Four Seasons Cabo Debuts CIAO Private Yacht

Key points
- Four Seasons Cabo San Lucas has launched CIAO, a 50 foot Pardo yacht for private charters on the Sea of Cortez
- CIAO carries up to 12 guests with two to eight hour itineraries, including a complimentary two hour cruise for Presidential Villa stays
- Charters include premium water toys, snorkel gear, and Baja inspired menus, with pricing from $ 3,340.00 to $ 4,332.00 (USD)
- The experience targets milestone trips and small groups seeking resort level service on the water rather than third party charters
Impact
- Who Is Affected
- Travelers booking Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol who want private time on the water with a small group
- Booking Window
- CIAO is available on an ongoing basis from late 2025, but peak season dates in winter and spring will book out early
- Trip Planning
- Guests should decide charter length, time of day, and add ons like jet skis or flite boards before arrival and coordinate through the concierge
- Budgeting Considerations
- Pricing from $ 3,340.00 to $ 4,332.00 (USD) per charter makes this a splurge suited to shared costs across a group or special occasions
- Weather And Sea Conditions
- Because the Sea of Cortez can be choppy on some days, travelers should watch local marine forecasts and keep backup time slots in mind
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol has added a new way for guests to take its "La Buena Vida" philosophy offshore, introducing CIAO, a private yacht experience that runs two to eight hour charters across the Sea of Cortez. The 50 foot Pardo yacht carries up to 12 guests and is crewed and catered to Four Seasons standards, with prices ranging from $ 3,340.00 to $ 4,332.00 (USD) depending on itinerary length.
For travelers, the launch means that a resort stay in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, can now include an integrated, resort managed yacht day rather than relying on third party marina charters, with concierge planning, onboard dining, and water toys folded into one package.
CIAO Yacht Experience At Four Seasons Cabo
CIAO is built around a Pardo 50, an Italian designed day yacht known for an open deck layout and enough beam for guests to move easily between shaded seating and sun pads. Four Seasons confirms capacity for up to 12 guests, which makes the boat best suited for families, small groups of friends, or milestone celebrations that justify splitting the premium charter cost.
Charters are fully customizable within a two to eight hour window. Shorter runs might hug the coastline for a snorkeling stop or sunset cruise out of Cabo San Lucas, while longer days can push farther along the southern Baja peninsula for more time swimming or exploring quieter coves on the Sea of Cortez. A dedicated captain and crew handle navigation and service, and itineraries are planned in coordination with the resort concierge team before or during a stay.
One key perk is reserved for top suite guests. Travelers who book the Oceanfront Three Bedroom Presidential Villa receive a complimentary two hour CIAO charter as part of their stay, effectively turning the yacht into an included amenity at the very top of the resort's room inventory and setting a higher benchmark for villa benefits in Los Cabos.
Latest developments
The CIAO program went public in mid November 2025 through Four Seasons press channels and follow on coverage in local travel media. The resort positions it as an extension of its modern hacienda aesthetic, with General Manager Richard Raab framing the yacht as a way to "uncover and appreciate Cabo's coastline from a new perspective" while keeping service and culinary standards aligned with the rest of the property.
Beyond the headline launch, the resort has detailed some of the finer points that matter to travelers. Every charter comes with a baseline kit of water gear, including the SeaNXT underwater scooter, premium snorkel and safety equipment, floating chairs, and an inflatable hammock. Guests who want more speed or adrenaline can add jet skis, an electric flite board, a dinghy, or tubing sessions for an additional fee, which allows groups to tune the day to either relaxed cruising or more activity heavy outings.
The food and beverage program is also designed as a selling point. Menus lean into Baja inspired dishes such as tuna sashimi with soy lime vinaigrette, Baja style ceviche, grilled chicken or beef fajitas, fish and shrimp tacos, and quesadillas, backed by a bar list that spans Mexican beers, premium wines, and signature cocktails like the Piña Otaduy, served in a carved pineapple.
Analysis
From a traveler's standpoint, CIAO sits at the top end of Cabo San Lucas private boat options, pairing resort grade service with pricing that reflects both the Four Seasons brand and the current market for luxury charters in Los Cabos. Local reporting confirms a range from $ 3,340.00 to $ 4,332.00 (USD), which is broadly in line with other high end private yacht experiences in the destination but delivers a more controlled handoff between hotel stay and time on the water.
Background. Cabo San Lucas has a long standing marina charter scene, and many resorts work with outside operators to place guests on shared or private boats. Those arrangements can vary in quality and may involve additional coordination or payment steps between agencies, boat owners, and hotels. Resort run experiences like CIAO reduce those handoffs, since booking, payment, and service standards all sit under one brand, and travelers have one concierge point of contact if something needs to be adjusted or goes wrong on the day.
The experience will appeal most to travelers who value convenience and brand control over squeezing the lowest possible per hour rate from independent operators. Families traveling with older relatives who want easy boarding, shaded seating, and predictable service, groups combining a celebration stay with one big day on the water, and travelers who are already paying for top level suites are the likeliest beneficiaries.
Travel planners and advisors should note that availability will be constrained by both yacht scheduling and typical Los Cabos peak patterns. Winter and spring break periods, long weekends, and major U.S. holidays will compress demand, so it is safer to lock CIAO charters in at the same time as room bookings rather than waiting to request space on arrival, particularly for longer six to eight hour itineraries.
Safety and weather are another practical dimension. While the Sea of Cortez is often calm, seasonal winds and swell can lead to choppier days. Guests should ask concierge staff about recent marine conditions when selecting a charter date, consider morning departures if afternoon winds are common during their travel week, and keep some flexibility in their broader itinerary in case the resort recommends shifting the yacht day by 24 hours.
Finally, travelers still have alternatives. Cabo San Lucas Marina and nearby operators will continue to sell everything from shared party cruisers to more modest private boats at lower price points. These remain valid for visitors who prioritize budget or who are staying at properties without integrated yacht programs, but travelers will need to vet operators more carefully, check what gear and food are included, and confirm clear cancellation and weather policies.
Final thoughts
For guests already looking at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol, CIAO adds a marquee experience that fits neatly into a high end Cabo itinerary. The yacht brings the resort's design language, service culture, and Baja focused food and beverage program onto the Sea of Cortez, and for travelers willing to pay for a private charter, it simplifies planning while raising the ceiling on what a Cabo yacht day can look like. As availability patterns and guest feedback emerge over the coming season, CIAO is likely to become a defining feature of how Four Seasons competes in the crowded Los Cabos luxury market.