Located about 1.5-hour drive north of Cabo San Lucas, Fox Canyon (Cañon de la Zorra) has a short hiking trail through the Baja California Desert passing by a freshwater lagoon and 40-foot (12-meter) waterfall. Bring your bathing suit and keep your eyes out for local wildlife and indigenous plant species in this secluded natural oasis.
Travelers with their own car can visit Fox Canyon independently. The trail is well-marked and not particularly challenging, though you’ll need appropriate footwear. Consider visiting with a local guide who can explain the significance of the endemic plant and animal life that the desert oasis shelters. A number of operators offer full-day private or shared tours departing from Cabo San Lucas. Many include stops for a traditional Bajan lunch at surrounding communities, such as Miraflores.
The canyon is ideal for travelers interested in native flora and fauna, or those seeking a break from the tourist circuit.
Bring plenty of water and protect yourself from the sun with appropriate clothing.
You can swim in the waterfall, so make sure to bring a bathing suit and towel.
If traveling with your own car, consider a post-hike visit to El Chorro Hot Springs, just outside the town of Santiago.
Drivers from Cabo San Lucas can take Highway 1 following road signs first for Santiago and then Sol de Mayo. There is an on-site parking lot. If you prefer to leave the driving to someone else, opt for tours that include round-trip transportation from hotels in Cabo San Lucas.
Baja California has pleasant temperatures year-round, though summertime heat can be extreme. For the best weather, time your visit outside of the rainy season, which runs from July to October. Hiking the canyon isn’t recommended during summer as the waterfall often dries out.
The small town of Santiago sits almost directly on the Tropic of Cancer, which you must cross to reach the canyon’s hiking trail coming north from Cabo San Lucas. Many people know Henry James’ 1934 novel of the same name, which was once famously banned for “obscene” content, but fewer know that the Tropic of Cancer refers to the northernmost circle of latitude at which the sun can travel directly over the earth.