Eco Buggy, Shopping Stop

Overview

This half-day buggy run packs four stops into roughly 4 hours: a driving circuit at the ranch, a run through Fun Run Buggies, a swim in the Los Hoyos del Salado cenote, and about 20 minutes on Macao Beach. Hotel pickup is included, and collection starts around 90 minutes before the tour itself, so the door-to-door day runs longer than the drive time alone. A coffee and chocolate tasting is part of the package, and a professional photographer is included with the tour.

Reviewers again and again describe coming back filthy, and one reviewer noted the mud level depends on recent rain. Drivers need to be at least 18, children can join from age 3 when accompanied by an adult, and the cap is 60 travellers per departure.

It suits families and casual riders who want a messy, splashy outing with a cave swim and a beach break at the end. It is not a fit for pregnant travellers, anyone with serious back or heart conditions, or wheelchair users. People who dislike being sold to should also read the sections below, because vendor pressure at the stops comes up in many reviews.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupRound trip transportation is included. Pickup from each hotel begins approximately 90 minutes before the tour starts.
2. Bavaro Racing ranchArrival at the ranch on the East Tourist Boulevard towards Miches, near the Total Energies station crossroads. The stop lasts 15 minutes and admission is free.
3. Fun Run BuggiesA 20-minute buggy run with free admission.
4. Los Hoyos del Salado cenoteRoughly 20 minutes at the water cave, with admission included. Bring water shoes or closed-toe shoes, which are required for safety.
5. Playa MacaoAbout 20 minutes on Macao Beach, admission free. Food, drink and vendor goods here cost extra.
6. Return to the ranchThe activity ends back at the meeting point, followed by the ride back to your hotel.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up over and over in traveller accounts of this exact tour, and they shape whether people enjoy it.

• You will get muddy. Reviewers consistently describe coming back covered in mud, especially after rain. Wear clothes and shoes you do not mind ruining, and bring a change of clothes if you plan to swim in the cenote.
• Cover your face. Bandanas, sunglasses and sunscreen are not included, so bring your own against the dust.
• Wear proper shoes. The listing states that water shoes or closed-toe shoes are required for safety. You will want them for the cave swim and the rough ground around the ranch.
• Vendor pressure. Many reviewers mention persistent sellers at the cave, the beach and the tasting stop, with one refusal often not ending the pitch. Decide in advance what you want to buy, and expect beach food prices to run high.
• Photos cost extra. A professional photographer is included in the tour, but the pictures themselves are not. One reviewer reported a high price for the photo package, so budget for it if you want the shots.
• Large group feel. The tour runs with up to 60 travellers, and several reviewers describe a rushed pace and limited time at the stops. If you prefer lingering, temper expectations for time at each stop.

Common issues. Several travellers said the stops felt rushed, with only minutes at the cave and beach before the group moved on. Persistent selling at the stops is the most repeated criticism, along with high prices for food, drinks and photos. The tour also requires a minimum number of travellers to run, and poor weather can cancel a departure, though in either case the operator offers a different date or a full refund. The listing bars pregnant travellers and is not wheelchair accessible, and one reviewer reported a mechanical failure with a buggy that left their family split up.

Common Questions