The King Shocks Dos Mares 500 off-road race kicked off its 2026 edition in San José del Cabo this week, drawing more than 4,000 spectators to Paseo Malecón for the official vehicle inspection day. The race runs May 1 through 3, with a 560-kilometer course that starts and finishes in San José del Cabo’s hotel zone.
Motorcycles are set to launch first at noon on race day, followed by vehicle classes at 4 p.m. The route heads north from San José del Cabo toward La Paz before looping back south to the finish line.
Race Route and Checkpoints
The course crosses some of the most rugged terrain in Baja California Sur, linking the Gulf of California coast to areas near the Pacific. Checkpoints along the way include Palo Escopeta, the road to Cabo Pulmo, Los Barriles, Los Planes, Ejido Álvaro Obregón, and El Pescadero.
Racers will pass through the East Cape corridor, a stretch familiar to anyone who has driven the coastal road between San José del Cabo and La Paz. The race name, “Dos Mares” (Two Seas), refers to the route connecting both coasts of the peninsula.
Traffic Plans and Road Closures
Los Cabos municipal officials have mapped out a traffic plan for the weekend. The city will offer alternate parking areas and free shuttle service to help manage crowds near the start and finish zones in the hotel district. Drivers in the San José del Cabo area should expect route closures and detours through Sunday.
Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez attended the opening ceremonies on inspection day. Municipal officials also announced a follow-up off-road event later this season: the Toyota 300, which will run on the Magdalena corridor near Cabo San Lucas.
A Growing Off-Road Calendar
The Dos Mares 500 has been a fixture on the Baja California Sur off-road calendar for several years. Previous editions have started or finished in La Paz, but the 2026 race places both the start and the finish in San José del Cabo. The event draws competitors and fans from across Mexico and the United States to the southern tip of the peninsula.
For residents along the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, the main impact will be noise, crowds near the malecón, and periodic road restrictions through the weekend. Race details and results will be posted at dosmares500.com.
Details for this report were sourced from the Los Cabos municipal government website at loscabos.gob.mx.