Private Tour to Hot Springs and Waterfall in Santiago

Santiago gives you a very different Baja day: natural hot tubs beneath native palms, then a short canyon walk to a waterfall and swimming pools. Jason or Gen handles the drive and guiding, with time for local food on the way home. I like the private format and the change of pace from the resort zone. I also like that the two walks are short enough to fit into one morning and afternoon.

The main catch is the price: $260 per person is a serious outing cost, especially for a solo traveler. You also need moderate fitness, a good-weather forecast, and comfort with desert trails, uneven ground, and swimming in natural pools.

Key points at a glance

• Santa Rita Hot Springs: A one-mile loop leads to natural hot tubs framed by tall palms and desert plants.
• Sol de Mayo Waterfall: A roughly two-mile out-and-back route reaches a five-meter waterfall and pools fed by a lagoon.
• Private Toyota Tundra transport: Pickup is offered in San José del Cabo in a clean, air-conditioned Desert Sand truck.
• Guides Jason and Gen: They provide local context, handle the driving, and can shape the day around your group.
• Local food stop: You may stop for authentic Mexican food, local honey, or homemade ice cream on the return.
• Good for active small groups: This is best for people who want nature, swimming, and a rural side of Baja rather than a resort-only day.

From San José del Cabo to the farming town of Santiago

The tour begins near the La Comer supermarket on Boulevard Mauricio Castro in San José del Cabo. If you are staying downtown, pickup is included. If you are outside the pickup area, you can meet at the basement parking lot of La Comer, which also gives you a practical place to leave a vehicle for the day.

Pickup is scheduled about five minutes before the activity begins. Keep your phone handy. If you are staying inside a resort or gated community, the guide may need to call you for permission to enter, so do not leave your phone buried in a beach bag.

From San José del Cabo, you drive about an hour north toward Santiago. That transfer is not wasted time. It takes you away from the hotel strip and into a smaller agricultural community, where the day feels more connected to the dry interior of Baja California Sur.

The air-conditioned Toyota Tundra matters here. You will be spending several hours outdoors, and a clean, cool vehicle makes the ride between the two sites far more pleasant. The Desert Sand color also makes the truck easier to spot at the meeting point.

This is a private tour, so only your own group participates. That gives Jason or Gen room to set a comfortable pace, answer questions, and decide how long to linger at the hot springs or waterfall. It also makes the experience a better fit for families or friends who do not want to match the schedule of a large bus group.

Santa Rita Hot Springs and the first walk

Santa Rita is the calmer opening stop. The trail forms a short loop of about one mile and leads through native desert plants, with tall palms adding an unexpected green touch to the dry surroundings.

The walk is not described as a demanding mountain hike, but you should still expect uneven desert ground. Moderate physical fitness is recommended, and closed-toe walking shoes are a sensible choice. Bring patience as well as water, since the appeal is the setting and the natural pools, not a race to reach the end.

At the hot springs, natural hot tubs offer a chance to sit, soak, and cool your mind after the walk. The spring setting is especially appealing because it combines warm water with desert vegetation, rather than putting you in a developed spa.

The timing helps. The day begins while the morning is still relatively fresh, before the sun grows stronger. That makes Santa Rita a smart first stop, since soaking in warm water is more comfortable before the hottest part of the day.

You should not expect a polished resort facility. The appeal is the simple outdoor setting, and conditions may feel rustic. The description does not provide a specific water temperature, changing-room setup, or restroom information, so pack with a natural site in mind and avoid assuming you will have hotel-style facilities.

Sol de Mayo and the five-meter waterfall

After Santa Rita, the drive to the next site takes about 15 minutes. Sol de Mayo is reached by a roughly two-mile out-and-back hike into Canyon de la Zorra, or Fox Canyon.

The route explores the base of the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range. You will see the region’s desert plant life and may notice how quickly the surroundings change as the canyon gathers water. The walk provides more movement than the hot springs stop, but it remains a manageable half-day outing for people with moderate fitness.

The most rewarding part arrives about a quarter mile into the hike, where an oasis appears with a five-meter waterfall and swimming pools fed by a lagoon. That short approach is useful to know. You do not need to complete the full two-mile route before reaching the main swimming area, but the total out-and-back distance gives you more time to explore the canyon.

The pools are described as refreshing, which makes them a natural counterpoint to Santa Rita’s warm water. Bring a swimsuit and a towel if you want to swim. Snorkeling equipment is included, although the available information does not promise specific underwater sights or conditions.

A small sandy beach beside the main pool gives you a place to rest. I like this detail because the stop is not only about getting into the water. You can sit beside the pool, watch the waterfall, and take in the canyon without spending every minute swimming.

The setting can also be slippery or uneven near water. You should move carefully around the pools and follow your guide’s instructions. The tour includes park fees, but it does not promise a developed swimming complex, lifeguard service, or private changing area.

What Jason and Gen add to the day

The guides are a key part of the experience. Jason is the owner and guide, and Gen also leads the outing. Their role is more than driving you from one site to another. They explain the area, point out local features, and keep the day moving without making it feel like a timed transfer.

