EXPLORE HISTORIC SANTA MARGARITA RANCH
Complimentary wine tasting at Ancient Peaks Winery valid with purchase of any Margarita Adventures experience. Offer valid through Sunday, March 29, 2026. Wine Tasting is only redeemable on the date of your experience. Cheese & Charcuterie Board available for purchase when booking.
WHAT TO EXPECT + TOUR DETAILS
Our nature and foraging tours take place outdoors in an open air off road vehicle. Here’s what to expect when you join us for a tour…
We will transport you through the historic Santa Margarita Ranch with interpretative narration along the way.
Please wear closed-toed shoes and be prepared to walk over uneven terrain.
The dirt roads on the ranch can be hard and bumpy in spots.
Layers, hat and sunscreen are recommended; consider a small backpack or fanny pack for personal items
Foraging Tour
An official
“Edible Approved Culinary Experience!”
Foraging has been a part of Native Californian peoples’ health, well-being and survival for thousands of years. Many plants found on Santa Margarita Ranch carry a strong historical significance, and we embrace foraging as a cultural practice that remains relevant in this modern age. Join us as we take you on a journey through time and nature to discover a variety of plants that can be used for nutrition, beverages and other healthful purposes. Along the way, we will educate you on what plants to avoid, and we will teach you mindful enjoyment of the environment no matter where you spend your every day.
Ranch Tour
Experience a guided offroad immersion into the natural world of the historic Santa Margarita Ranch.
This visually spectacular tour leads you into the diverse Santa Lucia mountain range on our open-air Kawasaki Mule offroad vehicles. Along the way, our ranch naturalist will discuss native ecosystems and plants; the local wildlife, including bears, eagles, mountain lions, turkeys and more; foraging and uses of natural materials; and the remarkable history of the ranch and the town of Santa Margarita. This two-hour tour will ultimately open your eyes to one of the Central Coast’s hidden gems, revealing environmental insights that will last a lifetime.
Eagle Tour
Join us as we follow a day in the lives of eagles on Santa Margarita Ranch.
SEASONAL TOUR: Tours reopen early 2026.We had two eaglets fledge in 2025 and they have officially left the nest!
Eagles are among the most majestic creatures on earth, and we are proud that several make their home here on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch. Join us during the winter and spring as we take our scopes and binoculars to an area with a known bald eagle nest, where eaglets are reared and their parents take flight; and during summer and fall, when golden eagles, red-tailed hawks and other aerial inhabitants are abundant on the ranch. Along the way, you will develop bird-watching skills that you can take to any sky near you. This tour includes a scenic ¾-mile hike with minimal elevation gain. If you have mobility concerns, we can happily accommodate as long as weather and road conditions permit.
Seasonal Wildflower Tour
SEASONAL TOUR: Tours reopen in spring 2026
When you visit Margarita Adventures in spring, your experience isn’t complete without joining our Wildflower Tour! Celebrated as one of the most breathtaking seasonal activities in San Luis Obispo County, this guided outing showcases the ranch at its most colorful—blanketed in vibrant blooms and alive with native wildlife. Explore rolling hills, hidden meadows, and stunning vistas as our naturalists lead you through the true beauty of Santa Margarita in full bloom.
FAQ
Margarita Adventures requires at least 4 participants to run a tour. While we allow parties of 2 to book, please be aware that your tour will be cancelled or rebooked to a different time where the minimum has been met. We will contact you 24-48 hours prior to your tour if the minimum has not been met. If you need more time than that, please let us know in the comments when you book.
There are a couple of reasons the website won’t let you book, some of those reasons include: The tour you have chosen is full, you do not have an adult ticket selected, or you haven’t acknowledged the disclaimers in the booking before you tried to check out. If you have issues, please call 805-438-3120.
Wildlife is wild! We will drive you to our favorite wildlife viewing areas on your Nature Tour, but we do not guarantee wildlife sightings. Wildlife is unpredictable and we do not have fenced in enclosures.
Children 16 years of age or older can participate in the Nature & Foraging Tours by themselves. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or an older teenager at the discretion of the parent.
You have until 48 hours before your appointed tour date to cancel for a full refund. Inside of 48 hours we do not offer any refund. To cancel your reservation, please call us at (805) 438-3120.
We require advance reservations. Space is limited, so we encourage you to make reservations as early as possible. We charge full payment when the reservation is made. See our cancellation policy below for refund details.
You must review and sign our Guest Agreement Form before Embarking on our tour.
Dogs are not allowed on the tours at Margarita Adventures and we cannot watch your dog. Please do not leave your dog in the car as it is extremely warm here many months of the year. Thousand Hills Pet Resort is a great doggie daycare where you can drop off and pick up your pet. We are able to accommodate service animals on the Zipline bus but you will need someone to accompany the service animal on the bus while you are on the ziplines. Please let our staff know ahead of time that you will have a service animal by calling our office at 805-438-3120.
Please do not assume that stormy weather prior to your tour means automatic cancellation with a full refund. We make the final decision on whether or not to cancel a tour.
If we decide to cancel your tour in advance due to inclement weather, we will call you at the number you provided while making your reservation, and will issue a full refund.
Be prepared to zipline in light rain. Refunds are not issued in the event you do not want to zipline in the rain. In order to receive a full refund, you must cancel your tour up to 48 hours in advance.
If we decide to suspend a tour in progress due to stormy weather, you may receive a partial refund.
You may contact us for updates: (805) 438-3120 and contactus@margarita-adventures.com.
We operate in most Central Coast conditions from warm days to light rain. We encourage you to look at the weather prior to your tour and come prepared.
You may bring a small backpack or fanny pack to carry any personal items. You should bring any medical supplies you may need, such as epi-pens and diabetes supplies. Any mobile device that you bring such as a Go-Pro or mobile phone is “use at your own risk”. Please be aware, anything dropped off of the ziplines will not be recovered until the end of the day. There is no guarantee that an item will be recovered if it cannot be found.
