Cabo San Lucas Camel Ride and Encounter on Beach and Desert

The unusual part of this Cabo outing is also its main draw: you ride a camel along a Pacific beach, with waves and desert terrain for a backdrop. It pairs the ride with a camel encounter, a nature walk, a desert safari, a Mexican buffet, and tequila tasting.

I like the mix of activities, which saves you from arranging several separate outings, and the hotel pickup, which removes the need to find the tour base yourself. You also get time to pet and feed the camels, not just sit on one for a quick ride.

The main trade-off is the schedule. Transfers, check-in, and waiting can take a sizable share of the day, while the camel ride itself may be brief. Confirm your pickup time, phone rules, and extra charges before you leave your hotel.

• The camel ride is a short beach trail, not a long expedition. One rider timed it at about 15 minutes.
• Hotel pickup is not necessarily at the tour time you select. It may be scheduled 45 to 60 minutes earlier, depending on your location.
• The outing bundles four activities, but the nature walk and safari may feel modest rather than like separate major excursions.
• Buffet food and tequila tasting are included, along with soft drinks and water.
• Photos may cost extra, and phone access during the camel ride has been restricted for some participants.
• The group is capped at 15, and children aged 5 to 12 must ride with an adult.

A camel ride beside the Pacific

Cabo’s beaches are usually associated with boats, surf, and sun. Here, camels provide the odd and memorable contrast: you climb aboard for a short ride along the shore, with the Pacific in view and desert country behind you. It is an unusual way to spend part of a day, and the scenery gives the ride its appeal.

Before mounting, you have a chance to meet the animals, hear about their history, anatomy, temperament, care, and training, and pet and feed them. An experienced camel handler and bilingual guide are included. Guides named Billy and Joel have been praised for being friendly, funny, and informative, though your guide will depend on the day.

Keep your expectations for the ride itself in check. It is described as a quick trail ride, and one person timed the camel portion at around 15 minutes. If you want a long horseback-style trek, this is not that; if you want an easy, unusual photo opportunity and a first encounter with camels, the short length may be just right.

Meeting the camels and getting ready

The tour operates from Cactus Tours, at Carretera Federal 19 KM 100 in Migriño, outside central Cabo San Lucas. Hotel pickup and drop-off are offered in an air-conditioned vehicle, so you do not have to arrange your own ride to the starting point. The activity ends back at the meeting point, with transport back to your hotel included.

Build in time for the journey. Pickup may be 45 to 60 minutes before the selected tour time, depending on where you are staying, and a shared shuttle can make stops at other hotels. Some people have reported long waits both before the activity begins and after it ends. The advertised duration is about three hours, but the full hotel-to-hotel outing can feel longer once transfers and waiting are included.

Check the pickup details with the operator rather than assuming the time you selected online is your hotel pickup time. Check-in is usually described as quick, but it can take longer on busy cruise-ship days. The tour has a maximum of 15 participants, which is a relatively small cap, though shuttle transport and the timing of each activity can still affect how the day flows.

What the desert safari and nature walk add

The experience is presented as four activities in one day: the camel encounter and ride, a nature hike in an ecological reserve, a desert safari, and the food and tequila experiences. Bundling them is convenient, and it makes this a reasonable introduction to the area’s animals, desert setting, and local flavors without arranging each element separately.

Be realistic about the scale of the outdoor portions. Some participants have found the nature walk short and the safari more like a brief ride or transfer than a substantial off-road adventure. If you are booking mainly for a serious hike or an extended desert drive, ask the operator what those portions involve on your date. The camel ride and beach scenery are the clearest centerpiece.

That distinction matters when weighing the advertised four activities. The combination can make for a varied outing, but the number of items on a schedule does not tell you how much time each gets. If delays push the tour behind, the walk, tasting, or meal may feel rushed. Leave room in your Cabo plans rather than scheduling a tight commitment immediately afterward.

