Where to Stay in Todos Santos: 10 Coolest Hotels

Figuring out where to stay in Todos Santos in Baja California Sur is a bit tricky – you’ve got a lot of exceptional options. But fear not! We’ve got you covered. 

Todos Santos is often overlooked by its more famous neighboring towns, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. And we used to only visit on a day trip from Cabo.

But then we realized what we were missing – a trendy little town waiting to be discovered.

Actually, scratch that. Those in the know have clued into its charm. But it still feels like a new discovery, with some surprising and very cool things to do.

Plus, Todos Santos has awesome beaches – wild, secluded and with barely a soul leaving footprints in the sand.

Of course, if you have more than a few days in your Todos Santos travel itinerary, mix it up and spend a few days here and a few days in Los Cabos.

But now, as promised, let’s delve into where to stay in Todos Santos.

Where to stay in Todos Santos, Mexico

One of Mexico’s Pueblo Magicos (magic towns), Todos Santos, is, well, magical! 

There are cool hotels in town, around its outskirts and on the beaches outside of town (see, we told you it could be a bit tricky).

While some of them are very close to town, driving to town may still take 10 to 15 minutes, as you’re on sandy, bumpy, sometimes hilly and unpaved roads.

Also, if you are looking for Todos Santos resorts like all-inclusives, there aren’t any, so you’ll need to head here. (All hotels in Todos Santos are small or boutique accommodations.)

Todos Santos neighborhoods

Todos Santos town

The historic center of Todos Santos is small enough that you can soak up its laid-back boho vibe in a few hours.

It’s very walkable, albeit with some iffy tricky-to-navigate sidewalks.

Staying here is the perfect choice if you want to be close to the town’s great restaurants and cafés, yet don’t mind a quick car ride to feel the sand between your toes.

Las Tunas and El Otro Lado

Todos Santos is on the radar now, and the neighborhoods of Las Tunas and El Otro Lado are being built up just north of town.

Sprinkled with cafés, Airbnbs, residential homes and boutique hotels, El Otro Lado (“the other side”) locally refers to the whole area north of central Todos Santos. Las Tunas is a smaller neighborhood within El Otro Lado.

Both are on their way to becoming trendy spots, with a rough-around-the-edges feel.

They’re within a 15-minute drive of downtown Todos Santos – but be ready for dusty bumpy roads.

El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach

El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach (Playa Los Cerritos) are two popular beach towns south of Todos Santos, connected by the paved Highway #19.

With its reliable surf breaks, Cerritos Beach is a popular surfing hangout. If you visit Todos Santos, you’ll probably want to stop here to watch the surfers ride the waves.

While El Pescadero and Cerritos are home to several hotels, we’ve not included them in this Todos Santos hotel guide, as they’re a little further away from town than the others listed here.

Which is the best area to stay in Todos Santos?

Choosing where to stay in Todos Santos really comes down to what you’re after.

Beach getaway

If your dream Baja getaway is all about a lot of beach time, then obviously book a beachfront hotel.

We stayed both in town and at a beach hotel.

If you’re visiting Todos Santos for a few days or a week (and don’t want to move hotels), we’d recommend a beachfront hotel as your base.

Just remember, you’ll be a 10- to 15-minutes away from town. If you’re not comfortable driving at night on dimly lit sandy roads (or after enjoying a mezcalita or two), you’ll probably end up eating dinner at your hotel most nights.

(Mind you, this isn’t exactly a hardship, as these beachfront hotels have great restaurants! And for a change of scene, you can always go for a leisurely late lunch in town – and drive back to your hotel when it’s still daylight.)

One or two days in Todos Santos

On the other hand, if you’re only staying for a couple of days or a weekend in Todos Santos, you might prefer to opt for a hotel in town and be close to all the town’s restaurants and other attractions.

Some hotels in downtown Todos Santos have their own beach clubs or offer complimentary access to a beach club – giving you the best of both scenes.

Best Todos Santos hotels in town

Staying in Todos Santos town means having all the laid-back action at your fingertips.

All the following hotels in town have pools, so you won’t miss the beach. But planning a beach day is super easy since it’s only a short drive away.

1) Guaycura Boutique Hotel

Guayacura Boutique Hotel is housed in the center of town in a 19th-century historic brick building.

The three classes of rooms are all spacious, and the suites have views of palm groves on the edge of town.

