Explore The Area

Our tips for exploring Todos Santos and beyond!

Where to Eat
Art Galleries
Shopping
Activities and Adventures
Beyond Todos Santos

Breakfast & Lunch

Taller 17 Craft Coffee, $$
If you’re just looking for great coffee and a homemade pastry, this modern coffee spot is not to miss.

La Esquina Cafe Breakfast, Lunch, Fresh Juices, $$
One of the most popular breakfast and lunch cafés in town. Homemade breads, fresh juices, and homestyle cooking.

Baja Beans Coffee Roaster, Mexican Breakfast, Sandwiches & Salads, $$
Just south from Todos Santos in Pescadero, Baja Beans is a local coffee roaster and cafe in a relaxing outdoor setting. Excellent coffee, a delicious breakfast, and lots of great people-watching.

Caffe Todos Santos Mexican Breakfast, Pastas, Salads, $$
Charming cafe with an cozy outdoor patio in the center of town. This is an ideal spot to unwind over coffee and a nice slow breakfast or lunch. Closed on Monday. Hot Tip: Try the cinnamon roll — but, be warned: it's huge.

Dinner

Café Santa Fe Italian, $$$
A Todos Santos institution established in 1990, with a reputation for some of the best Italian food outside Italy. Good selection of wines, lovely setting. A meal here is a must.

Jazamango Mexican/California Cuisine, Vegetarian-Friendly, $$$
Renowned Mexican chef Javier Plascencia has recently opened this hotspot on the edge of downtown Todos Santos. This open-air farm-to-table restaurant features organic produce from the garden on the property. Fresh salads, seafood, and meat dishes with a seasonal menu. Mexican flavors meet California Cuisine.

La Casita Tapas & Wine Bar Tapas, Seafood, Sushi, $$
Delightful menu of fresh local produce, fish, meats and tapas with an expansive back patio. They also have an excellent Sushi menu. Fun, casual, decent wine list. Hot Tip: Order coconut shrimp and gazpacho salad.

Hierbabuena Farm-to-Table, Pizza, Vegetarian-Friendly, $$$
Set within a lush vegetable garden down a dirt road in Pescadero, Hierbabuena is a lovely spot for a delicious farm-to-table dinner. The menu features excellent salads based on garden's daily bounty, wood-fired pizzas and meats, and a delicious eggplant parmesan. This is our favorite spot in the area!

La Copa Cocina at The Todos Santos Inn Seafood, Fusion, $$$
Dine at the historic Todos Santos Inn with a menu that showcases the freshest fish, sushi, craft tacos, lobster, and filet mignon. Enjoy a beautiful setting either inside the dining room or with a fire pit on the outdoor patio. Closed Wednesdays.

Landi’s Restaurant Mexican, $$
Delectable home-style Mexican cuisine in the laidback, elegant restaurant just off the town square. Enjoy lovely views out over the palm oasis, and if you time it right you can catch a sunset on the horizon.

Tacos and a beer

Miguel’s Mexican, $
Located under a thatched roof on a busy corner, Miguel's is practically a Todos Santos institution. The chile rellenos might be among the best you've ever had.

Tacos y Mariscos El Sinaloense Mexican, $
This blue-walled seafood joint features ridiculously delicious ceviche, tasty fish tacos, and savory micheledas. Be sure to try their signature sauce — an unami-rich combination of soy, jalapeño, garlic, and honey.

Restaurant Bar Bahia Mexican, $
A super casual corner spot in Todos Santos with awesome fish tacos and ceviche. Cash only.

Treats

Paletería La Paloma Ice Cream Shop, $
Wonderful locally-made ice cream and juice bars!

Galleria Logan
Gabo Art Gallery
Galería de Todos Santos
Brilanti Fine Art & Jewelry
La Sonrisa De La Muerte

Éthnica
A tiny boutique in downtown Todos Santos with a wonderful selection of embroidered Mexican caftans and blouses.

Nomad Chic
An evolving collection of apparel, jewelry, furniture & home accessories from around the globe. Specializing in designers you won't find in stores.

Manos Mexicanas
Diverse selection of art and crafts from local artisans, from paintings to figurines to beautiful Mexicana inspired jewelry. Lovely service and charming owners as well.

The Whale’s House
Exquisite Mexican jewelry made by local artisans.

Mixtica
This magical boutique is a treasure-trove of antique jewelry, gorgeous textiles, vintage clothing, and more. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet Euva, the eccentric and stylish store owner.

Whale Watching
Starting each November, thousands of gray and humpback whales make the 5,000 mile trip from their feeding grounds in Alaska to the shallow protected bays of Mexico’s Baja peninsula. It’s the longest mammal migration in the world. Near the beaches of Todos Santos, whales can often be spotted grooming themselves — scraping along the steep sandy bottoms to clean barnacles off their tough skin. It’s also common to see them breach or “spy-hop” a short distance from the shore. You can look for the whales from Playa La Cachora, or book a whale watching boat tour.

Go Surfing!
Whether you’re an avid surfer or have just always wanted to try, nearby Cerritos Beach is a great place to get on a surfboard! We recommend Mario Surf School for individual or group lessons — or excursions for the more experienced surfer. Mario and his crew also provide rentals.

