Todos Santo is a charming small town on the Baja Peninsula, about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas. It’s the perfect destination for a Mexico vacation, with a good selection of boutique hotels and luxury villas, amazing places to eat, and pristine white sand beaches.
The town of Todos Santos has been designated a ‘pueblo mágico’ (magic town) by the Mexican Government. This is a tourist designation awarded to towns that have maintained their heritage, so you can expect to see plenty of traditional architecture in the downtown area.
Although they’re often regarded as one destination, Todos Santos and El Pescaderoare are actually two separate towns about 15 minutes apart. I own a house in El Pescadero, and we probably spend around two months of the year in the Todos Santos area.
Todos Santos and El Pescadero both have a ‘hippie’ vibe and a strong focus on wellness and relaxation. There’s also a good choice of things to do if you want a more active vacation.
This guide will give you all the information you need to plan a vacation in Todos Santos or El Pescadero. I’ll share my tips for the best way to travel to Todos Santos, the best places to eat and stay, and the best things to do in each town.
Logistics
This section will make traveling to Todos Santos easy with airport tips, recommendations for car rentals, and advice on the best time to visit Todos Santos.
Where is Todos Santos?
The small town of Todos Santos sits on the west coast of the Baja California peninsula, around an hour’s drive north of the city of Cabo. The nearest airport to Todos Santos is San Jose del Cabo (SJD), which is served by routes from many cities in the U.S. and worldwide.
Todos Santos overlooks the Pacific Ocean and has the Sierra de la Laguna mountains as a backdrop. Although many people treat them as one location, the smaller village of El Pescado is a 15-minute drive south of Todos Santos.
What’s the Local Currency?
The local currency is the Mexican peso, but many places also accept U.S. dollars.
A lot of shops and restaurants in Todos Santos accept payment by debit or credit card. However, some are cash-only, so I’d always recommend carrying a little cash with you.
It’s worth exchanging some pesos before you travel, and there are ATMs at the airport that offer a pretty good exchange rate.
When to visit Todos Santos
The high season in Mexico’s Baja California Sur runs from October to June, and Todos Santos is a great place to catch some sun in the winter months. There’s very little rain during the high season, and the daytime temperature sees steady highs between 77-82°F.
The hurricane season on Mexico’s Pacific Coast starts in July. The area has wetter, more humid weather between July and September, with daytime highs around 86-90°F.
El Pescadero pretty much shuts down completely during hurricane season, but more restaurants and shops stay open in the larger town of Todos Santos.
Arriving at San Jose del Cabo Airport
Arriving at San Jose del Cabo airport is pretty quick and straightforward.
First, you’ll go through immigration and collect your bags. Next, all passengers must go through customs to determine whether or not you have anything to declare.
Once you’ve handed in your Customs form, you’ll push a button. If the light is green, you can head off to start your vacation. If it turns red, your bags will be put through a secondary X-ray screening, and you might have to open them for a full inspection.
If they decide you need to declare anything, you’ll have to visit the Aduanas desk, which is the National Customs Service in Mexico. They’ll work out how much you need to pay, and the whole process is pretty straightforward.
From my personal experience, I’d say that the light turns red for about 1 person in 10, and then about 1% of those people end up having to pay duty on their bags. Sometimes, I bring things down for my house in El Pescadero and have to pay taxes on those, but if you’re entering Mexico as a tourist, you’ll be totally fine.
Transport in Todos Santos
I recommend using Enterprise or National for car rental in Todos Santos. I’ve also rented similar cars through Hertz in the past, but the service was slower on both pickup and dropoff.
If you’re looking for an airport transfer, I highly recommend All Ways Cabo Transport. I’ve used their service many times, and they’ve always been perfect.
There is a bus service in Todos Santos, but it’s fairly limited. If you want to explore the region, you’ll need access to a car service or a rental car, and it’s best to reserve these before you travel.
Once you get through customs at San Jose del Cabo Airport, you’ll go through multiple sets of sliding doors into the Arrivals area. There, lots of people will try to get you to use their taxi service, but hopefully, you’ve pre-reserved your transportation.
