REVIEW · MEXICO

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting

★ 4.0 · 22 reviews 2 hours (approx.) From $95 Operated by Best Cabo Tours, LLC · Bookable on Viator
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A camel ride beside the Pacific is one of Cabo’s more unexpected outings. You’ll cross a white-sand beach, look out at the waves, and get close to the animals before sitting high above the sand for the ride. The setting is the star, and guides such as Raul, Fernando, Dario, and Alex have been singled out for their care and good humor.

I like the Pacific views and the chance to learn about camel anatomy, behavior, feeding, and training instead of simply climbing aboard for a quick photo. I also like the practical finish: tacos or fajitas, soft drinks, water, and a tequila tasting are included.

The main drawback is value. The advertised price is $95 per person, but you must also pay a $25 government fee. The camel ride itself may feel short, and photo rules can be frustrating if you want to use your phone.

Key points to know before you book

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - Key points to know before you book

  • The beach setting is the main attraction: You ride beside the Pacific Ocean on a white-sand beach near Cabo.
  • The camel portion may feel brief: Several reports put the actual ride at roughly 10 to 15 minutes, with other time spent on instruction, photos, and the animal encounter.
  • Lunch is simple and satisfying: Expect beef, chicken, or pork tacos or fajitas, with water and soft drinks.
  • Tequila tasting is modest: The tasting is part of the package, but do not expect a long seminar or a large flight of samples.
  • Phone rules need attention: Group outings may require you to store your phone and belongings in a locker. Private upgrades can change that policy.
  • The extra $25 fee matters: It is charged per person and is not included in the advertised tour price.

A camel ride beside Cabo’s Pacific waves

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - A camel ride beside Cabo’s Pacific waves

The appeal is easy to understand. Cabo is known for boats, beaches, desert roads, and water sports. A camel ride adds something entirely different: you sit above the sand on an animal associated with North Africa and the Middle East while the Pacific rolls nearby.

This is not a long safari through open desert. The activity takes place at a beach-based adventure facility near Migrino, outside the main Cabo San Lucas hotel zone. The ride gives you ocean views and a memorable setting, but you should think of it as a camel encounter with a beach ride, not an all-day expedition.

The total outing lasts about two hours. That short format works well if you want to fit another activity into the same day. It also explains why the pace can feel crowded with several separate pieces: transport, check-in, animal introduction, riding, photos, lunch, and tequila.

Meeting the camels before you ride

The best part begins before you climb onto the saddle. You can pet and feed the camels, learn about their personalities, and hear about their care and training. The guide also covers basic anatomy and camel history, giving the encounter more substance than a simple photo stop.

You’ll likely find the animals calmer and more engaging when you have a few minutes to meet them first. That contact helps children and first-time riders feel less nervous. It also gives you a better sense of the animals as working creatures rather than props for a picture.

The guides can make a big difference here. Fernando was praised for explaining both camel behavior and local plant life. Alex earned warm comments for his humor and his ability to talk about both camels and tequila. Raul was careful about helping a rider on and off the camel, while Dario was praised for making the outing comfortable and enjoyable.

Guide assignments can change, so you should not book expecting one particular person. Still, the operation has had several guides who bring personality and care to the activity. If you need extra help mounting or dismounting, tell the staff before the ride begins.

The beach ride: scenic, short, and a little bumpy

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - The beach ride: scenic, short, and a little bumpy

Once you are seated, the camel ride takes you along the white sand with the Pacific in view. This is where the experience earns its unusual appeal. You are not just looking at the ocean from a resort walkway. You are moving beside it from the back of a camel, with the sound and wind of the open beach around you.

The ride is not physically demanding in the way an ATV tour can be, but it is not perfectly comfortable either. One rider described the motion as somewhat uncomfortable, and that is worth taking seriously if you have back, hip, or balance concerns. Mounting and dismounting can also require care.

Several reports describe the riding portion as about 10 to 15 minutes. The exact timing may vary, but you should not expect an hour in the saddle. The larger two-hour schedule includes the animal presentation, safety instructions, photo stops, food, tasting, and waiting time.

Wind is another part of the setting. The beach can be breezy, and the sun is strong. Bring sunscreen, use a hat or head covering, and wear old closed-toe tennis shoes if possible. Sport sandals can leave your feet full of sand, and the facility involves walking through sandy areas.

You should also remember the 250-pound weight limit. It is listed as a firm condition, so check it before booking rather than hoping the rule will be flexible.

Lunch with tacos, fajitas, and a quick tequila tasting

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - Lunch with tacos, fajitas, and a quick tequila tasting

The included meal gives the outing a welcome pause. You can expect a light Mexican lunch with beef, chicken, and pork tacos or fajitas, plus water and soft drinks. The food has received some of the strongest praise, with tacos and a burrito-style meal described as tasty.

Do not expect a full restaurant meal or a long sit-down lunch. The food is meant to refuel you during a short activity. For many people, that is enough. If you have a large appetite or strict dietary needs, the meal may feel limited.

The alcohol portion is a tequila tasting at a nearby tequila museum or tasting area. It is included in the price, but the amount appears modest. Some outings provide only two small sample cups, and the tasting can feel rushed when the schedule is busy.

That does not make it worthless. You get a quick introduction to Mexican spirits after the camel ride, and it adds local flavor to the afternoon. Just keep your expectations in check. This is not a detailed tequila course with a wide selection.

