story of your day, this leg gives you classic Cabo scenery without effort on your part.

One review mentioned that on a whale-spotting day, people saw whales on the boat ride. That kind of wildlife luck isn’t guaranteed, but it fits the area you’re traveling through.

Glass-bottom boat ride: the view-first part of the tour

You’ll start with hotel pickup (air-conditioned vehicle) and head to the Los Cabos Marina to board the glass-bottom boat. The ride over is part of the point. You’re traveling on the Sea of Cortez, and the glass bottom helps you track the coastline and marine life without waiting to get suited up.

A few practical notes that matter once you’re on the boat:

• Go in ready for sun and salt. Even if you’re not swimming yet, you’ll spend time exposed.
• Keep an eye on how the crew handles distributing gear. Some guests noted that gear prep can take a bit once you arrive at the snorkeling site, which affects how quickly everyone gets into the water.

The most consistent compliment in reviews is that the captains and guides take safety seriously. Names that came up include Aurelio and Bravlio, and also Edson and Jonathan. In at least a couple stories, the guide stayed close and helped less-confident swimmers feel secure.

Stop 1: El Arco de Cabo San Lucas and the sea lion show

The El Arco portion is designed to give you the iconic Land’s End look with minimal hassle. You’ll hop on the boat, cruise the rock formations, and pass the arch area that makes Cabo instantly recognizable.

Here’s what I think you should watch for as you go:

• Sea lions lounging near the rocks. On calmer days, they can be unreasonably close for a “boat tour” experience.
• Rock formations that look different from the waterline than from shore.
• The guide’s narration, if your departure includes it. People highlighted narration as a strong point, especially around the marine area and rock features.

Time-wise, El Arco is listed at about 55 minutes. In real life, that can feel like just the right amount if you’re also planning to snorkel afterward without turning your day into one long waiting game.

Stop 2: Pelican Rock snorkeling and what “guided” really means

The star of the day is Pelican Rock, a snorkeling spot described as exclusive and reachable only by boat. This is where you get your guided swim and where most of the marine-life magic happens.

Snorkeling gear you get

The tour includes sanitized snorkeling equipment: mask/visor, snorkel tube, fins, and a flotation vest. That matters. If you’ve ever rented gear that felt worn out or ill-fitting, you know it can ruin the first minutes of snorkeling.

Your guide stays by you and points out what you’re seeing. Reviews and the tour description both highlight that the guide will help you look for tropical fish and other sea life such as sea stars, sea cucumbers, urchins, stingrays, seahorses, and crabs. People also mentioned puffer fish and octopus in their sightings.

How long you’re in the water

The itinerary lists about 55 minutes for Pelican Rock snorkeling. That’s enough time to see a lot if conditions are clear and the water isn’t rough. Still, a few negative reviews complained that snorkeling felt short compared with the overall tour length, or that time got eaten up by gear preparation after arriving.

If your top priority is maximizing time underwater, this is the part you should judge most carefully. The title emphasizes snorkeling, but the day also includes sightseeing and shopping, so you’re doing a full mixed agenda.

Water conditions can change the experience

Even with the best guides, the sea has its own opinions. One guest reported jellyfish in the area, and the crew kept the group in a smaller area for safety. That’s a real example of the tradeoff you get in protected, living waters: visibility and animal life are great until they aren’t.

If you’re worried about ocean comfort, consider this a “moderate fitness” activity and plan to move at a relaxed pace.

Stop 3: Cabo San Lucas time for tequila tasting and shopping

After snorkeling, the tour shifts into a land-based break in Cabo San Lucas. You get tequila tasting and shopping time. The itinerary frames this as about 55 minutes.

A side trip into a flea market is also mentioned. This part isn’t about marine life. It’s about giving you a window to shop and do quick Cabo browsing without thinking too hard about logistics.

Lunch and snacks: what’s included, and what to watch for

Lunch is provided with a mix that sounds solid: deli-style items like a baguette, plus fruit, chips, cookies, and bottled water. The inclusions also list snacks such as a granola bar and juice.

