Los Cabos 2 Bays Kayak & Snorkel at Santa Maria & Chileno Bay
Description
Although located only a short distance apart, Santa Maria Bay and Chileno Bay offer noticeably different marine environments. Santa Maria's horseshoe-shaped cove provides natural protection from prevailing swell, while Chileno Bay is known for its extensive rocky reef habitat. Traveling between the two by kayak offers a perspective of the coastline unavailable from shore, while snorkeling reveals the underwater ecosystems that make the Sea of Cortez one of the world's most celebrated marine environments. Experiencing both bays in a single outing provides a broader appreciation of the coastal diversity found along the Los Cabos shoreline.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Paddle along the Sea of Cortez coastline between both protected bays while enjoying volcanic cliffs, turquoise water, and scenic marine landscapes. Approx. paddle time: 40–50 minutes total depending on ocean conditions
Arrive at Chileno Bay for guided snorkeling in one of the most protected reef areas in Los Cabos. Snorkeling is done directly from the beach and shoreline reef areas — no boats involved. Approx. time: 30–40 minutes Admission included
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
• Complimentary round-trip transportation is available from hotels in Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, and the Tourist Corridor • If your hotel is not listed, feel free to contact us so we can check transportation availability for your area • Guests arriving with their own vehicle may meet at Plaza Gali OXXO or directly at Santa Maria Beach, where the experience begins • Hotels outside the main tourist area, including Hard Rock, Nobu, Rancho San Lucas, Diamante, or Four Seasons, are not included in complimentary transportation and will meet at Plaza Gali OXXO in Cabo San Lucas • Cruise guests will also meet at Plaza Gali OXXO, approximately 3–5 minutes walking from the marina exit. Detailed walking directions will be provided with your confirmation message • Cabo San Lucas cruise arrivals operate using tender boats, which may take additional time depending on port operations. We strongly recommend taking the earliest tender available or booking priority tender service whenever possible • Guests who miss transportation or arrive late must arrive directly at Santa Maria Beach before the activity start time at their own expense
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 6 years old
- Guests receive exact meeting or pick-up instructions within 24 hours after booking through the Viator operator chat. If not received, please contact us at least 24 hours before your tour
- Maximum waiting time after scheduled meeting or pick-up time is 5 minutes
- Cut-off times are based on local experience time
- No boats are used — the experience begins directly from the beach
- Wetsuits available upon request during winter months in XL, LG, M, and SM
- Maximum combined weight on tandem kayaks is 195 kg / 425 lbs
- Kayaking requires basic fitness and comfort in the water
- Conditions between Santa Maria and Chileno Bay may vary daily. If crossing conditions are not ideal, the experience may remain within one protected bay while still enjoying kayaking, snorkeling, and beach time. Partial refunds are not provided for ocean-condition route adjustments
- This experience requires favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to unsafe weather, ocean conditions, or operational restrictions, guests will be offered an alternative date or full refund
- No locker facilities are available, but belongings may usually remain inside the transportation vehicle during the activity
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems, pregnancy, or serious heart conditions
- Participants under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not allowed
- Medical refund requests require an official same-day doctor’s certificate and prior notification before activity start time
Reviews(677)
Very good experience! Emilio was friendly and helpful. Just the right length of tour. Thanks.
Hi there, Thank you so much for your review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the Two Bays Kayak & Snorkel Adventure and that the experience felt just right. Emilio will be very happy to hear your kind words. His friendly attitude, local knowledge, and commitment to making guests feel comfortable are a big part of what makes these adventures so enjoyable. We love that you appreciated the pace of the tour. Santa María and Chileno Bay offer a perfect combination of kayaking, snorkeling, beautiful scenery, and marine life without feeling rushed. Thank you for choosing High Tide Los Cabos. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to Baja California Sur for another adventure soon! High Tide Los Cabos 🐠🚣♂️☀️
I had an amazing time on this kayaking and snorkeling trip! The guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel safe and comfortable throughout the excursion. The kayaking route offered beautiful scenery, crystal-clear water, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature. The snorkeling was the highlight of the trip. We saw colorful fish, interesting marine life, and enjoyed excellent visibility underwater. The equipment was clean and well-maintained, and the guides pointed out things we might have otherwise missed. Everything was well organized from start to finish, making for a fun and stress-free experience. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an exciting outdoor adventure, whether you’re a beginner or experienced with kayaking and snorkeling. Definitely a memorable experience and one of the highlights of my vacation!
