Baja California Sur · Pacific Coast · Pueblo Mágico
Todos Santos
1 hr north on Hwy 19
From Cabo
Pueblo Mágico · UNESCO Biosphere
Status
Art, surf, food, escape
Best for
Sea level to 150m foothills
Elevation
The Town
Surf, galleries, mezcal, and the most creative
small town in all of Baja California.
Todos Santos is an hour north of Cabo on the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula — close enough to be a day trip, distinctive enough that visitors who arrive planning to stay one night regularly extend to three. Designated a Pueblo Mágico by the Mexican government and surrounded by a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it has developed a creative community unlike anything else on the peninsula: working artists and galleries, serious chefs who moved here to cook with the town's agricultural output, and a Pacific surf culture anchored by consistent breaks at La Pastora and Punta Lobos.
The Hotel California is here, its connection to the Eagles song officially unconfirmed but practically irrelevant — the colonial courtyard and mezcal terrace are worth the visit regardless. The Sierra de la Laguna mountains visible from town are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with hiking routes that climb from desert to cloud forest. The freshwater springs that have made this stretch of Pacific coast fertile for centuries also supply the restaurant kitchens that have made Todos Santos one of Baja's most ambitious food destinations. It is the counterpoint to Cabo — quieter, stranger, and in many ways more Baja.
What to Do
What is Todos Santos, Baja California Sur known for?
Todos Santos is a federally designated Pueblo Mágico — one of Mexico's “magical towns” — known for its art galleries, mezcal bars, boutique hotels, and the Hotel California (famously — and incorrectly — associated with the Eagles song). It sits 45 minutes north of Cabo on the Pacific side of the Sierra de la Laguna.
Hotel California — Mezcal on the Terrace
The Hotel California in Todos Santos has no confirmed connection to the Eagles song — the band has denied it repeatedly — but the hotel has leaned into the mythology so successfully that the connection is now inseparable from the property's identity. The terrace bar serves excellent mezcal. The colonial courtyard is beautiful. The rooms are quirky and charming. Whether or not the song is about this place, it is worth a visit.
Galleries, Studios, and a Permanent Creative Community
Todos Santos has attracted a density of working artists, potters, jewelers, and photographers that is unusual for a town of its size. The galleries along Calle Legaspi and the surrounding streets are open year-round. Several artists maintain open studios. The annual Todos Santos Art Festival in February is the largest gathering of regional artists in Baja California Sur.
La Pastora · Punta Lobos · Gasparreño
The Pacific coast north and south of Todos Santos produces powerful, consistent surf across multiple breaks. La Pastora is the most accessible beginner-to-intermediate break close to town. Punta Lobos, a 10-minute drive south, is a point break that works best on northwest swells and is home to a working fishing cooperative whose daily launches and returns frame every session.
Baja's Most Ambitious Farm-to-Table Dining Outside Flora Farms
The restaurant scene in Todos Santos punches well above its population weight. Several chefs moved here specifically to cook with the town's agricultural output — the freshwater springs that have made this coast fertile for centuries also supply the ingredients. Restaurants like Hierbabuena, Santos Mariscos, and the rotating roster of newer openings have established Todos Santos as a serious culinary destination.
Sierra de la Laguna UNESCO Reserve
The mountains visible from Todos Santos — the Sierra de la Laguna — are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in Baja. The range creates a microclimate that supports cloud forest at elevation, tropical deciduous forest on the slopes, and desert at the coast. Hiking trails access the interior from trailheads near Todos Santos; the traverse from Pacific to Gulf coast is a two-to-three day route.
One Hour North of Cabo on Highway 19
Todos Santos is 90 kilometers north of Cabo San Lucas on Highway 19 — a straight, well-maintained two-lane road through the desert foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna. The drive passes through dramatic desert landscape and is entirely doable as a day trip from Cabo. Most visitors who intend to stay a night end up extending their stay. There is no direct public transit from SJD airport.
Photo Gallery
Todos Santos
Plan Your Visit
Discover Todos Santos
One hour north of Cabo on Highway 19. Day trip or overnight — most people stay longer than planned. The Art Festival runs every February.
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