With a rooftop infinity pool plus three eateries and bars, it might be tempting to stay on-site.

But the cherry on top of this Todos Santos hotel pick is their El Faro Beach Club & Spa.

Located on secluded El Faro Beach, the beach club is a few miles from the hotel.

You’ll find a splendid infinity pool, restaurant and spa here. And its cool vibe, endless ocean views and beach cabanas with swinging day beds will sweep you off your feet.

Hidden behind a wall on the edge of town is La Bohemia Hotel, a little oasis of Zen. 

All nine traditional casitas in this boutique hotel in Todos Santos are centered around the garden, where bougainvillea blooms and birds flit around the burbling fountain.

Breakfast (included in the rate) is served from 8:00 to 9:00 am under the covered terrace beside the small pool.

The décor of our modest casita, King Room #1, lived up to the hotel’s name.

The only downsides for us were the lack of a room safe. That, and some nearby dogs liked to chat at night (but nothing a set of supplied earplugs couldn’t overcome).  

3) Todos Santos Boutique Hotel

Taking things up a big notch is the newly renovated and just-opened Todos Santos Boutique Hotel.

It’s set in the heart of downtown, where art galleries and trendy cafés dot the cobblestone streets. And at over $1,000 USD a night per room, it’s setting a new standard for luxury. 

You’ll be awe-struck by the grandeur of the building dating back to its ownership by a Spanish countess.  

With only 10 rooms, attention to personal service and super-fine detail is their bailiwick, and the dedicated concierge team is there to prove it. This place is bringing opulence back like a luxury Todos Santos hotel should.

If you’re looking for a very reasonably priced place in town, then Hotel Casa Tota is right up your alley – or should we say, cobblestone street? 

This 15-room hotel has two on-site restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool. It’s modern but kept its nod to history during its renovations. It was a family compound for 70 years and Dona Tota’s general store for 50 years, hence the name.

This is where to stay in Todos Santos if your budget is tight but you still want all the comforts you deserve on your well-earned vacation.

Best Todos Santos hotels on the beach

If you’re a beach baby, staying at either of the following beachfront hotels will satisfy your seaside cravings.

And as Todos Santos Town is a quick hop away, you’ll still be able to get your fix of art galleries and Mexican culture too.

This beautiful hotel is so stunning we went for a viewing on one trip and made it a point to stay the next time we were in Todos Santos.

And now, after staying here, it’s one of our favorite Todos Santos luxury hotels! (Actually, they had us at the welcome margaritas.)

Hotel Villa Santa Cruz is located beachfront on a huge swath of property (on Playa La Pastora) in El Otro Lado, north of town.

It has 24 ocean-view guest rooms, spread across five different room classes – from flawless spacious villas to equally-as-flawless tented beach suites (think upper-crust glamping with soaker tubs and fireplaces). 

We went for a brand new rooftop pool villa – because why not? And we were glad we did as we soaked in our Jacuzzi-come-plunge pool on our private rooftop terrace, watching the sunset. 

In the morning, we woke to coffee and mini-muffins (coconut one day, banana the next) delivered to our villa.

This helped propel us out of our very comfortable bed to breakfast, and then to lounge by one of the two pools.

But the secret sauce of this place is the crow’s nest on stilts on the beach, with panoramic ocean views.

It’s like a treehouse for two, with cushioned beds under a thatched roof palapa that’s the perfect place to spot gray or humpback whales in season.

6) Hotel San Cristobal

This secluded spot on Punta Lobos Beach is like an oasis in the desert.

With whitewashed walls, the elegant Hotel San Cristobal stands alone at the end of a long dirt road – a petite wonder at the base of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. 

The raw natural beauty of the area blends seamlessly with this beachfront hotel in Todos Santos – putting the “lux” in this luxury hotel.

Somehow, the hotel manages to fuse the small town surf’s-up vibe the area is known for with the hippie-chic money set. And it works. 

Its 1970s Mexico-meets-custom-furniture by Guadalajara artisans and stamped concrete floors.

Splurge on the ocean-facing room with an outdoor plunge pool, and you can walk off the beach and into your private pool, set into the sand, in seconds. 

No two of the 34 rooms are alike. But they all have premium Coco-Mat mattresses made of coconut fibers, goose down, seaweed and rubber.

