Monthly Musings
In Todos Santos, Mexico time moves differently. Looking for a break from the busy-ness of everyday life, when Guaycura Boutique Hotel & Suites reached out I knew that Todos Santos would be a perfect place to visit. Together with my husband, we headed down for five days of easy paced adventure, beautiful beaches, and delicious food. Today I’m sharing with you a guide to places we stayed, ate, saw, and shopped, as well as what I wore and my travel light packing list for Todos Santos, Mexico.
Travel Guide
Stay
Named for the indigenous people who once roamed what is now the Mexican state of Baja California, Guaycura Boutique Hotel Beach Club & Spa resides in a 19th century red-brick building recognized by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History as a historic and artistic structure. The hotel is a centrally-located, walkable to all of downtown, with only 14 rooms so it felt very private and safe.
Though it is small, they are large on amenities, with a very soft-luxury feel. Downstairs you’ll find a garden cafe open for breakfast and lunch, a small anytime bar. Upstairs the building boasts a small yet mighty rooftop pool, as well as the Sky Lounge Restaurant & Bar with stunning views of Todos Santos and the Palm Tree Oasis nearby. In addition to their hotel offerings, they also have a beach club (with shuttle as a hotel guest), and an ocean-view restaurant.
Our room was good size, furnished just enough to offer comfort without clutter. It felt updated and clean in design while still honoring traditional decor. Our bathroom was oversized, with a standalone shower featuring a rainfall shower head, and a massive copper soaking tub. Seriously, I could barely see out of it when sitting down, haha. We had a private balcony with a distance ocean view, perfect for watching sunsets from.
Eat
One thing to know about Todos Santos, is that the cuisine is a unique blend of the cultures that have helped shape the town through the years.
Santoro Cantina – We came for cocktails before dinner, but since it’s upstairs the view was decent and aesthetic perfect.
El Mirador Restaurant – El Mirador offers unparalleled views and cuisine even if it takes a little effort to get there. A Mexiterranean fine dining experience that you must do and see in Todos Santos. Food is prepared with ingredients from the contiguous sea and orchards.
Tre Galline Italian Restaurant – Authentic north-Italian cuisine, with handmade pasta and other dishes prepared from ingredients imported from Italy.
The Green Room – Elevated Mexican seafood with a casual vibe, on the sand! Recommended by multiple people during our stay, though we sadly never made it over.
Jazamango Restaurante – A complete farm-to-table culinary experience, surrounded by the gorgeous farm the food comes from. We enjoyed a sunset dinner here and the ambiance was perfect.
El Jardín Café – Conveniently located in Guaycura Boutique Hotel, we enjoyed many breakfasts here. The chilaquiles are a must.
See
El Faro Beach Club – Located just 10 minutes from our hotel and right along the Punta Lobos coastline, the beach club’s main attraction is the zero carbon footprint infinity pool, with seating available poolside, beachside, or on the dunes. While there you can order from the poolside grill and bar, or enjoy a wellness massage in the spa. I highly recommend you try the tamarind mezcalita, it has just the right amount of spice.
Pegaso Expediciones – Daniel from Pegaso was not only our transport for most of the trip, he also took us horseback riding on the beach. His horses are well cared for and well mannered. We rode around the chaparral and along the beach, stopping a few times for scenic photos.
Todos Santos Eco Adventures – Historical walking tour of Todos Santos. While I love to hear about the history of a place, sometimes it’s easy to zone out. This wasn’t the case on this tour. Mauricio was the best, both engaging and entertaining, and extremely knowledgable about the history and area of Todos Santos. We even checked out a couple of local artists, Benito Ortega and Arturo Mendoza Elfea.
On Board Baja – Espíritu Santo Island tour. This tour leaves from La Paz, about a 40 minute drive from Todos Santos. We got to swim with sea lions, snorkel, paddle board, see dolphins, and see where various bird species nested. It was very fun and educational.
Shop
Santa Terra – An oasis in the heart of Todos Santos. A must-see for the food & shopping experience.
Nomad Chic – Concept store & studio. An evolving collection of apparel, accessories and home furnishings from around the world.
Ethnica Dos – Artisan clothing, shoes, and leather products from Mexico.
Hilo Rojo Stores – High end Mexican design and one of a kind pieces.
Ulula Lunar – Eclectic women’s boutique featuring clothing, crystals, and more.
Arturo Mendoza Elfea – Mexican artist with a gallery and store downtown Todos Santos.
What I Packed
What I Wore
From the 21 items that I packed, I wore all of them. My outfit requirements ranged from breakfast and tourist-ing around town, hanging out poolside and on the beach, riding horses, and fancy dinners. I actually wore my pajamas with a tank and sandals on the plane and would do so again in a heartbeat. Each day our itinerary was so full that I ended up wearing about 3-4 outfits per day.
In conclusion, Todos Santos was just the break we needed. The town’s slow pace and beautiful beachy locale helped us relax and recharge enough to take the edge off our fast-paced life at home.
I am so thankful to Guaycura Boutique Hotel Beach Club & Spa for hosting us on this fun-filled adventure and hope you will consider them for future travels.