Baja California Sur Itinerary: How to Spend the Ultimate Week in Paradise

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From picturesque little towns to jaw-dropping beaches to some of the best cuisine in the country, Baja California Sur has it all! And this Baja California Sur itinerary will ensure you get a good taste of this underrated state.

Baja California Sur is one of Mexico’s most beautiful and underrated regions. Having grown up most of my life in the neighboring Baja California Norte, I never even knew how much I was missing—until recently.

After a one-week Baja Sur trip, I ended up feeling like a bit of a traitor for falling so in love with the Southern neighbor.

I was captivated by the charm of Todos Santos, the unique beauty of Balandra Beach, the artistic San Jose del Cabo, and the cotton candy skies over the ocean in Cabo San Lucas.

While Baja has plenty to explore, this Baja California Sur itinerary will help you plan your time to visit the main spots, and efficiently pack your trip with adventures and incredible food!

Woman infront of a colorful colonial house and massive cacti in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Colorful colonial houses in charming Todos Santos

Baja California Sur Itinerary: How To Spend The Ultimate Week In Paradise

Table of Contents

Flying to Baja California Sur

When planning a Baja California Sur itinerary, the first thing you need to know is your arrival and departure point.

There are two great options for flying into Baja California Sur:

  • La Paz International Airport: Offering a few direct flights from USA cities like Dallas, Phoenix, and LA.
  • Los Cabos International Airport: This airport is better connected with multiple direct flights from USA cities like San Diego, Seattle, LA, San Francisco, and more.

Booking a round trip to Los Cabos International Airport is generally the easier option due to the various direct routes they offer, and it can work very smoothly if you distribute your days across the peninsula smartly.

As we have in this Baja California Sur itinerary.

• Moving around Baja California Sur

🚗 The easiest way to spend one week exploring beautiful Baja California Sur is by renting a car and having the independence to move around freely according to your itinerary.

While it is possible to move around the state using buses, we will focus on a car version for this one-week Baja California Sur itinerary.

Overview Of A One-Week Baja California Sur Itinerary

Day 1: Arriving in Cabo San Lucas

Check-in in Cabo San Lucas

No matter how far you are traveling, the first day of arriving at a destination, in my opinion, is for settling in.

You need to wait for check-in time anyway, so I find it hard to plan any adventure right away. And when visiting Cabo you will probably have a nice and relaxing accommodation, so let’s make the most of it on our first day in Baja California Sur.

So spend the first day settling in, and enjoying, whether that is the pool, the beach, or a scenic terrace at your accommodation of choice.

Lunch or dinner at Mariscos El Toro Güero

To start things off on the right foot, for your first meal in Baja California Sur, you have to go for seafood, and there’s no better place than the locally loved Mariscos el Toro Güero.

Mariscos el Toro Güero is an authentic seafood joint serving incredible dishes at reasonable prices—contrasting to lots of the overpriced restaurants in the city.

Try the refreshing shrimp ceviche—my favorite one I had during the trip—and the flavorful marlin quesadillas, accompanied with a tasty michelada, of course.

Day 2: Explore Cabo San Lucas, seafood, and beach time

Breakfast at Casa Valentina

For your first full day in Cabo San Lucas head over to Casa Valentina for a delicious and authentic Mexican breakfast.

Casa Valentina is a beautiful restaurant with a spacious patio and incredible service.

The menu consists of Mexican classics, chilaquiles, scrambled eggs with nopal, and my favorite huevos divorciados, sunny-side-up eggs covered in red and green salsa—the perfect way to fuel up for the day ahead.

Explore Cabo San Lucas

While Cabo San Lucas is mostly known for its nightlife, there are still things to see during the daytime, like the colorful “The Place At Cabo”.

“The Place At Cabo” is a colorful pedestrian walkway lined with a local art exhibition and covered in brightly colored papel picado, making it one of the cutest corners in the city.

