Regional Activities
Baja California Sur is a treasure trove of nature activities. Beauty and fun await at every turn, you just have to know where to find them!
Cascada Sol de Mayo
Tucked in the mountains of the Sierra la Laguna you’ll find the beautiful Cascada Sol de Mayo. It’s a 15 minute hike from an ecological ranch you drive to in Santiago, off Highway 1. 4 wheel drive highly recommended. The fresh water is crystal clear and comfortably cool, a welcome site in the otherwise dry, desert landscape. Hike up and jump off the rocks if you dare!
2 hours and 15 minutes from Todos Santos, bring cash for a small fee at the ranch
Santa Rita Hot Springs
I was so excited when i learned there were hotsprings in the area, even though its mainly desert. There are a couple hot pools fed by an underground spring, these join up with the cooler water fed by the mountain river, so if a hot soak isn’t appealing in the heat, there’s plenty of spots to cool off as well! Hike upstream and find more deserted pools and waterfalls. This area is totally stunning.
2 hours and 15 minutes from Todos Santos, bring cash for a small fee, closed on Wednesdays
Hiking the Sierras
The Sierra de la Laguna mountain range dominates the scenery looking east from Todos Santos. There are various day trips you can do with a local guide, and also a 3 night, 4 day cross Sierra trek that takes you to El Picacho, the highest point in Baja Sur at ~7,090 feet. The Sierras are a protected biosphere reserve, home to more than 900 plant species, many of them endemic to the area. They also contain the only pine oak forest in the state. If you’re looking for unspoiled hiking, mountaineering and backpacking, this is the place for it. Pristine landscapes and views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez await!
Cabo Pulmo National Park
Cabo Pulmo is a small town on the East Cape, located a 2 hour and 40 minute drive from Todos Santos. It is 10000% worth the drive, and you can camp on any of the beaches. The town has a couple dive shops, Airbnb rentals and 3 restaurants. The drive in is all dirt roads, 4 wheel drive not necessary, but helpful.
Scuba Diving
Cabo Pulmo boasts the only Pacific Coast coral reef in all of Mexico. Jacques Cousteau, the French scientist explorer, called the Sea of Cortez the “Aquarium of the World” and for good reason, the seas here are FULL of marine life! From grey whales, whale sharks, manta rays, sharks, 1000s of tropical fish and giant schools of jacks, there is so much happening beneath the surface! The best way to witness this is scuba diving, you can complete your certification at the PADI certified dive centers right here in Cabo Pulmo. This was what brought me to Baja the first time, and its what has kept me returning again and again.
2 hours and 40 minutes from Todos Santos
Playa El Arbolito
Playa El Arbolito, or Little Tree Beach, is located just south of Cabo Pulmo downtown, and is an incredible spot for snorkeling if you don’t have a scuba diving certification but still want to see the marine life. There’s some shallow reef here and an abundance of tropical fish. There’s also an awesome little hike that starts on the south end of the beach and leads you to the awesome rock formations and even more snorkeling spots. There are bathrooms here but thats about it, bring a cooler with water and snacks, and your own towels and beach chairs, plus cash for parking.
2 hours and 50 minutes from Todos Santos
Hiking & Mountain Biking
There is a trail system that is easily accessed right in town that goes into the Sierra la Trinidad foothills. The hikes are as long as you want them to be, with a series of loops and out and back options great both on foot and on mountain bikes. Easy to Moderate terrain, with incredible views of the Sea of Cortez and the SIerras. Always bring plenty of water, protect yourself from the sun, and watch out for rattlesnakes!
2 hours and 40 minutes from Todos Santos
San Jose del Cabo
San Jose, where the international airport is located, is a picturesque, historic town with a vibrant downtown and beautiful plaza. There are art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars and beaches in a very walkable downtown atmosphere. Similar to Todos Santos, but much more populated and busier. Located 1 hour 20 minutes from Todos Santos.
Scuba Diving
San Jose does guided dive trips along the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. It’s nowhere near as good as diving in Cabo Pulmo though. I would skip diving here and just dive in the reef, unless for some reason you can’t make it Cabo Pulmo. Other water sports in San Jose include whale watching, sea kayaking and stand up paddleboarding.
1 hour and 15 minutes from Todos Santos
Tequila Tasting
Wandering around the beautiful plaza of San Jose you’ll come across many different shops. Stop into a tequila shop and taste the different varieties! Try some mezcal, tequila that is made from smoked agave leaves. It has a taste similar to whiskey, but better, in my opinion. Leave with a souvenir that will remind you of the tastes of Mexico.
(you can also do tequila tastings in downtown Todos Santos)
1 hour and 15 minutes from Todos Santos
La Paz, Capital of Baja California Sur
La Paz is located 1 hour 10 minutes north of Todos Santos, on the east coast. La Paz is the largest city in Baja Sur, with a population of ~245,000. This city boasts a beautiful, recently rebuilt boardwalk, called El Malecon, along the beautiful La Paz Bay, lined by bars, restaurants and shops.
Isla Espiritu Santo
Off the coast of La Paz lies a large, mountainous island that is home to many different bird species and a group of sea lions. There are tours that run out of La Paz that take you to snorkel with the sea lions, which was a definite bucket list item for me! They were so cute and playful, there were lots of pups around and they were curious and swam circles around us. Lunch is on a quiet bay on the island, and the trip back you get to watch the sun set into the Bay of La Paz. This is a full day trip, prepare to use the ocean as your only toilet option!
La Paz is 1 hour 15 minutes from Todos Santos
Playa Balandra
Playa Balandra has been named Mexico’s most beautiful beach by numerous publications, and if you show up on a blue sky day you can see why. The calm, warm waters are crystal clear and perfect for wading or paddle boarding. You can walk across to the other side of the bay it’s that shallow! There are little trails you can take up and around the surrounding rocky hills to some less populated beach spots which also gives your a bird’s eye view of the whole Bay of Balandra. Mangroves grow here and are protected as they are important to protect against beach erosion. Bring a cooler and sunshade (both provided at the house) and plan on spending a day here!
Located 1 hour and 35 minutes from Todos Santos
Whale Shark Tours
Whale shark season out of La Paz runs from October to April. Swimming with these gentle giants is an exhilarating and awe inspiring experience. They are filter feeders that come to feast on the plankton rich waters in the Bay of La Paz. There are many tours that operate out of La Paz, most run about $100USD and go for 2 to 5 hours depending on the specific tour. Definitely bring your GoPros or underwater cameras for this, the whale sharks are pretty laid back swimmers and you can get some great footage. Depending on how long of a tour you choose, this is a good tour to couple with a visit to Playa Balandra afterwards.
La Paz is 1 hour 15 minutes from Todos Santos