Boat Tours in Los Cabos

The themes of Los Cabos boat tours vary, but all tours follow essentially the same route: through Bahía Cabo San Lucas, past El Arco and the sea-lion colony, around Land's End into the Pacific Ocean, and then eastward through the Sea of Cortez along the Corridor. Costs run about $40-$50 per person; all tours include an open bar and some offer lunch and snorkel tours.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo Adventures (Blvd. Paseo de la Marina, Lote 7a, Marina Cabo San Lucas. 624/173-9500 or 866/393-5255. www.cabo-adventures.com and www.cabodolphins.com) is has a three-hour sailing trip on genuine America's Cup yachts, during which the crew will teach you some basic sailing maneuvers, or you can simply sit back and enjoy the scenery—the boats pass Lover's Arch.

Winter-season whale-watching in the Sea of Cortez with Cabo Expeditions (Tesoro Hotel. 624/143-2700) is done from small, customized, inflatable Zodiac boats that allow passengers to get close to gray and humpback whales. At times the whales even approach the boats with their babies. Fourteen passengers are allowed per tour.

The 60-foot sailboat Encore (JT Water Sports, Playa Médano. 624/144-4066 or 624/147-5328) carries 25 passengers maximum. Whale-watching tours are offered in the morning from January to March, and sunset cruises are offered throughout the year. Encore tours are more sedate than those on the party boats.

The Jungle Cruise (Tesoro Hotel dock. 624/143-7530 or 624/143-8150) is both a snorkeling tour boat as well as your typical afternoon booze cruise, complete with loud reggae and other party music. It attracts a twenty- to thirty-something crowd and heads out at 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 6 PM to 8 PM in summer (5 PM to 7 PM in winter months).

Kaleidoscope (Marina near the Marina Fiesta Hotel. 624/148-7318) is a luxurious, 100-foot power catamaran with comfortable seating inside and out. The whale-watching tour (10 AM to 12:30 PM and the sunset cruise (5 to 7 are geared toward couples and families.

The double-decker party boat Oceanus (Blvd. Marina, Tesoro Hotel Dock 4. 624/143-1059 or 624/143-3929. www.oceanusloscabos.com.mx) has snorkel cruises from 11 AM to 3 PM and a sunset cruise with a live band. It leaves at 5 PM (6 PM in summer) from the main dock in Cabo San Lucas. You can rent the Oceanus for birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions.

Pez Gato (Tesoro Hotel dock. 624/143-3797. www.pezgatocabo.com) has two 42-foot catamarans, Pez Gato I and Pez Gato II. They have snorkeling cruises, a romantic sunset cruise, or the rowdier "booze cruise." Sunset cruises depart every day except Tuesday, from 5 to 7. A whale-watching cruise sails daily from 10:30 AM to 1:30 and 2 PM to 4 PM, from January through March.

Cruises on the remarkable Pirate Ship (Tesoro Hotel dock. 624/143-4050. www.pirateshipcabo.com.mx), built in 1885, are ideal for families with children. Deckhands dressed in pirate garb let kids help hoist the sail and tie knots while they learn about the rich history of pirates in Cabo San Lucas. There's even a working cannon on board. The whale-watching trip uses hydrophones to listen to the whales' song. The 105-foot ship can hold 150 people. It sails from 10:30 to 1 and includes hot dogs and hamburgers. The two-hour sunset cruise departs at 5 from Monday through Saturday. Kids under age 12 ride free.

Flutter By

Walk amid hundreds of butterflies at Sia Tikuva,a butterfly farm. Learn about the life of the flitting mariposas, and the magnificent flight of the monarchs here in the Baja Peninsula and Mexico. Have them alight on your face, hands, and shoulders. And let them tickle your fancy. Ocotillo 1701, near the San José hotel beaches. 624/105-2414 or 624/122-2955. www.siatikuva.com.