Todos Santos Day Trip from Los Cabos: What to Know
How to plan the drive, what to see in town, which Pacific beaches to treat with caution, and when to stay overnight instead.
In this guide
Todos Santos is the most rewarding day trip from Los Cabos for travelers who want a change of pace: a historic town with galleries, restaurants and farmland close to the Pacific. It is not part of Los Cabos. The town belongs to La Paz municipality and sits on the Pacific coast north of Cabo San Lucas, about an hour’s drive along Highway 19. Treat it as its own destination with its own planning, rather than as a neighborhood of Cabo. A Todos Santos day trip is one of the easiest outings from the resort corridor.
Getting there
The drive from Cabo San Lucas takes about an hour under normal conditions; from San José del Cabo or the eastern Corridor, add the time needed to cross the Corridor first. Options include a rental car, a private driver or a guided tour. A driver lets everyone enjoy lunch and a tasting without worrying about the return, and it avoids driving the highway after dark, which we recommend. Our guide to getting to and around Los Cabos compares transport options.
Leave early. Mornings are cooler for walking the town, and an early start leaves time for lunch without rushing back in the dark.
The historic center
Todos Santos is a designated Pueblo Mágico, Mexico’s program for towns with notable heritage and character. Its compact center rewards a slow walk: the mission church, the plaza, restored buildings from the town’s sugar-producing era, and streets lined with galleries, boutiques and cafés. The original mission in the area was founded in the 1720s.
The Hotel California on the main street is a popular stop because of its name. The Eagles’ song is not about this hotel; the band and the hotel settled a legal dispute over the name in 2018.
Art and shopping
The town has a long-established arts community, and galleries range from contemporary painting to Mexican folk art and design. Take time to ask about the artists; many works are made in the region. Shipping large pieces home is possible, but confirm the cost, insurance and timing before buying.
Where to eat
Todos Santos and nearby El Pescadero have become food destinations. The 2026 MICHELIN Guide selection includes several restaurants in the area: Cocina de Campo in El Pescadero received a Bib Gourmand, and Benno, Dūm, Oystera and Tenoch in Todos Santos are recommended. Popular restaurants fill up, so reserve lunch in advance. For restaurants closer to your base, see our guide to where to eat in Los Cabos.
The Pacific beaches: look, do not assume you can swim
The beaches around Todos Santos face the open Pacific, with powerful surf and strong currents. Many are unsafe for swimming, even when they look calm from the sand. Enjoy them for walks, surf-watching and sunsets, and enter the water only where local guidance and conditions clearly allow it. Playa Los Cerritos near El Pescadero is known for surf lessons; ask the surf school about conditions for your level. For swimming beaches back in Los Cabos, read our swimmable beaches guide.
A simple Todos Santos day trip plan
- Morning: drive up, then walk the historic center and galleries before the midday heat.
- Lunch: a reserved table in town or at a farm restaurant nearby.
- Afternoon: a beach walk or a stop in El Pescadero.
- Return: leave in time to be back before dark.
When to stay overnight instead
If you want sunset on the Pacific, a long dinner, or a slower look at the town, stay a night or two. Todos Santos has its own boutique hotels, and an overnight stay removes the pressure of the return drive. Confirm the town’s current services before you go, as rapid growth has strained local water and power infrastructure.
Choosing your Los Cabos base
A Todos Santos day trip is easy to fit into a Los Cabos stay with an early start. If you plan several trips up the Pacific coast, a Cabo San Lucas base shortens every drive. For a broader comparison of bases, read our guide to where to stay in Los Cabos.
