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Desert Safari
By Sandra Berry
Many visitors to Los Cabos, and even those who live here, hardly ever get beyond the city limits to explore the Baja desert. This inviting region is filled with friendly people, magical cultures, and a fascinating history, all set in an extraordinary natural landscape that conjures up visions of adventure and excitement.
I decided to explore the Baja outback with Cabo Adventures’ Desert Safari. Along with 12 adventuresome ladies, I arrived at the Cabo Dolphins Center, where we were treated to a continental breakfast, followed by an enlightening and humorous indoctrination. Afterward, we boarded the rear truck bed of an all-terrain 4 x 4 Unimog, a Mercedes Benz open-air outback vehicle made in Germany.
Once through town, we took off over dirt roads and through dry stream beds, passing remote villages on our mission to reach the heart of the Sierra Mountains. In the depths of untouched desert vegetation, our knowledgeable and ecologically oriented guide took us on a nature walk, where we discovered the unsoiled flora and fauna of the desert. Those not too queasy were able to see scorpions, snakes and insects up close and personal.
In addition to the colorful descriptions and idioms that made the tour highly entertaining and informative, our guide provided insight into how the culture of Mexico has been influenced by history, ecology, weather, and religion. As part of the tour, our guide demonstrated how corn is mashed on a stone slab, called a metate, for making tortillas. This demonstration was followed by a snack of tacos made by a local farmer’s wife in their hilltop outdoor kitchen, where we enjoyed incredible views of the Sierra and Pacific Ocean.
Our tour continued to the remote village of Candelaria. Here we visited a school where 75 students board during the week, conducting their studies through a high-tech satellite dish. During a stop at the local church, our guide told us the beautiful story of the Virgin of Guadalupe. We also learned the origin of the name “California”, the difference between the saguaro cactus found in the southwestern U.S. and the cordon cactus native to the Baja, the number of states in México, and more information than we could possibly absorb in one outing.
Mid-afternoon, we arrived at a beachside oasis on the Pacific Ocean where we enjoyed an open bar and buffet barbecue, as well as a lesson about tequila. While relaxing and indulging under umbrellas in the sand, we watched numerous whales cavorting in front of us.
Our adventure was brought to a close, as we once again boarded the 4 x 4 Unimog to head back into Cabo San Lucas. We were returned safely back to our starting point, all agreeing it was one of the best excursions ever taken. The Desert Safari ($95 U.S. per person), is just one of the daily tours offered by Cabo Adventures. Call (624) 173-9500 or visit www.cabo-adventures.com for more information.
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