Positioned only one hour from Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos is an artsy, laidback Mexican seashore city that you just received’t wish to miss. As a “Pueblo Mágico” (magical city), a designation by the Mexican authorities, Todos Santos has maintained its authentic structure, traditions, historical past, and tradition. There are such a lot of issues to do in Todos Santos from strolling by means of the colonial structure and shopping artwork galleries to consuming scrumptious meals and having fun with the pure fantastic thing about the world.
The final time I visited Todos Santos was over a decade in the past and I used to be involved about what the Baja locals name, “Caboifcation”, or the limitless tourist-centered, American chain shops sprawl that has overtaken components of southern Baja. I used to be so happy to see that the “mágico” of Todos Santos stays. That is because of the fierce safety of the pure panorama by native advocates that has stored improvement from overtaking the city. This quaint artist village has not misplaced its vitality and there are expanded choices of eating places, galleries, and tons of Pacific shoreline to discover.
Searching for the very best issues to do in Todos Santos? Our full journey information has you lined!
Methods to Get to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Todos Santos is positioned on the Pacific facet of the Baja Peninsula, 64 miles north (1.5 hours drive) of the San José Del Cabo Worldwide Airport, the biggest main airport in Baja California Sur. Vacationers may fly into La Paz Worldwide Airport, positioned on the Sea of Cortez facet of the peninsula (1 hour drive), nevertheless it’s a smaller airport that sometimes has fewer and pricier flight choices.
You may take shuttle transportation from the airport to Todos Santos utilizing Eco Baja Excursions, but when exploring the pure areas simply outdoors the town middle is a part of your itinerary, I extremely advocate renting a automobile. We had a superb expertise renting from Cactus Hire a Automotive, a regionally owned automobile rental firm whose workplace is positioned simply outdoors the airport with free shuttle service to/from the terminal. Some roads in Baja are unpaved and could be tough on rental cars- think about buying extra insurance coverage to cowl any injury.
It is usually attainable to drive to Todos Santos from the US border you probably have time for a 20 hour drive and a a lot bigger journey. Make sure to see our Baja Roadtrip Information for extra on this.
Finest Time to Go to Todos Santos
Late fall, winter, and spring are the very best seasons to go to Todos Santos. Summer season (June-September) is brutally sizzling and humid, plus the potential for tropical storms is excessive from August till October.
November-March could also be the perfect time to go to Todos Santos and all of Baja California Sur. The cool mornings make for excellent climbing climate and the hotter afternoons are good for browsing, swimming, and different water-based adventures.
Prime whale-watching season in Todos Santos runs from October by means of March with humpback whales showing October-January and gray whales showing January-mid March.
One thing to remember should you plan on visiting Todos Santos through the winter holidays is that the world sees a dramatic spike in guests between Thanksgiving and New 12 months’s so be sure to ebook your lodging, guided excursions, and surf classes forward of time.
The place to Keep in Todos Santos
Todos Santos boasts every kind of lodging from charming boutique inns to trip leases and even the Resort California. The middle of Todos Santos is positioned 2 miles from the closest seashore, Playa La Cachora, which is nice for strolling, however not secure for swimming or browsing. If you wish to keep on the seashore, the best choice is to remain both in Playa Pescadero or Playa El Cerritos, a 10-20 minute drive south of Todos Santos.
Las Casitas (the little homes) at Los Colibris Casitas function expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and a freshwater estuary. This luxurious lodging possibility options non-public kitchen services, an infinity pool and sizzling tub, an exercise concierge, and different facilities. In addition they provide onsite breakfast every morning for an extra charge.
There may be loads of room on the Resort California, positioned within the very coronary heart of Todos Santos. Whereas the lodge was not the inspiration for the Eagle’s track, loads of Instagram vacationers prefer to fake it was.
We stayed at a trip rental on Cerritos Seashore, a twenty-minute drive from the center of Todos Santos. I appreciated getting away from the hustle of the town and having the ability to look out of our balcony on the ocean and being able to swim and surf proper out our entrance door.
