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Looking for a quiet and charming Mexican destination for the perfect getaway? Todos Santos is the place you are looking for! And this complete Todos Santos guide has all the information you need to plan your trip to this magical town.
While often overshadowed by the flashier Los Cabos, and skipped by travelers visiting La Paz, Todos Santos has remained a hidden gem in the Baja California Sur peninsula for many years… but is slowly taking over travelers’ hearts by storm.
Full of small-town charm, Mexican folklore, incredible homemade Mexican food, and a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, Todos Santos is the perfect getaway spot for a slow-paced and relaxing trip.
Being from the north of the Baja California peninsula, I cannot believe it took me this long to make a trip down to the picturesque Todos Santos, and now that I have been, I can’t wait to come back!
So if you have heard about Todos Santos before and have no idea what all the fuzz is about, this Todos Santos guide has all the information you need.
From Todos Santos’s location, how to get there, the best time to visit, what to do in this charming little Mexican town, where to eat, and more!
A Complete Guide To Charming Todos Santos, Mexico
Where is Todos Santos, Mexico?
First things first, where is Todos Santos, Mexico? Todos Santos is a small town on the west coast of the Baja California Sur peninsula in Mexico.
It is conveniently located just about a one-hour drive northwest of busy Cabo San Lucas, about 76km (47 mi).
As well as being a short one-hour and ten-minute drive southwest of beautiful La Paz, about 82 km (51 mi).
Making it an almost perfect middle point between these two popular Mexican warm winter getaway destinations, and an easy addition to any Baja California Sur itinerary.
It could also be easily squeezed into any Cabo itinerary as a day trip, but if you are after a relaxing and slow-paced holiday then you will definitely want to spend some days here.
Closest airport to Todos Santos, Mexico
The closest airport to Todos Santos is La Paz International Airport, with the Los Cabos International Airport following as a very close second.
The difference between them is only about 22 km (13 mi), but because of the difference in road quality, the driving time between both airports to Todos Santos is almost the same.
So you can easily choose whichever airport fits better with your travel plans, as one would not be a significantly better or worse starting point than the other.
How to get to Todos Santos, Mexico?
As mentioned, Todos Santos does not have its own airport, so the best way to visit Todos Santos is by arriving at either one of the closest airports, La Paz, BCS, or Los Cabos.
From either one of these airports, you could:
A) Rent a car and drive your way to Todos Santos
B) Take a bus to Todos Santos
C) If you are basing yourself in either Cabos or La Paz, you can book a day trip to Todos Santos
– La Paz to Todos Santos
- From La Paz to Todos Santos by car: The drive from La Paz to Todos Santos takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, and it’s pretty straightforward. Make sure to have local currency with you for toll roads, and be extra careful if driving at night as animals are wandering close to the roads.
- From La Paz To Todos Santos by bus: You will need to head into the city center of La Paz to the Terminal Turistica Aguila Malecon, the central bus station of Autobuses Aguila, a prominent bus company in the state. There you will be able to catch a bus to Todos Santos, starting from 5:00 and departing almost every hour until 21:30.
- From La Paz to Todos Santos with a tour: If you want to visit Todos Santos, but don’t want to stay overnight, you can book a day trip from La Paz to Todos Santos to see the highlights and tick this charming location off your list.
– Los Cabos to Todos Santos
- From Los Cabos to Todos Santos by car: The drive from Los Cabos to Todos Santos takes about an hour, and similar to the road from La Paz, it’s pretty straightforward. Here you will definitely need local currency for toll roads, and you must be extra careful when driving, with animals such as horses, donkeys, and cows venturing close to the roads.
- From Los Cabos To Todos Santos by bus: If arriving at Los Cabos International Airport you can book your trip to Todos Santos with Ecobaja Tours online, or by visiting their stand at the airport.
- From Los Cabos to Todos Santos with a tour: If you want to tick Todos Santos off your list, but don’t want to stay overnight, you can book a day trip from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos to see the the main spots in this picturesque town.
Best time to visit Todos Santos
There truly is no wrong time to visit Todos Santos, Mexico, it all depends on your priority and intention for the trip.
If you plan to relax and lounge by the pool at your boutique hotel, then May to early July is the best weather for that.
If you are looking forward to once-in-a-lifetime bucket list activities nearby, such as swimming with whale sharks, snorkeling with sea lions, and whale-watching then you want to plan your trip to Todos Santos during the winter months, late November to February.
You might want to avoid August and September, as these are the rainiest months of the year in Todos Santos.
Weather in Todos Santos
While the weather in Todos Santos, Mexico varies throughout the year, it mostly stays comfortable compared to other more dramatic locations in the peninsula.
With warm summers perfect for beach activities, a warm and rainy season at the end of summer, a pleasant fall, and sunny winters.
During the summer, between June and July, you can expect highs of 32°C and lows of 21°C (89°F / 69°F), which continues until October.
The coldest months of the year, from December to February, still boast highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C (80 °F / 60 °F). Making Todos Santos one of the best places to visit in Mexico for a warm winter getaway.
Is Todos Santos safe?
If you are wondering if Todos Santos is safe, the short and direct answer is yes, absolutely!
Todos Santos is a charming Mexican town that feels like a big neighborhood where everyone knows everyone.
