Todos Santos Baja Mexico
International Travel

Experience the Magic of Todos Santos, Baja’s Most Artistic Village

Ever since Steven and I decided to spend the latter part of winter in Baja, Mexico, Todos Santos has been on our radar. A vibrant community grounded in art and culture, it stood out to us as a key destination that we simply needed to explore!

About Todos Santos

After spending a few days in the big city of La Paz, we’re always ready to immerse ourselves in a smaller town. Like Loreto, Todos Santos is designated as a Pueblo Mágico (“Magic Town”). In short, a Pueblo Mágico is a Mexican town granted this status by the Mexican government for its “magical” qualities — like its beauty, historical importance, or its natural wonders. Todos Santos definitely checks the boxes for these things!

Only 45 miles or so from La Paz and Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos resembles a lush paradise in the southern peninsula. Here, the desert meets the Sierra Laguna mountain range, creating an oasis of palms and fruit trees that produce papayas, avocados, mangos and more. As you enter the main section of town, there’s no shortage of things to do and places to eat!

What to Do & See in Todos Santos

Walk the Historical Streets of Todos Santos

Immediately upon arrival, you’ll see a vibrant community nestled near the Todos Santos Historic Center. Besides the food — we’ll get to that later — I love walking the colorful streets of Todos Santos. There you’ll find colonial buildings filled with artisanal shops, boutiques, cafes, art galleries and upscale restaurants. And the murals! So much beautiful street art around every corner.


You can easily spend a half to full day walking around this area, stopping in and out of the shops. Much of the goods are handmade, or ethically sourced from indigenous makers. Some of my favorite shops include Zócolo, El Tecolate Bookstore, Saguaro, Hilo Rojo Stores and Nomad Chic. Many of the boutiques in Todos Santos are pricey, but you can usually find some goodies like jewelry and other little trinkets if you’re on a budget — or tight on space like we are. If you’re feeling bold, make sure to stop at Tequila Town for a tasting!

Help Release Baby Turtles at Las Playitas

We certainly felt the magic at Las Playitas, where we had the privilege of releasing baby tortugas into the ocean! Tortugueros Las Playitas is a local organization committed to protecting, conserving and replenishing the fragile marine ecosystems of Baja California Sur, Mexico. One of their goals is help restore the critically endangered Pacific Leatherback population, which is on the verge of extinction. The organization allowed volunteers — like us — to help release the baby turtles back into their habitat between November and May. We were all so excited to see the babies and do our part to ensure they thrive.

Take a Yoga or Workout Class

When we get down here, one of the first things I do once we’re settled is sign up for a yoga or workout class. The yoga classes here are incredible – I find myself always so grateful for the experience. My go-to in Todos Santos is Cuatro Vientos. Not only is their studio beautiful with ample space, they have the most options in the area, with classes every day!

If you prefer a tabata-style workout outdoors, then you’ll want to sign up for Julie’s Fit Fusion classes at Cross2Box in Todos Santos. Speaking of which, Roby runs the crossfit classes there, and the ability to plug into this awesome community is worth the sweat and effort!

Where to Eat in Todos Santos

You could spend months finding great places to eat in Todos Santos. Off the beaten path, there are multiple antojitos offering Mexican street food like delicious tortas and pollo asado, or if you’re in the mood for gourmet cuisine, there are TONS of options to choose from! Here are some of our favorites places.

Bajavaria

Love craft beer? Look no further than Bajavaria. Owned by our good amigos Tim and Tina, this beer garden has been beautifully crafted for beer lovers and social butterflies.

This place offers only the best micro production brews – mostly from Mexico and Germany. Bajavaria also houses small batch meads, wines, cocktails and other styles. There are always 16 beers on tap, and at least 50 canned and bottled options in the cold fridge.

During high season, they have fresh jumbo pretzels and rotate in other restaurants or chefs on special nights. If you’re really hungry, order tacos from 5 Tacos and a Beer. They’ll bring it to you in Bajavaria!

Doce Cuarenta Café

After enjoying the most delicious latte from this café in La Paz, I was pumped to see Doce Cuarenta in Todos Santos! This is one of my all-time favorite cafes in Baja — it’s the perfect spot to work if you need to power through your day. There is SO much to choose from! Besides your traditional lattes and coffee drinks, Doce Cuarenta offers cold brew coffee, kombucha, craft beer and wine. It also has delicious pastries, quiches, empanadas and more. This is a MUST stop!

Pollos Asados “Chiqui”

This is by far Steven’s favorite stop when in Todos Santos. You can order a whole roasted chicken, and it’s so juicy and tender it comes right off of the bone. The chicken also comes with fries, pickled onions and tortillas.

Jazamango Cafe

On our last Baja trip, I was fortunate enough to get away with the girls for a day to do some shopping and have a nice lunch. I’ve been dying to go to Jazamango Cafe, given that we had such a great experience with their sister restaurant Finca Altozano in Valle de Guadalupe. Needless to say, our experience here was amazing! We ordered the burrata salad for the table, and I went with a yummy kale salad that had feta, cashews, avocado, red onions and tuna. Holy mouth explosion! I love all of the flavors here. For an even more rich culinary experience, check out Jazamango for dinner.

