Santa Maria Bay
Cabo San Lucas
Santa Maria Bay is one of the most pristine natural environments in Los Cabos — a crescent-shaped bay protected by its own geography from the swells and currents that affect much of the coastline in this region. The water inside the bay is consistently calm, warm, and extraordinarily clear. On a good day, visibility beneath the surface reaches 20 to 30 meters, making it one of the finest snorkel sites in all of Mexico.
The bay is classified as a protected marine sanctuary, which means fishing and certain other activities are restricted here. This protection has allowed the underwater ecosystem to thrive largely undisturbed. The coral formations at Santa Maria Bay — while not the dramatic reef structures found in the Caribbean — provide a complex habitat for a remarkable diversity of marine life: sea turtles, manta rays, moray eels, schools of tropical fish in blues and yellows and greens, and octopus tucked beneath rock overhangs. It is a genuinely wild and beautiful underwater environment.
Above the waterline, Santa Maria Bay is equally impressive. The bay is framed by dramatic rocky headlands and desert hillside typical of Baja California Sur. The beach itself is largely undeveloped — no vendors, no beach clubs, no infrastructure. When you arrive here on a private charter, the bay often feels completely deserted. That quality of solitude, in one of the most beautiful natural bays in Mexico, is exactly what distinguishes a yacht charter from a resort beach experience.
Protected water,
extraordinary marine life
The snorkeling at Santa Maria Bay is consistently cited by guests as the highlight of their Cabo charter. The water temperature is warm year-round — typically between 22°C and 28°C (72°F–82°F) — and the clarity means you can see the bottom in considerable depth even without diving. Sea turtles are a common sight, and they are generally relaxed in the presence of snorkelers, often gliding slowly along the surface without any urgency.
The rocky headlands at each end of the bay create particularly rich snorkel environments where the reef meets the cliff face. Here, the fish populations are densest and the variety is greatest — parrotfish grinding away at coral, triggerfish defending their territory, and moray eels peering out from crevices. If you're lucky, you may spot a spotted eagle ray cruising through the bay in the open water.
Snorkel equipment is included on all Private Yachting Club charters. Our crew will help guests with equipment fitting and entry into the water. The depth profile at Santa Maria Bay is gentle — the reef begins in just a few meters of water and slopes gradually deeper, making it appropriate for snorkelers of all experience levels including children and non-swimmers who simply want to float and observe.
Santa Maria Bay
by private charter
Santa Maria Bay is located approximately 30 minutes east of Cabo San Lucas Marina by yacht. Most charters that include Santa Maria Bay combine it with a stop at Chileno Bay further east, or incorporate a pass around Land's End and El Arco on the return. This creates a full-day itinerary that covers the finest snorkel sites and most dramatic landmarks of the Los Cabos coastline in a single trip.
Because Santa Maria Bay is a protected sanctuary, only authorized charter operators are permitted to bring guests here. All Private Yachting Club vessels are fully licensed and authorized to anchor in the bay. Your crew handles all the logistics of anchoring safely and deploying snorkel gear, so guests can focus entirely on the experience of being in this extraordinary place.