From here you can make your way to the Cabo San Lucas Marina, to take in the views of the famous Cabos rocks in the distance.

While walking along the marina make sure to look down to admire the various fish swimming close to shore—I have never seen that many different ones.

Make sure to visit the vibrant market close to the marina, where you can find everything from handmade bags to beautiful textiles, handmade jewelry, and more.

Coffee break at Lands End Coffee Roaster

If all that walking is tiring you out, maybe it’s time for a little coffee break.

Conveniently close to the marina area is Lands End Coffee Roaster—one of the best coffee shops in Cabo San Lucas.

If visiting during the summer heat as we did, this is also a great spot to find refuge from the sun and cool down with a tasty iced latte.

Lunch at Mariscos el Torito

The main theme of a Baja California Sur itinerary has to be beautiful beaches and incredible seafood—I don’t make the rules, merely follow them.

So for lunch on your second day in Cabo San Lucas, let’s try another popular seafood stop, Mariscos el Torito.

Mariscos El Torito is another local gem serving all the essential seafood dishes like ceviche, shrimp cocktails, marlin quesadillas, battered fish tacos, oysters, and more.

Afternoon at the stunning Santa Maria Beach

After a late lunch, it’s time to do what you came to Cabo to do, lay by a beautiful beach.

(I try to avoid peak sun hours that’s why I put beach time in the afternoon.)

Santa Maria Beach is only a short 10-minute drive out of Cabo San Lucas, but its unmatched beauty and calmness make this small trip out of the city absolutely worth it.

Unlike the bustling Medano Beach, Santa Maria offers a serene and stunning haven just outside Cabo’s lively party scene.

The perfect place to peacefully enjoy a breathtaking sunset to end your second day in Baja California Sur.

Day 3: Exploring Charming Todos Santos

Breakfast in Cabo San Lucas at Doña Ines

For your third day in Baja California Sur, it’s time to hit the road, but not before a hearty breakfast at Doña Ines in Cabo San Lucas.

Doña Ines is a slightly modern take on Mexican breakfast with an aesthetic approach to their plating, but the flavors are fully authentic.

Try either one of the chilaquiles, rojos, or verdes, they are both delicious, as well as the flavorful huevos rancheros.

After breakfast, it’s time to get in the car and head to Baja California Sur’s hidden gem, the enchanting Todos Santos, where we will spend one night.

Explore charming Todos Santos

An hour’s drive away from Cabo San Lucas you will find Todos Santos, a picturesque little town with streets lined with beautiful colonial architecture, colorful papel picado dangling from lamp posts, and true Mexican small-town charm.

People are friendly and warm, with the town feeling like one big neighborhood where everyone knows everyone.

This sleepy town quickly became one of my favorite stops on our trip and a spot I can’t wait to go back to.

While often overlooked by travelers heading to the flashier Cabos, I believe any Baja California Sur itinerary would be incomplete without a visit to the charming Todos Santos.

Woman walking through a colorful street in Todos Santos covered in papel picado
How cute is Av. Legaspy in Todos Santos?!

⭐️ Things to do in Todos Santos:

  • Visit Plaza Centro Todos Santos, the main square
  • Browse the alleys of Cielito Lindo Market
  • Wander through the colorful Av. Legaspy street
  • Admire the art sculptures and exhibitions in the town center
  • Shop the local independent boutiques

Lunch at Fish Taco Santo Chilote

For lunch make your way to the popular Fish Taco Santo Chilote in Todos Santos, a casual seafood joint loved by locals and visitors alike.

Fish Taco Santo Chilote serves a variety of incredible seafood tacos, with the star of the show being their battered fish and shrimp tacos—the latter is my favorite, they are so good!

Make sure to order them in the flour tortilla for the ultimate Baja Sur meal.

Sunset at Punta Lobos Beach

To get your fill of beach time during your Baja California Sur itinerary you can drive to Punta Lobos Beach to spend the rest of the day by the ocean.

