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Renting a boat in Cancun

By Kanika from SamBoat - November 22, 2023

So you’ve made it to Cancun! One of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean, offering crystal clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, amazing Mexican food, frozen cocktails, and tons of fun water-based activities. Today, we’re going to talk about renting a boat in Cancun. Which is honestly, one of the most fun things you’ll do while on vacation here. 

Other than Miami, there’s probably no other city in the world with such a wide variety of boats, yachts, sailboats, or catamarans available for rent. You’ll also find price points that go from a couple hundred dollars for an afternoon on the water all the way to over 10 thousand for a single day on the bay. 

My name is Robert, I know all the boats on our website, live in Mexico and I am going to help you find the perfect boat rental in Cancun.

Where can I go on a boat in Cancun:

When you rent a boat, you can literally go wherever you want within the timeframe you’ve booked the yacht. That’s part of what makes boat rentals so awesome! You are the boss! 

But we’ve put together a quick little itinerary for you to give you an idea of what an afternoon on the water in Cancun might look like: 

  • Departure from the Nichupte Lagoon, a beautiful natural pool with mangroves and tons of very exotic wildlife. Don’t be surprised if you see a few dolphins and sea turtles. After all… This is the Caribbean, and wildlife is abundant. 
  • Head out to sea and pass all the resorts and beaches. Impressive buildings to see from a completely different perspective. People will be impressed and may wave to you. 
  • If snorkeling is something you want to do, there are two fantastic reefs for that. Either El Meco or Barco Hundido. All yachts include snorkeling gear, no need to bring your own. 
  • Head over to Isla Mujeres, the famous island off of Cancun’s coast. Playa Norte is the most popular spot to drop anchor where you’ll be able to see other yachts tied up and party the afternoon away! There are also several restaurants on the beach, where you can have food delivered right to your yacht! If your charter is long enough, you can even get off the yacht and head over to the restaurants for lunch without having to order it onboard. 
  • To conclude, the yacht will head back to the marina while cruising through the bay. If you pick the time right, you’ll even see a beautiful Caribbean sunset.

Where the boats are located in Cancun:

Cancun is a city divided in two parts, the center of town and then the hotel zone, or “Zona Hotelera” as the locals call it. Most of the marinas where yachts are located are going to be along the hotel zone and just north of it. Don’t worry, you don’t have to wander into town to rent a yacht. Here’s a map of marinas in town: Cancun Marinas Map to give you an idea. To get from your hotel to the marina, make sure you ask at the front desk of your hotel. They’ll help you out with transport as Uber isn’t readily available in Mexico. 

Types of boats to rent in Cancun

High capacity boats

We’ve got plenty of boats for you to rent in Cancun. And quite frankly, you may need help choosing, because each boat has its own purpose. If you’re celebrating a bachelorette/bachelor party, you’ve probably got a big group of 15 guests or more. Catamarans tend to be best as they’re wide & stable. So even if you have a few too many drinks, you’ll be stable while out on the water. Here are my suggestions for large groups: 

80 Palmer Johnson 35 guest capacity. She also features the largest sun pads ever built for a yacht with a massive indoor/outdoor sound system. 

74 Bolder Cat 30 guest capacity. Amazing experience as it’s a double-decker and some of the views you’ll get of the bay are incredible. 

46 Prestige Cat 30 guest capacity. Probably the best boat if you plan on getting in/out of the water during your boat rental. After all… Cancun does have beautiful snorkeling. 

Classic motor boats

Smaller groups may be interested in a smaller boat, after all, if you’re only 4 or 5 onboard, why would you want to rent such a large yacht? SamBoat has plenty of classic motorboats for you to choose from. 

37 Sundancer is great value with powerful engines. Will get you around Cancun in no time at all! Probably best for up to 6 guests onboard to ensure maximum comfort. 

42 Sundancer is just a little larger than the previous one. In fantastic condition, you’ll probably be one of the first people to rent this boat. Comfortably put 8 guests onboard and enjoy the brand-new leather seats on this beauty. 

45 Leopard which is a fantastic sailing yacht that also includes: a full Mexican culinary experience while onboard as well as an open bar. This boat can comfortably take up to 15 guests, and quite frankly will also make a wonderful party boat as well. 

Luxury superyachts 

If you’re in Cancun to live the high life, we’ve got you covered. You can literally live like a billionaire for a fraction of the price. Rent a luxury yacht through us, and you’ll create memories that last a lifetime. The yachts speak for themselves, from sleek 60-foot cruisers to massive 100-foot superyachts. Here are my suggestions: 

70 Fairline there aren’t many of these available for charter in the world. And this is the only one in Cancun. Fairline has long been known for its sleek, elegant design. Not to mention, high luxury onboard. 

80 Dyna while there aren’t many Fairlines for rent, literally is the only Dyna available for charter in the world. Specially and custom built for her owner, she features a hot tub on the flybridge and one of the nicest interiors you’ll find on any day charter yacht in the world. 

100 Azimut is the ultimate in terms of renting a boat in Cancun. Azimut is the largest luxury yacht builder in the world, with interiors that resemble a palace and a hot tub on the massive flybridge. This yacht is bound to provide you with a memory that will last you a lifetime. 

How much does it cost to rent a boat in Cancun?

Depending on the type of boat you intend to rent, prices can range from $320 to $14,000 which leaves you with a very wide range of available options. Generally speaking, the smaller boats will cost less and larger ones will cost more. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes newer and more luxurious options will cost more to rent than larger older boats. But one thing is for sure, SamBoat is your cheapest option for boat rentals in Cancun. That’s because SamBoat only works directly with owners, which cuts broker fees out, and because SamBoat charges no booking fees which generally represent 10% on other websites. 

What is included with my boat rental? 

Boat rentals in Cancun will always include the basics, which means that a Captain, fuel, water, soft drinks, and ice are included at no extra charge. Many yachts also offer a case of beer, snacks, or other beverages free of charge. Most won’t offer full open bars and meals, but they are always available as add-ons. A full open bar will cost about $50/guest per day aboard a yacht. Sometimes more when premium drinks are requested. 

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