Because alcohol is included, use good judgment if you plan to book another water or adventure activity later in the day. The tour includes water and soft drinks, so you do not need to drink to enjoy the rest of the program.

The phone and photo issue deserves your attention

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - The phone and photo issue deserves your attention

This is the most important practical warning. On some group departures, phones and cameras must be placed in a locker before the activity. The locker is provided at no cost, but you may lose access to your phone during the camel encounter and the most scenic parts of the facility.

The reason appears to be the professional photo system. Staff photograph the ride and offer packages afterward. The prices have been described as very high, and some people felt pressured by the arrangement.

Policies can vary by tour type. A private upgrade has allowed some people to keep their phones, but even then, the guide may not be able to take your pictures. You could still need to buy the professional images if you want photos of your group actually riding.

Ask three questions before you leave your hotel:

  • Can I bring my phone on this exact departure?
  • Can I take my own photos from the camel and beach area?
  • What is the price of the photo and video package?

If you are traveling with a medical concern, make sure you understand the storage policy as well. One complaint involved worry about having no phone available in an emergency. The operation has acknowledged that the policy can be frustrating, but it remains a major part of the decision.

Transportation and the two-hour schedule

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - Transportation and the two-hour schedule

Round-trip transportation is included, which is useful if you are staying at a Cabo resort. Pickup is usually in front of the hotel lobby about 45 minutes before the activity starts, but routes change daily. Your booking email or a phone call to the operator is the best way to confirm the exact time.

The meeting point is G-Force Adventures on Carretera Cabo San Lucas, Avenida La Paz Km. 106. The activity ends back there or with return transportation to your pickup area.

The group size is capped at 15 people. That is small enough to avoid a giant crowd, but it is still a group setting. Waiting can happen during check-in, mounting, photo stops, or lunch. If you want a more controlled pace, ask about a private option and its full cost before arrival.

The roughly two-hour length makes this easy to pair with a relaxed hotel day. I would not schedule it tightly against a flight, dinner reservation, or another paid excursion. Pickup routes and beach operations can take longer than the advertised activity time.

Price, extra charges, and what the experience is worth

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - Price, extra charges, and what the experience is worth

At $95 per person, the package includes transportation, safety equipment, the camel ride, the animal encounter, lunch, soft drinks, water, and alcohol tasting. That is a fair starting price for a short guided activity with transport and food, but the extra charges change the calculation.

The government fee is $25 per person. It is separate from the advertised rate and is charged at the site. The operator explains that the fee supports restoration of land affected by activities at Migrino. Regardless of how you view that charge, you need to add it to your budget.

The photo system can add much more. Professional photos are optional, but the pricing has been a repeated source of frustration. Treat the photo package as a separate purchase, not as part of the $95 tour.

You are paying for novelty and scenery rather than a long ride. If you want a unique vacation photo and enjoy meeting animals, the cost may feel reasonable. If your main goal is hours on horseback or camelback, this is not the right use of your money.

Who will enjoy this Cabo outing most

Camel Encounter and Safari Ride with Lunch and Alcohol Tasting - Who will enjoy this Cabo outing most

I would recommend it to couples, families, and first-time visitors who want a gentle, unusual activity with a clear beginning and end. Children who enjoy animals should especially like the feeding and petting portion, though an adult should help them manage the mounting and the ride.

It can also work for a solo visitor. The group format gives you a guide-led activity without needing to organize a private outing. The beach views and meal provide enough variety to keep a short visit interesting.

You should think twice if you dislike organized photo sales, strict equipment rules, or waiting between activity sections. You may also prefer another activity if you want a long ride, complete control of your phone, or a serious tequila education.

Most people can participate, but the 250-pound weight limit applies. Anyone who needs physical assistance should contact the operator ahead of time and explain what help is needed. A careful guide can make mounting and dismounting easier, but the tour should not be treated as fully accessible without direct confirmation.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

The tour is often reserved about 10 days ahead, so booking early makes sense during busy Cabo periods. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is offered in English with a bilingual guide.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The activity depends on good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Before paying, confirm the $25 fee, phone rules, photo policy, pickup time, weight limit, and private-tour pricing. Those details affect the value more than the headline price.

Should you book this camel ride?

Book it if you want a memorable Pacific beach setting, enjoy animals, and are comfortable with a short ride followed by tacos and a small tequila tasting. The guides can add real warmth, and the camel encounter is unusual enough to become a strong vacation memory.

Skip it if you expect a long safari, dislike photo sales, or need to keep your phone with you throughout a group activity. The smartest approach is to budget $120 per person before photos, wear old closed shoes, protect yourself from the sun, and ask about camera rules before you arrive.

FAQ

How long does the camel tour last?

The full activity lasts approximately two hours. The actual camel ride may be much shorter, with time also used for transportation, animal introductions, safety instructions, photographs, lunch, and tequila tasting.

What is included in the price?

The package includes round-trip transportation, safety equipment, water, soft drinks, a light Mexican lunch, the camel ride, and an alcohol tasting.

Is the $25 government fee included?

No. A separate government fee of $25 per person is charged in addition to the advertised tour price.

Can I bring my phone or camera?

Phone rules can depend on the tour type. Some group departures require you to store phones and belongings in a provided locker. Private upgrades may allow phones, but you should confirm the policy before the activity.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. The stated weight limit is 250 pounds.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather cancels the activity, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.

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