Horseback Riding on the Beach in Cabo: What to Know Before You Book

A horse on a beach at golden hour is the postcard everyone wants from Cabo, and it is a real thing you can do here. The beaches that suit a ride are the long, wide Pacific-side ones where nobody is swimming, and the ocean is for looking at rather than going in. Before you book one, here is what we tell friends: which beach, what time, what to wear, and what to expect from a rental horse.

Which beach

Not Medano. Medano is the main tourist beach, with restaurants, bars and water sports, and the water is swimmable, which is exactly why it is full of people and not horses. The long Pacific-side beaches are where a ride makes sense: wide sand, big surf, almost nobody on it. One rule for that coast, on a horse or on foot: stay out of the water. The Pacific side is not for swimming, even wading, because of rogue waves and undertow. Enjoy it from the saddle.

When to ride

Early morning or the last hour before sunset. Cabo's daytime heat is hard on riders and harder on horses, and the light at both ends of the day is the reason you wanted the photo in the first place. In summer, June through September, morning is the only sane answer. In winter the mornings are calmer and cooler, and sunset rides are comfortable. Weekdays are quieter than weekends everywhere on this coast.

What to wear and bring

• Long pants. Bare legs against a saddle for an hour is a lesson you learn once.
• Closed shoes with a small heel, or at least sneakers. No flip-flops.
• Sunscreen, a hat that will not blow off, sunglasses. There is no shade on a beach.
• Water. Bring your own bottle.
• A phone strap, or a friend on the sand for photos. Shooting from the saddle is how phones end up in the Pacific.

What to expect from a rental horse

These are working ranch horses that walk the same route most days, which is good news for beginners: they know the way, they are calm, and a guide rides with you. It also means you will mostly walk, with the occasional trot if the guide allows it. If you are an experienced rider expecting a gallop down the sand, say so when you book, and be ready to hear no. Ask about weight limits and minimum ages before you pay; every ranch sets its own.

The beach rides we list right now

We do not currently have a horseback operator in our activities list that we can put our name to, so we will not quote you a price or a duration we have not checked. What we do list are the rides that cover the same ground, the desert ranches that run down to the Pacific shore, with a different animal or a motor.

Outback & Cabo Camel Ride

A camel safari from a private desert ranch out to the Pacific coastline, with a guided nature walk, a tortilla-making lesson and an oceanfront Mexican buffet. The afternoon departure adds a sunset bonfire. Three hours, 9am or 1pm, ages 5 and up, $128 USD plus 16% IVA, rated 4.8. It is the closest thing to a beach ride we can vouch for.

Camels + Arch + Lunch

Pairs a speedboat trip to the Arch and the sea lion colony with a camel ride along the beach and a buffet lunch with Pacific views. Four hours, ages 5 and up, $149 USD plus 16% IVA, rated 4.7.

Electric Biking Beach & Desert Adventure

If what you want is the open beach and the desert trails at your own pace, a fat-tire e-bike does that with less saddle soreness. Three hours through cactus-lined trails and onto the Pacific sand, ending at a ranch with a buffet and a margarita-making class. Ages 8 and up, $129 USD plus 16% IVA, rated 4.5.

Before you go

• Book for sunrise or the hour before sunset. Never midday.
• Long pants, closed shoes, hat, water.
• Stay out of the Pacific surf.
• Tip your guide in pesos when you can.

Ride early or late, dress for a saddle, and keep the hooves and your feet out of the Pacific. See every ranch and beach trip we list on our adventures in Cabo page.