Where to Stay in Todos Santos!
I was in San Jose del Cabo earlier this summer with a friend, & one of the highlights of our trip was staying in the lovely little town of Todos Santos. While Cabo San Lucas is known for its epic party scene & all-around debauchery: Todos Santos is known for its charm, art galleries, & a much more laid-back, almost sleepy vibe than its crazier cousins to the South. It’s also well-known amongst surfers, as the popular surf break at Cerritos Beach is located just 10 minutes to the south. But I can assure you: accommodations in Todos Santos are far more upscale than what you’ll find in Cerritos! Here, we’ll get into detail about “Where to Stay in Todos Santos, Mexico.”
My friend Kadi & I went to Todos Santos earlier this summer & were absolutely enchanted by both the town AND our boutique hotel ~ find out where we stayed below!
Map of Todos Santos Hotels
First off, if you’re flying into the Los Cabos Airport (which we did): know that it’s the EASIEST drive from the airport to Todos Santos! It took us just under an hour, on a well-paved toll road, with essentially ZERO traffic. The toll road helps you avoid the downtowns of both San Jose del Cabo & Cabo San Lucas, & whizzes you right up the coast to Todos. There’s pretty much nothing between Cabo & Todos, except a few random taco stands & adventure outposts ~ until you get to Cerritos Beach. The surf there is a big attraction, but the town itself (if you can call it that) isn’t much to look at; it’s basically a lot of hilly dirt roads with a scattering of some attractive (& some not so attractive) buildings, in various states of completion.Â
Point is: if you are at all discerning, I would highly recommend staying in Todos Santos vs. Cerritos.
This yellow hotel presides over Cerritos Beach; my friend & I tried to grab a drink there, but it was closed at the time. You can see that the surrounding area is fairly undeveloped & a bit desolate-feeling. This is really a spot primarily for surfers.
Click here to check rental car rates in San Jose del Cabo.
Downtown San Jose del Cabo
Hacienda Todos Los Santos
The Todos Santos Inn
Guaycuro Boutique Hotel
Hotel California
Hotel San Cristobal
Overview of Todos Santos Hotels
Todos Santos is an ideal destination for couples, solo travelers who don’t want to deal with the craziness of Cabo, surfers, & girl’s getaways ~ particularly if you love shopping for beautiful Mexican art or textiles (I found great colorful blankets at Hotel California’s gift shop)! When we were there, in July 2021, town was shutting down quite early ~ by about 7:30 or 8PM, which is a sharp contrast to Cabo. If you’re looking to surf and/or shop during the day, eat some GREAT tacos & Mexican food, & soak in a more authentic, historic vibe than is offered in Cabo: Todos Santos will be a great fit for you.
But is Todos Santos safe?? In my experience, it felt 100% safe here; my friend Kadi & I both ventured out solo into town & had zero qualms about it. I definitely felt less safe & more on guard in neighboring Cerritos Beach.
Top 5 Hotels in Todos Santos
Of all the accommodations in Todos Santos, these are my top five picks ~ & while some aren’t necessarily to my taste, I think there’s something for everyone here. Photos of all hotels can be found below.
- Hacienda Todos Los Santos ($160+): The Lush Hideaway That’s Just Steps from Town. I LOVED staying here. This family-run hacienda has just a few rooms, but they are HUGE, with some of the biggest bathrooms I’ve ever seen in a hotel room. Our second room (on the second-story) had a sunken shower with windows that opened onto sweeping jungle views; it was absolutely unique! This is a perfect spot for a romantic getaway or a girl’s trip, as you’ve got a lot of room to spread out here. All rooms have large balconies or verandas; the only downside is there’s no food here. But you’re just a short walk from town!
- Hotel California ($179+): The Iconic Todos Santos Hotel in the Heart of Town ~ But Quite Touristy. Just up the street from Hacienda Todos Los Santo is the hotel made famous by the Eagles, in an iconic orange-adobe building located right on the main drag. There’s a nice gift shop here (though some of the employees can be pushy) & a bar/restaurant that many tourists come to visit, but the overall feel seems a bit more Americanized than authentic Mexico here.