Finest Issues to Do in Todos Santos
Browsing
Surfers usually are the primary to find the good locations and Todos Santos is not any exception. The surf near city could be incredible, particularly within the winter. The common water temperature in Todos Santos by season is 69F in winter, 71F in spring, 81F in summer season, and 82F in fall. Whereas I didn’t want a wetsuit to surf in late March, I used to be grateful that I packed mine. Many locations provide wetsuit leases and if you’re taking a lesson, many embrace a wetsuit within the worth.
Todos Santos boasts numerous surf outlets together with Pescadero Surf Store. All outlets cost $20 a day for a surfboard rental and will offer you a deal should you lease for a complete week. There are a selection of surf colleges, however the OG in Baja is Mario’s Surf College positioned on Cerritos Seashore. Mario is so assured that you’ll rise up throughout your first lesson, he will provide you with a full refund should you don’t.
There are three primary surf breaks near Todos Santos: Playa Los Cerritos, San Pedrito at Playa Pescadero, and La Pastora. Playa Los Cerritos (identified regionally merely as Cerritos) is a sandy seashore break and an incredible spot for newbie surfers positioned 20 minutes south of Todos Santos. La Pastora, positioned 10 minutes north of downtown Todos Santos, is a heavier level break with a robust undertow and must be reserved for knowledgeable surfers solely. San Pedrito at Playa Pescadero, positioned quarter-hour south of Todos Santos, will also be a superb surf spot for newcomers and skilled surfers alike however watch out for the rocky backside. There are additionally numerous surf breaks round Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, about an hour’s drive south of Todos Santos.
Mountain climbing
There are just a few climbing trails near Todos Santos that provide superior coastal views and even snorkeling alternatives. Two of the preferred trails – Puerto Todos Los Santos and Playa Punta Lobos – each begin out by the Resort San Cristobal, a 20 minute drive south of Todos Santos. Each trails are reasonably difficult, nevertheless it’s a totally uncovered desert hike so remember to pack loads of water and put on satisfactory solar safety. The top of the path takes you to a hidden swimming cove that’s good for a quiet down or snorkel earlier than the return.
In case you are in search of a problem or in a single day backpacking journey, head into the Sierra de Laguna biosphere for the Valle de la Laguna hike. This 15.6 mile out-and-back path offers views of the Sierra mountains, however with over 5000-foot elevation acquire, it’s not for the faint of coronary heart. The highway into the Biosphere isn’t very effectively marked off of Freeway 19 so preserve your eyes open as you head north on the Freeway, simply outdoors of city. This path can be effectively suited to mountain biking and you’ll lease bikes from numerous outfitters in Todos Santos together with Omega Excursions.
The complete close by Sierra de Laguna Biosphere reserve affords dozens of various climbing trails throughout the larger Todos Santos space (as much as 2.5 hours drive away). It is strongly recommended that you just rent a information or ensure to hike with others because the excessive desert area is each notable for its low humidity fee and exhausting to tell apart panorama making getting misplaced and operating out of water attainable.
Whale Watching
Gray whales, blue whales, and humpback whales are probably the most quite a few of eight totally different whale species that migrate alongside the Baja Peninsula every winter from November to March as they make their yearly journey from Alaska all the way down to their winter properties within the Sea of Cortez. There are a selection of tour corporations that can take you out on boats for whale watching, however should you look out on the ocean lengthy sufficient, you could get fortunate and see a whale breech from shore. Playa Pastora is a good free seashore spot for whale watching in Todos Santos.
Yoga Courses
Todos Santos is changing into fashionable for yoga retreats and courses. Cuatro Vientos is a good looking studio house providing yoga courses, ecstatic dance, and meditation courses. All of their courses are drop-in, so no advance reservations are required.
Watch a Child Sea Turtle Launch
Simply earlier than sundown each night between December – February (and sporadically in March), child sea turtles are launched by a non-profit group referred to as Tortugueros Las Playacita, positioned 10 minutes north of Todos Santos. Make sure to arrive early as a result of parking is proscribed.
