Calling all short-cruise travelers! When your trip is only a few days long, every stop matters. In Cabo San Lucas, you may only have a small window to explore, but with a little planning you can make the most of your time in port. This guide will walk you through tips and tricks to enjoy Cabo with ease.

But first, let’s get to know a bit about Cabo. I always love learning about the area before I visit—and I’m excited to share it with you.

Cabo San Lucas

Nicknamed “Cabo,” it sits at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. It was a quiet fishing village until a new paved road came about in the 1970s which opened Cabo to become the tourist town it is today.

Cabo has a small population of around 200,000, but the surrounding Los Cabos area, including San José del Cabo is close to 350,000 residents. The downtown itself is walkable, with most attractions based around the marina and downtown area.

Why do people come to Cabo? It is a cruise stop first off, and it is best known for their beaches and the iconic El Arco “the arch” rock formation (photo below). Cabo does have world-class diving and snorkeling, sport fishing, and whale watching during migration season. We even saw whales on the way to the port from the ship deck.

Every Cruise company will be different as they come and go to each port. I wrote this based off of the Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship and I assume other Carnival Cruise lines will be the same.

So let’s dive into navigating your trip.

Planning Your Cabo Escape from the Cruise ship

Tender Tickets – This is important!
Let’s start with getting your tender tickets, since this port requires a tender boat to get to shore. On our cruise, they called it a “water shuttle,” but whatever name they use, it’s the same thing. The key is to grab your tickets the day before you arrive.

If the ship says tickets are available from 5–8 PM the night before, show up about 5–10 minutes early. That way, you’ll have a better chance of getting into the first group off the ship. If you don’t care when you get off, it’s still worth showing up to grab a ticket so you’re not scrambling in the morning.

Now, if you booked your tour directly through the cruise line, you won’t need a tender ticket at all—the ship will handle that for you. Just make sure you’re on time and in the right place to meet your group in the morning.

Let’s look at an example for you really big planners. If you grabbed a tender ticket and it says Group 3, all you need to do is wait until your group is called over the ship’s speakers. Once they call your group, head to the clearly marked exit, board the tender (or shuttle, or water taxi—same thing!), and enjoy the quick 10-minute ride to shore.

Tours!
If you’re the type who likes to play it safe and make sure you get back on the ship, pre-book your tours through the cruise line. That way you’re guaranteed return times, and remember—the cruise waits for no one (except for tours booked directly through them).

Personally, we seldom book with the cruise company—their prices are much higher, and you often miss out on the local experience. When we do book early, I stick to my two favorites: Airbnb experiences and Get Your Guide. Between the two, we’ve booked over 25 tours and loved them.

When we visited Cabo, it wasn’t whale season, but we still spotted a few from the ship as we pulled into port. Locals told me this is actually one of the best spots for whale watching. So, if you’re looking for a memorable local adventure, that’s definitely something I’d recommend checking out.

The Pier

Once you step off the “water shuttle,” you’ll pass through a small Mexican military checkpoint where they quickly check your bag. After that, welcome to the pier—it’s busy, loud, and full of energy.

Be prepared: the moment you hit the walkway, you’ll feel like a celebrity walking the red carpet at the Oscars. Every vendor wants your attention, and they’re ready to sell you everything—dolphin tours, snorkeling, boat rides to the beach, kayaks, paddle boards, pirate ship tours to the Arch, and even camel rides. Their businesses run on tourists, so they’ll promise to have you back in time for your ship. Most of the time, that’s true—but make sure you double-check their schedule matches your cruise before you hand over your money.

Keep in mind, this port doesn’t give you a ton of time ashore. On our trip, the first water shuttle didn’t start running until 10:30 AM, and the last one back was 5:15 PM. Most tours leave right from the pier and drop you back there too, so unless you head out all the way to San José del Cabo, you don’t really need to stress about missing the boat.

