REVIEW · CABO SAN LUCAS
Camel Ride & Encounter at Los Cabos
Book on Viator →Operated by CalypsoTrip · Bookable on Viator
Camels on the beach beats most Cabo tours. I like the guided camel trek along the shoreline, and I also really enjoy that the day ends with tequila tasting plus a short tequila class. It’s one of those outings where you get animals, nature, and a cultural stop without feeling like you’re just being rushed from one photo spot to the next.
One thing to keep in mind: pickup matters, and you’ll want to stay on top of timing. In the real world, shared transport can go sideways, so confirm ahead and have your meeting plan ready.
If you prefer smaller groups, this one is capped at 20 travelers, and you’ll get a helmet for the ride. Between that and the fact the tour runs with departures throughout the day, it’s set up to fit different schedules without turning the experience into a long all-day grind.
In This Review
- Key Highlights You’ll Actually Notice
- Why This Camel + Reserve Day Feels More Like an Experience
- Price and Value: What Your $120 Actually Buys (and What Costs Extra)
- Pickup and Timing: The One Logistics Piece to Manage Carefully
- The Camel Trek Along Los Cabos Beaches (What You’ll Do, Not Just What You’ll See)
- The Ecological Reserve Hike: Desert Plants You Can Name After
- Lunch, Flavored Water, and Tequila: How the Food Part Works
- Helmets, Photos, and the Little Details That Affect Your Day
- Group Size and Guide Style: What Max 20 Usually Means
- Who This Tour Is Best For (and Who Might Want to Skip)
- How to Prepare So You Enjoy Every Minute
- Should You Book Camel Ride & Encounter at Los Cabos?
- FAQ
- How long is the Camel Ride & Encounter tour?
- Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
- What’s included in the price?
- What is not included?
- What is the minimum age?
- Can I get a refund if I cancel?
Key Highlights You’ll Actually Notice

- Beach camel trek with petting and feeding time
- Ecological reserve hike featuring desert plants like cholla and cardón
- Mexican lunch with taco-style food plus flavored water
- Tequila tasting with a quick tequila class
- Helmet provided, guided experience in English, small group size (max 20)
Why This Camel + Reserve Day Feels More Like an Experience

This tour works because it’s not only about sitting on an animal and taking a few pictures. You get a camel trek along the beach, then you step into an ecological reserve hike where you learn what you’re actually looking at. That combination changes the vibe. It turns the day into something closer to a guided outing than a simple ride-and-go.
The animal time is the obvious draw. You’ll get close enough for hands-on interaction, including petting and feeding the camels. And since there’s a professional guide, you’re not left figuring it out on your own.
Then comes the part that surprises people in a good way: the hike. The route focuses on desert plants and vegetation you might otherwise walk past without noticing. You’ll hear names like cholla, cardón, and yuka, plus you’ll get points of interest in the area such as correcaminos. If you like knowing what you’re seeing, this section adds real value.
Finally, there’s food and drink that keeps it social, not stiff. You get Mexican lunch, traditional flavored water, and then a tequila tasting with a short class so it’s not just shots poured for the sake of it.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Cabo San Lucas.
Price and Value: What Your $120 Actually Buys (and What Costs Extra)

The price is $120 per person, and you should think of it as bundling four things: transport, guiding, animals/nature time, and a tequila moment.
Here’s what’s included:
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
- A professional guide
- Use of a helmet
- Lunch (Mexican food)
- Fresh water
- Tequila tasting (alcoholic beverages)
What is not included:
- An admission fee for Los Cabos: $25 per person
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
So your real budget is closer to $145 plus any photo purchases. That might sound like a small add-on, but it’s the kind of fee that can catch you later if you’re not ready for it.
Still, I think it’s fair value if you want a package. A camel experience alone can be pricey, and adding a guided nature walk plus a tequila tasting means you’re getting more than one activity under one roof.
If you’re traveling with limited time, the “everything in one day” setup also helps. The duration is about 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.), which is short enough that it doesn’t swallow your whole day in Cabo.
Pickup and Timing: The One Logistics Piece to Manage Carefully

This tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off and offers departure times throughout the day. That flexibility is great, because you can choose a time that fits your energy level and your plans.
But I’d take pickup seriously. One past experience included a driver no-show, which is the kind of problem that wastes the day. You can’t control every vehicle on the road, but you can reduce the risk.
Practical things to do:
- Confirm your pickup 72 hours before the tour date.
- Make sure you understand the pickup instructions for your exact hotel (some hotels may need coordination).
- Keep your phone charged and accessible on tour day.
Also, the tour uses a mobile ticket, so don’t lose it. Having it ready helps the team move faster when they’re matching you with your group.
If your hotel isn’t listed, the operator asks you to reach out so transportation can be coordinated. That’s a good sign they care about clean logistics. It just means you should do your part early.
The Camel Trek Along Los Cabos Beaches (What You’ll Do, Not Just What You’ll See)