- The Todos Santos Inn ($128+): Affordable Historic Gem with Loads of Charm. If we hadn’t stayed at the Hacienda ~ we almost certainly would have stayed here! I’m a fan of anything that oozes history, & when a building has character like this red-bricked, former sugar baron’s residence does, with its ample collection of antiques: I’m pretty much an instant fan. Whereas the Hotel California seems to have lost some of its authenticity, the Inn has retained its in spades. Also located right downtown, next to the wonderful Todos Santos Cafe (a great breakfast spot).
- Hotel San Cristobal ($426+): New Pricey Hipster-Chic Haven Just South of Todos Santos. This is probably the most “Instagram-friendly” hotel listed, & with that comes….high prices! Located on an isolated spot along the Pacific Ocean, ten minutes south of Todos Santos, you’ll be on quite a long dirt road to reach the hotel, FYI (meaning you need a car here). My friend & I grabbed a drink at the hotel’s bar, & while it was very pretty, the vibe was a little….pretentious. All the travel bloggers are raving about this place ~ but I suspect that’s because they’ve been given free accommodations for those opinions. BUT! Rooms here do look lovely, & are the newest & most modern of the Todos hotels, so if you’re looking for a hip, modern retreat & don’t mind being quite aways out of town, this may be a good option for you.
- Guaycura Boutique Hotel ($160+): Romantic Boutique Hotel with Beach Club & Great Dining. This is the hotel that took me most by surprise; in my initial research, it didn’t come up at all! How I wish I would have known about it though ~ it looks amazing: from the rooftop bar with views out to the ocean, to its romantic El Mirador restaurant….with more amazing ocean views, to its two pools & beach club access (just 10 minutes from the hotel), plus rooms with authentic Mexican vibes, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck here. Perfect for a romantic retreat or girl’s getaway; located right in the center of town.
Photos of Todos Santos Hotels
There are only five rooms at Hacienda Todos Los Santos ~ & we stayed in two of them! Both rooms were LARGE, & the bathrooms are some of the biggest I’ve ever seen in a hotel. Plus the graceful Spanish architecture makes them a welcome place to retreat to…
Hacienda Todos Los Santos has a near-perfect location: it’s only a 2-minute walk from town, & yet when you walk onto its grounds, you’re transported into another, more tranquil, jungle-y world.
The Hotel California is a major Todos Santos landmark: it’s located right in the heart of town, just up the street from Hacienda Todos Los Santos.
Rooms at the Hotel California are cute, but I think they lack the charm of many other hotels on this list. Another detractor of the Hotel California is that, due to its famous name, it can be a bit touristy.
Photos of Todos Santos Inn & Hotel San Cristobal
This charming red-bricked hotel sits right in the middle of town, & has simple yet elegant, airy rooms that open up to tropical landscapes..
The Todos Santos Inn was built in the 1870’s & was originally the home of a former sugar baron; you’ll definitely feel the history in the walls here..
Hotel San Cristobal is the newest hotel on this list, & it’s definitely the priciest: this is the home of hipster chic in Todos Santos. Rooms are spacious & many have ocean views & terraces.
The chic pool at Hotel San Cristobal, which is perched right above the Pacific Ocean. The hotel’s location is quite isolated, & only accessible via a dirt road: so if you plan to stay here, know that it will be about a 10-minute drive into Todos Santos.
The chic sitting area in Hotel San Cristobal’s bar.
Photos of Todos Santos Hotels
Guaycura Boutique Hotel is the hotel I wish I’d known about before we arrived in Todos Santos. These photos make me want to go back & stay there!
The killer rooftop bar at the Guaycura Boutique Hotel.
One of Guaycura’s two pools.
The hotel has 14 tranquil rooms with lovely Spanish architecture.
Indoor bar.Â
El Mirador Oceanview Restaurant is one of Guaycura’s three restaurants, & is the most romantic of the three.
Goodbye for Now Todos Santos…
I hope this post has helped you get a good overview of the hotel selection in lovely little Todos Santos. If you’re traveling here from Los Cabos, I highly recommend renting a car~ while it’s easy to walk around Todos by foot, the only real way to explore the surrounding area is by renting a car. Particularly if you want to surf at Cerritos or head up to La Paz to swim with whale sharks!
Happy Exploring…
xoxo Noelia
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