If so, your rental car agency or car service will have given you instructions on where to meet their representative. Car rental agencies are located off-site, so they all offer shuttle services and you’ll have a 2- or 3-minute journey by van to pick up your rental car.
Traveling to Todos Santos
It’ll take around an hour and 15 minutes to reach Todos Santos by car, and the road is pretty similar to an American highway. There’s just one lane in each direction most of the way, so you might get stuck behind slow drivers, but people do pass quite often.
You’ll be driving on a toll road most of the time, so remember to have cash on hand to pay the toll fees, which are 114 pesos ($8 USD) at the time of writing. They also take dollars, but the exchange rate is pretty bad, so it’s worth taking a couple of minutes to get pesos out of the ATM at the airport!
The road to Todos Santos is unlit, and it’s pretty dark if you’re driving at night. You’ll need to keep your wits about you to avoid the occasional cows, goats, or wild horses that wander onto the highway.
Once you reach Todos Santos, the roads are pretty narrow but drivable. You get a mix of dirt roads and paved roads in the newer part of town, and the older Centro area has traditional cobblestone streets.
If you’re staying in El Pescadero, all the villa rentals and touristy areas are on the beach side of the highway. You’ll come off the highway and drive on dirt roads to your destination. It’s a little bit rough, rugged, and dusty, but I also think it’s totally magical. In the center of El Pescadero, you’ll drive on regular paved roads with road signs.
Is Todos Santos safe?
I generally consider the area around Todos Santos to be very safe. In all the years we’ve been visiting the area, we’ve only had one break-in, and that was when we accidentally left a window unlocked.
There isn’t much violence or drug-related crime in this northern part of the Cabo area. However, you might see more crime if you visit Los Cabos because it’s a much more popular tourist destination.
Even if you don’t speak the language too well, you’ll find that Mexicans are extraordinarily friendly and welcoming. I also find that people in the Baja California area watch out for each other. I’ve never had any real problems, even as a woman traveling alone in Mexico.
Of course, you need to be smart about security, keep your valuables secured, and watch out for people trying to carjack or take advantage of you.
But, as long as you take reasonable care, you can feel secure in Todos Santos and El Pescadoro.
Todos Santos neighborhoods
Centro is the name for downtown Todos Santos, the ‘old town’ that’s filled with colonial architecture and cobbled streets. You’ll find the main plaza, known as Todos Santos Plaza or Plaza Centro, and the main church of Iglesia De Nuestra Senora Pilar in the town center.
The weekly farmer’s market is held in this part of Todos Santos, and there are also some gorgeous independent boutiques. It’s the perfect spot for browsing, shopping, and picking up some souvenirs.
Most shops and restaurants are located away from the downtown area on the Todos Santos beachfront. Some of the main beaches in Todos Santos are Playa San Pedrito, Playa Punta Lobos, and Playa Las Palmas.
“El Otro Lade” is the name for the newer part of Todos Santos, and it literally means “the other side.” This area, north of the downtown area, contains newer neighborhoods like Las Tunas, where you’ll find lots of vacation rentals and some wellness activities.
You might also want to check out Lomas de Chapultepec, one of the residential neighborhoods you’ll drive through as you come into town from the south.
Restaurants in Todos Santos
Todos Santos offers fantastic food to tantalize your taste buds, and there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets, from fish tacos to fine dining.
If you’re looking for a casual bite, El Burguer Shack serves some of the best burgers my family has ever had, and Poke Loco offers fantastic sushi, sashimi, and poke bowls. Alternatively, call into Plaza Amigos for a choice of around 7 vendors, including top taco restaurant, Barracuda Cantina.
Todos Santos also has some great options for fine dining, including super-fresh seafood from the converted sugar cane mill at Oystera and authentic Italian food at Tre Galline. For something a little different, La Confianza is a laid-back wine bar serving local wines and sharing plates accompanied by live music performances.
If you don’t mind traveling a little further for your fish tacos and lobster rolls, The Green Room is worth a visit. This beachfront restaurant sits right on the sands at Playa La Pastora, around 25 minutes north of Todos Santos.