Punta Lobos is a popular beach for surfing, fishing, and swimming—but not ideal for beginners, as the waves can be a bit strong—and the perfect spot to catch a beautiful sunset.

So pack your beach blanket and some snacks to lounge on the sand until the sun goes down on another beautiful day exploring Baja Sur!

Dinner at Quesadillas Muñe

Once you are back in Todos Santos and are feeling snacky before heading to bed, stop at Quesadillas Muñe.

Quesadillas Muñe is a casual little restaurant serving some of the best quesadillas I have ever had in my life—and I’m Mexican, I’ve had plenty—with ridiculously delicious blue corn tortillas. Make sure to try the one with tinga de Pollo.

Definitely one of the best restaurants in Todos Santos, and a meal you don’t want to skip when visiting this charming town!

Day 4: Morning in Todos Santos, and drive to La Paz

Taller 17 for breakfast and a stroll

Wake up in Todos Santos and head to Taller 17 for a quick breakfast of coffee and a delicious pastry, like their tasty cinnamon rolls.

After breakfast, take the morning to do another quick round through the picturesque Todos Santos.

Maybe stop at other shops you didn’t see the first day, like the lovely Hilo Rojo, a boutique shop carrying only made-in-Mexico brands, and Corazon Nativo Apothecary, a local wellness brand with products made in Todos Santos.

Optional early lunch at Fish Taco Santo Chilote

You might want to get a little snack for good measure before driving to La Paz, and might as well make it another delicious taco from Santo Chilote.

They are just that good! We couldn’t leave without having some more.

If you are not hungry yet, you can also take them to go as a road trip snack. So very Baja Sur of you!

Drive to La Paz and city exploration

And then it’s time to drive to La Paz, which is just a little bit over an hour away, depending on traffic entering the city.

Most activities here start early in the day, so for your first day arriving in La Paz, check in, drop your things off, and then you can use the afternoon to explore this underrated city before heading out for adventures the next day.

Woman standing in the middle of a massive La Paz sign on a boardwalk

🐟 Things to do in La Paz:

  • Visit the La Paz Malecon, the seaside boardwalk
  • Admire the art sculptures on the Malecon
  • Take a picture with the La Paz sign
  • Visit La Paz Cathedral
  • Spot the beautiful street art
  • Witness an incredible La Paz sunset

Dinner at Taqueria Los Prietos

To finish off a day of exploring the cutest town in Baja Sur, and then the state capital, head over to Taqueria los Prietos for dinner.

Taqueria los Prietos is a casual roadside taco spot with a modern take on a traditional taqueria, with eye-catching branding, while maintaining authentic flavors.

Go for the delicious tacos al pastor on a flour tortilla, and an agua de jamaica for the ultimate dinner in Baja Sur.

Day 5: Visiting Mexico’s most beautiful beach, Balandra Beach

Balandra Beach morning time slot

One of the best things to do in La Paz is to plan a visit to the stunning Balandra Beach, known as one of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches.

Balandra Beach is known for its crystal clear and shallow water, and untouched nature, making it a gem in a world of overcrowded beaches.

It has been able to stay this pristine paradise due to its federal protection status, which controls access to the beach, by dividing visitors into two time slots.

Time slots for visiting Balandra Beach:

  • ⏰ Morning time slot from 8:00-12:00
  • ⏰ Afternoon time slot from 13:00-16:00

Each time slot allows 450 people in, and it is recommended to arrive 45 minutes to an hour earlier than the opening time to guarantee access to the beach, and maybe even one of the shaded palapas.

woman in the water at the crystal-clear balandra beach in Baja California Sur
Loving life, seconds before I got stung by a tiny stringy jelly fish🥲

If you want to do the first slot, as we did, you will want to prepare the day before and buy some snacks, drinks, and a little cooler bag, if needed, as there are no vendors allowed inside the beach.

Even though all the logistics around it can be off-putting, visiting Balandra Beach is not that complicated and is a must when in La Paz, BCS.

