Todos Santos: 5 Must-Try Activities!
By Lea C.
Translated from French by Meghan McCallum
Trips in May 2016, December 2018, and January 2022
Todos Santos is a charming town with the official designation “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Village). It’s located on the Pacific Ocean, about 45 minutes southwest of La Paz (click here for my list of 7 must-try activities in La Paz).
It tends to be touristy and has a lot of Americans in town, but it’s still worth it to spend two or three days in Todos Santos depending on the activities you’re interested in. It’s a good home base for a variety of activities in the area, which are easily accessible from town.
Without further ado, here’s my list of 5 must-try activities when you visit Todos Santos (and no, Hotel California is not included).
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4. Hike along the Pacific Ocean
5. Hike in the Sierra de la Laguna
If you’d like to see my recommendations in action, click here to watch the video for this article on my YouTube channel. Heads up: the Sierra de la Laguna hike is featured in a separate video here.
1– Walk around town
The town has two main roads that are parallel to each other, with smaller streets connecting them. Here, you’ll find tons of restaurants, souvenir shops, art galleries, and surf shops. You can easily get around on foot. Don’t forget to go all the way to the main square on the north side of town to do the full tour!
Note that the center of town is not on the ocean, so you’ll need to walk about 15 minutes to reach the water.
2– Take a surf lesson
Just south of Todos Santos, Los Cerritos beach is a perfect surf spot for beginners. Many instructors are available to help surfers of all ages. You won’t feel alone or intimidated, even though more experienced surfers (also of all ages) also come to catch the waves at this same beach.
I recommend Todos Santos Surf Shop to get all the equipment you’ll need. They can also organize transportation from Todos Santos to Los Cerritos (about 20 minutes) for a few additional pesos. Lessons happen in the morning and last about two hours. Keep in mind that spending so much time on the waves can be tiring – bring a snack or lunch so you can eat on the beach after your lesson!
3– Release turtle hatchlings
Todos Santos is a popular spot for releasing turtle hatchlings, and there are different species throughout the season from December to June. This is a truly magical, heartwarming experience!
The organization that works with the turtles is called Tortugueros Las Playitas, and they post frequent updates on their Facebook page. If you have any questions, most taxi drivers can help you find it, or at least know how to get information. Due to the pandemic, on our most recent trip in January 2022, we weren’t able to participate in releasing the turtles, but we were allowed to watch. Still, it is really special to see.
You’ll need to walk or take a taxi to get to the beach where this activity takes place just before sunset. Bring a picnic or refreshments to enjoy the beach and sunset after the turtles are released. You just might see rays jumping from the ocean!
4– Hike along the Pacific Ocean
South of town, large bluffs overlook the ocean. You can walk along the coast among the cacti and boulders! After ascending from the beach level, the trail is pretty easy. If you want a guide to help you learn more about the flora and fauna, as well as the history of the town, several operators in town offer half-day hikes. The best trails don’t have direct access from town, so a guide can help you with transportation to a better starting point.
With some luck, you’ll see turtles, sea lions, and even whales breaching.
5– hike in the la Sierra de la Laguna
Further inland, the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve offers multiple trail options for hikes. Thanks to our guide from Todos Santos Eco Adventures, we had no trouble getting there and staying on trail. We also learned more about the history of the region and the small number of people who continue to live in this mountain range.
You’ll see many kinds of trees and cacti… and you might have a chance to dip your feet in a watering hole or waterfall!
To see what an adventure in the Sierra de la Laguna looks like, watch this video!