Baja Sur, Mexico.
Lat. 23.446362 | Long. -110.226509
“Pueblo Mágico”
Todos Santos is a town on the Pacific coast of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, backed by the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range. Popular with artists, it’s known for its many galleries. The modern Profesor Néstor Agúndez Martínez Cultural Center is housed in a former school and includes a local history museum. To the south, beaches like San Pedrito and Los Cerritos are known for their strong surf.
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Todos Santos, a small coastal town located in the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico, has a rich and varied history that blends indigenous heritage, Spanish colonization, agricultural development, and modern tourism.
Indigenous Beginnings
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area around Todos Santos was inhabited by the Guaycura, a group of indigenous people who lived along the Baja California peninsula. They practiced a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, relying on the region's natural resources.
Spanish Colonization
The history of Todos Santos as a town began in the early 18th century when Jesuit missionaries arrived in the region. In 1723, Father Jaime Bravo established the Mission Santa Rosa de Todos Santos, which was intended to convert the local indigenous population to Christianity. The mission played a significant role in the region's development, introducing European agricultural practices and crops such as sugarcane.
Agricultural Boom
In the 19th century, Todos Santos became an important agricultural center, particularly for sugarcane. The town's fertile lands, coupled with its abundant water supply from the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, made it ideal for farming. Sugar mills were established, and the town's economy flourished, leading to a period of prosperity.
However, by the mid-20th century, the sugarcane industry began to decline due to a combination of factors, including competition from other regions and changing economic conditions. This decline led to a period of stagnation for Todos Santos.
Artistic and Cultural Revival
In the latter half of the 20th century, Todos Santos experienced a cultural revival. Its charming colonial architecture, picturesque location between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and laid-back atmosphere began to attract artists, writers, and expatriates. The town slowly transformed into a cultural and artistic hub, known for its galleries, festivals, and vibrant community of creatives.
Modern-Day Todos Santos
Today, Todos Santos is a Pueblo Mágico, a designation given by the Mexican government to towns that offer visitors a "magical" experience due to their natural beauty, cultural richness, or historical significance. The town has become a popular destination for tourists seeking a mix of culture, history, and natural beauty, while still maintaining much of its traditional charm.
The town is also known for its proximity to beautiful beaches, such as Playa Cerritos and Playa La Pastora, which attract surfers and nature lovers. While tourism is a significant part of the local economy, Todos Santos has managed to retain its unique character, blending the old with the new in a way that respects its rich heritage.
Discover their corner of paradise. The calm, steady heartbeat of Baja is made for slowing down and reconnection. From spellbinding vistas all to yourself to thoughtful and welcoming spaces, Villa Santa Cruz provides an opportunity to discover a world tucked away, where the wild desert and sea meet.
Welcome to Los Colibris Casitas! They love this property so much that it is not only where they built their hotel, but their home as well. They chose this location on the side of La Poza hill because of its incredible natural beauty.
Kimpton Mas Olas Resort and Spa
They are a local family owned and run establishment. An Open air Beach Bar & Fish Taco Truck/ Cold Beer and Craft Cocktails at Cerritos beach, Baja Sur.
Authentic Baja experience through their Craft Cocktails where they use natural local grown produce and the freshest local caught Fish tacos and ceviche.
Cerritos Beach Inn sits on the brilliant blue Pacific ocean and a beautiful white sand beach. Located 10 miles South of Todos Santos BCS & 30 miles North of Cabo San Lucas, Cerritos Beach is known for some of the best surfing on the Baja. It is one of the few safe beaches for swimming between Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos. The decor is upscale done in Cantera stone, granite, and tile.
Tijuana, born and raised, Chef Javier Plascencia has a 30+ year culinary career (and counting) under his belt. His family has been in the restaurant business since 1969 and are now a great tradition in Tijuana.
Chef Javier has become one of Baja’s fiercest promotors and has gained international acclaim for his creative culinary concepts both in Baja Norte and Baja Sur.
Cabo to Todos Santos Surf Scene
BEST FOR: Intermediate to advanced surfers
The stretch of coastline between Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos is internationally renowned for its quality breaks. What’s more, these are less crowded than the breaks in Northern Baja, and the water is warmer.
North of Todos Santos, La Pastora is a right-hand point break that often gets triple overhead, reserved for advanced surfers. Only 20 minutes south of Todos Santos, Playa Los Cerritos is a favorite among longboarders and surfers looking to camp on the beach and enjoy the warm weather both day and night. Playa Pescadero is an uncrowded A-frame reef break for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Near Cabo San Lucas, Monuments is a short and spinning left-hand point break for experienced surfers. But the one that always steals the spotlight is the world-famous Zippers near San Jose del Cabo, a fast right-hander that has been the venue of numerous surfing competitions. Other breaks worth mentioning are Shipwrecks, a punchy right-hander, and 9 Palms, a fun and fast wave for progressing beginners and longboarders. When there is a ton of swell, this is a great shortboard wave, too, and Derek recommends 9 Palms above all others in the Cabo area.