🏝️ Things to do in Balandra Beach:

  • Lounge around and enjoy the view
  • Hike to the viewpoint
  • Snorkel

‼️ Beware of stingrays and jellyfish: To avoid being stung by a stingray, drag your feet when in the ocean, and don’t step. If stung by jellyfish, the pain normally eases after 15 minutes, if you get a strong reaction contact the Balandra Beach volunteers walking around with a vest on.

Afternoon at Tecolote Beach

After your morning slot at the beautiful Balandra beach, head over to the neighboring Tecolote Beach to keep enjoying a full beach day.

Here you will find various casual beach restaurants, public bathrooms, and small shops where you can get more water and snacks.

Once you are done enjoying the beach day, it’s time to drive back to La Paz City.

Dinner at Mariscos el Toro Güero

After a shower to wash off all that sand, you can head out on a little sunset stroll along the Malecon, and then make your way to dinner at Mariscos El Toro Güero.

This spot was recommended to me by a family member living in La Paz for many years now, as the main local spot for incredible seafood.

And yes, this is also the same one in Cabo San Lucas, and both locations are great!

Day 6 Daz trip to Isla Espiritu Santo, and drive back to Cabo San Lucas

⚠️Driving at night: If you want to avoid driving at night—understandably—you could switch yesterday’s plan with today’s.

The reason we did this way was to be able to leave our luggage with the tour operator after check out at our accommodation, but by doing this you might have to drive a little bit at night. If you are not comfortable with this, you can do Balandra today and start your drive to Cabo San Lucas earlier, and use a luggage storage solution, like Stasher.

Day trip to the stunning Isla Espiritu Santo

An unmissable thing to do during your Baja California Sur itinerary is a day trip to the stunning Isla Espiritu Santo, something I believe every single person needs to do at least once in their lifetime.

You can only visit Isla Espiritu Santo by boat and with a tour operator, for this, you will need to book your adventure in advance.

The boat ride to Isla Espiritu Santo is an experience in itself, with dolphins swimming next to the boat, views of golden rocks with cacti growing on them next to vibrantly blue water, and a wide variety of wildlife viewing.

woman standing on a remote beach in Isla Espiritu Santo in Baja California Sur

The highlight of the trip to Isla Espiritu Santo is the chance to snorkel with playful sea lions, and a stop at a remote and pristine beach on the island.

We visited during the low season and booked our tour in person with a new tour agency by the Malecon, Diamante Tours, and were blown away by the quality of it. The guide was friendly, funny, and informative, and the tour food was amazing—freshly made ceviche.

I couldn’t recommend them more, but sadly they don’t have online bookings.

If you’d rather plan in advance, which makes a lot of sense, especially if visiting during the high season, this is another incredible-looking and highly-reviewed tour to Isla Espiritu Santo that includes all the important spots.

Drive back to Cabo San Lucas

After that, hopefully life-changing, trip to the beautiful Isla Espiritu Santo, it’s time to head back to base in Cabo San Lucas.

If driving at night, be very careful as sometimes animals are feeding very close to the road, or crossing it.

And be prepared with some local cash, as you will need it for toll roads.

Dinner from Taqueria El Gran Pastor

You will probably be super tired after that full day of adventure and then the drive to Cabo San Lucas, so to keep things simple, head over to Taqueria El Gran pastor for some flavorful tacos to go.

What better way to finish a day in Baja Sur than enjoying some tacos al pastor on your terrace with a beer in hand in the warm Cabo San Lucas?

Day 7: Cabo San Lucas classics, and a day trip to San Jose del Cabo

Breakfast at Doce cuarenta

For your last full day of adventures in Baja California Sur, head over to Doce Cuarenta to fuel up before the day ahead.

Doce Cuarenta is a small Baja Sur coffee company with a few locations spread in the state.

Here you can find some light breakfast and lunch options and a tasty cup of coffee. Try the molletes!

