If you haven’t made plans to visit Todos Santos, you should. It’s a very nice little town about one and a half hours north of the Los Cabos airport that has been awarded the title “pueblo magico.” More on that later. The actual town of Todos Santos is not on the beach but near it, and after spending a lot of time there, I believe the beach must be a part of your stay.
With the beach so close, there’s no reason you should deprive yourself. Trust me, the sunsets alone are worth the trip. What better way to take them than by a pool, with a beverage in hand?
It’s quality over quantity in Todos Santos, as there aren’t many hotel pools on the beach, so that makes the choice a bit easier. If I were you, I would consider these two options for the best time spent in Todos Santos:
1. Stay in the town center and get a day pass at Hotel San Cristobal or El Faro Beach Club – this is recommended if you tend to sightsee, shop, or want to eat out at different restaurants
2. Stay at Hotel San Cristobal. This is the best hotel and the best hotel pool in Todos Santos, so be warned that if you stay here, you may not want to leave. This option is best if you’re looking for a weekend of leisuring and relaxation.
I mention those options in that particular order because you really don’t want to miss out on the town of Todos Santos. You don’t need a lot of time to see it, but there are some great restaurants and bars, and it’s a completely different experience than the typical vacation to the bigger resort town to the south. If you’re coming from afar, you might want to consider including Cabo and Todos Santos in the same vacation.
Reasons Why You Might Want to Go to Todos Santos
- It’s not Cabo.
- You like great food and beverages
- You like to surf. Bless you – you are fun to watch from the pool!
- Wellness and the beach are your favorite combo.
- You like things low-key.
If you’re looking for a big, all-inclusive resort, you won’t find it here. What you will find in Todos Santos is great food, good times, and a unique experience to your typical beach vacation. Food is craft in TS, and with so many organic farms sprinkled throughout the area, many of the restaurants focus on produce grown locally and fresh seafood caught daily. Aside from sustainable agriculture, there’s also a sizable community devoted to all things wellness in Todos Santos and the surrounding areas.
The designation “pueblo mágico” is awarded by the Mexican government and Secretariat of Tourism to small towns and rural towns that offer visitors a unique experience, through beauty, hospitality, and cultural or historical significance. There are 121 “magical towns” and together, they demonstrate the identity of Mexico.
Why Hotel San Cristóbal is the Best Hotel in Todos Santos
First of all, Hotel San Cristóbal is the only hotel with a pool on the beach in Todos Santos. Despite that bonus, it’s a destination on its own. It’s owned by the Bunkhouse Group, responsible for some other phenomenal boutique properties like Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin. San Cristóbal seems to have it all – it’s super stylish, with great service, excellent food and beverage, and the perfect view for taking in those Baja sunsets, which really are extraordinary.
The property is small and somewhat secluded, aside from the multitude of fishermen that have historically used the spot next door as their base of operations. The boats are fun to watch, and the beach is lively at the end of the day. You will need a car if you want to be able to explore the area freely while in town. It’s highly recommended.
The food and beverages at Hotel San Cristóbal are great. They have two restaurants, the Pool Bar and Benno, the latter a more upscale offering with Mediterranean inspired dishes. The food and drinks at the Pool Bar are delicious, including well-made margaritas. This might seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people (even in Mexico) get this wrong.
Tip: Get the fish sandwich for lunch if it’s on the menu, and their tortilla chips are exceptional.
The service poolside is friendly and attentive, and the vibe is relaxed. As far as hotel pools go, it doesn’t get much better than a setup like this one. Benno is good, but given the choice, I would skip it and check out a restaurant in town for dinner instead.
The only things I would recommend improving at Hotel San Cristobal are: the coffee and the Aperol spritz. Luckily, there are plenty of other places in town that do these well, so you won’t be left hanging. I have listed them below.
If you’re not a guest of the hotel, you can purchase a day pass to use the pool (call for current pricing). It’s well worth it, given the quality poolside experience they offer. Reservations highly recommended.
To sum it up, Hotel San Cristobal offers an excellent poolside experience in a magical place a little off the beaten path. Wake up on the beach, watch the sunset on the beach, spend time in between lounging poolside by the beach. If you’re looking for a hotel in Todos Santos this is the best. Just remember, you may not want to leave once you’re here, and that’s ok too. sancristobalbaja.com
Where to Stay in Todos Santos Town
If you decide you would rather stay in town when you’re visiting Todos Santos, here are some great options, with and without pools. The town is great for a little shopping, meals, and bars. Head to one of the pools on the beach for your leisuring.
Guayacura Hotel Pool + Beach Club: Best of Both Worlds in Todos Santos
Guaycura Hotel offers the best of both worlds, if you want to stay in Todos Santos town and also spend time on the beach. It has a pool on the roof of the hotel, as well as a pool at the beach club, so you’ve got options. Town is small, but the location is central for walking, and very near some of the best coffee and cocktails in town.
They have a beach club called El Faro in a separate location on the beach, which is also accessible by day pass for non hotel guests. So, even if you’re aren’t staying at Guaycura Hotel, for a small fee, you can spend a day at El Faro and be served cocktails by the pool, while you relax to the sound of waves. El Faro open Thursday – Tuesday 10:30am – 8:30pm. Times and dates subject to change. For the most up to date information on El Faro see their Facebook page.
Casa Tota has the Best Cocktail Bar in Todos Santos
Casa Tota is a boutique hotel with 15 rooms in one of the charming brick buildings in the town center area of Todos Santos. The building itself has a bit of family history, and it was thoughtfully considered in the renovation. The rooms are modern in their simplicity, and the courtyard pool is quiet. It’s possible that non-hotel guests can use the pool if they grab a meal at the onsite restaurant, La Santena and Cantina.