Baby Sea Turtles
Todos Santos is home to Tortugueros Las Playitas, a Sea Turtle conservation project. They dedicate themselves to incubating the eggs, running nightly patrols to gather and protect the eggs, and educating all on sea turtle restoration. December marks the beginning of sea turtle hatchling release season. Most days at sunset, anyone who wants to can come watch the young sea turtles take their first venture out into the ocean. The releases are free and open to the public (please leave a donation to help the effort). Find more info here. You can also watch a video of a hatchling release here.

Take a Yoga Class
The beautiful yoga studio, Cuatro Vientos, has several weekly yoga classes to suit your style and experience level. Drop-in pricing is $150 pesos (appox. $8 USD) per class.

Picnic at Playa Las Palmas
Take an unmarked dirt road through the desert, and suddenly you’ll be in a forest of palms that leads to a secluded beach surrounded by steep cliffs. The ocean is often rough, so not the best for swimming — but the beach is a magical spot. You might even spot some wild horses. We don’t advise taking the road with smaller cars, SUVs or vans are best. Bring water (and beers). Here's a guide to finding the beach along with a map. We also suggest reading tips from other travelers.

Horseback Riding, Cliff Hikes, Cooking Classes, and much more…
If you’d rather have someone else lead the way, check out Todos Santos Eco Adventures who offer a variety of activities in the area, from horseback riding to hiking to historical tours.

For those looking to extend their trip before or after our wedding, here are some of our recommendations for ways to explore Baja California Sur!

La Paz Area / Sea of Cortez

Discover the natural wonders of La Paz and the Sea of Cortez, one of the riches places in the world for marine life.

What to Do

Isla Espíritu Santo
Deserted white sand beaches, red cliffs studded with cacti, and jade-colored water so impossibly clear it doesn't quite seem real: Of all the magical places in Mexico's Baja California Sur, Isla Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez might be the most enchanting. The island is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the best marine life viewing destinations in the world. Whales, dolphins, whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and plenty of beautiful tropical fish call the surrounding waters home, while a terrific range of bird species including Blue-footed Boobies, Reddish Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Yellow-footed Gulls frequent the island’s skies and shores. The island itself is stunning, with magnificent towering cliffs, spectacular sandy bays, amazing lava rock formations, and rock art left by the now-extinct Guaycura and Pericu Indians. It’s a remarkable place to explore.

• Swim with Whale Sharks & Sea Lions
  For a truly unforgettable experience, book a boat tour and get the chance to swim with whale sharks and sea lions. Great options for tours:

  • Baja Expeditions

  • Mar Y Adventures

  • Baja Adventure Co.

  • TS Eco Adventures

• “Glamp” on the Island
  Spend a day or two exploring the island by glamping at Camp Cecil (“glamping” = glamorous camping). You’ll be able to choose from kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, bird watching, and hikes to see cave art, hidden lagoons, and deserted beaches. Or just take it easy reading, napping, swimming, and stargazing. An on-site chef makes wonderful meals for you every day, including a daily happy hour.

Playa Balandra
Playa Balandra is one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. Think turquoise waters, white sands and a really shallow sandbar that keeps on going & going — so you can wade out as far as you want. It's free to visit and while there are some palapas and vendors onsite, don't expect much infrastructure. We recommend getting there earlier in the day or to watch sunset as it can get crowded, especially on weekends.

Where to Stay

Rancho Las Cruces
Historic Rancho Las Cruces is an exclusive Baja seaside beach resort located on a natural sanctuary of more than 10,000 acres and 7 miles of private pristine coastline. Its hotel is situated along the white sandy beaches of the Sea of Cortez.

El Ángel Azul
In downtown La Paz, you’ll find this hacienda-style hotel just 10 minutes walk from the La Paz seafront. Rooms face a flower and cacti-filled courtyard with parakeets, and there’s a great English-language bookstore next door.

Hotel Catedral
This modern, budget-friendly hotel is located in a quiet but convenient nook of history downtown La Paz. Local coffee shops, restaurants, art, the beach, and malecón promenade are a short walk away. A rooftop bar and pool overlook the neighboring cathedral.

Rancho Cacachilas
For a different vantage point on the area, stay at this conservation-focused, solar-powered ranch located in the spectacular Sierra Cacachilas mountains overlooking the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur. Experience the rugged beauty of our dryland forests and mountains, farm-to-table culinary delights and historic mining heritage, along with outstanding day and multi-day tours. It’s an eco-friendly vacation you’ll never forget!

Los Cabos Area

Cabo San Lucas, and the greater Los Cabos area, is one of the most well-known tourist spots in Mexico with an endless number of gorgeous resorts & hotels.

What to Do

The main activity in Los Cabos is relaxation. Cabo really is a resort town first and foremost. There are great options for fishing and for eating out, but we recommend coordinating most of your activities through your hotel once you book.

For a great day trip, Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is a short drive away and is an incredibly place to go snorkeling. Book a snorkeling tour with Cabo Pulmo Divers.

Where to Stay

Esperanza, Palmilla, and the Resort at Pedregal are some of great luxury options.

For those looking for something a bit younger/trendier, we recommend The Cape, Viceroy, or El Ganzo.

If you feel like venturing beyond the beach resorts, you might like Acre, a hotel that’s more like a treehouse oasis.

Note: Los Cabos has become quite expensive in the last 5 years, so keep that in mind and look out for deals.