A Guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Todos Santos is an artsy, tranquil and colorful village on the Pacific coast of Mexico. If you’re planning a visit, this guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, will help you decide where to eat, sleep, shop and beach.
There is a feeling of magic about Todos Santos. Even though travelers have been visiting Todos Santos for years, there is something about it that feels undiscovered. I don’t want to call it “Mexico’s best kept secret” because there are so many people – including jetsetters, surfers and artists – who know and love Todos Santos.
Cute spots all over town 
A colorful jewelbox of a town
I’m not the only person who has felt the magic of Todos Santos. The village of Todos Santos was designated a “pueblo mágico” – a magical village – by the Secretary of Tourism of Mexico in 2006. That designation is reserved for towns in Mexico that are special in terms of things like their natural beauty, richness in culture, and cuisine.
A few years ago, a large property developer tried to expand into Todos Santos and establish it as a major wellness destination. Locals we met during our trip told us that many people in town rallied against this type of large-scale project. When we visited, the project hadn’t come to fruition. So for now, Todos Santos remains a sleepy and low key escape.
I’ve heard a few people call Todos Santos the “Tulum of the West Coast.” I think that’s a bit of an unfair comparison. Don’t get me wrong – I love Tulum. But Todos Santos has an altogether more free-spirited feeling.
The vibe of Todos Santos is bohemian, but it’s less contrived. The landscape in Todos Santos is also a lot wilder – giant saguaro cacti grow in abundance and stretches of the local beaches feel practically empty.
If this sounds like the kind of place you’re excited to visit, keep reading for my complete guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur.
Where is Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Todos Santos is a small coastal town in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Yes, it’s in Mexico and not California. 🙂 Todos Santos is on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula. It’s about a one hour drive from Cabo San Lucas.
When to Go
Todos Santos’s weather is at its best outside of the hot season. Consider visiting between October and May. Bring a sweater because the days can be hot, but it cools down at night.
How to Get There
We took a direct flight from NYC to Los Cabos. In Los Cabos, we rented a car and drove about 1 hour to Todos Santos.
I was initially a bit nervous about driving in Mexico. But driving Highway 19 – the paved road from Cabo to Todos Santos – was a breeze.
It was also easy to drive in Todos Santos . The town is relaxed and sleepy. Even the unpaved roads in Todos Santos were easy to navigate in our small rental car.
Where to Stay: Guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
This guide to Todos Santos, Baja, includes three properties that hosted us during our stay. Those properties are Villa Santa Cruz, La Bohemia and Gypsy Canyon. I was traveling with another blogger who had arranged those complimentary stays and I tagged along as her plus one. Of course, all opinions in this post are my own.
The other hotels mentioned in this guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, were recommended to us. Although, we didn’t have a chance to stay with them.
Villa Santa Cruz
Oh, where do I start with Villa Santa Cruz? I started missing this hotel about 5 minutes after we checked out! Villa Santa Cruz is about a 10 minute drive from downtown Todos Santos. It is the ultimate place to stay in Todos if you are looking for a luxurious small hotel experience. It is owned by Jessica and Matt Canepa, an American couple who have been living in Todos Santos for years. They are friendly and thoughtful hosts who are committed to providing a memorable exerpience for their guests.
Villa Santa Cruz is set on a wide stretch of quiet beachfront. The property is inspired by classic Mexican hacidendas, and has a beautiful atrium, glass staircase and fountain (complete with resident pet turtle).
We stayed in an ocean front room in the main villa which had a private balcony and massive bathroom with a clawfoot tub. If you need to get any work done during your trip (although hopefully you don’t!), Villa Santa Cruz had the best wifi we encountered during our trip. The wifi in the rest of Todos Santos was unreliable and slow.
Villa Santa Cruz recently expanded to include a handful of beachside bungalows, which I’m dying to come back to experience for myself.
La Bohemia Hotel Pequeno
La Bohemia is an 8-room boutique hotel in a quieter corner of downtown Todos Santos. La Bohemia has an upscale boho chic vibe and is super Instagrammable. The hotel is centered around a courtyard that has a bar – serving the best margaritas we had during our trip. It also has a beautiful little blue and white tiled outdoor pool.
The owners, Erin and Andy Wheelwright, fell in love with Todos Santos during a road trip in the area. They are a genuine part of the local community, and had no shortage of tips and recommendations for us during our stay.
The Pool at La Bohemia 
Colorful La Bohemia
If you have the chance to stay at La Bohemia, ask Andy and Erin to tell you about the hurricane they – and the hotel – survived shortly before the hotel’s launch!
Gypsy Canyon
Gypsy Canyon is a stylish glamping (aka glamorous camping) experience in the desert about a 10 minute drive from downtown Todos Santos. It’s owned by the same couple who own La Bohemia. It’s a great place to host a yoga retreat, an untraditional bachelorette party, or even an intimate outdoor wedding. You can read more about my experience staying at Gypsy Canyon here.
