The Best Todos Santos Beaches For Sun + Surf Seekers
Travelers longing for Baja beaches and adventures beyond the resorts of Los Cabos need look no further than Todos Santos. This colonial town in Baja California Sur has long been an enclave for surfers, artists, hippies, and beach-lovers. Here’s how to roam Mexico with the best Todos Santos beaches.
I highly recommend renting a car in Cabo for a roadtrip. The new highway, Mexico 19, lets you zip along the coast with ocean views on one side and cactus and mountains on the other. Todos Santos is about an hour north, just enough drive time to fall in love with the landscape, abundant sunshine, and carefree vibes of Baja Sur.
Todos Santos, unlike most beach towns, isn’t located directly on the beach. Its colonial center has been restored into a hip neighborhood with boutique hotels and shops, art galleries, and trendy restaurants. The best Todos Santos beaches are outside town, starting with Cerritos Beach in the south all the way to Playa La Pastora north of town.
I’ve got all the tips you need to decide which Todos Santos beach is your perfect spot, plus hotel recommendations for every budget to stay near your fave. Or if you can’t decide, I’ll also include a few hotels in town at the end of the article.
For now, though, let’s explore the best Todos Santos beaches for your vacay.
Want to visit Todos Santos on a day trip from Cabo? Check out this top-rated guided tour that includes transportation, an art walk, and lunch at the Hotel California!
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In this Guide to the Best Todos Santos Beaches
Beach Activities | Playa Los Cerritos | San Pedrito Beach | Playa Las Palmas | Playa Punta Lobos | Playa La Cachora | Playa Los Mangos | Playa La Pastora | Getting There | Todos Santos Hotels
Activities for Todos Santos Beaches
The beaches of Todos Santos have been attracting aspiring and experienced surfers since the sixties. The same holds true today; strong currents along the Baja Peninsula’s Pacific Coast mean that the beaches here are better for surfing than swimming.
But if you’re not a surfer, don’t despair. The miles of pristine beaches are perfect for beach walks, chilling at low-key beach bars, and spectacular sunsets. There are even active adventures like hiking, horseback riding, and fishing.
And for really good swimming beaches, you can head to nearby La Paz for a few days. (Remember, this is gonna be a road trip, right?) There you can discover the beautiful Playa Balandra, Playa Tesoro, and more.
Read next ⫸ Get my tips for the best La Paz beaches and how to snorkel with whale sharks.
Guided Tours and Activities at Todos Santos beaches
Looking for unique experiences in Todos Santos? Check out these top-rated tours with online bookings.
- Horseback riding: Explore the trails and beaches of Todos Santos
- Surfcasting the Pacific (surf fishing)
- Off-road jeep adventure including Cerritos Beach, Punta Lobo + Todos Santos
The Best Beaches in Todos Santos, Mexico
Starting from south of town, these are the best Todos Santos beaches. I’ve included approximate kilometer markers with each name below to help you find each.
Check the map below for details including a description of the beaches when you tap on the menu in the upper left and then each pin. You can save the map to your own Google Maps by ticking the star next to the map name.
Playa Los Cerritos | Cerritos Beach at km 64 | Todos Santos Surfer’s beach
Playa Los Cerritos is the most popular Todos Santos beach for visitors and tourists. It’s a long beach with no shade, perfect for sunbathing, relaxing at beach bars, and surfing.
To get here, turn right off Mexico 19 at the signs for Cerritos Beach. Follow the road toward the beach and park in one of the public parking areas.
Surf schools at Cerritos Beach offer lessons and equipment rental. You’ll also find several options of hotels and cabanas right on the beach, so you can wake up and head out with your board before you’ve even had coffee.
Boogie boards, paddleboards, and lounge chairs and umbrellas can also be rented for the day. The Barracuda Cantina and Desert Moon Hotel restaurant are best bets for finding cold beers, tacos, and fresh guacamole.
Where to Stay at Playa Los Cerritos
- Cerritos Surf Town Beach Front Hotel: chilled-out beach stay that inspires return visits
- Olas de Cerritos: gorgeous pool, family-friendly, and a great location a few minutes from the hotel
- Cerritos Surf Residences: top-rated apartments and villas with a gorgeous pool close to the beach
- Cerritos Beach Palace Casa Roca: budget 3-bedroom beach house perfect for a family or group of friends
San Pedrito Beach in El Pescadero | Todos Santos Vanlife Beach
The village of El Pescadero is a farming town that’s growing in popularity as a chilled-out beach spot. Surfers, van lifers, and digital nomads are discovering it, making it a laid-back and friendly place to visit and stay.
