Todos Santos Day Trip: A Baja California Sur Travel Guide
Everything you need to know for exploring beyond Cabo San Lucas
Baja California is more than just Los Cabos. Exploring beyond the tourist corridors leads to unforgettable experiences, unique encounters and some of the best food you've ever had. As a Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor, Todos Santos is one of the first day trips I recommend to clients planning a Los Cabos itinerary — and one we loved so much on our own most recent trip that we're already talking about making it our home base next time. In this guide, I'll help you plan the perfect day trip including how to get there, what to do and where to eat.
On your next trip to Los Cabos, plan a day trip to Todos Santos where you will find beautiful cobblestone streets lined with public art, art galleries, the ‘Hotel California’ (whether it is actually the inspiration for the Eagles hit is up for debate), delicious food and secluded views of the Pacific Ocean.
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Our Experience in Todos Santos
On our most recent trip to Baja, exploring beyond the typical tourist attractions of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo was at the top of our to-do list. First up was a day trip to Todos Santos. We’d heard about this quiet, coastal town that is an artist haven and wanted to see if for ourselves.
In some ways, it is similar to San José del Cabo - cobblestone streets lined with colorful flags and historic buildings featuring incredible murals. But, here you’ll find an even slower pace, with fewer tourists. We loved wandering through the outdoor market and discovering hidden ally ways with art at every turn.
It was here in downtown Todos Santos that we had the most INCREDIBLE birria tacos (from the street cart across the street from the main public park in town). As we wandered our way back to Cabo, we enjoyed stops at some incredible swimmable beaches, encountered a hostile wild horse and over indulged in quintessential Baja Fish Tacos.
For those looking for a more “off the beaten path” destination in Baja, Todos Santos is the perfect place to base yourself.
Is Todos Santos Worth Visting?
Yes! You may have gathered from my intro that we loved our time in the small town of Todos Santos - so much so that we're considering making it our home base on our next trip to the Baja in lieu of the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas.
Todos Santos has been named a Pueblo Mágico or "magical town" - a title Mexico awards to towns that are full of culture, beauty and history. Despite it's growing popularity as a day trip destination, Todos Santos has retained the charm of "Old Baja" - but with upscale touches like boutique hotels and incredible dining.
Things To Do in Todos Santos
Explore The Town
As you wander through the streets of Todos Santos, you will find public art around every corner with post of bougainvillea lining the sidewalks and papel picado flags strung above. The best way explore is on foot - starting at one end and meandering along as you soak up the beautiful murals, sculptures and interactive exhibits throughout the city.
Dine Like A Local
One of our favorite reasons to visit Todos Santos is the FOOD! Whether it's birria from a street cart or a delicious smoothie - Todos Santos has a little something for everyone. I breakdown some of my favorite restaurants in more detail below.
Enjoy the Beaches
All along HWY 19 between Los Cabos and Todos Santos there are beautiful beaches. Our favorites are Playa Los Cerritos (Cerritos Beach) and Playa Las Palmas. Cerritos Beach features a beach club with chair rentals, activities such as surf lessons and restaurants. Playa Las Palmas is more low key with a hike from the parking lot through a palm tree oasis, leading to a secluded bay and the possibility of seeing wild horses.
Shop Local Boutiques
Todos Santos offers a variety of shops ranging from teh Cielito Lindo Market to high end boutiques all offering locally made goods, art and designer clothing. We loved popping into each of these to discover hand made jewelry, pottery, and textiles.
Take A Hike
If you are looking for a little adventure, there are some short hiking trails that offer amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Cerro Punta Lobos is a great 1 mile out and back, perfect for sunset. Other great hikes include Pacific Bluffs, Todos Santos Sugar Port Trail and the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve.
Whale Watch
Every winter, the Pacific Ocean hugging the west cost of the Baja Peninsula becomes home to gray whales & humpback whales as they migrate south from Alaska. Todos Santos is one of the best places to see these majestic places. There aren't any whale watching tours in Todos Santos, but you can often see them offshore from places like Punta Lobos, Cerritos Beach and The Green Room beach club.
Release Baby Sea Turtles
The beaches near Todos Santos nesting grounds for three species of sea turtles - Olive Ridleys, Leatherbacks and Black turtles. Tortugueros Las Playitas is a non-profit sea turtle sanctuary that organizes turtle releases which usually take place from December through early April. Releases are open to the public and free to take part in.
Go On A History Tour
One of my favorite things to do in any new city is to go on a walking tour - it’s a great way to get your bearings and learn along the way. Todos Santos has a rich history - on the Historical Tour of Todos Santos hosted by Todos Santos Eco Adventures, you’ll learn about how Todos Santos wen from the sugar cane capital of Baja or the surfing hotspot and artist haven that it is today.
Where to Eat In & Near Todos Santos
Shakti Bowl, Todos Santos - A great place to start your day with fresh fruit juices, smoothies, and acai bowls.
Address: C. Benito Juárez sn, Centro, 23300 Todos Santos, B.C.S., Mexico
Jazamango Cafe, Todos Santos - Another great breakfast option featuring chilaquiles, pancakes, pastries and more.
Address: Calle Benito Juárez, Av. Gral. Topete y, Centro, 23300 Todos Santos, B.C.S., Mexico
Birria Street Cart, Todos Santos - You can typically find this cart along the main square in Todos Santos. Offering birria tacos and quesadillas, this is hands down some of the best birria we’ve ever had. Cash only.
