Most people picture Cabo as beaches and resort pools, which is fair, but on our last trip we wanted something the kids would actually remember, so we booked a camel ride through the Baja desert. Camels aren’t native to this part of Mexico, but local ranches have run these tours for decades, and we wanted to see what the experience was actually like beyond the novelty.
Booking Your Cabo Camel Ride
We went through Cabo Adventures, a local operator with a solid safety record. Half-day tours run morning or afternoon, with a free roundtrip shuttle from the major hotels. Plan on 4–5 hours total including transport. It ran about $109 per adult and $89 per child when we booked, though prices shift a bit by operator and season, book ahead if you’re traveling during a school break, since the good time slots fill up. The price also doesn’t cover the ranch entrance fee (about $25 per adult and $12.50 per child), and riders need to be at least 5 years old and under 265 lbs, so it’s worth checking those limits before you book if anyone in your group is borderline. It’s also not recommended if you’re pregnant or have back or neck problems, since climbing on and off is a bit jarring even though the ride itself isn’t. There’s no shade out on the trails, so we packed the same sun protection basics we bring on every family trip: wide-brim hats, reef-safe sunscreen, and more water than felt necessary.
The Ride
Getting on the camel is easier than it looks. The guides steady the animal while you climb aboard, and once you’re settled it’s a slow, rolling gait rather than anything jarring. The ride itself is about 25–30 minutes through Cabo’s desert trails: towering cardón cacti, desert wildflowers, and views out to the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. Guides walk beside the group the whole way, so there’s no racing and nothing that felt unsafe with kids on board. One thing to plan around: phones, cameras, and GoPros aren’t allowed once you’re actually on the camel for safety reasons, so any shots of you in the saddle come from the tour operator rather than your own camera roll.
Beyond the Ride in Cabo
The camels are only part of the tour. Along the way our guide pointed out native plants like agave and pitaya cactus and talked about ranchero life in this stretch of the Cabo San Lucas outback. The highlight for our kids, wasn’t the camel at all. It was the hands-on tortilla-making class, where they rolled and cooked their own tortillas over a hot comal. Afterward we sat down to a buffet lunch in a shaded outdoor pavilion overlooking the desert, chicken in mole sauce, barbecued ribs, Mexican rice, beans, and salads, with vegetarian options available, plus a mezcal and tequila tasting for the adults.
Is the Cabo Camel Ride Worth It?
If your kids have done the standard Cabo beach-and-pool rotation and you want an afternoon that feels different, this delivers. It’s low-key rather than adrenaline-heavy, which made it an easy yes for our family. It’s not cheap for a group, so weigh it against what else is on your itinerary, but for us it was one of the more memorable parts of the trip. If you go, aim for a morning slot: the desert heats up fast by early afternoon, and there’s little shade along the trail.
Quick Facts
- Location: Baja desert outside Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Operator: Cabo Adventures
- Duration: 4–5 hours round trip, including hotel shuttle
- Price: About $109 per adult and $89 per child (rates vary by season)
- Best for: Families who want a lower-key alternative to adrenaline-heavy Cabo excursions
