Horseback riding in Cabo: beach rides, sunset rides and how to choose a ranch

Horseback riding in Cabo happens mostly on the Pacific side, where ranches lead guided rides along desert trails and onto long, open beaches. A typical ride is 1 to 1.5 hours in the saddle, beginners are welcome, and the common limits are a minimum age of 6 to 8 and a rider weight of around 240 to 250 lb (109 to 113 kg). Sunset rides face the ocean, so the sun goes down over the water in front of you.

Below is what a ride involves, what to ask before you book, and how a sunset on horseback compares with a sunset from a boat at the Arch.

Where do you ride horses on the beach in Cabo?

The beach rides are on the Pacific coast, away from the hotel strip. One well-known area is Migriño, about 25 minutes from Cabo San Lucas, where rides leave a ranch, follow dirt roads through cactus desert and come out on a wide beach.

Closer to town, riders also go through the dunes around Cabo Falso. Our Cabo Falso lighthouse page explains the catch: the old lighthouse stands on private land, access has been restricted since 2004, and visitors usually reach it on horseback or on off-road tours. Check the current situation before you count on that route.

Nobody swims on these rides. The Pacific beaches have big surf and a strong undertow, so the ride stays on the sand.

What is a beach horseback ride like?

Most outings include pickup from your hotel or the cruise pier, and the transfers take as long as the ride. Plan on about four hours door to door for one hour or a little more on the horse.

At the ranch a guide asks about your experience, hands you a helmet and assigns a horse. The group then rides out in a line behind the guide. The pace is a walk, which is why first-timers manage fine.

The route mixes desert and beach. You ride through an arroyo or along a dirt track, come over the last dune, and then walk along the sand with the surf on one side.

Who can ride? Age, weight and experience

Each ranch sets its own limits, so use these as the usual range and confirm before paying.

Some ranches let younger children ride with an adult, and some set a maximum age as well. A posted weight limit is a good sign, because it means the ranch is thinking about the horses.

Tell the ranch ahead of time about back or knee problems, and ask about their policy if you're pregnant. An hour in a saddle uses muscles most people don't use, and you can't easily stop halfway.

Morning, afternoon or sunset?

Morning rides are the coolest and the calmest, which makes them the better pick for kids and for the hot months. Midday in summer is hard on riders and on horses.

The sunset ride is the one in the photos. The beach faces west, the light turns gold, and the ride is timed to end around sundown. Sunset in Cabo moves a lot through the year:

Cabo stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving. A winter sunset ride gets you back to your hotel in time for dinner, and a July one doesn't finish until after 7 PM.

Bring a light jacket for any evening ride on the Pacific side. The breeze off the ocean is cooler than it is in town.

Cabo horseback riding and ATV combos

Several ranches on the Pacific side sell the two together. A typical combo is about an hour on the horse plus a little over an hour on an ATV through desert trails and canyons, with helmets included.

It's a long, dusty half day, and the two halves have little in common. The ATV part is noise and speed, and the horseback part is slow. If your group is split between the two, the combo keeps everyone happy. If you mainly want the beach ride, book the ride alone.

Our ATV and camel ride guide covers the off-road side.

How to choose a ranch with healthy horses

We don't recommend specific ranches, and we don't quote their prices. What we can give you is a list of things to look at, because the horses' condition varies from one outfit to the next.

Before you book:

• Read recent reviews and look for comments about the horses themselves.
• Ask about the weight limit, the group size and whether helmets are provided.
• Ask how many rides each horse does in a day.

When you arrive:

• Look at the horses' bodies. Ribs, hip bones or a spine showing sharply means an underfed horse.
• Check for open sores where the saddle, girth or bridle sits.
• See whether there's shade and water in the corral.
• Watch how the guides handle the animals.

If what you see worries you, don't ride. Say why, and say it again in a review, because that's what the next visitor reads.

The beaches deserve the same care. Stay on the tracks the guides use, since vehicle traffic has damaged the dunes around Cabo Falso. From July to December those beaches are also turtle nesting beaches, so keep clear of marked nests. Our Cabo turtle release guide explains the season.

What to wear and bring

Leave bags and loose items at the ranch.

Sunset on horseback or sunset on the water?

Both are Pacific sunsets, seen from opposite sides of the same coast. On a horse you're on the sand looking out. On a boat you're offshore looking back at the dunes and the cliffs, after passing the Arch on the way.

Our 2 hour Pacific sunset route leaves Marina Cabo San Lucas, passes the Arch, the sea lion colony and Divorce Beach, and runs toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse as the sun gets low. It's 12 miles round trip. The sunset cruise page has the outline, and our sunset cruise guide lists departure times for each month.

Pairing a ride with a private boat day

You can't watch the same sunset twice, so spread them out. The easy plan is a morning ride and a sunset cruise on the same day, or the sunset ride on one evening and the boat on another.

For a group, the Sea Ray 36 is the boat we suggest most for sunset. It's a 36 ft express cruiser for up to 12 guests, with a captain and deckhand, bottled water and ice, a cooler, towels and snorkel gear. Two hours start at USD 659 (MXN 12,599), which is about USD 47 each with 12 on board.

For two people, the Chaparral 28 starts at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) for 2 hours. Our couples page describes the sunset for two, and the Cabo Falso lighthouse article tells the story of the building you'll see on the dunes.

Prices are per boat for your whole group, with the 16% tax included. The customary 15% crew tip isn't included. We don't sell alcohol, so guests 18 and over can bring whatever they'd like to toast with.

Booking the boat part

For a sunset cruise, plan to leave the dock about an hour and a half before sunset. Send your date and group size through the planner, and we reply in writing within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, with the exact departure time for your date.

Yachts in this guide

Sea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hChaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 h

Questions people ask

Where can you go horseback riding on the beach in Cabo?

On the Pacific side, north and west of Cabo San Lucas. Ranches there lead guided rides along desert trails and onto long open beaches such as Migriño, about 25 minutes from town.

Can beginners go horseback riding in Cabo?

Yes. The rides are guided, go at a walk and are sold to first-time riders. Guides match each horse to the rider's size and confidence, so say so if you have never ridden.

Is there a weight limit for horseback riding in Cabo?

Usually, and it varies by ranch. Limits of around 240 to 250 lb (109 to 113 kg) are common and a few ranches accept more, so ask before you pay.

What time is a sunset horseback ride in Cabo?

It depends on the month. Sunset in Cabo runs from about 5:35 PM in late November and December to about 7:10 PM in early July, and rides are timed to end around then.

How does a sunset horseback ride compare with a sunset cruise?

Both face the Pacific. The ride puts you on the sand for about an hour, and a private 2 hour sunset cruise goes around the Arch to the same coast from USD 519 (MXN 9,799) per boat for up to 10 guests, tax included.

Plan your day on the water

Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

Check availabilitySee the fleet