You’ll find more inspiration in my guide to the best restaurants in Todos Santos.
Restaurants in Pescadero
El Pescadero’s fantastic food scene is a good reason to visit the town, even if you’re staying in Todos Santos.
If you want a quick bite for breakfast and lunch, options include a colorful coffee shop like Baja Beans Café, beach bars like Barracuda Cantina, and one of my favorite places for breakfast in El Pescadero, Lucky23.
In the evening, some of the best choices include amazing seafood at Kahal at the Mas Olas resort or super-fresh cuisine from the farm-to-table restaurants at Hierbabuena and Siempre Viva.
You’ll find more recommendations in my guide to the best places to eat in El Pescadero.
Where to shop in Todos Santos
My favorite place to shop in Todos Santos is a store called Nomad Chic, which sells clothing and home goods from Mexican and international brands.
I always find something totally unique every time I go in there, and people always compliment me when I wear dresses from Nomad Chic. They’re absolutely beautiful and probably around $100-300 each. I also love their shoes, and the home goods are gorgeous, too. So that’s definitely somewhere I have to shop every time I visit Todos Santos!
Another great store to visit is Zocalo, which has branches in both Todos Santos and El Pescadero. They sell beautifully curated ethical clothing, handmade jewelry, artwork, handwoven textiles, and even natural beauty products.
If you’re shopping for souvenirs, you might like to take a look at Bésame Mucho Bazar, next to the Hotel California. It’s pretty touristy, and you wouldn’t go there to buy expensive items, but there are a lot of different vendors, and it’s a good place to pick up some cute trinkets or gifts.
The Co-op Baja is an excellent place to pick up artisanal homewares, like gorgeous handmade dinnerware, wine glasses made from recycled glass, and some great limited edition items. I’ve occasionally seen things like sunglasses, but it’s much more about home decor and home goods.
Casa de Todos is along the same line as Co-op Baja, but they tend to stock more furniture. There’s probably not a lot there for tourists, but you might find some cool wall decor and artwork. They also have a really good cafe that’s ideal if you want a quick, healthy snack or light lunch.
You’ll also find some great stores in the Centro at the heart of Todos Santos, including art galleries, boutiques, and jewelry stores. I definitely recommend checking out Calle Centenario if you want to go jewelry shopping, and you can pick up some gorgeous handmade home textiles from another store along Calle Centenario.
And you should definitely visit the Todos Santos farmers market, which takes place every Friday in the Centro. It only runs in the high season, but you can pick up artisanal foods, handmade goods, and interesting artwork from the small vendors there.
Where to shop in Pescadero
El Pescadero doesn’t have too many shops, so if you really want to enjoy a day of shopping, it’s better to take the short drive to Todos Santos.
The Zocalo in El Pescadero is actually larger than the Zocalo in Todos Santos. It’s in the same plaza as Baja Beans and a few art galleries displaying works by local artists, so you could spend a fun couple of hours there.
There’s also a little boutique called Gypsea, selling cute jewelry and ethical fashion. They have a cafe onsite and host a weekly farmer’s market worth visiting for handmade goods and local produce.
Finally, I highly recommend visiting the Justina Blanket Factory, one of two blanket stores on the highway as you travel down towards Cabo or Playa Cerritos.
You can pick up some gorgeous handwoven blankets and throw rugs there, and they also do weaving demonstrations and share the back story behind the blankets. It’s a fascinating place to visit and a great place to pick up gifts and souvenirs.
What to do in Todos Santos
There are plenty of things to do in Todos Santos and the surrounding area, whether you prefer an active vacation or something more relaxing.
Wellness
Both Todos Santos and Pescadero have a big focus on wellness, so you’ll find plenty of wellness retreats and classes you can join.
There’s a great selection of yoga, pilates, and other classes at Cuatro Vientos. English, Spanish, and bilingual classes are all available.
If you’d prefer to relax with a massage, Dos Marias Day Spa offers a fantastic range of massages and treatments, including facials and body wraps. They also offer the traditional Temazcal healing ceremony.
