Our journey began in San Diego where our guide James met us and the other guys on our trip and we drove 2 hours south to Ensenada, Mexico with a quick lunch stop south of Rosarito. However, most four-day trips feature three full days of driving and include a shuttle from San Diego to Ensenada (day 1), Ensenada to San Felipe (day 2), San Felipe to Mike's Sky Rancho (day 3), and Mike's Sky Rancho to Ensenada then shuttle to San Diego (day 4). Racetracks: Wide Open Baja Reno, Nevada. Wide Open’s purpose built Baja Challenge vehicles, with over 10 years and 4 million test miles, has been proven as a highly capable vehicle for a multitude of applications. Doing it gracefully is a lot more difficult though! 1/2 Day Baja Challenge. The cars are amazing pieces of machinery. This journey up the coast and back to Ensenada was probably the most scenic of the whole trip - or maybe it was simply that I could focus on the landscape more. At every major stop, the tech crew was checking the cars. Outside San Felipe racing through a sandy wash with Wide Open Baja. We run exclusively on BF Goodrich All Terrain TA and Mud Terrain TA Tires. your own Pins on Pinterest Highly recommended! Would highly recommend you check it out. These guys were amazingly attentive and deserve our eternal thanks and praise. We are built and measured on results. There's a lot of press out there about Wide Open Baja, but most of it is focused on the pure awesomeness of being able to experience what it's like driving a Baja Challenge car. The entire staff made the experience fun. This trail really showed off how amazingly capable the Baja challenge cars we were driving could be. A FULL-BLOWN race vehicle capable of 90 mph (though you will NEVER get that fast) 80 miles of driving time, through serious terrain and an incredible 4 hour adrenaline rush are what you get when you sign on! Preferred Hotels & Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Solmar Hotels & Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Tafer Hotels and Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Auberge Resorts Collection in Cabo San Lucas, Hotels near Eliker Transfer Cabo Transportation, Hotels near Brown's Private Services Transportation, Dolphin & Whale Watching in Cabo San Lucas, Parasailing & Paragliding in Cabo San Lucas, Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Cabo San Lucas, Fishing Charters & Tours in Cabo San Lucas, Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Cabo San Lucas, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Cabo San Lucas, Horse-Drawn Carriage Tours in Cabo San Lucas, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Cabo San Lucas, Waterskiing & Jetskiing in Cabo San Lucas, Nature & Wildlife Areas in Cabo San Lucas, Paint & Pottery Studios in Cabo San Lucas, Game & Entertainment Centers in Cabo San Lucas, Sacred & Religious Sites in Cabo San Lucas, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Cabo San Lucas, Water & Amusement Parks in Cabo San Lucas, El Arco de Cabo San Lucas: Tickets & Tours‎, Pedregal de Cabo San Lucas: Tickets & Tours‎, Los Cabos: Margaritas Beach 4x4 UTV Adventure, Cabo San Lucas - Beach and Desert 4x4 ATV Tour. Instead, you have to prop yourself up and exit with your head first and then while sitting on the ledge swing one leg out onto the ground followed by the other. personal safety net! The tipping policy was somewhat of a debate among our group and while each of us offered between $100-$200 pp, I felt like that was probably lower than what was deserved by the crew. I'd highly recommend both the activity and the staff to anyone. If you have any sort of neck injury, I would highly recommend you consider this option. Wet Wipes - everyone poops. You will slide around sandy berms, view scenic trails, capture the true beauty of the Baja peninsula while safely strapped into a suspended racing seat by a 5-point safety harness system. Either way, this is your bag to carry anything you might need, including: medicine, snacks, camera, phone (there's no reception but if you want to take photos it's better than your DSLR), gloves, change of underwear etc. The guests we met here ranged from a group of guys from Missouri who arived by private jet and helicopter, two different father and son guys getaway groups and the pair of guys from Canada who would be joining our trip. They are outfitted with off-road racing suspension and shock absorbers that provide 18” of suspension travel. :D. Closed track near the ocean with desert views and freedom! These trips are $4295 (3 Days) and $6295 (4 Days). They will even rent you one to drive in the Baja 1000, Cabo 250 and other