You’ll blast across Baja’s wild desert and along Migriño Beach behind the wheel of a turbocharged UTV—with a local guide leading and plenty of laughs along the way. Expect salty air, big views, whale spotting if you’re lucky, and a tequila toast before heading back to Cabo with sand still stuck to your grin.
I didn’t expect to start the day with a jolt of adrenaline, but the Can-Am Maverick X3 doesn’t really give you much choice. We met our guide—Miguel, who’s apparently raced Baja 1000 more times than I’ve changed my phone case—at the Cactus Tours Park outside Cabo. He grinned when he saw me eyeing the UTV like it might bite. “Don’t worry,” he said, “she’s fast but she listens.” The engine was already rumbling under my seat before I could second-guess myself.
The first thing that hit me was the smell—salty air mixing with sun-baked earth as we tore through the desert. It’s loud in the best way: wind whipping past your helmet, sand pinging off the roll cage, Miguel’s voice crackling over the radio every so often (“Left! Left!”). We covered miles of trails that wound through cactus forests and up rocky ridges—I lost count after a while. Then suddenly, Migriño Beach just opened up in front of us. The Pacific looked endless and kind of wild; there were fishermen hauling nets and kids waving from a dune buggy on the horizon. If you come in winter, Miguel said you might see whales breaching offshore—I kept scanning but no luck this time.
We stopped for water (needed it—my teeth felt gritty from grinning) and just stood there for a minute watching pelicans dive. I tried to ask about the local word for this kind of sand—Li laughed when I butchered it in Spanish—and we all ended up swapping stories about getting stuck in mud back home. On the way back, my arms felt heavy but good-tired, like after swimming too long. There was a quick tequila tasting at base camp (I still think about that smoky flavor), and then we piled back into the van for drop-off in Cabo. Honestly, I’m still finding sand in my shoes.
The tour covers 50% more driving miles than standard tours; exact duration varies but expect several hours including transport.
Yes, round trip transportation from your hotel is included.
Children aged 5 and up can ride as passengers; drivers must be at least 16 years old.
No prior experience is needed; routes are designed for all skill levels and guides provide instructions.
Dress appropriately for weather conditions; closed shoes and comfortable clothes are recommended as it operates rain or shine.
Yes, safety gear and water are included throughout your adventure.
Yes, a tequila tasting is part of your experience at base camp after driving.
The tour is wheelchair accessible; infants and small children can ride in prams or strollers.
Your day includes round-trip transportation from Cabo hotels, all safety equipment for driving the Can-Am Maverick X3 UTV across desert trails and Migriño Beach, bottled water during stops to keep you going under that Baja sun, a bilingual local guide who knows every twist of these tracks (and has great stories), plus a tequila tasting session before heading back into town. There’s even a kids club with nanny service if you’re traveling as a family.
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