Why The Cabo Marina Is Going To Feel Even Busier For Tourists Soon

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If you’ve ever tried to weave your way past fishing boats, water taxis, and sunset cruises at the Cabo San Lucas Marina and thought, “Wow, this place is packed”… get ready.

As we at The Cabo Sun have been tracking, the marina is heading into a new level of busy over the next few years thanks to a major cruise boom and ongoing growth right in the tourist zone.

Cruise Ships Are Stepping Up Their Cabo Game

According to a new report from Tribuna de México, Cabo San Lucas is projecting around a 10% increase in cruise ship arrivals this season, with an estimated 210 ships calling at the port by the end of 2025.

Cruise industry leaders also confirm that Cabo is now one of Mexico’s most important Pacific ports, regularly ranking just behind Caribbean heavyweights like Cozumel and Costa Maya in total cruise passengers. Nationally, Mexico welcomed over five million cruise passengers in the first half of 2025 alone, an 8% jump year-over-year, with Cabo receiving roughly 480,000 cruisers in that period.

On top of that, two new major cruise lines—MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages—are scheduled to join the Mexican Pacific route by 2027, which will push even more ships (and people) into the Cabo Marina on a regular basis.

What That Actually Looks Like At The Marina

Each ship doesn’t just bring “some” visitors; we’re talking thousands of passengers at a time walking down the same narrow boardwalk you’re using to get to your taco spot or snorkeling tour. Recent estimates show Cabo’s cruise ships are averaging well over 3,000 passengers per call in 2025.

We’ve already seen how that feels on the ground. In our guide to how busy Los Cabos gets in peak season, we described the marina as a full-on hub of activity when hotel occupancy spikes and multiple ships are in port on the same day.

Add to that the new Walmart-anchored shopping center being built near the tourist zone, where local officials have already flagged that surrounding streets are “overrun” at certain times of the year and must be carefully managed to avoid gridlock. Put simply: more ships + more shops = more people funneled through the same waterfront.

A Busier Marina, But Also A Safer One

The good news is Cabo isn’t ignoring the crowds. Authorities recently rolled out two big changes to keep the marina safe for tourists, including a dedicated private security presence and upgraded monitoring around the waterfront.

These steps build on broader efforts that have helped Los Cabos remain one of Mexico’s safest-feeling destinations in recent surveys—something visitors really notice when they’re walking the marina at night or hopping on and off tour boats.

On the vendor side, enforcement teams have been cracking down on unpermitted sellers along the marina and main beaches, which has already made the experience feel less chaotic than in past years—even as overall tourism keeps climbing.

When You’ll Feel The Crowds The Most

Based on current cruise schedules and Los Cabos hotel trends, expect the marina to feel busiest from late fall through early spring, especially around holiday periods and the most overbooked winter weeks we’ve highlighted before.

On days when two or more ships are in port, the marina boardwalk, harbor-front bars, and departure points for popular tours (Arch cruises, snorkeling, whale watching) can feel shoulder-to-shoulder by late morning. Our insider guide to the best and worst times to visit the famous Cabo Marina already recommends avoiding the hottest midday hours on cruise days if you don’t love crowds—and that advice is only getting more relevant as arrivals grow.

How To Enjoy The Marina Without Feeling Overwhelmed

You absolutely don’t need to skip the marina—just tweak your strategy a bit:

• Go early or go late. Sunrise walks and pre-dinner strolls along the water are still wonderfully relaxed, even on days when multiple ships are in town. Our timing guide shows mornings and golden hour as your best bets.
• Check cruise days. Ask your hotel concierge or tour operator which days are “heavy cruise days.” Booking your Arch or snorkeling trip on a lighter day can mean shorter lines at the dock and a calmer check-in.
• Build in extra transit time. More people downtown can mean slower traffic through the tourist corridor and around key intersections. We’ve already warned travelers to leave earlier for the airport during construction, and highlighted how long-term road projects aim to ease those headaches.
• Use the crowds to your advantage. Cruise days often mean more boats running, more music in the air, and a livelier bar and restaurant scene right on the water. If you like energy and people-watching, plan a marina evening because a big ship’s in port.

The Bottom Line

Cabo’s cruise boom isn’t slowing down. With more ships, bigger vessels, and new international lines on the way, the Cabo San Lucas Marina is going to feel busier and more global than ever over the next few years.

But with new safety measures, vendor rules, and smarter planning on your part, that extra buzz doesn’t have to be a downside.

Think of it as part of the show: fishing boats heading out at sunrise, mega-ships anchored off Land’s End, mariachi echoing across the water, and you—cocktail or ice cream in hand—soaking it all in from the edge of one of Mexico’s most iconic marinas.