Visit Medano Beach: Cabo San Lucas’ main beach

I wouldn’t necessarily want to spend the day at Medano Beach, but since we are in Cabo it is worth checking it off your list.

So let’s stop by Medano Beach where you will find true Cabo vibes, with overpriced waterfront beach bars, and vendors at every turn.

The beach is beautiful though, the water is vibrantly turquoise and the view of the Los Cabos rocks is stunning, just not the most peaceful beach to hang out.

Boat trip to see the Los Cabos arch

And we are not hanging out at Medano for long, since next on your itinerary is a boat tour to see the iconic Los Cabos arch and the impressive rocks up close.

An unmissable item in your Baja California Sur itinerary!

Most boat tours will also include a stop at one of the remote beaches near the rocks, either Lovers or Divorce Beach.

And there are different variations of how to see the Los Cabos Arch:

Day trip to picturesque San Jose del Cabo

If you manage to squeeze all that in, early on in the day, then you still have the whole afternoon to explore the underrated—and my favorite—Cabo, the picturesque San Jose del Cabo.

Only a short 30-minute drive away from Cabo San Lucas, a visit to San Jose del Cabo is a must in any Baja California Sur itinerary.

While the similar names might make things confusing, once you look at the differences between Cabo San Lucas vs. San Jose del Cabo, is easy to see how unique and distinctive both locations are.

San Jose del Cabo is a smaller more authentic town, with colorful colonial architecture, beautiful decorated streets, a more local vibe, and a thriving artistic community.

And luckily, is small enough that you can walk all around it and its colorful streets in one afternoon.

Coffee at Cochimi

After admiring San Jose del Cabo’s charming streets and colorful houses, it’s time for a coffee break at Cafeteria Cochimi.

Located close to the gallery district, Cafteria Cochimi is the perfect pit stop to fuel up on a tasty affogato before continuing to explore the many independent shops and art galleries in the area.

Late lunch at El Chino Seafood

To continue the count of delicious meals in Baja California Sur head over to El Chino Seafood, for yet again, more incredible seafood.

I don’t know about you, but if I’m in Baja Sur I’m eating all the seafood that I possibly can—and the tacos here are worth it!

You know the drill, shrimp battered tacos, and a big agua de jamaica. There are other seafood options on the menu if you want to try something new.

Drive back to Cabo San Lucas

After that, it’s time to say adios to beautiful San Jose del Cabo and head back to your base in Cabo San Lucas to get ready to fly home the next day.

Travel Tips for Baja California Sur

  • Best time to visit: During the winter months, when the weather is nice and mild, and you can do unique activities like grey whale watching and swimming with whale sharks.
  • How to get around: The easiest way to get around is by renting a car for the whole trip. If you would want to do it by bus, Autobuses Aguila is one of the best companies in the region.
  • Driving in Baja California Sur: When renting a car make sure to pay for full insurance protection, some roads are a bit bumpy and with animals near the roads, better be safe than sorry!
  • Budgeting tips: Cabo San Lucas will be the most expensive spot to visit, with prices in Todos Santos and La Paz remaining more affordable.
  • Packing List Suggestions: Make sure to pack anti-nausea sea bands and Dramamine, if that’s something you struggle with while on the water. They might also come in handy during bumpy car rides. Don’t forget all your beach essentials. Water shoes could also come in handy when visiting Balandra Beach.

Final thoughts on a one-week Baja California Sur trip

As a Northern Baja California native, I cannot believe it took me this long to make it down to Baja Sur, and now that I have been I can honestly say that I can’t wait to go back.

The landscapes are something like I have never seen before, the wildlife is so impressive and the seafood is just incredible—I still dream of that shrimp ceviche at Mariscos el Toro Güero.

I hope this one-week Baja California Sur itinerary helps you plan your perfect trip to this incredibly gorgeous part of Mexico.

Is there anything missing in this itinerary that you would like to see added? Let us know in the comments.

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