If you’re like me and souvenir shopping is part of the fun, Cabo is a great stop. Right after the security checkpoint, turn left and walk about a minute—you’ll find a large covered indoor flea market packed with everything: shirts, hats, hoodies, Mexican vanilla, leather goods, magnets, and more. Just remember to haggle—they expect it. Prices can change, but I’ll share what we paid during our visit in fall 2023 to give you an idea of what to expect.

I was on the hunt for Mexican vanilla in a larger size (which you can bring back on the ship with no problem). Vendors usually start at $35–$40, but with a little bargaining I got them down to $25. When I said I’d shop around, they quickly dropped to $20. Most of the bottles are about the same quality, though vendors will try to tell you otherwise. We did find one place selling the big bottles for $10, but the quality was noticeably lower. That’s really up to you to decide. For comparison, I once bought the same size bottle in Rosarito, Mexico for $7, and it was authentic and high quality. These days, expect to pay closer to $20, or around $18 each if you buy multiples like I did.

Clothing is the same story. Hoodies start at $40 but you can usually work them down to about $20—just know they aren’t the best quality. T-shirts often start at $20 and drop to $10 once you bargain a little. Pro tip: the biggest discounts usually come when you start to walk away, so don’t be afraid to do it.

Downtown

If you decide to walk into the downtown area, it’s only about a 5-minute walk from the pier. The city center is very touristy, with restaurants and bars on almost every corner, plus plenty of shops (many selling the same souvenirs, which can get a little repetitive even for the best shoppers).

Now, the real challenge in any new city is figuring out where to eat. Blogs, Pinterest, or even asking around on the ship doesn’t always give you the best answers—and sometimes places have closed or don’t live up to the hype. My advice? Ask the locals once you’re in Cabo. A great trick is to talk to one of the biker taxi drivers and ask them to take you to their favorite taco spot. It’s a cheap ride, you don’t have to walk, and you’ll usually end up somewhere authentic that you never would’ve found on your own.

If you’d rather stay close to the pier, there are also plenty of casual spots within walking distance where you can grab tacos, fresh seafood, or a cold drink while you watch the action around the marina.

If you want to see more of the city, we paid $40 for an hour-long bike taxi tour. Our driver offered to stop at a few local spots along the way, which made it a lot more fun. We visited a glass-blowing shop, grabbed a treat at a local ice cream place, and even stopped at a local beach where we had time to walk in the sand and dip our feet in the water.

Outside the city

If you are looking for something outside of the city, take a 40 min drive from Cabo to the Flora Farms. It is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, a 25-acre organic working farm. A Farm to table experience, spa, grocery shopping and more. If you are looking for cooking classes there is no place better in the Cabo area since you would be cooking right in the heart of the farm. 

Returning to the Ship:

If you’re in Cabo on a busy port day, pay close attention to your specific cruise line—multiple ships can mean long lines, and you don’t want to accidentally end up in the wrong line returning to the ship.

Before boarding your water shuttle back, you’ll go through one final security screening. Once you’re back on the ship, you’ll go through the regular cruise security as well. If you purchased alcohol, it has to be checked and stored by the ship until your cruise ends. But don’t worry—your souvenir vanilla, sodas, and other non-alcoholic goodies are allowed back on board with you. Check your cruise line’s rules before packing food. Items like fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, and other perishables often need to be declared or checked, and rules can vary by ship.

Bonus Tips:

• Research Cabo in advance to identify specific interests and tailor your shore time accordingly.
• If you do not want to take a small boat to the Rock Arch but still want to see it, when you first arrive in the morning go on boat deck and capture your arch photos and you will get a great view.
• Carry cash for smaller purchases and haggling to get the best price (most of the shops do take credit card)
• Don’t be afraid to ask locals for recommendations – they’re often the best source of hidden gems!
• If you are Kayaking or paddle boarding to the iconic Cabo Rock Arch be prepared for bustling waters. It’s a fun experience, but consider alternatives if crowds aren’t your thing.

Whatever you do, we hope that you’ll create unforgettable memories on your Cabo cruise adventure.

¡Buen viaje!

As a Get Your Guide Affiliate I get a small portion from what you might book. And it is worth it.