Gallery Visits
Todos Santos was found first by artists and surfers who discovered the quiet lifestyle in Baja in alignment with their inventive focus. Up to now decade, greater than a dozen galleries have sprouted throughout city. Some galleries are devoted to a single artist and others boast the work of many locals in work, clothes design, sculptures, metalwork, and ceramics. Wandering by means of city and discovering a beforehand unknown artist is among the pleasant issues to do in Todos Santos. La Sonrisa de la Muerte is one among our favorites to go to.
Procuring
There are tons of small boutiques and outlets in Todos Santos to select up native handicrafts, clothes, and souvenirs.
Supermercados are additionally in every single place in Todos Santos the place you possibly can choose up recent tortillas (look within the coolers within the entrance of the shop the place they’re stored heat), cheese, meats, snacks, and recent vegetables and fruit.
We loved procuring at Agricole, a cooperative natural market that boasts a bakery, an indulgent wine and native microbrew beer division, and engaging selfmade burritos, salsas, and dips.
For wonderful recent native produce, try Fruteria y Organicos San Ignacio, positioned simply north of downtown. There may be additionally a weekly farmer’s market at Cerritos on Wednesdays that you just don’t wish to miss in addition to a neighborhood market on Sundays at Baja Beans in El Pescadero.
Finest Day Journeys and Overnights close to Todos Santos
Glamping within the Sierra Mountains
Most individuals who go to Baja stick with the coastal areas across the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific facet of the peninsula. The vast majority of the landmass, nevertheless, is the principally unexplored mountainous inside. Todos Santos Eco Adventures created a heavenly, remoted glamping spot nestled in a mango grove within the Sierra de Laguna Biosphere Reserve. This full-service tenting expedition contains tent tenting with a mattress outfitted with hotel-quality linens and a non-public compostable rest room.
Our information was Todos Santos Eco Adventures proprietor Sergio Jauregui, who took us chicken watching throughout the world of Camp Cecil (which is positioned solely about 20 miles from Todos Santos however on the undeveloped highway the journey took about an hour). By far the spotlight of our glamping expertise was the meals Chef Martin revamped an open fireplace grill. Vegetable stuffed rooster breasts and a grilled romaine lettuce salad for lunch, steak and grilled veggies for dinner, and a beautiful rendition of huevos rancheros for breakfast. We discovered tips on how to make flour tortillas (it’s actually exhausting to maintain them round, I quickly found). The time within the Sierra was deeply enjoyable and greater than as soon as the camp hammocks referred to as my title.
Swimming with Whale Sharks and Sea Lions
On Board Baja created a mixture day tour for my household. The principle draw of the tour was the chance to snorkel with whale sharks. We additionally swam with sea lions and had a beautiful picnic lunch and went paddleboarding on an remoted seashore within the Sea of Cortez. We met our educated information Alan Lizarraga and Captain Pancho on the La Paz Marina simply an hour east of Todos Santos.
Whale sharks are a little bit of a misnomer, they’re truly the world’s largest fish, measuring as much as 39 toes in size. Sometimes called “light giants,” whale sharks can reside as much as 150 years outdated. They’ve tiny enamel and filter over 1500 gallons of water every hour by means of monumental gills to eat their most well-liked plankton meal. The Sea of Cortez hosts whale sharks every winter season as they slowly migrate from the Tropic of Most cancers, the northernmost marker of the tropics to the Tropic of Capricorn within the south.
The Mexican authorities extremely regulates vacationer encounters with these marine guests and solely 14 boats could be within the “whale shark space” at anyone time. The whale sharks didn’t appear to thoughts us swimming alongside them. I discovered being subsequent to the biggest fish on the earth to be concurrently extremely enjoyable and awe-inspiring.
Our Marine Biologist tour information Alan was a wealth of details about whale sharks, the Sea of Cortez, and all issues Baja. After our allotted 1.5 hours with the whale sharks ended, we then cruised throughout the bay to Isla Los Isoltes, a small rock outcropping on the northern finish of Isla Espiritu Santo the place a raft of sleeping sea lions rested, flippers up. The ocean lions have been in the course of nap time and sleepily moved by means of the water as we approached. Alan advised us the pups are fairly playful when they’re younger and can snuggle as much as people who go to.
