Todos Santos Travel Guide: Things to Do (2026)

If Cabo San Lucas is the party, Todos Santos is the exhale. This dusty little Pueblo Magico sits about an hour north of Cabo on the Pacific side of the peninsula, and it could not feel more different from the marina crowds. Think cobblestone streets, palm-fringed galleries, mango orchards, empty surf breaks and some of the best farm-to-table cooking in Baja. It is the single best day trip you can take from Cabo, and this guide covers exactly what to see, when to go and how to get there without the fluff.

A quick, honest note up front: Baja Pass is live in Los Cabos right now, and Todos Santos is on our coming-soon list along with La Paz and Loreto. So while you cannot yet stack 2-for-1 deals inside Todos Santos itself, you can already use your pass on the guided Todos Santos day tour that departs from Cabo. More on that below.

Where is Todos Santos and why go?

Todos Santos is a town of roughly 6,000 people on Baja California Sur's Pacific coast, midway between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. Mexico's tourism board named it a Pueblo Magico (Magic Town) for its preserved 19th-century architecture, thriving arts scene and desert-meets-ocean setting. The Tropic of Cancer runs right through it, so the light is bright and the sunsets are enormous.

People come for the mix: a walkable historic center you can cover in an afternoon, world-class point breaks a few minutes away, gray whales offshore in winter, and a food scene that punches far above the town's size. If you are basing yourself in Cabo, this is the escape hatch when you want culture and quiet instead of clubs. For the bigger picture on the region, our Cabo San Lucas travel guide is a good companion read.

The historic center and art galleries

Start in the Centro Historico, the compact grid of streets around the main plaza and the old Mission of Nuestra Senora del Pilar. Restored brick-and-adobe buildings now house galleries, boutiques and cafes, and the whole area is easy to explore on foot in a couple of hours.

Todos Santos has been an artist colony since the 1980s, and it shows. Wander into the galleries clustered along Calle Legaspi and Calle Topete to see local painters, sculptors and photographers. Highlights worth seeking out:

• Galeria de Todos Santos and the long-running artist studios near the plaza
• The Charles Stewart Gallery, in one of the town's oldest homes
• The town theatre (Teatro Marquez de Leon) and the historic Hotel Casa Tota district
• Independent boutiques selling Baja-made textiles, ceramics and jewelry

Hotel California: the legend and the truth

Yes, there is a Hotel California in Todos Santos, and yes, everyone asks. The honest answer: the hotel has no proven connection to the Eagles song of the same name, and the band has never confirmed any link. The current owners lean into the myth with a stylish bar, a good restaurant and a gift shop, and it is a fun stop for a drink or lunch even knowing the backstory is folklore. Treat it as a photogenic pit stop, not a pilgrimage, and you will enjoy it.

Surfing: Cerritos, San Pedrito and the Pacific breaks

The coastline south of town is a genuine surf destination. Two names dominate:

• Playa Cerritos (Cerritos Beach) - the most beginner-friendly break in the area, with a gentle sandy bottom, surf schools, board rentals and a couple of beach bars. It is also one of the few beaches here safe enough for casual swimming.
• San Pedrito - a more powerful, experienced-surfer wave a little further along the coast, best on a solid swell.
• La Pastora and other seasonal point breaks north of town for those chasing something less crowded.

Winter (roughly November through March) brings the most consistent northwest swells, while summer is smaller and warmer. If you are weighing surf against Cabo's better-known water activities, our roundup of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas puts it in context.

Pacific beaches: Las Palmas and Punta Lobos

The beaches around Todos Santos are wild and beautiful, but read the water carefully. Strong currents and shore break mean most of them are for walking, sunset-watching and photos rather than swimming.

• Playa Las Palmas (Playa Palm Beach) - a palm-backed cove reached by a short dirt road, great for a picnic and one of the more sheltered options.
• Punta Lobos - the working fishing beach where pangas launch through the surf each morning; show up around midday to watch the boats return and buy fish straight off the sand.
• Playa La Cachora and La Poza - long open stretches ideal for sunset strolls, near the freshwater lagoon that draws birdlife.

Always respect posted warnings and locals' advice about swimming here. When you want reliably calm, swimmable water, that is Cerritos, or back in Cabo on the Sea of Cortez side.

Farm-to-table dining

This is where Todos Santos quietly outshines much bigger towns. The surrounding valley grows organic produce, mangoes and herbs, and chefs build menus around it. You will find everything from open-air taco stands to refined tasting menus in restored courtyards. Come hungry and reserve ahead for the popular spots, especially in peak season. If you love a good meal, our guide to the best restaurants in Cabo San Lucas covers the dining scene an hour south.

Gray whale watching in winter

From roughly December through early April, gray whales migrate down the Pacific coast and are often visible from the Todos Santos shoreline, while humpbacks pass on the Cabo side. Serious whale watchers make the longer trip to the lagoons around Puerto Lopez Mateos and Magdalena Bay to the north, where you can get remarkably close in a panga. If your trip is centered on Cabo, it is usually easier to book a tour there - see our Cabo San Lucas whale watching guide for seasons and options, and browse the Los Cabos activities that include whale trips.

How to get to Todos Santos

Todos Santos sits on Highway 19, the coastal road connecting Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. From Cabo San Lucas the drive is roughly one hour (about 75 km / 47 miles) north, and it is one of the more scenic stretches in the region, with desert, ocean views and the Sierra de la Laguna in the distance.

• Rental car - the most flexible option; the highway is well-paved and easy to navigate, and it lets you stop at Cerritos on the way.
• Guided day tour from Cabo - the easiest hands-off choice. Baja Pass members get a 2-for-1 on the guided Todos Santos Tour, which handles transport and a walking visit of the town.
• Taxi or rideshare - available but pricey for a round trip; better suited to a one-way leg than a full day.

Most visitors treat it as a half- or full-day trip and return to Cabo the same evening. If you want the town to yourself, an overnight stay lets you catch the quiet early morning and a proper Pacific sunset.

Best time to visit

The sweet spot is November through April: warm, dry, comfortable days, the best surf swells and peak whale season. This is also when Todos Santos hosts its film and art festivals, so book accommodation early. May and October are pleasant shoulder months with thinner crowds. Summer (June to September) is hot and humid with a chance of tropical storms, though mango season and warm water have their own appeal. For a month-by-month breakdown of the wider region, see our guide to the best time to visit Cabo San Lucas.

The best day trip from Cabo

Between the galleries, the surf, the food and that Pacific light, Todos Santos earns its reputation as the best day trip out of Cabo. Pair it with the drive up Highway 19, a stop at Cerritos and lunch in the historic center and you have a full, rewarding day. If you are pacing a longer trip, our 3 days in Cabo San Lucas itinerary shows where a Todos Santos day fits in.

Baja Pass is coming soon to Todos Santos, but it is live in Los Cabos today. For $75 a year you unlock 2-for-1 at partner restaurants and activities - including the guided Todos Santos Tour - plus 50% off yachts and fishing. Run the numbers on our savings calculator, then join Baja Pass and start saving on your very next outing.