Again, it shouldn’t work, but it does. (We’ve slept on Coco-Mat mattresses and they’re divine.)

As for dining, the hotel has two restaurants, including its brand new Cosecha restaurant in the front garden. Here, grilled meats, the freshest of fish and salads are served family-style – and all herbs used in their cocktails come from the garden.

We enjoyed a pool day pass at Hotel San Cristobal – touring the hotel, lounging by the pool and noshing on its food and drinks for lunch.

If we hadn’t been so lizard-like, we’d have gone for a swim in the ocean too – the sandy beach right out front is swimmable (unlike most in Todos Santos).

Other best hotels in Todos Santos

The hotels below are only about a 10-minute drive from town.

The newly reimagined La Poza Boutique Hotel is built around a bird lagoon sanctuary.

Just beyond it is La Poza Beach, a 5- to 8-minute walk. But this isn’t a swimming beach, so except for a few beach walks, you’ll spend your time at the beautiful freeform pool.

Imagine waking up to bird song as the sun breathes light into the day in one of the hotel’s 13 tropical but modern suites.

If that’s not your style, indulge in the king suite with a hot tub nestled behind lush greenery, so you can skinny-dip under the stars.

We stayed here several years ago before the new geo-domes were built (and when La Poza was under different ownership) – and loved it then. So when we heard it had recently opened again, we just had to take a look.

8) Paradero Todos Santos

Any list of the best places to stay in Todos Santos has to include the Paradero. 

Want to know what it’s like to be treated like a celeb (minus the paparazzi, of course)? Stay here.

It’s a wellness-focused hotel, set among five acres of untouched land.

Each suite has sanctuary-like interiors. They flow seamlessly into the outdoor lounging areas, where hot tubs, hammocks and star nets await for the ultimate in relaxation. 

Besides the usual activities like surfing, mountain biking and yoga – all included in your nightly rate – you can enjoy a curated beach picnic on an unspoiled beach, cooking classes and ancient healing sessions.

It’s one of the best places to stay in Todos Santos to immerse yourself in nature and rekindle that childlike sense of wonder and adventure. 

9) Los Colibris Casitas

Down the way from La Poza is the secluded Los Colibris Casitas, a little gem perched on a hilltop. Each of the nine casas, casitas and suites has views of the freshwater estuary, a palm grove oasis and the ocean.

If you’re staying for more than a few days, pick one with a full kitchen and living room.

As you’re just a short walk to the beach and a 10-minute drive into town, you’ll be perfectly placed for all the excursions on your radar.

10) Desierto Azul

If you are into plant-based living and sustainable hotels, Desierto Azul is your happy place. It’s north of town in Las Tunas.

The four ground-level rooms are minimal yet sophisticated and built around the saltwater infinity pool.

This unique accommodation is the best of the Todos Santos boutique hotels for detoxing and recharging.

FAQs about staying in Todos Santos

Is Todos Santos safe?

Yes, Todos Santos is generally considered safe. It’s a haven for American expats and visitors who travel up from Cabo San Lucas.

We’ve never felt unsafe all the times we’ve visited.

We’ve written a detailed post on safety in Cabo – much of the information there applies to Todos Santos as well. So hop on over to that article for details.

Can you swim in Todos Santos in the ocean?

The stretch of Pacific Ocean by Todos Santos is mostly a no-go for swimmers. Strong rip currents and crashing waves make swimming in the ocean dangerous here for most people – so we don’t recommend it.

Do you need a car to visit Todos Santos?

We recommend renting a car to experience the best of Todos Santos. (We’ve used Discover Cars for car rentals in Cabo.)

It’s the easiest and most convenient way to get there and, once in Todos Santos, to get around.

Remember, Todos Santos isn’t beachside, so a car is crucial to explore the area fully (there’s no public transport in Todos Santos and taxis are rare).

Note: Car rentals aren’t available in the town. You’ll need to pick one up at the Los Cabos International Airport or in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo or La Paz (about an hour away).

That wraps up our guide on the best hotels in Todos Santos, Mexico!

Well, there you have it. We hope you know where to stay in Todos Santos after reading this guide!

Prepare to be enchanted by the area, just like us.

Photos: 1, 2, 4, 8, 13 to 19, 22, 23, 25 to 31, 33 to 35, 36 to 38, 40, 41 © Janice and George Mucalov, Cabo Visitor