If you’re renting a villa for your vacation, you could hire a private instructor to provide individual yoga or pilates lessons or arrange for a massage or treatment at your villa.
For something totally different, you could take a dip in the cold plunge pools at Yelo Todos Santos or chill out in a different way with a sound bath at the Paradero Todos Santos hotel.
Active Things to Do
Of course, there’s plenty to explore in the town of Todos Santos, so you could easily spend a day or two walking around the Centro, exploring the historic buildings, or shopping. For example, the Iglesia De Nuestra Senora Pilar (Our Lady of Pilar Church) dedicated to the patron saint of Todos Santos is free to visit between 9am and 5pm daily.
If you’re looking for more energetic activities, you could enjoy a hike through the natural beauty of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, or play tennis and pickleball at the Pescadero Tennis Club. Classes are available for adults and children, and non-members can sign up for a free Drop-In account online. The Flora del Mar hotel also offers tennis and pickleball, or you could try Jiu Jitsu classes at Baja Jiu Jitsu.
Todos Santos has several beaches to choose from, including Playa San Pedrito, Playa la Cachora, Playa Punta Lobos, and Playa Las Palmas. Further out of town, Playa la Pastora is a lovely, quiet beach about 5 miles north of Todos Santos, and the best beach for swimming is Los Cerritos, just south of El Pescadero.
Todos Santos is also a popular surfing destination, and Mario Surf School offers instruction for experienced surfers and complete beginners. Your fee includes all the equipment you’ll need and instruction from bilingual instructors.
The surf lessons take place on Los Cerritos Beach, as there are strong undercurrents along the shore at Todos Santos. Mario Surf School provides transportation for a small additional fee.
Other Things to Do in Todos Santos
If you’re interested in nature, you can go swimming with sea lions in the Sea of Cortez with Todos Santos Eco Adventures.
Todos Santos is also a great spot for whale watching, and you could choose to book an organized whale-watching tour. However, if you visit Todos Santos between December and March, you can see gray whales and humpback whales from the shore.
You can also help with wildlife conservation while visiting Todos Santos by helping release baby sea turtles onto the beach.
Tortugueros Las Playitas A.C. organizes turtle releases at sunset daily between December 8th and January 30th and less frequently through February and March. It’s free to take part in the turtle release, but donations are welcome.
Grupo Tortuguero also organizes egg collection tours and baby turtle releases to help protect the species.
Finally, there’s a fun salsa night every Wednesday at Jardín Alquimia, a Todos Santos bar that specializes in live music and excellent cocktails!
What to do in Pescadero
Although El Pescadero is smaller than Todos Santos, there are still plenty of things to do.
Beaches
Like Todos Santos, Pescadero is a great spot for hiking, and you can spot whales from the shoreline. Pescadero is a popular location for surfing, although the best surfing is found at Playa Los Cerritos, a bit further down the road.
Some people think of Cerritos as a neighborhood of Pescadero, and sometimes, it’s considered to be a separate town. It has the best surf break in the area and is also good for families and swimmers.
Because Cerritos is popular with tourists, you’ll usually get a few vendors selling sarongs, hats, jewelry, and so on. It’s the only beach around Todos Santos that gets vendors and hawkers, but they’re not nearly as aggressive as in the bustle of Cabo San Lucas itself.
The other beautiful beaches in the Pescadero area, like San Pedrito Beach, are pretty pristine and almost totally deserted. This makes Pescadero a better place than Cerritos for relaxation, but it also means that there are no restaurants or bathrooms, so you’ll have to take everything you need with you.
Wellness
I highly recommend visiting Aureo Wellness in El Pescadero. I’ve taken many pilates and yoga classes with Eva, the super-talented instructor at Aureo. All the friends and family I’ve brought along have also really enjoyed the classes too.
The classes book up really quickly, as both local residents and tourists attend them. You can try to join one of the classes or reach out to Eva about scheduling a private class at your villa rental.
You could also take a ballet class at Ballet Paloma or join a workshop at Modern Elder Academy, where they offer a range of activities to help you make the most of midlife.