It’s also home to Jardín Alquimia, the best place to get a cocktail in Todos Santos. It’s as good as anywhere I’ve been in the world.
Airbnb
There are lots of cute Airbnbs in the area: houses and boutique hotels can be all be found on Airbnb, with and without pools. If you plan on paying for a day pass at El Faro or San Cristobal, then you don’t necessarily need a pool with your lodging, though there are also plenty that have one.
Off the Beaten Path: More Todos Santos Hotels with Pools
If you don’t mind a little bit of a drive, or if you’re looking for a remote, relaxing weekend, these two hotels are great options, but for two very different reasons. When I say “drive,” I mean a very long and bumpy dirt road, well worth travelling down, but slightly irritating to traverse often.
Pachamama: Best Wellness Retreat with a Pool in Todos Santos
If yoga and/or wellness are your jam, Pachamama is the place to be. It seems to constantly host retreats for these purposes. Some of the rooms are adobe teepees, and they have a temazcal, so get ready to get your sweat on.
As for the pool, depending on the time and number of people staying at the resort, you might be able to get a day pass here. Pool access is offered with spa services as well. There isn’t food and beverage service, but you could bring your own. The shallow part of the pool, or Baja shelf, is quite large and great for tanning while in the water. The location is remote, relaxing, and the infinity edge pool seems to drop off into the Baja desert.
Villa Santa Cruz: Best Beachfront Restaurant in Todos Santos
The location of Villa Santa Cruz is pretty remote. However, if you talk to anyone about restaurants in Todos Santos, they will immediately suggest The Green Room, the beachfront restaurant at Villa Santa Cruz. I will be one of those people. So whether you stay there or just eat there, you will probably be there at least once during your stay in Todos Santos. For more information on the restaurant, see below.
The hotel is boutique and feels like home. Some of the rooms are in the main house, and others are in their own villas. They also have a pretty cool treehouse-like structure on an extremely secluded beach.
The pool at Villa Santa Cruz is a little off the beach, due to the large protected dunes around the hotel. You can get a day pass here as well, and pool service is available. So, if you don’t have a pool where you’re staying, you could definitely lounge poolside here until your dinner reservation at The Green Room.
Best Coffee in Todos Santos
There are certain things I’m willing to compromise when on vacation, but one of them is NOT coffee. I usually bring a bag of my favorite coffee, along with a grinder and collapsible pour-over funnel. So, I’m just a little bit particular about it. Then, to my delight, I found two great coffee shops in Todos Santos, so I could save my beans for when I really needed them.
Doce Cuarenta – The best coffee in Todos Santos. A little bit on the outskirts of town, but not far. Best to drive here. map
Taller 17 – Once I spotted the Tartine cookbook on their shelf, I knew they were serious business. There coffee is solid, and they have a pretty tasty jalapeño scone, too. Walkable if you’re staying in town. If not, there is plenty of street parking available. map
Where to Eat and Drink in Todos Santos
There are so many great restaurants in Todos Santos but here’s my shortlist. Note: I found that the most up to date information about restaurants in Todos Santos can be found on their Facebook pages.
The Green Room – beachfront restaurant with a very cool entry. Their menu is a long list of tostadas that are all delicious. This place is popular, so make a reservation. map
Jardin Alquimia – Best cocktails! Tasty food too. One of the bartenders makes bread, and I even saw a couple come to the bar to just pick up a loaf, so try it. map
Jazamango – Do yourself a favor and get the grilled octopus. Javier Plascencia is a famous chef from Tijuana, Mexico. Jazamango is outdoor dining with view of their large food garden.
Pool Bar at San Cristobal – Delicious margaritas, great guacamole and chips, on the beach. The tortilla chips are really special. Good vibes. map
Pacifica Fish Market – Blackened shrimp tacos and freshly caught fish. map
Noah Japanese Food– On a roof in town with very good sushi. They have great cocktails too, especially the Aperol Spritz. You might not think Japanese is the best option when in Mexico, but the fish is so fresh in town, so the sushi is excellent. map
Cafelix – A low-key spot for breakfast. Get their tiny breakfast burrito rolls – the refried beans are so spicy and delicious. The coffee is pretty good here too. Very close to the famous Hotel California and the craft market. map
A little bit out of town…
If you want to do some exploring, head to Agricole Cooperativa in Pescadero for their strawberries and cream . It’s only 10 minutes south of Todos Santos. People travel from all over for this sweet treat, so if you love sweet, you won’t be disappointed.
Another great spot near Cerritos Beach is Barracuda Cantina. Great tacos and craft cocktails down another long dirt road. It’s 15 minutes from Todos Santos.
How to Get to Todos Santos
As I mentioned before, if you’re aren’t sure about making a trip solely to visit Todos Santos (and you definitely could), then you should consider booking a trip to Cabo with a couple of nights in Todos Santos. Best of both worlds. Unfamiliar places can be, well, unfamiliar, but rest assured it’s a safe and easy drive up the coast to Todos Santos from Cabo. The drive is roughly 1.5 hours on a paved highway. While some hotels will offer airport transfer to TS, it’s best to rent a car. That will give you the freedom you will want once there. If you do opt for a hotel transfer, another fun way to get around town is by renting one of the big UTVs at Black Sheep Motorsports or Omega Tours.
Renting a car in Mexico can sometimes be a headache, but Mex Rent a Car is has been my go-to in Cabo. They quote you the full price with insurance included up front, so there isn’t any haggling at the desk when you are trying to get started with your vacation. Todos Santos is mostly dirt roads, and they can be pretty gnarly. If you can get an SUV, you should, but you can still get everywhere in a sedan, albeit a tad bit slower.
