Let’s go off-road! It’ll be fun!” she said.
Pink Bear said she wanted to get out of the city, so we decided to go way off the beaten path — literally. We left the paved roads behind for a private 4×4 adventure from Cabo to the small town of Santiago, a desert ranch, and a hidden mountain lake.
This ended up being one of our more adventurous days on our Cabo vacation. It was beautiful, bouncy, hot, rocky, and definitely not for everyone — but for us, it was a memorable way to see a very different side of California Sur.
This blog tells the story of our off-road adventure.
If you would like to read about all of Pink Bear’s adventures with D and Laura in Cabo, you can go to:
This Blog Includes:
- Overview of Our Off-Road Adventure
- Mission Santiago
- Getting Off Road
- Rancho Ecologico Sol De Mayo
- Hike and Swim at a Hidden Lake
- Mexican Lunch
- Tropic of Cancer
- Pink Bear Rating
- Final Thoughts
Overview of Our Off-Road Adventure
Pink Bear selected an off-road tour from Tripadvisor. The excursion was run by High Tide Los Cabos. Since we like private tours as part of our retirement strategy, we selected the private 4×4 Baja adventure to Santiago, Mexico. It involved not only a stop in the quaint little town, but a trip to a Ranch, a hike to a hidden lake and small waterfall, and an authentic Mexican lunch. The price was $650 USD per Jeep for up to 3 people. For a full-day private tour that included lunch, I think the price was reasonable. The entire tour lasted about 6 hours.
What to wear: Since the tour involves a hike on a rocky, uneven surface, sturdy closed-toe shoes (sneakers or hiking shoes) are recommended. Also, dress in light clothing and wear a bathing suit if you plan on swimming in the lake. Also, a hat and sunglasses are recommended, and bring a towel.
Mission Santiago
We drove for a little over an hour, and our first stop was the Misión Santiago de los Coras. This lovely little church is a Jesuit mission located in the tranquil village of Santiago, Baja California Sur, Mexico. It was founded in 1724. The original mission was destroyed during the Pericú Revolt in 1734 but has been replaced with what currently stands on the site. It is a lovely church, and I was surprised to find a statue of my patron saint next to the altar. St. Jude Thaddeus is the patron of hopeless cases and has performed many miracles for me over the years. I was surprised to see him in a few places throughout Baja, because I had not realized he was so widely honored there. His name is sometimes confused with Judas Iscariot, but St. Jude Thaddeus is the patron saint of hopeless cases.
Mural of the Mission and town.
Getting Off-Road
After the Mission, we stopped at a picturesque overlook. Located on a mountainous road north of Santiago, Mexico, this spot offers a panoramic view of lush palm groves that contrast sharply with the surrounding desert and the Sierra de la Laguna mountains.
After our photo stop at the overlook, we turned off the paved road and things began to get real. We had a bit of fun bouncing.
Getting off-road.
Along the way, we met a few interesting friends—a Road Runner with his prey and a white iguana.
Rancho Ecológico Sol de Mayo
Hike and Swim at a Hidden Lake
The next activity was the hike down to the lake and waterfall. Let’s swim in a mountain lake. It’ll be fun,” she said. We left almost everything behind except a cell phone, a light backpack, and a towel. It was hot and the hike is strenuous. We started down the dirt trail, and after about 5 minutes the terrain became very rocky. This activity is not for anyone with mobility issues or health conditions. The trail is very rocky and steep in parts with uneven steps. I made it all the way to the lake with the guide’s help, but D opted to stop about halfway down the trail.
D waiting for us
It was a long and difficult trail down, but the lake at the bottom was lovely. The waterfall was no more than a trickle, since it was the dry season with only a little rain, but swimming in the lake surrounded by high rock walls was magical. There are little fish in the lake that bite your feet.
Authentic Mexican Lunch
After our hike, we were treated to an authentic Mexican lunch. For appetizers, we had guacamole and salsa. The main course was 3 kinds of homemade quesadillas (shrimp, chicken, and beef). For dessert, we had flan and homemade Mexican candy.
Tropic of Cancer
After lunch, we headed back to Cabo, and on the way, we stopped at the Tropic of Cancer. The Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N latitude) crosses the Baja California peninsula just south of the town of Santiago and near Todos Santos. This imaginary line marks the northernmost point where the sun appears directly overhead at noon on the summer solstice. The roadside plaza features a large monument, an oversized globe, and a small, open-sided chapel adorned with beautiful murals. There was a beautiful mural of St. Jude and lots of candles in his honor.
Pink Bear Retirement Rating:
- Overall, Tour: 9/10 Varies by activity, but the tour offers a lot for the price
- Off Roading: 8/10. Bouncy, not suitable for those with back or neck issues
- Hike and Lake Swimming: 7/10. Rigorous, not suitable for anyone with mobility issues, a fear of heights, or heart conditions
- Lunch and ranch: 10/10, the ranch is lovely and the lunch delicious
- Overall: 8/10, Loads of fun, but not suitable for everyone
- Pink Bear Approved: Maybe depending on physical condition
Final Thoughts
This was a fun and full-day adventure, and I was glad we did it. It gave us a chance to get away from the resort areas and see a very different side of Cabo — small-town Santiago, desert roads, mountain scenery, ranch animals, a hidden lake, and a delicious homemade lunch.
That said, this tour is not for everyone. The off-road ride is bouncy, and the hike down to the lake is rocky, steep, hot, and more strenuous than it may sound from the tour description. I was happy I made it to the lake, but I was also very glad we had a guide helping us.
For active travelers who want something more than the beach and marina, this is a great option. For anyone with mobility issues, back or neck problems, heart concerns, or trouble with uneven terrain, I would think carefully before booking.
Pink Bear approved the ranch, the lunch, and the scenery. The hike? She was probably smart to sit that one out.