Cabo San Lucas: Camel Safari Tour with Lunch and Tequila

The best part of this Cabo outing is the odd but memorable mix: a camel ride beside the Pacific, followed by tortillas, lunch, and tequila at a beachfront restaurant. You also get a short desert walk through an area known for turtle breeding, with wide ocean views and a chance of seeing humpback whales in winter.

I like the local touches. Making tortillas gives the meal more meaning than a standard buffet, and the guides, including Jesus and Michael, have earned warm praise for their friendly style. I also like that the ride takes place on a quiet beach rather than in a crowded resort setting.

The main caution is value. The camel ride lasts about 20 minutes, while transport and the other activities fill out the day. You also need to pay a separate $25 adult park fee, and the photo prices can be steep.

Key points to know before booking

• The camel ride lasts about 20 minutes: Expect a short, scenic ride, not an all-day animal trek.
• The park fee is extra: Budget $25 per adult and $12.50 per child in addition to the tour price.
• Lunch includes Mexican food and drinks: Tortilla making and tequila tasting add a local touch.
• Winter may bring whale sightings: Humpback whales can sometimes be seen offshore during the winter season.
• The ride is not camera-friendly: Cameras are not permitted during the camel ride, and photo packages can cost much more than expected.
• This suits active adults and older children: Children under five cannot join, and the outing is not suitable for pregnant people, wheelchair users, or anyone with back or mobility problems.

A camel ride beside the Pacific Ocean

This experience begins at a ranch in the Baja California Sur desert, with the Pacific Ocean spread out nearby. You are not riding through a city park or a theme-park paddock. The setting is open, dry, and coastal, which gives the camel ride its real appeal.

The ride itself lasts about 20 minutes. That is enough time to enjoy the sea air, sandy shore, and ocean views, but you should set your expectations correctly. If you want a long horseback-style excursion with hours in the saddle, this is not it.

The camels are the star attraction, but the scenery does much of the work. In winter, humpback whales may be visible offshore. Sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed, yet the possibility adds interest to a beach already worth seeing.

You will receive a safety briefing and a helmet before riding. Cameras are not allowed during the camel ride. That rule may frustrate you if you like to document every stop, but it also means you should plan to enjoy this part without a phone in your hand.

One practical warning matters here: photo sales can be expensive. A reported price was $50 for one photo, with package prices reaching $119 or more. Ask about the cost before agreeing to any pictures. You can avoid an unpleasant surprise by treating the photo service as optional, not as part of the $99 tour price.

The desert walk and its turtle connection

Before or around the camel ride, your guide leads a short walk through the desert. This is not a strenuous trek, but you will be outside on dry, exposed ground. Comfortable closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen are sensible choices.

The walk introduces the native plants and animals of the area. It also takes place in a famous turtle breeding zone, giving the outing a conservation angle that many simple animal rides lack. The supplied details do not specify which turtle species you will see or whether nesting activity will be visible, so think of this as an environmental introduction rather than a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

I like this section because it gives the camel ride a setting and a sense of place. You are not simply checking off a novelty animal experience. You are also getting a short look at the desert beside the sea, where the dry terrain and Pacific views meet.

The walk may be less comfortable for anyone with mobility limits or back trouble. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, pregnant women, or people with mobility impairments. Bring water if you need it, though drinks are included during the wider outing.

Making tortillas, then sitting down for lunch

After the beach portion, you walk a short distance to a beachfront restaurant. Here, you learn how to make authentic tortillas before eating a full Mexican buffet.

This is one of the most useful parts of the tour for anyone who wants more than a ride and a meal. Tortillas are basic Mexican food, but the lesson connects you with the hands-on side of local cooking. It also gives you something to do while the group settles in for lunch.

The meal includes regional food and drinks. Beer, coffee, spirits, and other beverages are listed as available, so you can expect a relaxed lunch rather than a quick snack. Ice-cold drinks are especially welcome after time in the sun.

The food is also where standards may vary. One poor report described flies around the food area and on the camels. That is a serious hygiene concern, even though it does not appear in the overall pattern of feedback. You should use your own judgment at the buffet and speak up if the serving area does not look clean.

The restaurant setting is part of the value. You are eating near the beach, not being rushed back into a van. Still, if you are paying $99 mainly for the ride, the price may feel high because the camel portion is short. If you value the full combination of food, desert scenery, guides, and tasting, the cost makes more sense.

Tequila tasting with a practical warning

The tequila tasting follows lunch and adds a familiar Cabo holiday ritual. You will have a chance to sample tequila and learn more about the spirit in a social setting.

I see this as an enjoyable extra, not the main reason to book. The tour works best when you think of the tasting as one piece of a Mexican food and culture outing. It is not presented as a formal spirits course, and the available details do not specify the number of samples or brands.

Cash is worth carrying. The park entrance fee must be paid separately, and the tour information specifically recommends bringing cash. The adult fee is $25, while children pay $12.50. For a couple, that adds $50 to the advertised $198 tour cost before any optional photos or other purchases.

