Day of the Dead goes out to sea in Cabo San Lucas next week. The sixth Altares en el Mar (“Altars at Sea”) nautical festival runs from Sunday, November 1, to Wednesday, November 4, on the bay and at the marina, and its big moment is a parade of decorated boats on Monday, November 2.

The Los Cabos city government announced its support for the festival on October 26, describing a program of cultural, artistic and sports activities. Organizer Guillermo Rivelino Pérez Ortiz said this edition will have urban art, music with DJs and live bands, live painting and a staged show with Olympic athlete Pamela Toscano Millán, open water swimmer Stephanie Montero and rower Aylin Ibarra Madueña. The city expects about 20 decorated boats, and Tribuna de México puts the number at 23.

The boat parade and a show in the water

According to Tribuna de México, the nautical parade sets off at 3:50 p.m. on Monday, November 2, from the Médano Beach area in front of the Riu hotel, and sails around part of the bay. It comes with what the organizers call the first Day of the Dead water performance, designed by Pamela Toscano, with 45 swimmers. The story centers on Chalchiuhtlicue, a Mesoamerican goddess of water, which feels about right for a festival that puts its altars on boats.

Where to catch it

For all four days, the Barracuda walkway (andador Barracuda) at the Cabo San Lucas marina hosts the activities open to the public. The sources don’t give hours for each day yet, so check the city’s official channels before you go, and remember that times on the water can shift.

If you’re in town on Sunday, November 1, you can make a weekend of it: the Catrin@s Parade fills downtown Cabo San Lucas that evening.

Sources