Jason’s humor is part of the appeal for people who enjoy a lively guide. He is described as funny and respectful, while both Jason and Gen bring a friendly tone to the trip. That combination can make a long drive and two outdoor stops feel relaxed rather than rigid.

You should still choose this tour with your own guide preference in mind. A private outing with a talkative guide is ideal if you like conversation and local explanation. If you prefer silence and complete independence, the personal approach may feel more involved than you want.

The clean vehicle is another practical strength. One person specifically noted that they usually get car sick but did not on this ride. That is not a guarantee for everyone, but a clean, air-conditioned truck and a careful driver are meaningful advantages on a rural road outing.

Food, honey, and ice cream on the way back

The return journey can include a stop at a local restaurant for authentic Mexican food. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so plan to pay separately, but the chance to eat away from the main resort zone adds real value.

Tacos are the obvious choice if they are available at the stop, and the local restaurant option gives you a chance to make the meal part of the day rather than treating it as a quick chain-restaurant break. Since the exact restaurant is not fixed in the information provided, you should ask your guide what is open and what they recommend that day.

There may also be time for small shops selling local honey and homemade ice cream. These stops are modest, but they give you a taste of Santiago’s agricultural character and a chance to bring home something more personal than a standard resort souvenir.

Do not build your schedule around a guaranteed shopping stop. The wording allows for a few options, so the food and shop choices can depend on timing, weather, and what is open. Think of them as welcome additions after the hikes, not fixed attractions.

What the $260 price means

At $260 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The price makes more sense for a small private group that values personal transport, a private guide, park fees, snacks, water, and a full six-and-a-half-hour outing.

You are also paying for access to two very different natural settings in one day. A group excursion might offer a lower per-person price, but it would not necessarily provide the same control over pickup, time at each stop, or the rhythm of the day.

The included items help reduce small extra costs. You receive bottled water, healthy snacks and fruit, an ice chest, snorkeling equipment, use of an air-conditioned vehicle, a licensed guide, and park fees. Alcohol is not included, and tips are not included, so budget for those separately if needed.

The value is strongest when two or more people share the private experience and want a full day outside San José del Cabo. For one person, the cost is harder to justify unless privacy, direct pickup, and a guide-led outing are especially important.

Who should book this outing

I would point active couples, families with older children, and small groups of friends toward this tour. It combines easy-to-understand highlights, a warm spring, a waterfall, swimming, and a local meal option without requiring a long expedition.

It also suits anyone who has already spent time around San José del Cabo and wants to see a quieter inland side of the region. The trip is not built around nightlife, shopping malls, or beach clubs. It is built around water in a dry climate, short hikes, and time with a local guide.

You should think twice if you dislike walking on uneven ground, do not want to swim, or need a highly predictable schedule. The day includes outdoor conditions, a weather requirement, and optional stops whose timing can shift.

A moderate fitness level is important. The Santa Rita route is about one mile, and the Sol de Mayo route is about two miles out and back. Neither figure sounds extreme, but heat, rough ground, and time outdoors can make a short hike feel more demanding than a flat city walk.

Useful preparation before pickup

Wear practical walking shoes and clothing that can handle dust, sun, and water. Bring a swimsuit and towel for the waterfall pools, plus sun protection. Bottled water and snacks are supplied, but your own small personal items can make the day easier.

Keep your phone charged and accessible at pickup. This is particularly important if you are inside a gated resort or community and the guide needs to contact you for entry.

If you are outside downtown San José del Cabo, confirm that you will meet at the La Comer basement parking lot rather than waiting at your hotel. The vehicle is a Desert Sand Toyota Tundra, which gives you a useful visual clue.

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For your own comfort, check the forecast before leaving and be ready for the day to change if conditions are not safe.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. A cancellation made less than 24 hours ahead is not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

Is this Santiago nature tour worth booking?

Book it if you want a private, guide-led day that pairs Santa Rita’s hot springs with Sol de Mayo’s waterfall and takes you beyond the San José del Cabo resort area. Jason and Gen add a personal touch, the vehicle is clean and air-conditioned, and the day includes enough variety to keep a six-and-a-half-hour outing interesting.

The price is the deciding point. At $260 per person, this is best treated as a special excursion, not a cheap way to fill a morning. I would choose it for a small group that values privacy, local food, and a flexible pace. I would skip it if you mainly want a low-cost waterfall visit or a polished spa day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour begin?

The listed meeting point is La Comer, Boulevard Mauricio Castro 4650, in the hotel zone of San José del Cabo.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is included for downtown San José del Cabo. If you are staying outside San José del Cabo, you can meet at the basement parking lot of La Comer.

What vehicle will pick me up?

The guide will pick you up in a Desert Sand Toyota Tundra. The vehicle is air-conditioned.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What physical condition do I need?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The tour includes a one-mile loop at Santa Rita Hot Springs and an approximately two-mile out-and-back hike at Sol de Mayo.

Are food and drinks included?

Healthy snacks, fruit, and bottled water are included. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and food purchased at a local restaurant is also not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.