BEST TIME TO GO: Summer months offer the best conditions.
La Katrina Surf and Skate Shop in heart of Todos Santos B.C.S., Mexico. New and used surfboards, fins, wax, leashes, even fin screws! Whatever you need they have it!
Surf Rentals, New & Used Surfboards, Wax, Accesories, Surf Lessons, Sup & Surf Tours, Activities & Ding Repair
Located in Pescadero & Todos Santos area, on the Pacific side of Baja California Sur, Mexico. A 45 min drive north of Cabo San Lucas and 45 min south of La Paz.
Todos Santos Eco Adventures
Explore Baja California’s many ecosystems with marine life experts. Swim with the majestic whale shark or the playful sea lion. Snorkel on coral reefs among the tropical fish on Espíritu Santo Island. Choose a day, overnight, or 2-night whale watching experience in Magdalena Bay where you’ll see gray whales up close or enroll your self on a expedition to swim with marlins. Other ocean activities include surfing and Ocean safari experiences, the opportunity to go sport fishing, or hike along the stunning Punta Lobos cliffs. So much to explore!
Dare to explore Baja’s nature with their majestic tours for your whole family. They are located in Todos Santos, B.C.S. and they take you to all the best places in Baja with custom tours. Ride along the beach off into the sunset, swim with whale sharks, experience some of the world’s most epic sport fishing and discover the wonders of Espiritu Santo Island all with Pegaso Expediciones. Over 15 years experience.
Mario Surf School
Explora Baja is a small family business locally owned and operated with over 15 years experience by Marine Biologist Paula Angeloni and Oceanographer Carlos Retamoza both surfers, divers and guides. They hire only local people that are experienced. Dedicated to giving their guests the most authentic life experience by the sea. Their excursions are low-impact and they are always making sure that the environment and culture of the area are protected and taken care of.
Paradero Todos Santos is now home to Tenoch, a riveting restaurant concept presenting modern Mexican cuisine with international flair
Inspired by La Gran Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztec city that is buried under Mexico City, the refreshed culinary concept is located at the heart of the property.
A classic oyster bar with a twist of modern, showcasing the best seafood and oysters in Baja, in the quaint coastal town of Todos Santos. Known as a gathering spot for local artists, they offer a unique experience around food, art, music and culture. Enjoy a mix of classical and contemporary seafood dishes accompanied by a glass of champagne. Their incredible, historical location is in the town’s oldest sugar mill.
La Esquina is literally translated as "the corner" in English. Their corner is found in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur at Calle Topete and Horizonte. They offer healthy comfort foods with a menu focused on organic Chiapan coffee, various breakfasts, sandwiches made with their freshly baked bread, salads, smoothies and juices. They serve craft beers on tap, a variety of local kombuchas and delicious natural margaritas and cocktails.
Location
Calle a Playa Los Cerritos Beach Km 65, 23300 Cerritos Beach, B.C.S
From HWY 19 turn on to Calle Playa Los Cerritos at KM 65. Stay left when the road splits. They are located at West Side Surf Shop on the right hand side, across the road from their friends at Shaka's Cantina
1890 is a glamorous restaurant in the very small, very fancy new Todos Santos Boutique Hotel. Walk down a marble staircase lined with palms and you’ll find people in leather booths eating brioche slathered with butter or downing oysters Rockefeller under dramatic chandeliers. After you’ve had your fill of glitz and juicy, slow-grilled chicken (our favorite dish), visit the wine cellar next door, which has over 200 vintages from around the world. Or, move on to La Copa, the hotel’s cocktail bar, for a great martini.
Bajavaria Biergarten & Restaurant is centrally located in the Las Tunas neighborhood of Todos Santos. Offering 16 artisanal beers on draft from local breweries throughout Mexico and Germany. They serve specialty and natural wines along with an assortment of spirits. Head to Bajavaria to enjoy the communal biergarten & bustling bar!
They also have a wine & beer store for you to shop! Custom ordering available.
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Moderately Okay Todos Santos Gallery Guide. Click Here.
1. Galería de Todos Santos
Overview: One of the oldest and most established galleries in Todos Santos, Galería de Todos Santos showcases a diverse range of works from both Mexican and international artists.
Art Styles: Contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, and mixed media.
Highlights: Works by prominent local artists like Erick Ochoa and Michael Cope.
Location: Calle Juárez 145, Todos Santos.