That said, one review raised a real-world warning about departure timing. A guest who booked the earliest snorkeling time said they expected a baguette sandwich after snorkeling but received a salad and water instead, with the driver telling them they had been given breakfast earlier. I can’t tell you your exact meal will match that, but I can tell you this: if you care about getting a specific sandwich after the swim, treat the listed lunch as the baseline expectation, not a guaranteed timing promise.

Beach time

You also get free time at a beach area. Reviews mention lunch on Lover’s Beach for some departures, which fits the common Cabo pattern of finishing near a beach break. Even if you don’t swim again, this is your chance to dry off, refill, and reset your body after time in the water.

Photo CD and the snorkel tube: getting proof you were there

One reason people book this tour is that you don’t just get a memory in your head. You get photos from the boat and underwater activity.

The tour description says you’ll receive a CD of digital images and a souvenir snorkel tube. In reviews, guests praised the effort by guides and photographers—people specifically mentioned photo capture and even video, and some said the captain or guide went back down during the return to photograph wildlife like manta rays.

There are also downsides to note. A couple reviews complained about the photo delivery format or that the delivered image set didn’t match expectations. If photos matter a lot to you, it’s worth going into it with a small amount of patience and knowing it’s a delivered media item, not an instant shared album.

Price and value: when $125 makes sense

At $125 per person, the math usually comes down to whether you value the combo:

• Glass-bottom sightseeing to El Arco and marine rock areas
• A guided snorkeling stop at Pelican Rock
• Included snorkeling gear
• Lunch/snacks
• Photo CD plus a souvenir

For many travelers, that combination is exactly what they want: one paid day that covers transportation, guide support, and food, without you having to plan a multi-stop marine day yourself.

But there’s a fair caveat. If you’re paying mostly for extended time in the water, a few past guests felt the snorkeling portion didn’t deliver enough swim time relative to the total agenda. If you know you’ll be disappointed by a shorter swim window, then this may be better as a sightseeing-plus-snorkeling “Cabo sampler” than as a pure snorkeling marathon.

What pushes value higher

The reviews repeatedly praise:

• Guides and captains who help with safety
• Clear water days where you see lots of fish
• Personal touches like fun music onboard (mentioned in one review) and quick photo attention

Those details can turn a standard snorkeling morning into a day you actually remember.

Small group feel and who it suits best

This tour is capped at 30 travelers, which is the kind of limit that usually helps with managing gear and keeping the group together. You may also see your departure run with fewer people, and one review described a near-private feel when only two people booked that time slot.

Great fit for

• Couples and families who want wildlife + an easy format
• First-time snorkelers who prefer a guide staying close
• People who like having food and photo deliverables included

Think twice if

• Your #1 goal is maximizing underwater minutes with no other agenda
• You’re very sensitive to schedule shifts (gear prep and sea conditions can affect how quickly people enter the water)
• You expect the lunch timing and menu to match perfectly for every time slot, including early departures

Should you book this Pelican Rock glass-boat tour?

I’d book it if you want a well-rounded Los Cabos day: El Arco sights from the boat, then a guided snorkeling stop at Pelican Rock with included gear and a photo souvenir at the end. It’s also a good match if you like the idea of seeing sea life while you travel, not only after you’re in the water.

I’d pause and compare alternatives if you’re traveling with the mindset that snorkeling should eat up most of the five hours. The tour is structured as an all-in-one Cabo day, and the snorkeling window is real but not huge.

If you do book, show up with two expectations locked in: the crew’s safety focus and the idea that the day is a mix. With that mindset, $125 can feel like a fair way to tick the Cabo wildlife boxes and still get a proper beach-and-town reset after.

FAQ

Is pickup available for this tour?

Yes. You’re picked up from your hotel lobby, and the ride includes an air-conditioned vehicle.

What snorkeling equipment is included?

You’ll get snorkeling gear that’s listed as sanitized, including a visor or mask, snorkel tube, fins, and a flotation vest.

How long do you spend snorkeling at Pelican Rock?

Pelican Rock is scheduled at about 55 minutes.

Do you get photos and souvenirs?

Yes. You receive digital photos on a CD and a souvenir snorkel tube.

Is there lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and snacks are included, with items listed such as a baguette lunch, fruit, chips, cookies, and bottled water (and other snacks depending on what’s packaged for your departure).

What time options are available?

Departure times are listed as 9am, 11am, and 1pm.