Hotel San Cristobal
We didn’t have a chance to stay here, but Hotel San Cristobal is an upscale 32-room design hotel about 15 minutes south of Todos Santos on a previously undeveloped beach.
Some locals we spoke with had some concerns about a hotel of this size opening up in such a tiny town.
As far as we could see during our visit, there didn’t seem to be a risk of the Hotel San Cristobal expanding into a mega-resort. But it’s hard to make that judgement if you don’t actually live in a place.
What to Do: Guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Hit the Beach
The beaches around Todos Santos are absolutely beautiful. They are a bit wild, with wide sand bars and crashing waves. The two beaches we visited were Las Palmas and Playa Tortugas. Neither of them have any facilities, so pack your own water, snacks and sunscreen!
Las Palmas Beach 
The beach at Villa Santa Cruz
Go Surfing
The surf breaks around Todos Santos – especially around Playa Cerritos – are what originally put this tiny town on the map for American expats and travelers. Mario Surf School can hook you up with lessons and rentals.
Shopping
Todos Santos has no shortage of little art shops and – sometimes pricey – boutiques.
Nomad Chic is a well-known (and expensive) boutique in town that has an artfully selected range of women’s wear, accessories and home goods.
La Sonrisa de la Muerte sells innovative screen printed art.
LoveLeigh Designs is a women’s boutique with a boho chic selection of jewelry, swimsuits and coverups.
La Sonrisa de la Muerte 
La Rosa
Where to Eat: Guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Todos Santos has a lot of great restaurants for being such a small town. Here are my favorites from our trip.
Jazamango (pronounced “haza-mango” – Avenida Benito Juarez No. 44 Tres Santos, Todos Santos 23030 Mexico) is an elevated farm to table Mexican restaurant that is a great dinner option. Run by renowned Mexican chef Javier Plascencia, it was one of the best meals of our trip. Once we found it. Our GPS got confused on the way there, and we got lost in an empty undeveloped parking lot. Todos Santos is still tiny enough that someones Google Maps doesn’t properly register the location. Ask your hotel for directions to be safe.
Landis (Juarez Street Topete & Hidalgo, Todos Santos 23300 Mexico) is an upscale Mexican restaurant in town that has an expansive menu and is a great choice for dinner.
Taller 17 Centenario #17 entre Hidalgo y, Av. Gral. Topete, Centro, 23300 Todos Santos, Mexico) is a tiny, charming coffee shop in the center of town with delicious baked goods.
Caffe Todos Santos (Calle Centenario 33, Todos Santos 87501 Mexico) is a bakery and cafe that is perfect for grabbing lunch in town. We also saw them making handmade pasta during our visit although we didn’t have a chance to sample it.
La Esquina is a popular spot for sandwiches, salads, smoothies and juices. It’s large open air space has a great community vibe.
El Pastorcito (Heroico Colegio Militar 85, Centro, Todos Santos, Mexico) is a local taco joint that has the biggest selection of salsas we tasted during our trip. The chairs are plastic, the plates are disposable and the staff we met didn’t really speak any English. You can expect a delicious and good value meal here.
If had one more day, we would have gone to Hierbabuena, a farm to table restaurant in the nearby town of Pescadero that everyone we met raved about.
I hope this guide to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, has you excited to visit this magical town. It’s a place I hope to have the chance to visit again (and again). If you’re planning to visit Cabo during your time in Baja California Sur, you can read about my experience staying in a luxury treehouse hotel here.
Have you been to any of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos? Let me know in the comments!
xx
Vicki
Great write up! Thanks for the kind words – we loved hosting you!
Staying with you was a magical experience! I hope to come back to Todos Santos again one day!!
Wow Vicki! This looks absolutely beautiful! I love the idea of glamping too!
It’s such a cute town I’m dying to go back!!
I had never heard of Todos Santos. It looks adorable. Your destination info is great and the pics are awesome. Thanks for sharing!
xx Jenifer
Thanks so much Jenifer! I love this town and am already dying to go back. It’s a magical place!
Girl, yes. This post is giving me life! I literally would never have any interest in this area if I didn’t read this post, now I’m feverishly looking up the area. Villa Santa Cruz looks amazing…I need to get there! Would you happen to know if this is an ok place to travel with a child? We’re having a baby in May, so I always need to consider that as well! AMAZING POST! (FTB)
Villa Santa Cruz is totally amazing! I think this destination is totally fine with kids – but as a disclaimer I don’t have children. The owners of Villa Santa Cruz have kids and same with the owners of La Bohemia. And they both seem to love raising their kids in Todos Santos because it’s so chilled out and quiet. If you were thinking about staying at either, I’m sure they could give you a sense of what it’s like to bring kids down there. Hope that helps!!
Hi Vicki, very nice blog, photos and information about restaurants, hotels, and shopping. What I want to know is WHAT BRAND are your fancy t’ennuies that look almost like espadrilles? I really like them, and would like to purchase a pair before visiting TS, BCSM. Thanks much!
Hey Jesse! They are by a brand called Viscata. They’re comfortable and stylish – I definitely love mine. Have a great trip!