races. Wide Open Baja Adventures Ultimate Off-Road Driving experience Short and Multi-day adventures check out : www.wideopenbaja.com MEX +52 1 624 105 0500 // USA +1 949-635-2292 13 2 Find Baja boats for sale near you, including boat prices, photos, and more. However you should plan to pay for any additional drinks, souvenirs, snacks and of course tips. This test-out period is as important for the guests learning how to handle the cars as it is the guides getting a better understanding for what each guest's abilities, temperament, and experience. Each year since 1997, WIDE OPEN has provided the opportunity for hundreds of amateurs, celebrities and pro drivers to get behind the wheel and into some of the most exciting and challenging off road events ever conceived. The Baja Challenge vehicles have been sold around the world for personal, military and commercial use. The next step however was fitting into the car itself. Wide Open Baja also had multiple "ready to go" cars ready to swap in, should something go wrong on the trail. They adjusted the seat, and harness to fit perfectly and also adjusted the steering wheel itself too. Taking a break to check out some cows along the Baja racing route with Wide Open Baja. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Other Baja racing packages are available too, including $895 for a 1/2-day, $1,750 fora 1-day, and $3,995 for a 3-day Baja racing experience, so even if you aren't sure you want to fully commit to the 4-day grand tour you can still have an amazing experience racing real Baja Challenge Cars! This site features affiliate marketing, advertisements, and sponsored content links which may direct users to sites other than this one. They have packages starting at half-day all the way up to four days. For roughly $5,000 per person, what you get is amazing. This could be that you were a jackass and they no longer want you on the trip or it could be something more critical. Hills, drops, Boulders, deep rain ruts, soft sand, hard pack sand, and some serious twisties to test your driving skills along with beautiful desert terrain all around for a titillating Baja experience. Hello, Wide Open Baja is still open (I work here) The new name is Wide Open Excursions. Some vehicles may have different electronics or paint jobs but they are all fundamentally the same. In fact, if you enjoy your Wide Open Baja racing experience you can always come back and rent the cars for the real race starting at a low low price of about $100,000 for their arrive and drive Baja race experience. Safe and a fun time to be had by all. Accommodations here at Horsepower Ranch are the nicest on trip and it's quite an experience to see the cars right outside the window. The next morning it was time for our last day of driving and so we set out through the icy streams and down amazing mountain roads. Wide Open Baja will provide a great packing sheet with recommended items however, here are a few things that you should consider especially important: Shoes with good soles - you'll be walking on rocks, sand, and whatever else so you'll need good shoes that you don't mind getting wet, muddy, dirty, etc. With Wide Open Adventures you will experience the thrill of racing in the Baja 1000. Each Wide Open Baja experience will be somewhat different. Windbreaker / Jacket - sure, it's Mexico and that means it's warm - right? The course is a 5 mile loop with virtually every type of terrain you could possibly drive through. The closed course track is just outside Cabo San Lucas. These mountain roads are some of the most dangerous trails that I think I've ever experienced and one extra sandy turn taken too fast could result in you plummeting hundreds of feet down into the valley below. While I'm 6'2" and 400 pounds, they said they've had even bigger customers and it's not unusually to have professional athletes who are both taller and wider than me. Locate Baja boat dealers and find your boat at Boat Trader! I give the highest possible rating and hope your experiences are as good as mine! While we had the entire resort to ourselves the night we were there, I'm told it is booked solid nearly every weekend. The cars feature an open body design with a chassis constructed from chromoly steel, which provides strength and safety for its occupants. Our staff members work hard to serve you and make your Wide Open Excursions safe, comfortable, and exciting. Race in the Baja 1000 with Wide Open’s $82,000 All-Inclusive Ticket All you need is an adventurous spirit and they'll take care of the rest. These authentic Baja racing challenge cars do not have windshields and so between the ambient wind and that created by driving fast, it gets cold. Wide Open Cabo’s racecars are powered by 4 cylinder 2 liter engines that provide almost 200 hp. Trips that begin in Cabo San Lucas are more expensive however. These costs generally include everything you'd need to have a great time. These aren't the little side-by-side buggies that you find for rent all around Cabo, these are actual race cars built by Wide Open for racing. The third night of our Baja Racing adventure with Wide Open Baja was at the legendary Mike's Sky Racho. Drive a $100,000 purpose-built race buggy on the same treacherous dirt and rock trails that comprise the famed Baja 1000 course, and enjoy restful evenings after each days’ thrills. However, these cars are street legal and you will have stretches on the pavement too. For trips leaving from Ensenada, prices start at $895 for a Half Day Baja Challenge Experience to multi-day excursions ranging in cost from $3995 (3 Days) to $4995 (4 Days). Stopping to take in the view south of Ensenada, with our friends from Wide Open Baja. Since you are already investing into a once in a lifetime trip though, you might want to double down and get a GoPro Hero5 or Hero6 (affiliate links) though for the best stabilization quality possible. This trail above was particularly interesting because normal off-road logic said to us that we should go around the rock in the path ... but we kept stalling out. So, if you aren't comfortable - make sure to tell your guide. Activity Time: 5 Full Hours Location: Wide Open Track Total Driving Mileage: 60 Miles $1095 Per Car Wide Open Baja challenge race cars on dusty coastal road along coastal Baja south of Ensenada. Baja Races including the Baja 1000 and Baja 500 are among the most iconic motorsports events in the world and so I was thrilled to be invited to join Wide Open Baja for a four-day adventure driving Baja challenge cars with them. Even big guys like me can fit in a Wide Open Baja race seat comfortably. However, each car has a "frunk" that is big enough for two moderately sized backpacks. When you factor all of that into the equation, the price tag seems very under-priced. This isn't just a "Baja Experience" - it's as close to actually participating in the race as you get without actually registering for it yourself and our guide actually completed the Baja 1000 so he was able to share his real life knowledge as well. What if I showed up in Ensenda and discovered that Wide Open Baja didn't have a car with a big enough seat belt or a big enough helmet? Clearly this experience draws a car enthusiast audience who is pretty much focused on just the car itself. by the Wide Open Excursion team which consists of a tour guide racing professiona and the experienced support staff (mechanics to ranch hands and hospitality experts). A gratuity of $100 per person per driving day (Ex: $300 per 4-day trip) is a good indicator to our staff for a job well done. With Wide Open Baja, I blasted a buggy around, up, through, and over the exact same terrain that off-road racing's finest explore during the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. However, you might want to pack in layers since it can get hot in the desert by San Felipe even if it is cold in the mountains. We then headed straight for the Horsepower Ranch in Ensenada where we'd get introduced to our cars and show our comfort level to our guides. You also are provided with a helmet skirt to discourage dust from migrating into the helmet from below. Ever dreamed of racing the Baja 1000? Some of the cars may have sticky mounts leftover from previous customers but in general they do not have mounts for GoPro action cameras built in. Visitors to ManTripping.com should be aware that this is a commercial site and some links help us generate income and other benefits. Power comes on after dark in the evenings and then goes off around 9 pm as a sort of defacto curfew and then back on in the morning to remind you to wake up and head down to breakfast. After our driver training session, it was time to clean up and get ready for dinner. Not only is there the opportunity to pilot machines that are more incredible than can be put into words, but it's also a chance to bond with you buddies and visit parts of the world that normal tourists simply will never see. I will be checking out those video for a long time and can’t wait to strap-up and do it again!!! Wide Open Baja creates each of its purpose-built endurance Baja race cars by hand, and each one is loaded with all of the gear necessary to take on some of the most challenging terrain in the world. more, Recommended experiences in and around Cabo San Lucas, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks, Bike Tours, Things to do near Wide Open Cabo - Day Tours. Wide Open Baja leaves from Ensenada Mexico and also has a Wide Open Baja Cabo location. As we bounced across the dusty wasteland, it was necessary to minimize brake and steering inputs. They currently operate out of Los Cabos (a short walk from the cruise ship tender dock), and Ensenda (with a shuttle picking guests up at the San Diego airport). I was invited down to check out Wide Open Baja's off-road adventure. We swapped duties after every 4 laps. There are no guardrails where you're going - but there are lots of sharp drops, large rocks, and farm animals, so safety is critical. Wide Open Cabo is a thrill a minute adventure through the outback of the beautiful Cabo Oceanside in a professionally built Baja 500 off road racer! Plus, there were the little things such as wiping our visors during stops in the rain to insure that we had a perfect experience! Angel and his crew were absolutely amazing, and took care of us very well. On top of that, the overnight stop at Mike's Sky Rancho is at 4,000 feet elevation and we had frost on the tires that morning. 4 Day Baja Racing Adventure in Mexico With Wide Open Baja, How To Plan a Perfect Montana Fly Fishing Experience, Cool Guy Trip Ideas for a Father and Son To Do Together, Don The Beachcomber Original Mai Tai Recipe, Four Easy Off Road Trails To Explore In The Anza Borrego Desert. Both the driver and co-driver are bolted in with a 5-point safety harness and plugged into both in-helmet radio coms and fresh air supply. Our staff will explain the safety precautions and provide you with some tips on how to handle these thrilling desert machines before tackling our off-road course. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. */. After a delicious but rustic dinner followed by stories about previous trips, Baja racing tales, and more - it was time to head to bed since our call time in the morning was 8 am for breakfast and then heading out. Snacks - the food on the trip isn't bad and while I wasn't starving, at multiple points it was nice to have protein bars to fall back on. Trips that begin in Cabo San Lucas are more expensive however. These are not 4WD they are in fact rear-wheel-drive - yet the car zoomed up and down trails that would have challenged a Jeep Wrangler (and certainly at the speed we were going). No. These are actual vehicles that have competed in and completed multiple Baja 1000 and Baja 500 races. Safety first, personal responsibility, respect for the vehicle and respect for the environment are all discussed before they hand you the keys over and power up that beast of a desert racer. Author: American Fork, Utah. However, it's actually an absolute STEAL when you start to factor everything included in the experience. I will definitely be back on my next visit. Driving Gloves - these make holding the steering wheel much easier and even as the co-driver it's more comfortable to keep warm and to hold on with. Since we had "extra time" our guide, James decided to give us a taste of just what these cars could do in terms of mountain trails. This was probably the most brutal, terrifying, exhilarating, and amazing experience that I've ever had and it's something that every race fan should try at least once. It's a stop off for people racing as well as those like us that are just enjoying the amazing terrain. Wide Open Design: 4x4 Off-Road Parts, Accessories, and Fabrication Components These aren't just glorified UTVs or ATVs as you might see offered by cruise ship excursions going into Cabo or Ensenada. This ranged from simply checking the tires to replacing CV Joints while we ate lunch and even re-building a transmission in the parking lot of our hotel - lit only head lamps. I don't drive stick normally, but these vehicles were actually easier to learn to drive than I initially feared. Wide Open Baja cars feature a large "frunk" to hold you bags and other gear needed on the trail.Can I Bring My Backpack in the Wide Open Baja Car? How much will it cost you to travel in Baja? WATCH OUT! After washing up, we went to what could only be described as the "Great Hall". This was one of my huge fears about the trip. With Wide Open Adventures you will experience the thrill of racing in the Baja 1000. You might not think of frost in Baja, but our cars were white the next morning at Mike's Sky Rancho! Angel took beautiful photos that we can now hang in our home to remember this trip by... and to inspire us for a future Baja, This was a ton of fun and the best part of our trip. 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