While I immediately felt like Todos Santos is a very safe, quaint, and sleepy town, I wanted to ask the locals for a more thorough opinion on this.
And after talking to some people I got the same answer. The town is incredibly safe with people trusting and looking after each other—true adorable small-town vibes!
People here are polite and kind, a simple “buenas tardes” to strangers goes a long way and is appreciated by locals.
Where to stay in Todos Santos
As mentioned, Todos Santos is a little town, so even if you stay in the “outskirts” you will still be a very short distance from the town center.
Here are some of the best places to stay in Todos Santos:
- Estudio Terraza Todos Santos: A homey two-bedroom apartment in the heart of Todos Santos, with a spacious rooftop terrace perfect for slow mornings with a cup of coffee. We loved our stay here!
- Baja Temple: A desert-chic accommodation, with minimalist bedrooms in sandy hues, with a pool for the ultimate relaxing getaway.
- Todos Santos Boutique Hotel: A luxurious oasis in the heart of charming Todos Santos, offering beautifully designed rooms and incredible service. Their stunning Bar La Copa is not to be missed!
Best beaches from Todos Santos
Being so close to the water, you might expect tons of swimming options, but most beaches around Todos Santos are all about the impressive and powerful waves.
While they’re not the best for beginner swimmers, they’re perfect for a relaxing stroll along the beach listening to the waves crashing, and enjoying incredible sunsets.
Or if you are a surfer, even better, you will love Todos Santos beaches.
- Punta Lobos Beach: A long stretch of sand lined by rocky hills on one side, popular for swimming—but be careful—surfing, and fishing. It is also a perfect spot for catching stunning sunsets on the beach, or from the top of the hill with an ocean view. This is also a meeting point for fishermen after a day at sea.
- Los Cerritos Beach: A popular beach from Todos Santos, particularly among surfers as the strong waves are perfect for the sport. Not ideal for beginner swimmers.
- Playa Balandra: While not in Todos Santos, Playa Balandra is a little over an hour’s drive away and is the perfect shallow, crystal-clear, idyllic beach you are looking for if all you want to do is enjoy the ocean without being pushed by waves.
Best restaurants in Todos Santos
As a foodie, it would not be my guide if I didn’t mention some of the best eats in Todos Santos.
And while the town might be small, don’t worry this is still Mexico, and you will find no shortage of delicious food!
- Taller 17: A local bakery and coffee shop serving delicious pastries, and specialty coffee in the town center. You have to try their cinnamon buns!
- Doce Cuarenta: A coffee shop, roastery, restaurant, a little bit of everything, and all well done! The Doce Cuarenta Todos Santos location has a beautiful space for lounging around, either in their indoor seating space or its gorgeous patio. Make sure to check out their cute merch!
- Quesadillas Muñe: An unmissable spot on this travel guide, and one of the best restaurants in Todos Santos. Quesadillas Muñe is a no-frills eatery serving delicious quesadillas with homemade blue corn tortillas—they are filling, tasty and affordable. My favorite one is the quesadilla with tinga de Pollo.
- Oystera: A modern oyster bar housed inside a gorgeous high-ceiling greenery-covered building. Perfect for a date night or a girl’s night out!
- Fish Taco Santo Chilote: One of the best restaurants in Todos Santos, and a must-try! This unassuming and traditional seafood restaurant specializes in regionally acclaimed fish tacos. My favorite is their battered shrimp tacos. Make sure to order them in their buttery flour tortillas.
Top things to see in Todos Santos
Visit the charming Main Square, Plaza Centro Todos Santos
Because what is a small, charming town without its adorable main square?
One of the top things to see in Todos Santos is the picturesque Plaza Centro Todos Santos, the small main square lined with palm trees and vibrant bougainvillea shrubs, framed on one side by a little kiosk and on the other by the town’s main church.
Walking through it truly gives you a sense of the town’s character and the relaxed, slow pace of life here.
Browse the alleys of Cielito Lindo Market
An unmissable thing to see in Todos Santos is the colorful Cielito Lindo Market!
Here you will find all types of crafts, from beautiful hand-crochet bags to colorful bracelets, ceramics, natural skincare, and more.
The Cielito Lindo Market also boasts a variety of beautifully designed corners perfect for photo ops. So just walking through the area is part of the experience.
Stroll the colorful Av. Legaspy with papel picado dangling from the top
While the whole town in itself is a picture-perfect postcard, my favorite street and one that I think you shouldn’t miss is the colorful Avenida Legaspy.
Just a few steps away from the quaint Plaza Centro you will find this little street covered in brightly colored papel picado dangling over a stunning mural of a whale—a seasonal visitor to the peninsula.
Definitely one of the most picturesque corners of the town, and an unmissable spot on any Todos Santos travel guide!
With its charming small-town vibes, adorable town square, colorful streets covered in papel picado, and delicious local food, Todos Santos is the perfect Mexican destination for a culturally rich but laid-back escape.
Hope this travel guide to Todos Santos answers all the questions you might have about planning a trip to this charming and underrated Mexican destination.
Does the slow-paced charm of Todos Santos tempt you to stay awhile, or would you prefer to visit for a day and continue your journey? Let us know in the comments!