Hi there, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! We're absolutely delighted to hear that your Two Bays Kayak & Snorkel Adventure was one of the highlights of your vacation in Los Cabos. Santa María Cove and Chileno Bay are two of the most beautiful snorkeling locations in Baja California Sur, and we're so happy you were able to experience the crystal-clear waters, colorful marine life, and incredible coastal scenery that make this part of the Sea of Cortez so special. We're especially glad you felt safe, comfortable, and well cared for throughout the experience. Our guides work hard to create adventures that are not only fun and exciting, but also educational and welcoming for guests of all experience levels. Whether it's helping first-time kayakers feel confident on the water or pointing out marine life that might otherwise go unnoticed, those small moments often become the most memorable parts of the day. It’s wonderful to hear that the snorkeling exceeded expectations as well. Excellent visibility, healthy reefs, and abundant marine life are exactly what make snorkeling in Los Cabos such a unique experience. Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing High Tide Los Cabos. If you enjoyed the marine life and underwater world of Chileno and Santa María, we think you'd absolutely love a future adventure to Cabo Pulmo, one of the most spectacular marine reserves in North America. We hope to welcome you back to Baja California Sur again soon! High Tide Los Cabos
Mono was an incredible guide. Taking us snorkeling, kayaking and telling us all about the fish and land. Highly recommend!
Hi there, Thank you so much for your review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your kayaking and snorkeling adventure at Santa María Cove and Chileno Bay. José Luis López, better known as "Monito," will be very happy to hear your kind words. One of the things that makes him such a great guide is his passion for sharing not only the marine life of the Sea of Cortez, but also the natural history, geography, and unique ecosystems that make Los Cabos such a special destination. The Two Bays experience is one of our favorite outdoor adventures in Baja California Sur because it combines kayaking, snorkeling, beautiful coastal scenery, and incredible wildlife all in one tour. We’re glad Monito helped bring those places to life for you and made the experience both fun and educational. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing High Tide Los Cabos. If you enjoyed learning about the fish and marine environment, we think you would absolutely love a future snorkeling adventure to Cabo Pulmo, one of the most spectacular marine parks in North America. High Tide Los Cabos
Fernando and Mauri were great guides! Took us on a wavy but very doable kayak out to see the arch and then back to snorkel off the beach.
Hi there, Thank you so much for your review! We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed your kayaking and snorkeling adventure around the Arch in Cabo San Lucas. Fernando and Maury Sanchez will be very happy to hear your kind words. Ocean conditions in the Sea of Cortez can sometimes bring a little extra adventure with the waves, but we’re glad the experience still felt fun, manageable, and enjoyable for your group. Paddling out near El Arco and then snorkeling from the beach is such a classic Los Cabos experience, especially when you get that mix of beautiful scenery, ocean energy, and marine life all in one morning. Thank you again for joining us, and next time you’re back in Baja California Sur, you’d probably really enjoy our Paddle Board & Snorkel tour for another fun way to explore the Cabo coastline. High Tide Los Cabos
The seas were rough so our tour guides suggested a change to snorkel and kayak by the arch since the sea was less rough there. It was a great alternative, which felt safe and still offered a great experience! They offered water and shade and guided us while snorkeling and kayaking. Really fun time!
