Cabo epic private surf and video photography adventure

Cabo Surf Tours puts the camera where the action is: inside the lineup, close enough to catch your face as you catch a wave. Martin and his team shoot from the water and the beach, giving you tight action frames, broad surfing scenes, and the small moments between rides.

I like two things right away. First, the private setup means your group of up to four does not share the session with a busload of strangers. Second, the photos can do more than decorate your vacation album. Clear shots of your stance, arms, and timing can help you see what to change next time. The main consideration is simple: this is a short, weather-dependent session, so it is best for focused surf photography rather than a long day of instruction.

Key details before you book

• Two hours of private surf photography: Your group gets the session to itself, with no unrelated participants added.
• Canon gear in Nimar water housings: The equipment includes 7D and 7D Mark II bodies, plus lenses suited to close water shots, wide scenes, and distant action.
• Up to four surfers: The $200 price is per group, not per person, making it far better value when four people share.
• Martin and Emiliano may be part of the day: The wider Cabo Surf Tours team has provided surf guidance, transport, food, boards, drinks, and photographs on related sessions.
• Photography from water and sand: You get more variety than a friend standing on shore with a phone.
• Weather matters: If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

What the two-hour Cabo session feels like

The heart of this experience is not sightseeing. It is a focused period in the waves with someone whose job is to watch for your best rides and record them well.

You begin in Cabo San Lucas and finish back at the meeting point. The supplied details do not give a fixed beach, exact pickup time, or step-by-step route, so you should confirm those points before you go. The basic format is clear: your group spends about two hours surfing while the photography team works from both the water and the sand.

That two-position approach matters. A photographer on the beach can frame the full wave, your board, and the coastline behind you. A photographer in the water can get close to your expression and body position. Those close shots are often the most useful for improving, since you can see if you are looking down, leaning too far back, or standing too late.

The session is private, but it is not described as a full surf lesson by itself. If you are new to surfing, ask ahead about adding instruction or booking the provider’s private lesson format. Martin and Emiliano have worked with beginners in one-on-one settings, including beach instruction and direct feedback in the water, but the two-hour photo experience should not automatically be treated as a lesson package.

Professional cameras, not phone snapshots

The equipment is unusually serious for a vacation activity. The team uses Canon 7D and 7D Mark II cameras with L series lenses, including a 100 to 400 millimeter telephoto lens, an 8 to 15 millimeter fisheye, and a 17 to 40 millimeter wide-angle lens.

You do not need to understand camera gear to benefit from this. The long lens helps capture action from the beach. The fisheye lens creates the close, rounded surf look that makes you feel surrounded by the wave. The wide-angle lens can show more of the scene, including you, the water, and your friends.

The cameras are placed in Nimar water housings. That is the key detail. The photographer is not standing safely inland and hoping for a lucky frame. Water housings allow the team to work from inside the surf zone and produce close images that a regular camera or phone cannot manage.

The result should be a varied set of images rather than 20 versions of the same distant ride. You may get a tight face shot, a full-body action frame, a broad view of the wave, and natural moments before or after the ride. The exact number of photographs and delivery method are not stated, so ask about those before booking if the files are important to you.

Why the pictures can help your surfing

Most surf photos are treated as souvenirs. These can also work as a simple coaching tool.

A still photograph freezes the parts of a ride that pass too quickly to notice in the water. You can check your foot placement, body angle, hand position, and line across the wave. A beginner may see that the board was pointed too straight toward shore. A more experienced surfer may spot a turn that was started too late.

The value is greatest when the photographer understands surfing and knows when to press the shutter. Martin has served as guide and photographer, and that combination can make the session more useful than hiring a general beach photographer. You are not only being photographed. Someone is watching for the moment when your ride comes together.

Still, keep expectations sensible. Photos can show what happened, but they do not replace instruction. If you want constant correction on every wave, book a lesson or confirm that coaching is included. If you mainly want strong images of your group surfing, the photography format makes more sense.

A private group changes the experience

The maximum group size is four people, and only your group takes part. That is a major advantage for a family, couple, or small group of friends.

With four surfers, each person can take turns in the water without competing with a large class for attention. You can also share the cost. At $200 per group, four people pay the equivalent of $50 each. For two people, the effective cost is $100 each, and a solo booking carries the full group price, so the value improves sharply as your group fills.

A private session also lets you choose your own purpose. One person may want a first surfing memory. Another may want technical photographs. A couple may care most about pictures together, while friends may want a record of the best rides of the trip.

The tradeoff is that a private group of four still has to share the approximately two-hour window. If everyone is surfing, photography time is spread among four people. You will want to tell the team who needs the most attention and what kind of photographs matter most.

Beginner-friendly potential, with a useful caveat

The provider’s broader surf work includes instruction for people who have never surfed before. Beginners have received a beach lesson, one-on-one help in the water, and repeated feedback on what to do better. A less crowded surf spot has also been used for private instruction.

