Located at the western coastline of Baja California Sur, halfway between both Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, Todos Santos is a so-called Pueblo Magico that offers a nice mix of a vibrant art scene located in a colorful town and a relaxed beach town atmosphere with stunning beaches just a few minutes away from the city. Because the beaches are facing west, this spot also is perfect for enjoying the magnificent sunsets in Baja California.
What to do in Todos Santos
Watch the sunset at Punta Lobos
Punta Lobos is a small hill that offers a mesmerizing view of the sunset and of the hills and cliffs of Baja California’s coastline. It is located at the southernmost point of the Playa Todos Santos, directly next to Hotel San Cristobal. It is a short and easy hike up the hill (about 15-20 minutes) and really worth the little effort.
Explore the town's center
Todos Santos is renowned for its thriving art community. Take a stroll through the town and explore the numerous art galleries and small boutique shops showcasing the works of local and international artists. Also make a stop at Hotel California, which supposedly was the inspiration for the famous The Eagle’s song.
Visit the beaches
There are many absolutely stunning beaches located around Todos Santos, where finest sand and the rough Pacific ocean meet for several kilometers. Compared to Cabo San Lucas. The beaches here are absolutely quiet and untouched without the larger resorts and beach clubs. On the flipside, there are limited options for shadow if you want to escape the sun and also no options available to buy food and drinks.
Also, the beaches are a good opportunity for surfers to catch and ride some waves. I can particularly recommend Playa Todos Santos, which is located directly next to the town (despite being a 10-15 drive away over a few small hills), as well as Playa Cerritos about a 20-minute drive south of Todos Santos.
Best time to visit Todos Santos, Baja California
Like Baja California Sur in general, the best time to visit are the winter months from November to April where temperatures are pleasantly warm during the day but not too hot.
Best ways to get to Todos Santos, Baja California
The most convenient and recommended way to get to and visit Todos Santos is by car. There are bus connections to La Paz and Cabo San Lucas but also in Todos Santos you will need a car to visit the nearby beaches (while the beach looks very close on Google Maps, there are some hills to overcome to get there, so a car is strongly recommended).
We had a rental car from Europcar with a smooth pickup and return process in San Jose del Cabo (SJD) airport, which is about a 1.5 hour drive away from Todos Santos. Check Discover Cars for best rental car offers during your planned visit.
The roads in Baja California are usually well-maintained, however if you plan to drive to many beaches you might face some dirt roads so a full rental car insurance is recommended. If you plan to travel for a longer period to multiple destinations and use rental cars more often, I would recommend a credit card that includes rental car insurance, for example an American Express Platinum Card.
Recommended places near Todos Santos
La Paz: Best Things To Do in La Paz
Cabo San Lucas: Best Things To Do in Los Cabos
Where to stay in Todos Santos, Baja California
I would personally not really recommend staying too long or overnight in Todos Santos. The town is very quiet in the evenings and almost all restaurants close at 9pm (at least when we were there in March), so there is really not much to experience after sunset. It is rather a town that tourists pass during the day when going from and to different places in Baja California as it is conveniently located on the way between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz.
We stayed in Posada del Molino and can really recommend this place for its great value for money and its central location from where you can explore the city by foot. There are a lot of nice holiday houses around the city on airbnb that are a nice option if you travel with a group of friends to spend some relaxed days there and go to visit the city and surrounding beaches.
Best places to eat in Todos Santos, Baja California
For breakfast there are plenty of nice cafes in Todos Santos, of which we particularly liked Jazamango Cafe and CAFELIX for their great coffee and selection of food.
For lunch during your stroll in the city, I can highly recommend an awesome food stall that sells one of the best fish tacos I have tried in Mexico! It’s called Tacos de pescado “El Mar Azul” and is located in Calle Marquez de Leon directly opposite Coppel. The mango habanero sauce is especially delicious there and something really unique that I have not found in other places.
For dinner, I can recommend Oystera if you like oysters and seafood. The place is located in a beautiful building with small stores and has a nice terrace with a spectacular view into a small valley with lots of the town’s characteristic palm trees. For dinner options in general, be aware that almost all places close at 9pm latest so make sure to not head out too late.