Oystera

Fancy yourself from oysters, sashimi and bubbles? Check out Oystera. This place is a vibe! Be sure to ask to be seated in the back area – the garden is lovely!

Pura Vida

This is one of those spots that I often find myself after a yoga or work out class. Pura Vida is a health food restaurant has delicious food, juices and smoothies, with fresh ingredients and dietary options. My go-to are the spring rolls with beets or the tuna melt. This shop also has a little dining area with WiFi, as well as a small grocery store with items not typically found in Mexico. Think Zevia, Bob’s Red Mill, Newman’s Own, Ezekial Bread, Daiya’s and more.

Pacifica Fish Market

This was the very first stop once we got into Todos Santos in 2020. I had a hankering for sushi, and although Pacifica Fish Market didn’t have any specials, we did eat the most amazing salad. Simple ingredients, but done oh-so-well!

Todos Santos Brewing

You can pretty much guarantee that if there’s a brewery nearby, we’re checking it out. This place has great craft beers and food! Todos Santos Brewing is known for its gourmet burgers, as well as the fish and chips. They also have vegan options as well!

Tacos El Poblano

Stray away from the main street for some fantastic local flavor. Stop here for the most delicious Al Pastor tortas!

Baja Tasty

Located in the heart of the historic district, this shop has the most delicious ice cream, complete with a café. The kids and I went for ice cream cones, while Steven ordered an affogato.

El Refugio Mezcaleria

If you’ve been in Baja for awhile, you might be getting tired of the tequila. You’re in luck — try mezcal! There’s a fantastic mezcaleria in town, El Refugio, where you can have a mezcal tasting and/or a delicious dinner. The ambiance is so beautiful at night, and they offer an ever-changing menu based on seasonality and Chef Noel’s inspiration. While it is on the pricey side of things, it’s a great spot to have a cocktail or enjoy a date night.

Additional Local Favorites

Ristorante Tre Galline – Italian

La Esquina – Mexican breakfast/lunch, juices and smoothies

El Burguer Shack – Burgers, fries, wings and milkshakes

Quesadilla Muñe – Huge stuffed quesadillas, tacos and menudo

Teatro 6 – Craft cocktails

Restaurante La Generala – Mexican breakfast & lunch

The Green Room – Gourmet food, fresh seafood, salads and tacos

Taller 17 – Coffee and pastries

Where to Camp in Todos Santos

Now this is where it gets tricky in Todos Santos — there aren’t a ton of camping options here! Here are the best options we’ve found during our travels.

Camp Cerritos

When you can’t find a lot of options… well, you build your own! We recently built a RV campground in the heart of Cerritos Beach, BCS, only 15 minutes south of Todos Santos. We offer full hookups for five spacious sites (limited to 30’-34’ trailers), as well as one dry camping option (van or truck campers only). Additionally, we have a large palapa with stellar ocean and sunset views, an outdoor kitchen, a bathroom and an outdoor shower. It’s the perfect spot to work remotely, make new friends, swap out a book t our lending library, work remotely or homeschool your kiddos. We offer Starlink WiFi on site to all guests as well.

Reservations are required, and discounted rates are available for weekly, monthly and longer term stays. Please book directly at CampCerritosBeach.com/BookNow.

More Accommodations in Todos Santos

Cien Palmas

If you want to stay in the heart of Todos Santos — in a place that’s a total vibe — check out Cien Palmas. This boutique hotel is tucked in a palm oasis, and is designed with every little detail in mind. There is a restaurant and bar on site, with incredible food and cocktails available, and it’s walking distance to downtown Todos. Plus, the owners and staff here are beyond accommodating and kind. Five stars, for sure.

Todos Santos Hostel

In 2020, we stayed at the Todos Santos Hostel, which is a short walk or bike ride to the historic downtown. It’s a chill, quaint hostel with cute decor, friendly staff, clean bathrooms and a great common area. In the evenings, there’s a bar with cervezas and cocktails for purchase! The hostel have dorms, yurts with beds, and space for tent camping, as well as van parking. Be advised — if you’re in a bigger camper, then this space won’t work for you. Check out our full review here.

Final Thoughts on Todos Santos

Todos Santos left a lasting impression on us. Given its proximity to airports in both La Paz and Cabo, Todos Santos is a perfect weekend getaway destination! It’s a one-of-a-kind, charming town that will draw you in with its vibrancy, artistic vibes and palm-lined streets. It was easily one of our favorite little stops in Baja California Sur!

What do you love the most when it comes to exploring a new place? The food, cultural history, art, locals… share with us below!

Feisty, fun, outspoken mom to two boys and wife to an adventure-lovin' weekend warrior. Love my fam, lifting, hiking, animals, music, reading, sushi, beaches, sunshine & Jesus.