Updated by Taylor Hardy: March 20, 2019
About 45 minutes north of the hustle and bustle of Los Cabos, you'll find a hidden gem that’s overflowing with pristine beaches and a quaint, eclectic vibe. This magical place? Todos Santos: an unspoiled, art-centric utopia on the Mexican Riviera. We're about to take you through a day you'll definitely want (need) to experience.
9:00 a.m. - Morning in Todos Santos
One of the best ways to get your bearings in a new beach town is to grab a coffee, select a beach and head in that direction.
Baja Beans Coffee (Photo By: @sweetsassymocassie)Baja Beans and Cafeflix are must-try spots for your morning pick-me-up before heading to the surf. The best beaches to check out in Todos Santos are Playa Los Cerritos, Playa San Pedro/Las Palmas, Playa Pescadero, Punta Lobos, Old Port/Los Algodones. During your beach stroll, you can figure out what, if any, excursions you want to do in the afternoon.
Next, head downtown to check out some of the unique buildings, shop around and get a feel for the place.
11:00 a.m. - Near-noon walkabout in downtown
Todos Santos is a laid-back village that is a refuge for artists and a mecca for surfers with a few unique shops sprinkled on top. Sophisticated art galleries and funky boutiques are nestled amidst colorful colonial buildings adorned with art and flanked by flora, which creates a new/old world vibe. There are even nooks, sidewalk benches and intimate cafes, where you can hide away for a bit.
Todos Santos has the vibe of an eclectic art town and visually-appealing works can be found all over town!
While Todos Santos is remote, you’ll be happy to know that it has all the modern conveniences that travelers require like Wi-Fi, ATMs, banks and hospitals, but it’s still not a place that’s overrun with tourists.
While you're in town, other locales you'll definitely want to check out are the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (church), Teatro Marquez de Leon (theater) and the Centro Cultural Nestor Agundez Martinez (cultural center), where you can see the famous murals that were painted in 1933, a couple of decades after the Mexican Revolution. They depict Baja's history, the original Indian inhabitants, a ship of the Conquistadors and the Franciscan monks of the missionary period.
12:30 p.m. - Lunching in Todos Santos
Your first lunch stop should be Tequila's Sunrise to try out their award-winning margaritas. But don't miss the food: it's off-the-charts amazing. Try the chicken quesadillas and tortilla soup.
You can't go wrong with Cafe Todos Santos either - it's got a lovely patio and the chilaquiles are awesome. Other great lunch spots to try are Carnitas Barajas where the pork tacos rock and La Casita Tapas and Wine Bar, where you can get sushi, steak and fresh seafood. The top of our list, though? Cafe Santa Fe! It's a bit pricey, but the Italian fare is SO worth it.
2:00 p.m. - An outdoorsy afternoon in Todos Santos
There's an eclectic menu of activities to do here in paradise, including surfing. If you want to take lessons or brush up, the top place to go is Justin Quirk’s Surf School.
Other options for your afternoon include fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. You can find yoga and aerobic classes, along with Aikido, a Japanese form of self-defense and Tai Chi, a Chinese internal martial art. There are even cooking seminars, book groups and West African drumming. If you're here in December, you can watch whales migrate along the coastline of these exquisite beaches.
6:00 p.m. Cocktails, dinner and sunset gazing
Using fresh, local ingredients and organic produce, the restaurants in Todos Santos create taste bud-slaying cuisine. For happy hour and watching the incredible sunsets, along with spectacular food, El Faro Beach Club and Spa are where you'll want to plant yourself. Start with the guac and a margarita, take in the view, then try the sea bass for your main course.
Jazamango Farms (Photo By: @benjakye)Another spot that is uniquely Todos, is Jazamango. At the helm is renowned Mexican chef Javier Plascencia. He has created a knock-out culinary experience inspired by his love for Baja.
The epitome of farm-to-table cuisine, the cuisine at Jazamango is based on a mixture of local products and organic ingredients to create dishes that please and satisfy the senses.
For more casual fare, La Garra is a sports bar with live music. In the same vein, at Cerritos Beach Club and Surf, you can kick back with a refreshing margarita and catch some jazz.
Miguel's, El Mirador (great view of the ocean) and the Garden Restaurant (they have an organic garden) all have superb menus and out-of-sight food. Finally, if you want to blend art viewing with dining, you'll love Michael's at the Gallery, a restaurant in the back of an art gallery.
9:00 p.m. Beachin' Bars
If you're not ready to call it a night, then there are a few evening spots you'll want to check out. First up is The Distillery. It's the first artisan distillery in the Baja Sur region. Don't miss the Baja Midnight vodka, chocolate moonshine and their house blends of tequila. While you're there, you can also learn about how alcohol is fermented, distilled and bottled. You can also enjoy traditional and local wines.
Another great place is The Desert Moon Riptide Bar. If you're into vino, inside the Hotel California, which is not the one the Eagles sing about, is the Santo Vino Bistro and Wine Bar. For a place that will satisfy everyone, Fonda El Zaguan has it all: everything from an extensive wine list and tequilas to fresh fruit cocktails and smoothies.
And there you have it. The perfect day trip to Todos Santos. When You visit Cabo, make sure to leave enough time for you to explore this gem--it'll be the cherry on top of the perfect vacay in Mexican paradise. If this haven isn't convincing enough to book your trip to Cabo ASAP then maybe these other excellent reasons to visit will!
