Todos Santos

Todos Santos has become more popular in the past few years and I can understand why.  This little sleepy town is the opposite of what many people think of when they think of a Mexican vacation (huge, all-inclusive resort where you never experience much, if anything, outside of the resort).  To get to Todos Santos, you fly into San Jose del Cabo's airport---the same as if you were heading to Cabo San Lucas.  The similarities end there.  When I landed the other night around 9pm, it was a muggy, 85 degrees or so at the airport.  I figured that is June weather in Mexico.  My driver said the temperature would be nearly 20 degrees cooler when we arrived in a little over an hour in Todos Santos.  I thought he was exaggerating.  Well, sure enough it was a wonderful 68 degrees when we arrived.  Cabo is known for many luxury resorts---both all inclusive as well as room only properties.  The resorts can be large, but are still small compared with many in places like Cancun.  Cabo certainly has a reputation for partying as many of my fellow travelers on the plane were loudly planning where to take their first drink.  Todos Santos has a couple of main streets and mostly boutique size properties with a more hippie, artist, chill reputation.  There are some options for surfing a few minutes out of town and this area (and La Paz) are known for whale sharks during the winter months.  There are lots of marine animals year round and plenty of options to head out on boats to get closer to the action.

I'm visiting for a friend's wedding and they rented out a property just outside of town called San Cristobal (down a long dirt road).  It is part of Liz Lambert's Bunkhouse group and they have a reputation of building properties that reflect the culture of the area they are located.    

This hotel is one of the bigger ones in Todos Santos at a big, whopping 32 rooms.  It is right on a wide expanse of beach with rocky mountains to the left.  The area next to the hotel is used as a launching point for boats heading out to fish.  Not huge commercial boats...little boats with small town fisherman.  What is caught locally is served locally.  It is mostly quiet and relaxing.  It makes Guayacura Boutique Hotel (where I stayed my first night in Todos Santos) seem like a bustling city hotel....which in its own way is true.  Guaycura is a 3 minute walk to the main plaza of town and the entire town is within walking distance.  The trade off is you hear traffic as it is on one of the main roads.  A rooftop bar and restaurant help make it feel more serene.  Photos of San Cristobal are above and Guayacura are below.