That is encouraging if you are nervous about standing on a board. The private format is less intimidating than joining a large class, and photographs can help you understand what your body was doing after the session ends.

But the product described here centers on video and photography, not a clearly defined beginner lesson. Do not assume that the $200 rate includes boards, food, hotel transport, or a full coaching program simply because those services have been part of other Cabo Surf Tours outings. Confirm what is included for your exact booking.

If you already surf, the distinction is less important. You can spend the session working on your own technique while the photographer looks for the strongest moments. If you are brand new, ask direct questions before paying: Will someone teach me on the beach? Is water coaching included? Are boards supplied? Those answers may vary by the session you choose.

The value of the $200 group price

The price looks more attractive when you treat this as both a private activity and a professional photo shoot.

A standard beach photo session may give you posed images, but not close action frames from inside the waves. A standard surf lesson may help you improve, but often does not leave you with a strong visual record. This experience combines the two purposes to some degree, although the exact balance depends on how much instruction is arranged.

For four people, the price is strong. Each person receives access to the same photographer, water equipment, and private session. It also avoids the awkward task of asking a friend to stand on shore and guess when to take pictures.

For one person, the calculation is different. You are paying for a private two-hour session, not for a cheap group activity. I would book it solo only if the photographs matter a great deal, or if you want focused attention rather than the lowest possible cost.

The price does not clearly state how many edited images you receive, how fast they arrive, or if video clips are included along with still photos. The title describes video and photography, while the equipment details focus heavily on still-camera work. Ask exactly what will be delivered.

What to confirm before meeting in Cabo

The start and end point are listed as Cabo San Lucas, and the activity returns to the meeting point. The exact meeting address is not supplied, so confirm it rather than assuming your hotel is included.

Some related sessions with Martin and his team have included door-to-door pickup and drop-off, boards, food, snacks, and drinks. Those extras are useful, especially if you are spending half a day surfing, but they are not specifically guaranteed here. Treat them as items to verify, not as part of the base price.

You receive a mobile ticket, and booking confirmation normally arrives at once. If you book within 12 hours of the start, confirmation may take longer while availability is checked.

Bring your phone with the mobile ticket ready, and give yourself enough time to reach the stated meeting point. Since this is a water activity, ask about any personal items you should leave behind and how the photo files will be delivered. Those practical answers are not provided in advance.

Weather, timing, and cancellation

Surf photography needs workable conditions. If poor weather cancels the session, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted. That rule is worth noting if your Cabo schedule is still shifting.

The two-hour length is useful for a vacation day. You get enough time to settle in, catch several waves, and allow the photographer to work from different positions without giving up half a day. It is not long enough to guarantee constant action, though. Surfing depends on conditions, your ability, and the number of people sharing the session.

I would book earlier in your trip if possible. That gives you room to move the session if weather interferes, and it leaves time to try again if you want more photographs or a second surf outing.

Who will enjoy this most

This is a strong match for a small group that already knows it wants surf photographs. Couples and families can share the private session, and four friends get the best price per person.

It also suits a beginner who wants a personal introduction, provided instruction is confirmed in advance. The provider has experience helping new surfers feel comfortable, and the private setting can be less stressful than a large school group.

Experienced surfers may appreciate the camera work most. The long lens, water housing, and close positioning offer a better record of technique than ordinary vacation photos. You can use the images to study your turns, stance, and wave choice later.

This is less suitable if you want a full-day surf trip, a formal lesson with a guaranteed teaching plan, or a sightseeing tour around Cabo. The experience is focused and fairly narrow: get in the water, surf, and come away with photographs of the session.

Should you book Cabo Surf Tours?

Book it if you want private surf photography that feels connected to the action, not just beach portraits. The water housings, multiple Canon lenses, and small group limit make the $200 price reasonable, especially for four people.

I would be most confident booking for a group of two to four surfers, with at least one person who cares about keeping useful action images. Before you pay, confirm the exact meeting point, whether boards and transport are included, whether coaching is part of your session, and what files you receive.

If you want a longer instructional outing, ask about the provider’s half-day private lessons instead. If your main goal is to document a fun surf day in Cabo, this focused two-hour session offers a practical mix of personal attention and photographs you can keep.

FAQ

How long is the Cabo surf photography experience?

The session lasts approximately two hours.

How many people can join?

Up to four people can participate in the same private group.

Is the $200 price per person?

No. The listed price is $200 per group of up to four people.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Where does the experience start and finish?

It starts in Cabo San Lucas, BCS, Mexico, and ends back at the meeting point.

What camera equipment is used?

The team uses Canon 7D and 7D Mark II cameras, L series lenses, and Nimar water housings. The listed lenses include 100 to 400 millimeter, 8 to 15 millimeter fisheye, and 17 to 40 millimeter wide-angle lenses.

Are both water and beach photographs taken?

Yes. Professional photographers work from the water and from the sand.

Can beginners participate?

Most people can participate, and the provider has offered beginner surf instruction on related private sessions. Confirm in advance whether instruction is included in the specific photography booking.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.