The main event is a guided camel trek along the beaches of Los Cabos, with time for interaction before or during the ride. The description focuses on the shoreline setting—crystalline waters and the Pacific’s waves—which is why this tour feels different from inland animal experiences.
What you should expect day-to-day:
- A guide manages the group and the pace.
- You’ll get helmet use for safety.
- You’ll have time to get up close with the camels, including petting and feeding.
Now, a quick reality check: camel rides aren’t a controlled theme-park track. You’re riding a large animal, so expect some movement and take it as part of the fun. If you’re comfortable with that, you’ll have a blast.
If you’re not comfortable with animals, you might still enjoy it because the experience includes learning about camel culture and basic details like anatomy and keeping/training. You’re not just stuck holding on; you’re learning what makes the animal behave the way it does.
Also, the guide matters. In one standout day, the tour guide named Emmanuel was called out as awesome, and that kind of guidance can make a big difference in how safe and smooth the ride feels. Your guide may not be Emmanuel, but the lesson is the same: you want a confident, calm person steering the experience.
The Ecological Reserve Hike: Desert Plants You Can Name After
After the camel portion, the tour shifts from ocean air to an ecological reserve walk. This is one of the best parts for people who like more than postcards.
You’ll learn about different types of plants and vegetation in the Baja environment, with examples including:
- cholla
- cardón
- yuka
- correcaminos
…and more plant life in the area.
Here’s why this matters: seeing desert plants up close changes how you think about them. Instead of cactus being just cactus, you start recognizing shapes, textures, and survival strategies. It turns a dry, prickly setting into something with actual personality.
If you’ve been in Cabo mostly for beaches and nightlife, the hike gives you a break from the usual rhythm. It also gives the day balance: animals plus nature, not animals only.
A small drawback to consider: if you dislike walking (even short hikes), make sure you’re comfortable with some time on foot. The tour is only about 2.5 hours total, but the hike itself is still a hike.
Lunch, Flavored Water, and Tequila: How the Food Part Works
The food is built for people who get hungry after time outdoors. You’ll enjoy a Mexican lunch—described as a taco buffet, and you’ll also see burritos listed as part of the lunch offering. Either way, you should plan for a satisfying meal rather than a snack.
You’ll also have fresh water and traditional flavored water, which is a nice touch in the Cabo heat. It keeps you refreshed during the shift from outdoor time to indoor or shaded food stops.
Then the tour ends with tequila tasting and a quick tequila class. This is where the day turns from animal-and-hike into something more cultural.
What I like about the way it’s framed: it’s not only tasting; you’re taught the basics. That means you’ll have context for what you’re drinking and what to notice. Even if you’re not a tequila nerd, a simple class can make the tasting feel purposeful instead of random.
One note: tequila tasting includes alcohol. If you’re the type who doesn’t drink, this still might be a fine tour, but your enjoyment may depend on how you feel about being around it.
Helmets, Photos, and the Little Details That Affect Your Day

The tour includes use of a helmet. That might sound minor, but it’s actually a quality signal. It suggests the operator takes the ride part seriously enough to handle safety basics.
Photos are the other detail that can change the value. Souvenir photos are not included, but they’re available to purchase. In at least one excellent experience, the person taking pictures did a great job. That’s encouraging because good action shots can genuinely add to the memories.
My practical advice: if you’re someone who wants photos, plan to look for the photo option rather than assuming you’ll get digital copies automatically. If you’re not into photos, you can just treat it as optional and focus on the experience.
Group Size and Guide Style: What Max 20 Usually Means
This tour caps at a maximum of 20 travelers. That matters because it affects crowding during the ride, the hike, and any time spent waiting around for the group.
With 20 people, you should usually be able to hear the guide and get attention when it’s needed. It also helps during animal interactions, where calm handling and timing are important.
English is offered, so if you’re not fluent in Spanish, you’ll still be able to follow along through the main teaching moments.
And again, guide quality can make the difference between a chaotic ride and a smooth one. Emmanuel was praised for being awesome, and it makes sense—someone who can manage pace, safety, and questions keeps the day fun.
Who This Tour Is Best For (and Who Might Want to Skip)
I’d recommend this for you if:
- You want one organized outing that includes animals, nature, and tequila.
- You like learning, even a little, about what you see—especially plants in a reserve.
- You’re okay with a short walking portion after the ride.
- You like small-group tours more than big bus chaos.
You might want to think twice if:
- You hate any chance of transportation timing going wrong. While pickup is included, a past experience involved a driver no-show.
- You’re not comfortable around animals, even if there’s a guided component.
- You want a purely beach-only day with no walking and no tequila element.
Age considerations are clear. The minimum age is 6, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour notes that most travelers can participate, which suggests the activity is broadly accessible, but your comfort with riding a camel is the real deciding factor.
How to Prepare So You Enjoy Every Minute
You can’t control the weather or the sand, but you can control how comfortable you are. For a camel ride and a reserve hike, bring:
- Close-toe shoes you don’t mind getting a bit dusty
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Water in your day bag if you tend to get thirsty quickly (even though water is included)
- A phone or small camera that you can secure
Also, since souvenir photos are separate, decide early whether you want them. If you’re on the fence, you can always ask how the photo process works during the experience.
Most importantly: keep your tour time plan realistic. With a 2.5-hour window, you want to arrive at pickup time ready to go.
Should You Book Camel Ride & Encounter at Los Cabos?
I’d book it if you want a guided day that combines camel interaction, a real nature walk, and a tequila ending—without spending your entire vacation on logistics.
This is also a good pick if you value structure: hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, helmet provided, small group size, and a schedule with departure times throughout the day.
The main caution is simple: be attentive about pickup timing. Confirm 72 hours before, keep the meeting details handy, and don’t assume the day will wait for you. If you handle that, you’re set up for a fun, memorable mix of sea, animals, desert plants, and tequila.
FAQ
How long is the Camel Ride & Encounter tour?
It’s about 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.).
Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
Yes. Hotel/port pickup and drop-off are included.
What’s included in the price?
The tour includes a professional guide, helmet use, lunch (Mexican food) with fresh water, and tequila tasting with alcoholic beverages.
What is not included?
Souvenir photos are not included (they’re available to purchase), and there’s an admission fee for Los Cabos of $25 per person.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 6, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Can I get a refund if I cancel?
Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
