The beach at El Pescadero, called Playa San Pedrito, is pretty secluded. When you see signs for the Pura Playa beach bar, turn off Highway 19 and head down the dirt road to get there.
Facilities at San Pedrito Beach are limited, since the main resort is under renovation. The beach bar Pura Playa is open limited days, but try to get there for sunset drinks.
If you’re looking for a great meal nearby, several fantastic local farm-to-table restaurants are located in El Pescadero, like Hierbabuena, Carnitas Machin, and Palmar Pescadero. Agricole Cooperativa and Sunday farmers’ market are good places to stock up on local produce and groceries.
Where to stay at San Pedrito Beach:
- Casa Caravan: hip RV hotel that makes me want to buy an RV
- Pescadero Surf Camp: chilled-out beach hotel that makes me want to learn to surf
- Rancho Pescadero: luxury adults-only resort that just reopened after a renovation
- Casitas El Salitral By Rotamundos: charming yurts with a shared pool in a desert garden setting
- Beach camping is permitted – just be sure to pack out everything you bring
Playa Las Palmas at km 57 | Todos Santos Beach With Wild Horses and Tidepools
This beach can be tough to get to, down a long unpaved road with deep ruts in parts. An AWD vehicle is best, but I have done it in a medium-sized sedan!
Turn right off around km 57 and head down the road through the cacti. The start of the road is very rough, but it gets easier as you approach the beach. Eventually you’ll reach an area where you see other cars. Park here and walk toward the beach, which should take about 10 minutes.
From the parking area, you’ll see a sign asking people not to litter and that cars are prohibited (in Spanish). Walk past these signs down the path. When you see a paved area and a private property sign, keep following that road. Stay on the left path toward the beach through tall palm trees.
There are no public services at Playa Las Palmas, so bring a cooler and plenty of water. It’s possible to beach camp here, and occasionally wild horses can be spotted!
Along the beach, tidal pools form which can provide a protected area for kids to splash and play. In general, though, I don’t recommend the beachfront for kids or swimming due to the rough surf. But it is a fantastic place to chill for a beach day.
Where to stay at Playa Las Palmas:
- The closest hotel is Paradero Todos Santos.
Playa Punta Lobos at Km 54 | Todos Santos Beach Popular With Locals for Swimming
Playa Punta Lobos is named for the sea lions sometimes spotted on the beach and rocks. Due to the rock formations, Punta Lobos is a little better protected, making it possible to swim here.
It’s also a fisherman’s beach, so you can even ask to buy some of their catch in the afternoon when they return. If you opt to swim, do it after the boats are done coming in for the day.
Playa Punta Lobos is one of the Todos Santos beaches that’s most popular with locals, so expect it to be busy on the weekends.
To get here, turn off Mexico 19 and head through the desert to the Hotel San Cristobal. Pass the hotel and follow the road as it curves to the right, then park with the other cars in the paved or sandy parking area.
Where to Stay at Playa Punta Lobos:
- Hotel San Cristobal: chic, stylish luxury beachfront enclave (age 15+). You can make reservations for lunch at their beachfront restaurant here even if you don’t stay. But they keep you corralled away from the guests. 😀
El Farol Beach
El Farol Beach adjoins Playa Punta Lobos. It’s home to the El Faro Beach Club and Spa.
The Beach Club has a seafood restaurant and grill known for its friendly service and tasty menu. Visitors can also reserve a cabana or beachfront sunbed, or relax by the infinity pool in loungers. The spa offers treatments and also massages right on the beach.
- More info and reservations: El Farol Beach Club
Playa La Cachora | Todos Santos Beach close to Town
Playa La Cachora is the main Todos Santos beach. It’s possible to walk here from town, although it’s about 1.5 miles. As with some of the other area beaches, the road to get here can be difficult to reach by car. Park and walk the last bit of the road unless you have an AWD vehicle.
