Todos Santos & Cerritos Day Trips

Todos Santos sits an hour north of Cabo on the Pacific side — a desert art town with working galleries, a decent taco scene, and the famous Hotel California (maybe that one, maybe not). The wide beach at Cerritos, just south of town, offers one of the most forgiving surf breaks on the Baja Pacific. Most visitors do this as a day trip by tour van or rental car; the drive crosses cactus flats and climbs the Sierra de la Laguna before dropping into the valley.

Updated September 2026

Pick your way

The ways to do it — honestly compared.

Way 1

On a guided day tour

Six-hour van tours from Cabo handle the drive, hit the main plaza, Hotel California, a gallery or two, and usually lunch. You're on a schedule but you don't navigate Mexican highway signage or find parking. Most tours include stops at local cooperatives or lookout points on the way back.

Why you'll love it

No driving the mountain pass yourself
Lunch and entrance fees often included
Guides explain the Pueblo Mágico history and art scene
Pickup from your hotel

Worth knowing

Fixed itinerary limits how long you spend where
Group size varies — you might be on a bus with 20 others
Less time at Cerritos Beach if surf or swimming is the goal

Best for: First-timers who want context and logistics handled, or anyone nervous about driving unfamiliar roads.

Typical price: $99–130 per person

Do it with:Todos Santos Day Trip from Cabo San Lucas →Todos Santos Magical Town Guided Tour →Todos Santos tour & Hotel California Day Trip from Los Cabos →

Way 2

By rental car on your own schedule

The drive from Cabo is roughly an hour each way on Highway 19, a paved two-lane that climbs through desert and cactus before dropping into Todos Santos. You set your own pace — spend three hours at Cerritos or fifteen minutes at Hotel California, hit the galleries when they're quiet, eat where locals eat. Gas stations are sparse once you leave the corridor.

Why you'll love it

Total control over timing and stops
Cheaper for groups of three or more
Easy to add Cerritos Beach for a swim or surf session
Stop for tacos or farmstand fruit on the drive

Worth knowing

You navigate the mountain section and occasional potholes yourself
No narration on history or artist studios
Parking in town center can be tight on weekends
Need to manage your own fuel and timing

Best for: Confident drivers who want flexibility, or anyone combining Todos Santos with a longer Cerritos surf or beach session.

Typical price: Rental car ~$40–60/day plus gas

Way 3

As a surf lesson add-on at Cerritos

A handful of surf schools run lessons at Cerritos Beach, just south of Todos Santos, and package the session with time in town. The break is mellow and sandy-bottomed, ideal for beginners. You surf first, then stop in Todos Santos on the way back for tacos or a walk through the plaza. The 5.5-hour window covers transport, instruction, and a quick town visit.

Why you'll love it

Learn to surf on one of Baja's gentler Pacific breaks
Instructor handles gear and wave selection
Built-in town stop without extending your day
Smaller groups than cattle-call Cabo beach lessons

Worth knowing

Limited time in Todos Santos proper — usually under an hour
Surf conditions dictate the schedule
Wetsuits recommended even in summer; water is cooler than the Sea of Cortez

Best for: Anyone who wants to surf Cerritos and see Todos Santos without booking two separate trips.

Typical price: $75–100 per person

Do it with:Private Surf Lessons at Cerritos →

Before you go

Hotel California is not definitively the Eagles hotel — it opened after the song — but it's a well-restored 1940s building with good coffee and the gift shop locals tolerate.
Cerritos Beach has rental chairs and a couple of palapa restaurants, but bring cash; card readers are hit-or-miss.
Galleries in Todos Santos keep irregular hours; if a specific artist or studio matters, call ahead or check their Instagram.
The drive back to Cabo in late afternoon sun can be blinding on certain stretches — sunglasses essential, and watch for livestock near the road.
If you're renting a car, fill up in Cabo before leaving; the Pemex in Todos Santos exists but lines can be long on weekends.
Surf conditions at Cerritos are best May through October; winter swells can get big and the current stronger.

The operators

Who does it best.