Address: Typically found on Heroico Colegio Militar across from Parque Los Pinos
Oystera, Todos Santos - This oyster bar is featured in the Michelin guide for a reason. If you’re looking for something a little on the fancier side, this is a great option.
Address: Ignacio Zaragoza y Santos E, Calle Benito Juárez, Degollado, Centro, 23300 Todos Santos, B.C.S., Mexico
La Tuna, Cerritos Beach - This beach-side restaurant has great vibes and even better Baja Fish Tacos
Address: 8RJF+4C El Pescadero, Baja California Sur, Mexico
About Todos Santos
Todos Santos was founded in 1723 by the Jesuits who established a mission in the area. Eventually, the town turned into a thriving sugar cane processing area thanks to the region's fertile soils. You can even see a few old sugar can mills around town today.
In the 1980's, a new road linking Todos Santos to Cabo San Lucas was paved and it has since become one of the popular day trip destinations from Cabo.
The Location of Todos Santos:
Todos Santos is located on the west coast of the Baja California Sur peninsula in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range - between the dry heat of the desert and cool coastal breezes.
Todos Santos is located approximately a 1 hour drive from Cabo San Lucas, 1.25 hours from San Jose del Cabo and 1.25 hours from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) via a toll road.
Todos Santos Weather :
Todos Santos, like the rest of Baja California Sur, is known for its warm, sunny climate.
Summer (June- October): Daytime highs in the 90s and lows in the mid-70s
Winter (November-May): Daytime highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid-50s
What is the Best Time to Visit Todos Santos?
The best time really depends on what you're looking for. If you are hoping for whale watching, the winter months are best. But, this is also the most popular time of year for tourism so expect more crowds and more expensive rates.
For the best weather, plan to visit in spring or fall - May, June, October & November are considered the shoulder season so that means less crowds and potentially better rates.
The Vibe of Todos Santos:
Todos Santos has retained it’s small-town laid back vibes and despite its growing popularity, it has escaped large-scale tourism (for now). This quaint pueblo attracts artists, creatives and surfers. If you want great content for Instagram and care about aesthetics, you will be in HEAVEN in Todos Santos.
While it is small, it is packed with beautiful boutique hotels, cafes, farm to table restaurants and boho boutiques around every corner. And, who can forget the epic surfing, sunsets over the Pacific Ocean and incredible hiking. A one-day itinerary may leave some travelers with a bit of FOMO, wishing they had planned for more time in this magical town.
How to Get to Todos Santos from Los Cabos
Travel to and from Los Cabos to Todos Santos and surrounding beaches may seem a bit intimidating but we found the experience to be safe and easy - the most ‘dangerous’ thing we encountered was a wild horse! Guided tours are available, but we prefer to explore at our own pace. Here are some tips to make the day a little easier:
Rent a Car
Check with your hotel concierge to see if they can coordinate this for you. Oftentimes, they can arrange for the rental company to drop off and pick up the car at your resort, saving you time and the headache of coordinating transportation to a rental car facility. Additionally, we would recommend full insurance coverage for rentals in Mexico. If your credit card offers this as a benefit, check with them in advance if it applies to international rentals and what their payout timeline is to help you make the best decision for you and your family! I would highly recommend renting an SUV with 4-wheel drive as you’ll find that once you venture off the main highways, the roads are a mixture of dirt and paved and not as well maintained.
Note: If you’re from the USA, you don’t need an international drivers license to rent a car in Mexico.
Driving on the main highway, 19, between Los Cabos and Todos Santos is a lot like driving on any interstate in the US. It is well maintained and fairly smooth. Side streets off of the highway are where you’re more likely to find dirt roads with ruts and pot holes. Keep this in mind when booking your rental car in case you think you may want to explore some of the more remote beaches.
Tips for Driving
Get an early start and try to return to Los Cabos before dark. This recommendation is primarily in reference to the road conditions - side streets are not well lit making it more difficult to see the pot holes along the way.
Tolls: If you are leaving from San José del Cabo or the airport to make your way to Todos Santos, the route will include a toll road. The toll is 97 pesos (about $5), so be sure to have cash on hand (they will accept USD).
Public Transport
There are 3 major bus companies on the Baja Peninsula. Transportes Aquila offers the most routes to Todos Santos from Cabo. The bus station is located just a couple of blocks from Old Town and you can easily explore downtown Todos Santos on foot from there. However, if you use this option, you will not be able to explore much beyond the city center.
If you fly into Cabo, you can take a public bus to Todos Santos for about $10 (one-way), which departs from the El Aguila Bus Terminal (about 15 minutes away). Buses from Cabo leave for Todos Santos about every hour, starting around 6am.
Alternatively, there is a premium bus that runs a few times a day from SJD airport to downtown Todos Santos, run by EcoBaja Tours for $355 pesos/~$17USD each way.
How to Get Around Todos Santos
Todos Santos’ city center is super walkable but you’ll need a car to get to a few further afield spots like Playa Cerritos and the beach for turtle releases.
Taxis are available but not abundant and often times they are not metered. Be sure to negotiate and agree upon a price before getting in and have a plan for your return trip.
Where to Stay in Los Cabos
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Hi, I’m Jess
I’m here to help you plan epic adventures. If you’re looking for authentic travel guides that mix luxe lodging and incredible dining with out of this world hikes and adventures, you’re in the right place.
