Jagged mountains set against majestic blue skies. Ocean waves crashing against a rocky shoreline. The soft hum of wildlife, a signal of another world existing alongside our own—one full of just as much life. There are a lot of these kinds of spaces in Los Cabos, and few are more magical than Cascada Sol de Mayo. This 40-foot-tall waterfall is located in the Rancho Ecológico Sol de Mayo, which itself is part of the Sierra la Laguna Biosphere Reserve. This landscape of canyons, mountains, and deserts, is home to over 150 species of birds and ancient pine oak forests, where you can find this waterfall and the crystal-clear pool beneath it.
Though the waterfall could be considered the crown jewel of Rancho Ecológico Sol de Mayo, it is by no means the only sparkling treasure there. After parking at the Rancho, your hike to the waterfall will take you past the area’s abundant wildlife and plant life. You might even catch a glimpse of the violet-headed hummingbird or the Xantus’s sapphire hummingbird. The latter is only found on the Baja California Peninsula.
After a 10-minute walk, you’ll reach the lower pool, a gleaming body of water formed by the waterfall above. You can jump in or look down at the clear water to see the many fish who call the water home. Look at your surroundings, the cacti and palms that seem to spring from the rocks, almost incongruent as you feel the splash of the cool water on your face. You can even climb higher to the upper pool, another ten minutes or so, accessed via a nearby path leading to the top of the waterfall. The adventurous have been known to dive into the pool from atop the falls.
Know Before You Go
To get to the waterfall, you’ll need to park at Rancho Ecológico Sol de Mayo and pay an entry fee, $150 MXN per person at time of publishing. The hike isn’t a long one and there is signage to mark the way. The rocks can be slippery, so good footwear when climbing is suggested. You can get to falls on your own, but there are several companies in the area that offer guided tours.
