Cabo San Lucas: Camel Safari Tour with Lunch and Tequila

Cabo’s camel safari puts you on a quiet Pacific beach, not in a theme-park arena. You’ll hike through dry desert scrub, learn about a turtle-breeding area, then ride a camel for about 20 minutes with ocean air in your face. In winter, humpback whales may show offshore.

I like the mix of camel ride and real Mexican food, especially the tortilla-making lesson and tequila tasting after the beach. I also like the friendly guide service, with Jesus and Michael singled out by name for their warm, lively approach. The catch is simple: the ride is short, and the trip includes an extra $25 adult park fee that is not part of the advertised $99 price.

Key points before you book

• The camel ride lasts about 20 minutes, so think of this as a food, culture, and animal experience with a camel ride, not a long safari.
• The $99 price does not include the park entrance fee: adults pay $25 in cash, while children pay $12.50.
• A secluded Pacific beach and winter whale sightings give the ride its best setting.
• Lunch, drinks, tortilla making, and tequila tasting are included, giving the outing more substance than a ride alone.
• The transfer takes time: plan for a long van journey from Cabo San Lucas or San José del Cabo.
• Cameras are not allowed during the camel ride, and the tour is not suitable for children under five, pregnant women, people with back problems, or wheelchair users.

A camel ride with a Pacific Ocean backdrop

The main draw is the setting. Instead of riding through an ordinary paddock, you reach a ranch overlooking the Pacific, then make your way toward a quiet beach. The camel ride itself is brief, but the sea air, open views, and dry Baja terrain give it a memorable sense of place.

Your guide begins with a safety briefing and provides a helmet. You’ll then take a short walk through desert terrain, where the focus is on the plants and animals adapted to this harsh corner of Baja California Sur. The area is also known for turtle breeding, adding a conservation angle to what could otherwise be a simple animal ride.

I like this first part because it slows the outing down. You are not simply loaded onto a camel and sent around a loop. You get some context about the desert and the animals before reaching the beach.

The walk is short, but you still need comfortable closed-toe shoes. Loose sandals are a poor choice on uneven, dusty ground, and the sun can be strong even when the ocean breeze feels pleasant. Bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and cash for the entrance fee and any other purchases.

What the 20-minute ride is really like

The camel ride is the headline activity, but it occupies only part of the three-hour experience. At around 20 minutes, it is best suited to someone who wants a first camel ride without committing to a long trek.

You’ll ride along a tranquil beach while looking out toward the Pacific. During winter, humpback whales can sometimes be seen offshore. Whale sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed, but the chance adds a nice bonus to the ocean view. Bring patience and keep your eyes on the water, especially if your guide points out activity offshore.

The ride is not suitable for everyone. The activity excludes children under five, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, and wheelchair users. Children aged five through 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

You cannot use a camera during the camel ride. That rule matters if you are booking mainly for photos. The operator takes photographs, and one recent account reported prices ranging from $50 for a single image to roughly $119 to $160 for a package, with different prices quoted in some cases. Those prices can add a serious amount to the total, so ask about the current cost before agreeing to any photo package.

The desert walk adds more than scenery

The short hike gives you a look at Baja’s dry environment before lunch. Your guide explains local flora and fauna, with special attention to the turtle-breeding area. This is not a long nature walk or a demanding hike. It is a compact introduction to the place where the ranch operates.

That distinction helps set expectations. If you want a serious wildlife outing, this is too short and too structured. If you want a little natural history alongside an easy activity, it fits well.

The desert portion also helps break up the day. You move from van to ranch, ranch to trail, trail to beach, and beach to restaurant. That variety is one reason the experience feels fuller than the 20-minute ride alone.

Still, it is worth checking your comfort with heat, dust, and walking before you book. The tour is not designed for wheelchair users or people with mobility limits, and the combination of a hike, mounting a camel, and walking on sand may be tiring for anyone with back or joint trouble.

Tortillas, tequila, and a proper lunch

After the beach, you walk a short distance to a beachfront restaurant. This is where the experience shifts from outdoor activity to Mexican food and drink.

The tortilla lesson is a small but worthwhile detail. You learn how tortillas are made, then sit down for an authentic Mexican buffet. Lunch is included, as are drinks. The meal gives you time to cool off, eat, and enjoy the ocean setting rather than rushing straight back into a van.

The tequila tasting adds another distinctly Mexican touch. It is a tasting session rather than a full drinking event, but beer, coffee, spirits, and other drinks are listed among the available inclusions. If you do not drink alcohol, the meal and nonalcoholic beverages still give this part of the tour value.

Food quality and cleanliness deserve a practical note. One very negative account described heavy flies around the food area and on the camels, calling the conditions unsanitary. That is a serious complaint, even though the overall rating is 4.5 from 44 reviews and several other accounts describe the day as excellent. Conditions can vary, but anyone especially sensitive to outdoor dining or insects should keep the setting in mind. This is a beachfront ranch experience, not an enclosed city restaurant.

How much time the transfer takes

Pickup is available in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. You will travel in a van, and the listed transport segment is about 1.5 hours. One booking account described roughly an hour each way, so you should allow a meaningful part of your day for the road.