You could also taste Mexican wines and small-batch tequilas at The Cove at Cerritos.
Day Trips from Todos Santos
If you want to venture further than El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach, the state capital of Baja California Sur, La Paz, is around an hour from Todos Santos. It has some great beaches for water sports or relaxation, a fun boardwalk for people-watching, and plenty of water-based tours like diving with whale sharks.
Another excellent option for a Todos Santos day trip is Cabo San Lucas, an easy one-hour drive from Todos Santos. This city is a well-established tourist destination offering great shopping, beaches, places to eat, and a fun nightlife scene.
Where to stay – Todos Santos
There are plenty of great places to stay in Todos Santos, including boutique hotels, spa resorts, and upscale villa rentals. Here are three of the best options:
Cien Palmas
Cien Palmas means 100 palms, and this little group of 3 Casitas is located on an oasis of 100 palms in Todos Santos. Each of the Casitas has been decorated in traditional style for an authentic Mexican experience. However, they have all the modern amenities you need, including air conditioning units, fully-equipped kitchens, and high-speed WiFi.
You’ll also be able to enjoy eating at Cien Palmas’ excellent restaurant, which serves delicious Oaxacan food.
Paradero
Paradero is the perfect place to stay for a relaxing Baja vacation. The suites are designed for total peace with rustic decor and stunning views over the surrounding landscape. You can enjoy a wide range of activities included in your suite price, from hikes and biking tours to beach days and cooking classes.
The hotel’s Michelin-recognized restaurant, Tenoch, uses fire-based cooking methods, including a Mexican clay comal, Spanish Josper oven, and Japanese Hibachi grill.
Hotel San Cristobal
Hotel San Cristobal is one of the most popular hotels in Todos Santos. Located ‘at the end of a dirt road,’ it offers rooms and suites with plunge pools and stunning ocean views. The rooms have luxury king or queen-size beds and are equipped with modern amenities to ensure a relaxing vacation.
The hotel offers an exciting range of activities such as Mezcal tasting sessions and Baja cooking classes, and its restaurant, Benno, is a popular spot to eat in Todos Santos, serving a blend of Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine.
Children over 15 are welcome at this Todos Santos hotel.
Where to stay – Pescadero
Here are a few of the fantastic places to stay in the charming town of El Pescadero.
Kimpton Mas Olas Resort
The Kimpton Mas Olas Resort and Spa is an adults-only resort focusing on wellness and relaxation. Their beautiful rooms, suites, and villas are all designed with private terraces and plunge pools and filled with original art and locally sourced decor.
The spa offers a wide range of beauty treatments, and you can do as much or as little as you wish with a range of fitness activities, yoga classes, and meditation sessions. The resort has 3 restaurants onsite, and in-room dining is also available.
El Perdido
El Perdido is a group of 7 luxury bungalows, each with its own deck, outdoor bathtub, and hammock. Inside your bungalow, you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen, a luxuriously appointed bedroom with a king-size bed, and plenty of space for relaxation.
If you don’t feel like self-catering, you can dine at El Perdido’s fabulous restaurant, El Coyote, one of the best places to eat in El Pescadero.
Casa Colibri
Renting a villa in El Pescadero makes it easy to enjoy a vacation with family or friends. So I can’t write about the best places to stay in El Pescadero without mentioning my own villa, Casa Colibri.
Casa Colibri has 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, so there’s enough space for up to 14 people to spread out and relax. The villa has all the amenities you could wish for, including a pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, and 2 high-speed internet connections.
Our concierge service can arrange anything you need for the perfect vacation, from day trips and surf lessons to a private chef or in-home massage services.
The Wrap Up
Todos Santos and El Pescadero are great options for your vacation in Mexico. These small towns on the Baja peninsula have a lot to offer, whether you’re looking for total relaxation, nature conservation, or high energy sports activities.
In this guide, I’ve shared my recommendations on the best things to do in Todos Santos, based on my personal experience of visiting the area over many years.
I hope you’ll have the best time possible in this magical town!
