Kayaking Médano Beach & Land's End

The honest truth about kayaking in Cabo

Kayaking in Cabo is two different sports: the mellow morning paddle on glassy Médano Bay (easy, scenic, great for beginners), and the open-water paddle to Land's End and the Arch (a real workout with Pacific chop, guide-recommended). Both are worth doing, but they're different bookings — don't sign up for the Arch paddle thinking it's a lazy float. The coastline from water level, with pelicans skimming the surface and the cliffs rising overhead, is the most underrated perspective in Los Cabos.

The two trips

Médano Bay paddle (1.5–2 hours, $40–60). Launch from the beach, paddle the calm bay, snorkel stop, back. Beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, and the water is usually glassy before 10 AM. This is the one for a relaxed morning.

Land's End / Arch expedition (3–4 hours, $60–90 guided). Paddle from the marina area out past the Arch, into the Pacific swells and back. Real exercise, real ocean conditions, and the Arch from water level with no engine noise — the best Arch photos you'll take. Book guided unless you're an experienced ocean kayaker; the currents around Land's End are not intuitive.

Sunset paddles split the difference — golden light, calmer evening water, back before dark. Lovely, and often the same price as the morning trip.

What it costs (typical 2026 prices)

• Beach kayak rental (hourly, Médano): $20–30 per hour, single or double
• Guided bay tour with snorkel stop: $50–70 per person
• Guided Arch expedition: $70–100 per person
• Stand-up paddleboard rental: $20–25 per hour (the bay is a SUP paradise before 10 AM)

How to pick

1. Guided vs. rental: if you're going past the marina breakwater, go guided. Inside Médano Bay, a rental is fine for anyone comfortable on the water.
2. Double kayaks for couples/families — more stable, and the weaker paddler doesn't suffer alone.
3. Check the wind forecast. Afternoon corridor winds (12–20 mph) turn a pleasant paddle into a grind. Morning is the window; after 11 AM the bay belongs to the wind.
4. Snorkel combo — the guided tours that include a snorkel stop at a bay reef are the best value; you get two activities in one morning.

What to bring

Swimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen (reapply — the reflection off the water doubles exposure), a hat with a strap, water in a bottle you can clip down, and a dry bag for your phone. Wear the life vest — the tour provides it, and the Arch expedition crosses boat traffic. Water shoes help for the rocky put-ins outside Médano.

Good to know

• The 8 AM launch is the golden ticket: glassy water, no wind, pelicans and rays active, and you're back for breakfast. By noon it's a different ocean.
• You will get wet — dress for it. "I thought we'd stay dry" is the #1 rookie misconception.
• Whale season (Dec–Apr): kayakers get the closest legal whale encounters in Cabo — a humpback surfacing 100 yards from a kayak is a religious experience. Keep your distance, stay quiet, enjoy it.
• The Arch expedition passes the sea lion colony — they'll swim up to the kayaks, bark, and show off. It's the highlight for kids.
• Don't attempt the Pacific side (Divorce Beach direction) in a rental kayak — the surf and currents are serious. That's guided-expedition territory.

Frequently asked questions