Puertecitos Hot Springs

At Puertecitos, a hot sulfur spring seeps out of volcanic rock right at the edge of the Sea of Cortez, about 90 km south of San Felipe. The water reaches around 70 C at the source, and a chain of rock and concrete pools catches it where the sea washes in. The tide controls everything: at low tide the upper pools can scald, at high tide cold seawater floods them, and during the biggest tides they disappear entirely.

Mid-tide, especially as the water starts to fall, usually gives the best mix, and the pools farthest from the source are the most comfortable. Check a tide table before you drive. Access is controlled by the Puertecitos campo, which charges a fee per vehicle, recently reported at about 500 MXN for day use or about 600 MXN with an overnight palapa site nearby.

You reach the pools down a short, steep slope, so it is not wheelchair friendly. Always test the water with your hand before you get in. The honest downside: the experience depends on your timing, and a bad tide window can mean pools that are too hot or too cold to use.