We spent the day learning about local ecology, driving ATVs, meeting local animals, and finished with a buffet and tequila tasting. I always feel a little conflicted about ecotourism. On the one hand, I grew up in a rural area and got to enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities such as boating, off-roading, camping, hiking, and fishing. On the other hand, even though there is an attempt to preserve the environment, I can’t help but feel like I am “not helping”.
We started our day with an hour-long bus ride to the “ranch”, north of Cabo, where we would have our experience. The first tour had us learning about Paper Making (from Camel dung), exploration of local Burro and Goat Farming, and a lesson on Native Parrot species. Cabo Adventures delivered a pretty good tourist experience.
Next, we set out into the desert to explore via all-terrain UTVs (also known as Side-by-Side ATV). Think of a go-cart and a 4 wheeler with 2 to 4 seats. The tour operators would not let us take photos so here are a few stock ones to give you an idea of what it was like. We still snuck in a few photos and go-pro videos.
It was a fun experience. I took the wheel for the first half of the ride. It took me a while to get used to the traction and speed. I was also purposely being careful as I had passengers I cared about. Having wreaked my 4×4 truck nearly 20 years ago, I am a very careful off-road driver. Tip – don’t be a car in the back of the group…the dust is hard to drive in.
After about an hour and some driving in a local creek, my sweetheart took over. She was way more “Adventurous” with the throttle! She also got the vehicle stuck in a sand dune LOL.
The final part of the tour included a buffet of traditional Mexican dishes such as Pollo con Arroz. After the meal, we did a Tequila tasting. This was very enjoyable for me and comparable to many of my Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whisky Tours. I bought a bottle of the Guaycura de Damiana Liqueur. Damiana Liqueur is a light herbal-based liqueur from Mexico. It’s made with the damiana herb that grows in Baha California, Mexico. It has great mixability and tastes great as a shooter. The bottle is uniquely shaped and is modeled after an Incan Goddess.
The ride back to the resort featured a nice long nap and a visit to the pool.
