Hot springs near Santiago offer a rewarding reason to head inland from Los Cabos. Santa Rita and El Chorro bring together water, granite and the foothill scenery of the Sierra de la Laguna. Choose a pool outing as the focus of your day, with time for a village meal or a walk around Santiago before returning to the coast.
The first decision is which destination to visit. Santa Rita is associated with San Jorge Canyon and Rancho Santa Rita. El Chorro is associated with Agua Caliente Canyon. They are different outings, and choosing one gives you time to enjoy the setting rather than spend the day moving between entrances.
Santa Rita or El Chorro: a quick comparison
| Planning question | Santa Rita | El Chorro |
|---|---|---|
| Which area? | San Jorge Canyon, reached through Santiago and San Jorge | Agua Caliente Canyon, reached from Santiago toward Agua Caliente |
| What is the attraction? | A canyon setting with natural pools and warm-spring water | A spring-fed pool outing in the Agua Caliente landscape |
| What should I arrange? | The Rancho Santa Rita entrance, current visiting days and the walk included | The exact El Chorro access point, current entry arrangements and pool access |
| How should I plan the day? | Make the pools your main excursion and leave time for Santiago | Build the day around the Agua Caliente visit, with a village stop if time allows |
Where are the hot springs near Santiago?
Both are in the rural countryside around Santiago, Baja California Sur, inland from the East Cape. From San José del Cabo, the main approach follows Federal Highway 1 north before turning toward Santiago. The village is your orientation point, followed by the rural approach to the site you have chosen.
The Los Cabos Tourism Board places Santiago about an hour north of San José del Cabo. Allow additional time for your departure point, the road beyond the village and any stops. A drive to Santiago and arrival at a hot-spring entrance are separate parts of the journey.
Santa Rita: pools and time in the canyon
Santa Rita suits a day built around the canyon itself. The appeal is the relationship between rock, water and vegetation: finding a place to pause, noticing the stream and spending time outdoors. FIPROTUR describes the destination as part of San Jorge Canyon, with freshwater pools and thermal springs.
The approach is through Santiago and San Jorge to Rancho Santa Rita. A local operator, NEST Los Cabos, describes access through the ranch with an entrance payment in pesos. When making arrangements, use the full destination name and ask for directions to the actual entrance.
Decide how much walking you would like to include. Reaching the pools and following the canyon farther are different plans. Ask your host or guide about the route for your group, the surfaces underfoot and the time needed. That lets you choose between a visit centred on the water and a longer outing with walking.
El Chorro: an outing toward Agua Caliente
El Chorro gives the day a different geographical focus. FIPROTUR places it at the base of Agua Caliente Canyon and describes warm water collecting in a pool, with spring activity along the stream. Look for the El Chorro or Agua Caliente destination when discussing the trip with a local host.
Choose this outing if the Agua Caliente side of the countryside is the place you want to explore. Confirm where visitors currently enter, how far you will walk and which pool areas are available. Keep the afternoon flexible enough to enjoy the water and the scenery without rushing back to fit in another canyon.
Entry fees, opening days and access
Bring pesos for rural entry payments, but confirm the current fee before travelling. Ask about the visiting day, opening and closing times, and whether your intended walk or pool visit is available. A local guide can help you make those arrangements if you prefer a hosted day.
For Santa Rita, Wednesday closures are mentioned in visitor reports and in NEST’s planning advice. Treat that as a prompt to check the day with the ranch or your operator, rather than relying on an assumed weekly schedule. We have not verified a current fixed tariff or timetable for either site.
The municipal tourism directory also lists Encinos de Don Juan (Aguas Termales) separately. If that is the property you are booking, confirm its own location and entrance. Do not assume that a listing for another hot-spring business gives you the access arrangements for Rancho Santa Rita or El Chorro.
Drive yourself or choose a guided visit?
Self-drive gives you flexibility for village stops and a meal on your own schedule. Get directions to your chosen entrance, ask about the final rural road and make sure the approach suits your vehicle and rental agreement. Save the route before leaving the coast, as phone service can be limited.
A guided outing can simplify transport and add local knowledge. Compare the named destination, pickup point, walking involved and inclusions. Ask whether entry payments, food and time at the pools are included. An excursion departing from Santiago may have different transport arrangements from one collecting you in Cabo San Lucas.
A simple hot-springs day from Los Cabos
- Before leaving: confirm your chosen site, entry arrangements, directions and return plan.
- Morning: travel inland and stop in Santiago if it fits your arrival arrangements.
- Main outing: spend time at Santa Rita or El Chorro, following the visitor route and guidance given locally.
- Meal stop: eat in Santiago or arrange food as part of a hosted visit.
- Return: leave enough time for the rural road and the journey back to your accommodation.
For a first trip, keep one pool destination as the centre of the day. Our Rural Los Cabos guide compares the wider village and ranch options if you are deciding how to spend more than one day inland.
What to bring and how to enjoy the pools
- A swimsuit, towel and a dry change of clothes.
- Footwear with grip for uneven ground, plus shoes suitable for getting wet if your route involves the stream.
- Drinking water, sun protection and food if it is not part of your arrangements.
- Pesos, saved directions and a bag for taking your rubbish away.
- A light layer for cooler weather or a late return.
Ask which pool areas are open for bathing and check the water before settling in, as warmth can vary between areas. Follow local guidance on entry and movement through the canyon. Wet rocks can be slippery, so move carefully and keep children close around the water. After rain, check the access and stream conditions before setting off.
Keep soaps and washing products out of the pools, use the established visitor routes and take everything you brought back with you. Paying the entry charge and respecting the host’s arrangements helps keep the experience connected with the people caring for the land.
Hot springs, Fox Canyon or a ranch visit?
Choose the hot springs for a day centred on pools and the canyon setting. Choose Fox Canyon and the Sol de Mayo waterfall when the waterfall is the main attraction you want to see. They are separate excursions, even though both can be approached through Santiago.
For a day focused on cooking, traditional crafts and time with a host, consider San Dionisio and Rancho El Refugio. If village food and leatherwork appeal most, explore Miraflores. Choose the experience first, then give it room in your itinerary.
Keep exploring rural Los Cabos
Use the At Los Cabos app to browse places and activities, and return to our Santiago guide for the village part of your day.
Further reading: the Los Cabos Rural Guide, printed pages 103 and 115; FIPROTUR’s hot-springs overview; the Los Cabos Tourism Board’s Santiago guide; NEST Los Cabos’ Santa Rita visitor information; and the municipal Santiago tourism directory. Public source information reviewed 6 November 2026. Confirm operational details with the site or your operator.