Browse all Todos Santos & Cerritos Day Trips tours →

OutdoorFrom $90© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Baja Cali Surf

Baja Cali Surf runs lessons and excursions out of Cabo San Lucas, and the 5-out-of-5 rating across 48 reviews suggests they've figured out the teaching part. Surf instruction in Cabo tends to sort into two camps: cattle-call operations that herd twenty beginners into the same break, and smaller outfits that actually watch what you're doing wrong. The rating here points to the latter — people mention patience and genuine coaching, not just a wetsuit rental and a push. Most lessons happen at beginner-friendly spots along the Pacific side, where the waves cooperate and the bottom is forgiving. If you've never stood on a board, that matters. If you have, they'll adjust. The consistency in reviews implies they're not farming this out to whoever showed up that morning.

water

That's my six year old! Thank you Arturo and Jorge!

OutdoorFrom $80© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

La Bocana Surf School

La Bocana Surf School operates out of San José del Cabo, and the 5/5 rating across 21 reviews tells you something about consistency. This is proper surf instruction, not a paddleboard photo op—they're teaching people to read waves and actually stand up, whether you've never touched a board or you're cleaning up bad habits from years ago. The school's edge is instructor quality and wave selection. They move between breaks depending on conditions and student level, which matters more than most beginners realize. The perfect-score rating suggests they're not cramming groups or rushing people into conditions they're not ready for. Expect real coaching, not just a shove into whitewater and a thumbs-up from the beach. Book ahead if you're here during high season. Small class sizes mean they fill up, and the rating means word travels.

water

Manny Gonzalez Surf School

Manny Gonzalez Surf School operates out of San José del Cabo, working the breaks along the East Cape where the Gulf meets open water. The 5/5 rating comes from three reviews, so it's a small sample, but consistent marks suggest the instruction is direct and the wave selection works for beginners who don't want to spend half the lesson paddling against shore break. Most surf schools in the area run similar formats — foam boards, wetsuits if the water's cool, two-hour blocks timed to the tide. What separates one from another usually comes down to instructor patience and whether they're willing to move spots if conditions turn. With only three reviews logged, there's not enough pattern data to confirm how Manny's operation handles those variables, but the perfect score at least indicates no one left frustrated. If you're booking, ask about group size and whether they adjust location based on swell. Small details, but they matter when you're standing up for the first time.

Surfsipuedes

Surfsipuedes operates out of Plaza Del Pescador on the San José del Cabo malecón. It's a surf outfit with a perfect 5/5 rating, though that's based on a single review, so the usual caveats apply about sample size. The location puts you right on the estuary side of town, where the beach break is generally more forgiving than the open-water spots up the coast. The name translates loosely to "you can surf," which feels like either encouragement or a dare depending on your skill level. Instructors here work the beginner-friendly waves near the river mouth, and the setup is low-key — no resort gloss, just boards and someone who knows the sandbars. If you're staying in San José and want to try surfing without committing to a full-day drive or a polished surf camp experience, this is the direct route.

water

Todos Santos Day Trip from Cabo San Lucas

This six-hour trip runs west from Cabo San Lucas across the Sierra de la Laguna to Todos Santos, a desert art town on the Pacific coast about an hour outside the resort corridor. The route climbs through cactus hills and drops into a farming valley before you hit the main plaza—murals, galleries, little cafes, the mission church from 1733. Most tours stop at the Hotel California (yes, that one, though the connection is debatable) and allow time to browse the craft shops and grab lunch. Some versions include a quick beach stop at Cerritos or Pescadero on the way back. The 4.7 rating across 601 reviews reflects consistent execution: air-conditioned vans, bilingual guides, decent pacing. At $130, it's straightforward cultural day-tripping—not adventure-intensive, but a solid break from the beach routine if you want to see what rural Baja looks like beyond the resorts. Bring sunscreen; the desert sun is no joke even when you're just walking around town.

cultural

Todos Santos Magical Town Guided Tour

This six-hour tour loops west over the Sierra de la Laguna to Todos Santos, the sleepy art town on the Pacific side. It's an actual designated Pueblo Mágico—a government recognition for cultural heritage—which means colonial plazas, working galleries, and restaurants that predate the resort boom. The tour runs through the mountain spine, so you get desert scrub turning to tropical canopy, then dropping back to coast. Stops usually include the mission church, a few galleries, and the Hotel California (yes, that song reference everyone asks about). Five reviews on Viator all rate it five stars, though that's a thin sample. The $130 price includes transport and a guide; it doesn't include lunch, so budget for that. The drive takes about an hour each way, and you're on your feet once you're in town—wear shoes you can walk in. If you want to see the non-resort side of Baja Sur without renting a car, this is the straightforward option.

cultural