Hi there, Thank you so much for your review! We’re really happy to hear you still had such a great time despite the rougher ocean conditions that day. One thing that’s very important to us at High Tide Los Cabos is adapting our Cabo adventure tours to the safest and best possible conditions for our guests. We’re glad the alternative kayaking and snorkeling experience around the Arch in Cabo San Lucas ended up being a fun and memorable option for your group. Our guides always try to find the best combination of safety, ocean conditions, marine life, and overall experience in the Sea of Cortez, while still keeping the adventure exciting and enjoyable. We’re also happy to hear you appreciated the shade, water, and guidance throughout the tour. Thank you again for trusting us with your Baja California Sur adventure, and next time you’re back in Los Cabos, you’d probably really enjoy one of our private snorkeling tours or paddle board experiences around Land’s End as well. High Tide Los Cabos
Great tour, our guides were wonderful and even helped me out to snorkel though I was terrified of doing it but glad I did. A great experience, thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. Reviews like this are especially meaningful because we know getting into the water for the first time can feel intimidating for many people. We’re really happy to hear our guides helped you feel comfortable enough to try snorkeling and that you ended up enjoying it. That’s honestly one of our favorite parts of these tours at Santa María and Chileno Bay — watching guests go from nervous to excited once they realize how calm, beautiful, and full of life the Sea of Cortez can be. The glass bottom kayaking combined with snorkeling makes this experience such a fun way to explore Los Cabos from a different perspective, especially around the protected bays where visibility and marine life are often incredible. Even for guests who are unsure at first, those first moments seeing tropical fish underwater usually turn into the highlight of the trip. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with the guide team. Creating safe, patient, and supportive outdoor adventures in Baja California Sur is a huge part of what we care about at High Tide Los Cabos. Next time you’re back in Cabo San Lucas, we think you’d really enjoy our snorkeling tour to Cabo Pulmo or even the Arch kayak adventure if you’d like another fun ocean experience with a little more exploring along the coastline. Thank you again for trusting us and for pushing past the fear to enjoy the adventure. High Tide Los Cabos
So much fun!!!! Experiencing Cabo on a kayak and snorkel was perfect. Javi and Sol were the best!
Hi there, Thank you so much for your awesome review! We’re really happy to hear you had so much fun experiencing Cabo San Lucas by kayak and snorkel—it’s one of the best ways to enjoy the Sea of Cortez and the beautiful coastline. Javi and Sol will be stoked to hear your kind words. They always work hard to make every kayaking and snorkeling adventure fun, safe, and memorable. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another Los Cabos adventure soon! High Tide Los Cabos
Javi and Sol were the best tour guides!
Hi there, Thank you so much for your review! We’re really glad you had such a great day kayaking and exploring the beautiful bays of Cabo San Lucas. Javi and Sol will be very happy to hear your kind words—they always bring great energy and make the experience fun, safe, and memorable out on the water. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another kayaking and snorkeling adventure in Los Cabos! High Tide Los Cabos
We had the best experience on our private kayak excursion with our guide, Maury, leading the way! He was so personable from the start when he picked us up at our hotel all the way to our destination in Cabo San Lucas. He told us of his outdoor experiences during the drive there which were so fascinating and interesting, as well as some of the Mexican history of the area. Once we reached our destination, he was patient, kind and helpful in getting us all set up to launch into the water. The history of the Sea of Cortez was explained to us especially regarding the three cruise ships that were docked and all that occurred to get them docked safely without damaging the area. We continued our journey to the Arch and not only did Maury’s history lesson continue, but he used his photography skills to get some great photos of us in front of it (we just loved the photos Maury!). On our return back we learned of Lover’s Beach (and on the flip side, Divorce Beach), before stopping to snorkel near rock formations to view the underwater wild life (Maury, I really appreciated your patience and helpfulness as I got reacquainted with snorkeling as this old gal needed help!). Whether you need a water guide or a hiking land guide, the skills of Maury cannot be beat! Thank you for the wonderful memories of our trip to Mexico! Christy and Brian, Pittsburgh, PA
Hi Christy and Brian, Wow—thank you so much for such an incredible and thoughtful review! We’re truly happy to hear that your private kayak and snorkel experience turned into such a memorable part of your trip. Maury will absolutely love reading this. He puts so much passion into every tour—from sharing local history and stories during the drive, to making sure everyone feels comfortable on the water, and of course capturing those special moments along the way. It sounds like you really got the full experience, from the Arch to Lover’s Beach and snorkeling along the rocks—and we’re especially glad Maury could help make the snorkeling enjoyable and accessible. That’s what it’s all about. Thank you again for trusting us with your adventure and for such kind words. We hope to welcome you back to Los Cabos for another unforgettable experience in the future! High Tide Los Cabos
Maury and Pedro were excellent hosts and guides. Wonderful experience. A must do in Cabo.
Hi there, Thank you so much for your review! We’re really glad you had such a wonderful experience exploring the two bays. Maury and Pedro will be happy to hear your kind words—they always aim to create a fun and memorable time out on the water. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again for another Cabo adventure! High Tide Los Cabos