Buffet lunch and tequila tasting

The buffet is part of the appeal, especially if you like having lunch taken care of during a half-day excursion. The included meal is described as Mexican food with beef, pork, and chicken tacos, plus soft drinks and water. The food is meant to introduce flavors from different parts of Mexico, though food quality can be subjective, and one diner found the meal disappointing.

A tequila class and tasting take place in a tequila museum. This gives the outing a cultural element beyond the camel ride, and the tasting has been a highlight for some participants. Keep in mind that timing matters: if the tour runs late, you may feel pressed to eat and finish the tasting rather than linger. If either food or tequila is a priority for you, ask how the schedule is running when you arrive.

Photos, phone rules, and extra costs

Photos are a practical point to sort out before you go. A photographer may take pictures during the ride, but you should not count on using your own phone on the camel. Some participants have been told phones and personal belongings are not allowed during the ride for safety reasons; one account described phone access as tied to a private upgrade. Policies and upgrade details are not clear enough to assume they will be the same every day, so ask before booking or at check-in.

Photo packages are sold separately. Prices reported for a full package range from about $100 to $130, with individual photos cited at $20 each. The package may include drone photos. These costs can change the value calculation, particularly if you booked largely for keepsake pictures, so decide in advance how much you are willing to spend.

One participant also described a private upgrade costing $150 per person, but found that other people were still on the vehicle. Do not assume that paying for an upgrade means every part of the outing will be exclusive. Ask exactly what becomes private, whether phone use is allowed, and what the upgrade includes before paying.

There is also a stated admission fee of $25 per person that is not included in the $99 tour price. Tips are not included and are appreciated. The helmet is provided, as are the meal, drinks, tequila class and tasting, guide, handler, transport, nature hike, and desert safari. Check the total cost on the day, since optional purchases can add up quickly.

Who can ride, and what to confirm

Two people can share a camel if their combined weight is no more than 650 pounds. If two riders together exceed that limit, the information provided says one camel will be assigned to one person. Children aged 5 to 12 must ride with an adult. Pregnant participants are not allowed for safety reasons, and a reservation made for a pregnant participant may be canceled without a refund.

The tour is offered in English, uses a mobile ticket, and allows service animals. Most people can participate, but the camel ride involves getting on and off an animal and wearing a helmet. If you have a concern about whether the ride is suitable for you, check directly with the operator before booking.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted, and poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund. The cutoff follows local time.

Is this Cabo camel tour worth booking?

At $99 per person, the tour can be good value if you want a memorable beach ride, a chance to meet camels, hotel transport, lunch, and a tequila tasting in one outing. The combination is convenient, and the Pacific setting makes the camel ride unusual in a way that is hard to replicate with a standard Cabo excursion.

I would book it for the camel encounter and the novelty, not for a long ride or a demanding desert adventure. Before paying, confirm your actual pickup time, the $25 admission fee, whether phones are allowed, and current photo or private-tour prices. If you are comfortable with a short ride and a schedule that may include waiting, this can be a fun half-day. If you want a tightly timed, low-cost outing with no optional expenses, choose something simpler.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience is listed as approximately three hours. Hotel transfers, stops, check-in, or waiting can make the full outing take longer.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, using an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup may be 45 to 60 minutes before the tour time you select, depending on where you are staying.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a buffet with soft drinks and water, a tequila class and tasting, a nature hike, a desert safari, an experienced camel handler and bilingual guide, hotel transport, and a helmet.

Is there an additional admission fee?

Yes. A $25 admission fee per person is listed as not included in the tour price. Tips and optional photo packages are also extra.

Can children ride the camels, and are there weight limits?

Children aged 5 to 12 must ride with an adult. Two people may share a camel if their combined weight is no more than 650 pounds; if they exceed that limit, one person will ride a camel alone. Pregnant participants are not allowed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not accepted. If poor weather cancels the tour, you will be offered another date or a full refund.