2. La Sonrisa de la Muerte
Overview: This gallery specializes in folk art with a focus on Dia de los Muertos themes. It offers a colorful and whimsical collection of art, including paintings, sculptures, and crafts.
Art Styles: Folk art, traditional Mexican themes.
Highlights: Unique Dia de los Muertos artwork and handcrafted items.
Location: Calle Militar, Todos Santos.
3. Gabo Art Gallery
Overview: Owned by renowned artist Gabo, this gallery features a wide range of his works, known for their vibrant colors and abstract forms.
Art Styles: Abstract, contemporary art.
Highlights: Gabo's signature paintings, often inspired by the local landscapes and culture.
Location: Avenida Juárez, Todos Santos.
4. Galería Logan
Overview: A gallery that showcases contemporary art with a focus on vibrant, bold works. The gallery often hosts exhibitions featuring both established and emerging artists.
Art Styles: Contemporary, modern art.
Highlights: Frequent exhibitions and events, offering a dynamic and ever-changing selection of art.
Location: Calle Hidalgo, Todos Santos.
5. Néstor Agúndez Cultural Center
Overview: More than just a gallery, this cultural center also hosts a museum and various cultural events. It’s a great place to explore traditional Mexican art and learn about the local history.
Art Styles: Traditional Mexican art, historical exhibitions.
Highlights: A mix of historical artifacts, traditional art, and contemporary exhibitions.
Location: Calle Benito Juárez, Todos Santos.
6. Galería Ezcurdia
Overview: This gallery, run by artist Jill Logan, features a range of artworks including paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. Logan’s own works, inspired by the Baja California landscape, are a highlight.
Art Styles: Contemporary, landscape art.
Highlights: Logan’s paintings, which capture the essence of the local environment.
Location: Calle Juárez, Todos Santos.
7. La Bohemia
Overview: A boutique art gallery and shop, La Bohemia offers a curated selection of local art, crafts, and textiles. It’s a great spot to find unique souvenirs and gifts.
Art Styles: Local crafts, textiles, folk art.
Highlights: Handmade items from local artisans, perfect for those looking for authentic pieces.
Location: Calle Hidalgo, Todos Santos.
8. Casa Catalina y Galería
Overview: This gallery and boutique focuses on contemporary art and design. It also offers art workshops and events, making it a hub for the local art community.
Art Styles: Contemporary, modern design.
Highlights: Art workshops, a rotating selection of contemporary works.
Location: Calle Topete, Todos Santos.
Tips for Visiting:
Art Walks: Todos Santos often hosts art walks, where galleries open their doors for special evening events. It’s a great way to experience the local art scene and meet the artists.
Local Festivals: Plan your visit around local art festivals like the Todos Santos Open Studio Tour or the Art Festival, which showcase a wide range of local talents.
Exploration: Take your time to explore the town’s side streets—many small galleries and artist studios are tucked away in charming, less-visited corners.
This guide should give you a comprehensive overview of the vibrant art scene in Todos Santos. Whether you’re looking to buy art or simply appreciate it, there’s something for everyone in this artistic haven.
There really weren’t many amenities, but dusty, unpaved streets and great colonial buildings from the late 1800’s early 1900’s were abundant. When they first arrived the historical area of Todos Santos seemed perfect for a gallery and they thought the timing was perfect too. They would be the first gallery to represent a group of artists that worked in different mediums; painters, sculptors and photographers. It took a while to discover artists who really were “artists'' whose lives were about their art and the process of making it. Anibal Angulo, Peter Cole along with Francisco Merino were saviors! They have been a great part of the gallery since the day it opened and happily still are.
N.E. Hayles is a self-taught artist and writer. She has lived in a small sub tropical oasis town of Todos Santos, Mexico since 1990. The extraordinary dramatic big skies and reclusive living has contributed to her ability to unite all the different influences, experiences and discoveries of her life, which is reflected in many of her art pieces.
N.E. Hayles is known for her unique art style using paper from high-end magazines as a source for her “paper tile” mosaics. She also works in ceramic/Venetian tile, oil on wood/paper, metal laminate and mixed media, including gold and silver leafing. Themes are varied throughout each medium and cover various categories: icons, portraits, angels, landscapes, seascapes, abstracts, architectural interiors and exteriors, whimsical people and one of a kind steel frames.
Pablo Márquez work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally including: Paul Fisher Gallery Miami, The Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Arts, European Modern Art Museum of Barcelona, Galata Museo del Mare, Genova Italy. His works are included in the collection of The Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Arts, and they have been featured in publications including The Circle of Arts Foundation, Lyon France, Art Spectrum the Chelsea prospective magazine, New York, Effecto Arte magazine, Rome Italy.