That transfer matters when judging the value. The formal activity lasts three hours, but your total outing will be longer once pickup and return are included. The reward is access to a ranch and beach setting away from the main resort areas. The tradeoff is less time spent in the actual activity and more time in transit.

Pickup details arrive by email. Look for a white Cabo Adventures van, with drivers wearing light blue polo shirts. Since pickup times depend on your location, check the confirmation carefully and avoid planning a tight connection afterward.

Cruise ship passengers should take special care: this activity is specifically listed as unsuitable for cruise ship guests. The road transfer and fixed schedule may not fit ship timing.

Is $99 a fair price?

The advertised price is $99 per person, but that is not the final required cost for most adults. Add the $25 adult park entrance fee, paid separately, bringing the known total to $124 per adult before any optional photos or other personal spending. Children pay a $12.50 entrance fee, though children under five cannot participate.

At $124, the value depends on what you want from the day. You receive transportation, guides, a safety helmet, camel ride, desert walk, tortilla lesson, lunch, drinks, and tequila tasting. If you would otherwise pay separately for lunch and a tequila activity, the package becomes more reasonable.

If your sole goal is a long camel ride, the price is harder to defend. Twenty minutes on the camel is not much for the money, especially after adding the entrance charge and transfer time. If you see it as a half-day outing that combines scenery, food, culture, and a short animal encounter, the calculation improves.

The extra fee should be made clearer when budgeting. Several accounts found it frustrating to pay $25 in cash after already paying for the tour. Another person viewed the charge as supporting animal care and noted that the facility had received awards and cared for around 50 camels, along with donkeys and possibly a goat. You can reasonably see the fee either as a required park charge or as part of the animal-care cost, but you should know about it before arrival.

Guides can shape the whole day

The guide is important here because the experience includes several transitions and explanations. You are relying on the guide for the safety briefing, desert information, camel instructions, food introduction, and tequila tasting.

Jesus has been praised for making the day feel special, while Michael has been noted for his strong charisma. The tour operates in English and Spanish, so you can request the language that suits your group.

A good guide also helps with the less polished parts of the experience. The day has a ranch setting, sand, animals, outdoor food, and a separate entrance fee. Clear explanations make those details easier to handle. If you have dietary concerns or questions about the buffet, ask before serving yourself.

What to pack and what to leave behind

Keep your packing simple:

• Closed-toe, comfortable shoes
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Cash
• Water or a refillable bottle, if permitted by the operator

The supplied information specifically says cameras are not permitted during the camel ride. It does not say that every form of photography is prohibited for the entire outing, but you should follow the guide’s instructions and expect restrictions around the animals.

Do not count on paying the entrance fee by card. Bring cash for the $25 adult or $12.50 child charge. Cash may also help with optional photos or personal purchases, but confirm prices before accepting anything.

Who will enjoy this Cabo excursion?

I would recommend it most to families with children aged five and older, couples wanting an unusual beach activity, and visitors who like mixing food and culture with a light outdoor adventure. It also suits first-time visitors who want something beyond resort pools and souvenir shops.

It is a good match if you enjoy:

• A short, easy desert walk
• A first camel ride
• Mexican food and tortilla making
• Tequila tasting
• Ocean views
• A chance, but not a promise, of winter whales

I would be more cautious if you dislike long transfers, need a long camel ride to justify the cost, or prefer a highly polished indoor setting. The extra park charge and optional photo prices can also change how you feel about the value.

People with back problems, mobility impairments, or pregnancy should skip it. The same goes for wheelchair users and children under five. The beach, trail, camel mounting, and sand are not suited to those needs.

Should you book the camel safari?

Book this tour if you want a varied Cabo outing with a short camel ride, a quiet beach, Mexican lunch, tortilla making, tequila, and a chance to see whales in winter. The strongest parts are the Pacific setting, the friendly guide service, and the fact that lunch and drinks are included.

Skip it if you mainly want extended time on a camel or a low-cost activity with no extra charges. Budget at least $25 more per adult, expect a long transfer, and treat the ride as one part of a broader three-hour program. With those expectations, this can be a fun and memorable day. Without them, the short ride may feel expensive.

FAQ

How much does the Cabo camel safari cost?

The listed price is $99 per person. Adults also pay a $25 park entrance fee, and children pay $12.50.

How long does the activity last?

The activity lasts three hours. Pickup and return travel add extra time, with the listed van segment taking about 1.5 hours.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. The exact pickup time and location are confirmed by email.

What vehicle should I look for?

Look for a white Cabo Adventures van. Drivers wear light blue polo shirts.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A full Mexican buffet lunch is included, along with drinks.

Is the tequila tasting included?

Yes. The experience includes a tequila tasting session.

How long is the camel ride?

The camel ride lasts about 20 minutes.

Can I see whales during the tour?

During winter, you may see humpback whales offshore. Sightings are seasonal and are not guaranteed.

Are cameras allowed?

Cameras are not permitted during the camel ride. Follow the guide’s instructions about photography during the rest of the activity.

Who cannot take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for children under five, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or cruise ship guests. Children aged five to 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult.