Cabo San Lucas - Help with Planning

[riffatsea]

Very few tour operators expect cruisers to have pesos in Cabo!!

We're probably one of the few couples that have them since we live in San Diego and the border is so close!!

You will be find using USA$$S.

[Mike45LC]

On 9/2/2019 at 8:59 AM, Ombud said:

makes me wonder if I can just pay in USD when I get off the tender. Can I just wing it or do I need to pre-reserve? I won't have pesos 

 

I just "wing it" and you pay in US dollars.  Most of the hawkers will be quoting you in $US.  I pay the hawker and he escorts us to the boat. 

 

Others can chime in, but I usually pay $10 pp for the boat ride.  I've paid as little as $8 pp, but the $2 difference doesn't really matter much to me so I don't fight the price too hard!

 

Decide before you get to the dock if you want just the round-trip out to Los Arcos or if you want to be left off at Medano Beach on the way back.  I have done it both ways.  I have also paid a few dollars extra to be dropped off at Puerto Pariaso Mall instead of near the tender dock -- supposedly, there is a $2.50 per person fee from the port authorities for that.

 

There is no need for pesos in Cabo.  But I usually have pesos for things not negotiated in dollars.   As I have said elsewhere in this forum, the easiest way for me to collect pesos is to pay in US$ at the OXXO store and get my change back in pesos.  They have a decent (not great) exchange rate.  Because I do the Mex Riviera cruise frequently, I simply cache my pesos for the next cruise; I probably have about US $50 worth from my last cruise.  

 

[douggw]

On 8/5/2019 at 1:15 PM, almost40nCruisin said:

Did you have any problems booking directly through Cabo Adventures?  We cruising on the Carnival Panorama in March and booked a couple dolphin swims directly through them.  When I got my confirmation it said in fine print on the bottom that cruise guests must book through the cruise ship. Wondering if this will be an issue or if it's just something they put on there to cover their own behinds? 😁

As others have reported, do NOT use Cabo Adventures!  They are horrible to work with!  First of all, they have captive dolphins in an extremely small enclosure and they market their dolphin adventure like it's something less captive than it really is.  Also they will cancel you without permission if you are arriving on a cruise ship and you book with Cabo Adventures direct.  I had a whale watching tour booked direct that cost $110 on the ship.  Price direct was less than half the cruise price.  Cabo Adventure cancelled me and forced me to book with the cruise line (which I did NOT do).  There are plenty other whale watching tours.  Last time in Cabo, we were hit up on the marina for all kinds of tours.  Stay away from Cabo Adventures though!