La Sonrisa de la Muerte is a space that celebrates the production and exhibition of graphic art, located in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
La Sonrisa de la Muerte opened in 2014, under the expertise of Cedric Volon, a graphic designer and plastic artist of Belgian origin. Along with his partner Florence, Cedric lived in Todos Santos for a year and began the project which aimed to increase visibility around young artists focused on graphic arts. The gallery is international, though proudly and primarily focuses on work by Mexican artists.
Jill Logan makes art as she lives - with passion, energy, and dedication. A prolific artist in her forties, Logan returns to the familiar, exploring, reinventing, constantly seeking out new avenues of creative expression. In creating her own distinctive style, she has caught the eye of discerning collectors.
Jill Logan's presence as an important artist continues to expand in both international and national art circles
Galeria Militar is an artist activated gallery located in the town of Todos Santos, Mexico. Established as a place to share ideas around the creative process while exhibiting and selling fine art from local and International Artists in its Mexican-industrial aesthetic exhibition space.
BÉSAME MUCHO BAZAAR
Arturo Mendoza Elfeo
Tre Galline
This Italian spot has been around since 2005, but recently moved to a larger location in downtown Todos Santos, which means it can now fit even more of your friends for a fun group dinner. The pastas—like sweet potato ravioli, linguine with squash blossom pesto, and gnocchi with gorgonzola and chile guajillo oil—are the real deal. If you’re not here with a group, at least make sure your date is down to share.
Behind a little brick facade in downtown Todos Santos is the only natural wine bar in the area. Take a seat in the outdoor courtyard to try a low-intervention Mexican malbec or tempranillo, and snacks like octopus carpaccio or thin-sliced truffle fries topped with parmesan and parsley. Go for Happy Hour wine with friends and stay for dinner.
If you need some comfort food after a day of hiking the Old Port of Todos Santos, make your way to Cien Palmas (literally “one hundred palms”). The downtown Todos Santos property has casitas where people can stay, plus a cafe and bar where you can choose from a short menu of satisfying stuff like crispy pork tacos, a smashburger, and patatas bravas with chorizo. The outdoor space is perfect for a relaxed evening, with tables spread around a pebble-floor courtyard, string lights overhead, and a subtly Wild West-themed playlist.
La Copa Bar
Iced Carajillo
Ingredients
4 ounces espresso
4 ounces Licor 43
Ice
Lemon peel or orange peel for garnish
Steps
Chill your glasses in the freezer while you make the espresso and get organized.
Make the espresso. Set aside.
Retrieve your chilled glasses and add the ice so it fills the balloon glass halfway. If you have large cube or large ball ice, this would be the time to use it, it would be amazing.
Pour the Licor 43 over the ice and stir.
Next, very slowly pour the coffee over a the back of a spoon and into the glass. The goal should be to form a layer of coffee over the golden Licor 43. Enjoy!
Consisting of 37-acre fields, where they cultivate the freshest and most flavorful produce, they carefully nurture each plant, ensuring that it thrives in a natural and organic environment.
From vibrant, heirloom tomatoes to crisp, leafy greens, their produce embodies the essence of nature's bounty. Elizabeth's philosophy of slow living extends to slow eating and savoring every moment through food.
They believe that the act of sharing a meal with loved ones should be cherished. That's why they strive to offer the best ingredients, enabling you to create memorable dining experiences through their carefully curated selection.
From the harvest of their organic gardens, they offer the optimum in nutritional value. Their menu reflects the variety of their harvest. Maintaining local focus, they associate with the merchants in the community. Join them for garden-inspired fresh food, catch of the day, local organic poultry, pizza from the wood oven, and more...
Villas La Mar presents an exceptional vacation rental experience, featuring 18 contemporary ocean-view units. It's the perfect choice for independent travelers looking for an alternative to a traditional hotel. Perched on the hillside overlooking a serene natural lagoon, their property provides breathtaking views of the majestic Pacific Ocean, the captivating Baja Sur coastline, and the lush palm grove nearby.
PARADERO
HOTEL CASA TOTA
Hotel Casa Tota is a full service 15 room boutique hotel designed for living in the moment. Feel like staying in for the night? Dine on-site at La Santena Restaurant and Cantina well known for its classic local twist on Mexican dishes and handcrafted specialty cocktails. Planning a day out? Ask the receptionist to share local tips on the best beaches and activities.
La Santeña
Welcome to the Pescadero Palace, one of the finest luxury beachfront Todos Santos rentals in the area. Their goal is to give you the best possible vacation rental at the best possible price. Pescadero Palace, located in the Todos Santos and El Pescadero area of Baja California, Mexico, will sleep from 1-18 people.