Our day journey ended with lunch on an remoted seashore near Isla Espiritu Santo that includes crystal clear blue water and white sand. We bought to swim and paddleboard and loosen up after our wonderful marine wildlife encounters.
The place to Eat In Todos Santos
The Todos Santos meals scene has flourished in recent times and has seen exponential development. Once I first visited ten years in the past, the village had perhaps half a dozen eating places. Now that quantity has grown over ten-fold. The deal with farm/ocean-to-table ultra-fresh substances stays the widespread denominator. Listed below are a few of my favourite suggestions:
- Los Adobes de Todos Santos serves traditional Mexican dishes with a Baja flare for recent fish and seafood. The complete bar mixes a stellar margarita, and the desert backyard eating space is a good looking and enjoyable house to get pleasure from a flavorful meal.
- The Inexperienced Room is a extremely rated restaurant in Todos Santos and the one one positioned on the seashore. It’s dearer than different eating places on the town, nevertheless it’s completely price it. Make sure to make a reservation right here to get pleasure from whale watching because the solar goes down and order their (secret) ardour fruit margarita.
- Ristorante Tre Galline’s genuine Italian delicacies and rustic indoor/out of doors patio eating room feels and the meals tastes so much like Italy. The pastas and primary programs are genuine Italian fare they usually even carry gluten-free pasta choices.
- Barracuda Cantina is positioned simply off the seashore in Cerritos, about twenty minutes south of Todos Santos. The supremely scrumptious fish and shrimp tacos and burritos make for an ideal lunch between surf classes. Whereas a bit spendy at $200 pesos ($10 USD), the cocktails are to not be missed. I returned a number of instances for the Sexi Mexi, a ardour fruit and basil concoction that I can’t quickly overlook.
- We found Restaurant Bar Bahia Pescadaria one afternoon when looking for a lunch spot. This place packed an enormous crowd for tremendous recent ceviche, fish tacos, and shrimp.
- Tacos El Poblano incorporates a easy menu of tacos and burritos of carne asada or al pastor roasted over a wooden fireplace spit.
Todos Santos Journey Ideas
- Apply ecotourism. It’s vital to recollect the primary rules of ecotourism: reduce your bodily, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts, construct environmental and cultural consciousness and respect, present optimistic experiences for each guests and hosts, and supply direct monetary advantages for conservation efforts. You may learn our weblog submit on tips on how to give again whereas touring for extra concepts.
- Drink loads of water. The humidity is just 40% in Todos Santos and getting dehydrated can occur rapidly. At all times carry greater than sufficient water when outside, even for only a enjoyable day on the seashore. We love touring with our Hydroflask.
- Put on solar safety. Whereas it usually doesn’t really feel highly regarded in Todos Santos, the solar is powerful so remember to put on satisfactory solar safety.
- Hearken to your guides. In case you are doing a tour, please take heed to the directions your guides offer you to maintain the wildlife and ecosystems protected for all to get pleasure from.
- Ask a neighborhood. Native people know all the very best places- ask round for suggestions for every little thing from eating places to seashores to climbing trails.
- Study some primary Spanish. Most native people actually admire the respect vacationers reveal once they try to talk the native language. Understanding the fundamentals like “howdy”, “thanks”, “the place is____?” can go a good distance.
- Know what to do in a riptide. Not all of the seashores round Todos Santos are secure for swimming due to the robust riptide all alongside the Baja California Sur shoreline. Even the seashores which might be higher for swimming are identified to have a robust riptide and undertow at instances. Keep calm, don’t tire your self out by attempting to swim in opposition to the riptide, and wave for assist. We advocate by no means swimming or browsing alone.
Are you planning a visit to Todos Santos? Did we miss any of the very best issues to do in Todos Santos? Go away us a remark under!
