5 Incredible Day Trips Within 90 Minutes Of Cabo (We Ranked Them)

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If you love Cabo but crave a little more Baja between beach days, we’ve got you. We at The Cabo Sun spend a lot of time chasing hidden waterfalls, sleepy towns, and calm-water coves just beyond the resort corridor.

Here are our five favorite day trips you can do in about 90 minutes (or less) from Cabo—ranked for wow-factor, ease, and value—plus pro tips and handy reads we’ve already published so you can go prepared.

1) Santiago & Sol de Mayo (≈90 minutes) — desert waterfall + oasis vibes

Head inland on Hwy 1 to the palm-lined oasis of Santiago, then continue to Cañón de la Zorra for a short, rocky walk to Cascada Sol de Mayo, a jade-green swimming hole beneath a granite-walled waterfall. Pack sturdy sandals, cash for the modest conservation fee, and at least two liters of water per person. Our on-the-ground guide breaks down the trail, fees, and where to linger for photos—and pairs perfectly with hot-spring time nearby.

Make it a “two-for-one”: the Santa Rita Hot Springs—mineral pools shaded by palms—sit just up the road. Go early for the quietest soak and bring small bills.

2) Todos Santos (≈75–90 minutes) — art, cafés, and a beach detour

An hour up the Pacific, Todos Santos trades party boats for galleries, indie boutiques, and destination dining.

Start with coffee on the plaza, gallery-hop noon to two, then roll ten minutes south for a golden-hour surf session or beach day at Cerritos (lessons and chair rentals available). Our explainer covers why the Pueblo Mágico is booming, and our day-trip roundup lists easy stops to stitch a perfect itinerary.

Beach note: Cerritos can bring punchy conditions—great for surfers, not always for casual swimmers. If flags are red or black, keep it a toes-in-the-sand day. We’ve broken down what those beach flags really mean so you can play it safe.

3) Santa Rita Hot Springs (≈90 minutes) — wellness day in the wild

Prefer a mellow, nature-first reset?

Make Santa Rita the main event. Warm pools bubble beneath palms with a cool river for contrast. It’s blissfully simple: bring water, snacks, and reef-safe sunscreen; cell service is spotty; and weekdays are quietest.

Our wellness and day-trip pieces have directions, timing tips, and alternate springs (El Chorro, Agua Caliente) if one area is busy.

4) Candelaria (≈60 minutes) — real ranchero culture (go with a local guide)

North of Cabo San Lucas, tiny Candelaria feels paused in time: a 300-year-old church, ranch families who know every medicinal plant in the arroyo, and dusty tracks framed by giant cardón cacti.

There aren’t “attractions” here—this is respectful, low-impact cultural travel. Hire a guide with community ties (many off-road tours include a brief, facilitated visit) and treat it like a backcountry outing: full tank, extra water, offline maps.

Our day-trips feature explains what to expect and why a guide matters.

5) La Ribera (≈90 minutes) — calm Sea of Cortez without the crowds

On the Cortez side, La Ribera serves up what locals love on their own days off: long, quiet beaches, glassy mornings, easy snorkeling when conditions allow, and taco shacks worth the drive. It’s also your paved-road gateway to Cabo Pulmo if you decide to stretch the day. Start early, bring shade, and plan a ceviche stop before cruising back for sunset in Cabo.

We’ve detailed why La Ribera is trending (without becoming “scene-y”).

Pro moves from our team

• Know the flags before you wade in. Red means powerful currents; black closes the water entirely (even ankle-deep can be risky). We’ve got a plain-English cheat sheet and coverage of the new safety boards posted at popular beaches.
• Watch seasonality. After heavy rain, canyon access can close temporarily; our waterfall guide notes closures and alternates around Santiago.
• Cash & connectivity. Sol de Mayo and some ranch areas are cash-only; download offline maps for the dirt-road segments around Santiago and Candelaria.

How we ranked them

We weighted “wow per minute” (biggest payoff for the drive), ease (paved vs. dirt, services), and variety (swim, soak, surf, or culture).

If you want the single most unforgettable shot at low effort, go Santiago first. Foodies and art lovers? Todos Santos. Wellness day? Santa Rita. Culture-curious? Candelaria (with a guide). Calm-water Cortez vibes? La Ribera.