This extra charge should be part of your decision from the start. Some people consider the fee a contribution toward animal care, while others feel it should be included in the advertised price. Either way, it is not a small detail for families or couples watching their budget.

Guides can shape the whole three-hour outing

The guide is important here because the experience moves through several parts: transport, a safety briefing, desert interpretation, camel riding, tortilla making, lunch, and tequila tasting.

Jesus received especially warm praise for making the day enjoyable from start to finish. Michael was also praised for his strong character and friendly manner. The listed languages are English and Spanish, so you can request the language that works best for your group.

The tour lasts three hours at the activity site, but transport adds considerable time. Pickup is available from Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. The transport information lists a van ride of 1.5 hours, and one detailed report described about an hour each way to reach the activity. Plan for a sizable portion of your day, not just a quick three-hour appointment.

Pickup details are confirmed by email. Look for a white Cabo Adventures van, with drivers wearing light blue polo shirts. That small detail can save time when several vans are moving around your hotel area.

Cruise ship passengers should note that this experience is specifically listed as unsuitable for cruise ship guests. The schedule and transfer time may not fit safely with a ship departure, even if the activity itself sounds short.

Is $99 a fair price?

At $99 per person, this is not a cheap beach activity. The base price includes the camel ride, guides, helmet, tortilla lesson, full lunch, drinks, and tequila tasting. You also get transport from the two main Cabo areas.

The value depends on what you want from the day. If you want only a camel ride, the 20-minute length makes the price hard to defend. Add the separate $25 adult park fee, and the total rises quickly.

If you want a packaged cultural outing, the calculation changes. You are paying for a desert walk, ocean views, a beach visit, animal care access, food, drinks, a cooking lesson, and a tasting. Several strong ratings praised the amount included, and one person called the overall experience spectacular for the price.

I would compare it with the cost of arranging separate transport, lunch, and activities. The tour removes much of that planning work. On the other hand, the schedule is fixed, and you have less control over how long you spend at each stop.

Do not forget the photo issue. Optional photos may cost $50 each, with packages reported at $119 to $160. You can enjoy the outing without buying them, so I would decide your limit before you arrive.

Who will enjoy this Cabo excursion?

This is a good fit for you if you like a little of everything. You get animals, desert scenery, food, a short cultural lesson, and a tasting in one organized outing. Couples, families with children over five, and first-time Cabo visitors may appreciate that variety.

Children from five through 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children under five cannot join. The helmet and safety briefing add reassurance, but the tour still involves walking, heat, and mounting a camel, so young children should be comfortable with those conditions.

You should skip this experience if you are pregnant, have back problems, use a wheelchair, or have a mobility impairment. It is also a poor match if your main goal is a long camel trek or a quiet nature walk without commercial photo sales.

Bring closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and cash. The information also advises comfortable shoes. Cameras are not permitted during the camel ride, so leave expensive camera gear behind for that portion.

Booking and cancellation details

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which is useful while you are still arranging your Cabo schedule.

Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date. Pickup and drop-off are available in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, with the exact pickup time confirmed by email.

Keep the transfer time in mind when planning other activities. The activity is advertised as three hours, but the ride to the ranch can take a meaningful part of the day. I would not place it next to an important dinner, airport transfer, or fixed appointment.

Should you book the camel safari?

Book it if you want a lively, easy-to-arrange Cabo outing that combines a Pacific beach camel ride with Mexican food and drink. The tortilla lesson, desert walk, whale possibility in winter, and friendly guides such as Jesus and Michael give it more substance than a ride alone.

Skip it if you want maximum riding time, strict budget control, or a completely hands-off animal encounter. The $25 park fee is extra, transport can be longer than expected, and optional photos may be costly.

For me, the best reason to choose this tour is the mix of experiences. The camel ride is short, but the day gives you several distinct memories. Go in knowing the true cost, carry sun protection and cash, and treat the photos as optional. That is the clearest way to enjoy what this Cabo outing does well.

FAQ

How long does the Cabo camel safari tour last?

The activity lasts three hours. Transport from Cabo San Lucas or San José del Cabo adds extra time, with the listed van journey taking about 1.5 hours and one report describing roughly an hour each way.

How long is the camel ride?

The camel ride lasts about 20 minutes along a quiet beach.

What is included in the tour price?

The $99 price includes lunch, drinks, the camel ride, a safety helmet, guides, a tortilla making lesson, and tequila tasting.

Is the park entrance fee included?

No. The park fee is separate and costs $25 per adult or $12.50 per child.

Can I see whales during the tour?

You may see humpback whales offshore during winter, but sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed.

Are cameras allowed during the camel ride?

No. Cameras are not permitted during the camel ride.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and cash.

Who cannot join this experience?

Children under five, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, and cruise ship guests should not book this tour. Children aged five through 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult.