The King Shocks Dos Mares 500 off-road race will take over roads across the southern tip of Baja California Sur from May 1 to 3, starting and finishing in San José del Cabo. Motorcycles launch at noon on May 1 from the San José del Cabo hotel zone, with cars and trucks following at 4 p.m.
The 500-mile route crosses from the Gulf of California side of the peninsula toward the Pacific coast. Checkpoints are set at Palo Escopeta, the road to Cabo Pulmo, Los Barriles, Los Planes, Ejido Álvaro Obregón, and El Pescadero before racers return to the official finish line in San José del Cabo. Drivers from across Mexico and abroad are expected to compete.
What Residents and Travelers Should Know
Anyone driving the East Cape corridor during the three-day event should plan for delays. The road to Cabo Pulmo, the stretch through Los Barriles, and Highway 19 near El Pescadero will all see race traffic and spectator congestion. Municipal officials have asked spectators to stay in designated safe areas, respect speed zones near the course, and keep the route clean of trash.
Víctor Montaño Gaytán, head of the municipal public relations office for the XV Ayuntamiento de Los Cabos, announced the preparations. He said the event helps position Los Cabos as a destination for high-level competition while generating economic activity and strengthening tourism. Los Cabos Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez is backing the event.
A Race With Three Decades of History
The Dos Mares 500 dates back to 1994, when Club Automovilístico La Paz founder Ramón Murillo organized the inaugural race. That first edition ran from April 29 to May 1, 1994, in La Paz. The event has grown steadily since, earning a reputation as one of the region’s signature off-road competitions.
The race name, meaning “Two Seas,” refers to the course’s path between the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) and the Pacific Ocean. For over 30 years, the event has drawn off-road enthusiasts to Baja California Sur each spring.
This story was first reported by the Gringo Gazette and confirmed by the official Los Cabos municipal government website.