At Playa La Cachora whales and even rays are sometimes spotted offshore, just past the surf break. It’s a great spot for a beach walk, but there are no services or vendors here other than the El Faro Beach Club at the (very) far south end of the beach.
The waves at Playa La Cachora are very strong – I could hear them crashing all night long from inside my hotel here. This is not a swimming beach.
Where to Stay Near Playa Cachora:
- Villas La Mar: this is one of my favorite stays in Todos Santos! All studios here have private terraces, kitchenettes, and beach views overlooking the lagoon at Playa La Cachora. I stayed in Studio 1 next to the pool, but my next trip will probably opt for a room a little higher up the hillside. Their onsite bar opens for happy hour; while there’s no restaurant, the friendly staff can help you get meals and groceries delivered. (Pro tips: pack light or get a room just off the main level, since there’s no elevator. To get to the beach, it’s a bit of a hike; or visit nearby El Farol Beach Club.)
- Sole Caliente: studio, room, or 2-bedroom house a short walk to the beach
- Los Colibris Casitas: rooms, suites, and casitas with 1-3 bedrooms perfect for couples, friends, and families
- Casa Flores Casitas: studios and rooms with kitchenettes, a pool, and ocean views
Playa Los Mangos | Todos Santos Beach for Turtle Conservation
Playa Los Mangos is a beach located just outside Todos Santos, in the small municipality of Las Tunas. The beach is named because of many fruit trees along the road to the coast. (And “tuna” is the Spanish name for prickly pear cactus fruit.)
Las Tunas is a developing area, about 10 minutes outside town, with hotels and vacation rentals just a few minutes walk to the beach.
Playa Los Mangos also has very strong waves. So again, this is another beach more suited for beach walks and stretching out on the sand.
A conservation group, Tortugueros Las Playitas, operates a turtle encampment here. After a female sea turtle lays a nest, she returns to the sea, leaving the eggs vulnerable to predators and poachers. In Mexico, conservation groups monitor and relocate nests to a safe enclosure until the eggs hatch. Tourists and locals can help with baby turtle releases in season, and can help support the group by giving donations.
Where to Stay at Playa Los Mangos:
- Serendipity: rooms or a house with space for up to 4, in an desert garden oasis setting
- Pachamama Mexico: boutique hotel and yoga retreat for zen moments in Todos Santos
- Vista Tortuga: private luxury compound with 4 casitas and a heated pool; accommodates groups up to 12
Playa La Pastora | Todos Santos Surfer’s Beach
Located 5 miles north of Todos Santos, Playa La Pastora is a long golden stretch of sand. It’s an advanced surfer’s beach, or a great place for a beach walk. During the winter months, whales can be spotted offshore.
There are no public restrooms or facilities here, but you can have a fantastic lunch or dinner right on the beach at the Green Room restaurant.
Where to Stay at Playa La Pastora
- Villa Santa Cruz: luxury beachfront stay with artistic touches throughout (center, above) – my favorite hotel in Todos Santos!
Getting to Todos Santos
Todos Santos is on the western side of Baja California Sur, about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, the two towns served by Los Cabos Airport (SJD).
To get to Todos Santos, fly into SJD Los Cabos Airport and either take a bus or rent a car and drive.
There are bus departures throughout the day. Or it’s an easy drive on the new toll road, Highway 19, if you rent a car at the airport.
Want to explore more beaches in the region? Don’t miss the best beaches in Cabo and the best beaches in Cabo for swimming.
Where to Stay in Todos Santos
If you prefer to stay in town, Todos Santos has stays ranging from hostels to boutique hotels and vacation homes. Any of these will make a great base for exploring the shopping, galleries, and local food scene in Todos Santos as well as its beaches!
- Todos Santos Hostel: budget dorm beds, private rooms, and glamping tents a short walk to town
- The Hotelito: colorful, stylish hotel at the edge of town; breakfast included in the lovely garden
- Hotel Casa Tota: charming downtown hotel in a restored building, with a pool and great onsite restaurant and bar
- Hacienda Todos Los Santos: spacious suites in a quiet garden setting with lovely pool
Todos Santos Vacation Rental Homes + Apartments
Want more space or room for a group? Check out these Todos Santos vacation rentals.
Ready to discover the best beaches in Todos Santos?
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