Cabo Pulmo National Park at a glance
Cabo Pulmo is a marine national park on the Gulf of California side of Los Cabos, reached from San José del Cabo along the East Cape. It has been protected since 1995 and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California. Visitors come to snorkel and dive with a licensed guide.
There are two ways to book a Cabo Pulmo trip. You can join a full-day excursion with transport from Los Cabos, or drive yourself and book a shorter guided snorkel tour that starts in Cabo Pulmo. Both run with a guide, which is how the park expects visitors to go in the water.
Our picks: Cabo Pulmo
Take the day tour with transport if you do not want to drive, and the guided snorkelling if you already stay on the East Cape.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Cabo Pulmo snorkelling and kayaking from Los Cabos
- Return transport
- Park and beach fees
- Lunch included
A long day to the marine park with the return transport, park and beach fees, kayak, snorkel gear and a lunch at a local restaurant.
Check availability →Snorkelling in Cabo Pulmo National Park
- Guide and equipment
- National park fee
Three hours with a guide and gear, and the park fee is covered. The tour starts in Cabo Pulmo, so you drive there yourself.
Check availability →Cabo Pulmo snorkeling trips
A full-day snorkel and kayak trip with transport from Los Cabos, or a guided snorkel tour on site if you drive yourself.
Cabo Pulmo tours compared
The key difference is transport. One trip collects you in Los Cabos, the other starts in Cabo Pulmo.
| Trip type | Length | Included | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkel and kayak day trip from Los Cabos | About 8.5 hours | Guide, park and beach fees, double kayak and life jackets, mask, snorkel and fins, drinks and snacks, lunch | Return transport from Los Cabos |
| Guided snorkel tour in Cabo Pulmo | About 3 hours | Equipment, guide, national park fee | Not included: you drive to Cabo Pulmo |
The day trip from Los Cabos suits most visitors staying in San José del Cabo or on the Corridor: the drive is long and partly unpaved, and the fee, gear and lunch are covered. The on-site tour makes sense if you have a car, want to stay overnight on the East Cape or plan to combine Cabo Pulmo with other stops on the way. Alcoholic drinks and tips are extra on the day trip. More trips are on our Los Cabos excursions page.
Park fee, opening hours and the wristband
The park fee is MXN 125 per person per day as of 2026. It is a park fee only, not a snorkel package. Children under 12, older visitors, pensioners and people with disabilities are exempt with proof, so carry ID for children. Students and teachers get 75 percent off, Mexican visitors and foreign residents 50 percent.
When you have paid, you wear a wristband as proof of payment. Ask your guide or operator for it. Both tour types above include the park fee.
The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weather and port closures can still stop boats and water activities on a given day, so the hours are not a promise that your trip will go out.
Snorkeling rules in Cabo Pulmo
Cabo Pulmo is not a place to swim out to the reef on your own. The park sets clear rules.
Snorkeling
Go with a licensed captain and snorkel guide. A guide takes at most 8 swimmers, life jackets are required and each snorkel session lasts at most 30 minutes.
Scuba diving in Cabo Pulmo
Certified divers go in groups of at most 6 per guide, with dives of up to 50 minutes. Keep 2.5 m from corals and rocks. Read our Los Cabos diving guide for dive sites closer to San José and Cabo San Lucas.
Wildlife and sunscreen
Do not touch, chase or feed animals, do not take anything from the water and use no flash when watching sharks. The park asks for biodegradable sunscreen.
The reef and the recovery of fish
Cabo Pulmo is known for the recovery of its fish stocks. A 2011 study found that fish biomass in the park had grown by 463 percent. That figure describes the state at the time of the study, not today. Big schools of fish are possible, but no trip can promise them on every swim.
The park covers 7,111.01 ha on the Gulf coast of Los Cabos. It was declared a national marine park on 6 June 1995 and became a national park on 7 June 2000. It was inscribed in 2005 as part of the serial UNESCO World Heritage site for the Gulf of California islands and protected areas.
Getting to Cabo Pulmo from San José del Cabo
It is 98.1 km from San José del Cabo and 167 km from La Paz. From the San José airport the drive takes about 2 hours, with the last 30 minutes on an unpaved road. The usual route follows Highway 1 past Santiago, then turns via Las Cuevas and La Ribera to the coast.
The southern coastal track is not always passable for every rental car. If you drive, ask your rental company about unpaved roads and check conditions before you set out; our airport guide covers car rental at SJD. For other trips up the coast, see our day trips from Los Cabos.
If you are staying in Cabo San Lucas, the sister guide covers Cabo Pulmo from Cabo San Lucas as well.
Cabo Pulmo FAQ
How much is the Cabo Pulmo park fee?
MXN 125 per person per day as of 2026. Children under 12 and some other groups are exempt with proof. Both tours shown here include the fee.
Can I snorkel in Cabo Pulmo without a guide?
Park rules call for snorkelers to go with a licensed captain and guide, with life jackets and at most 8 swimmers per guide. Plan a guided trip.
How long is the drive from San José del Cabo?
About 2 hours from the airport area, with the last 30 minutes unpaved. The distance from San José del Cabo is 98.1 km.
Is a day trip from Los Cabos enough?
Yes. The day trip from Los Cabos takes about 8.5 hours with transport, snorkeling, kayaking and lunch. Stay on the East Cape if you want more time.
Will I see big schools of fish?
They are possible, as the park is known for its recovery, but sightings depend on the day and conditions. No trip can promise them.
What is the wristband for?
It shows that you paid the park fee. Ask your guide for it and wear it visibly on your wrist.