Day trips

Ranked by value

La Paz (about 1 hour north) — the best one

The relaxed state capital sits on the calm Sea of Cortez side, and it’s the day trip that most changes the scenery. Drive Highway 19 north, roughly an hour (approximate). What you actually do there: walk the long waterfront malecón, swim in water that’s actually swimmable after the Pacific’s shore break, and use it as the launch point for two of the region’s headline experiences, the turquoise cove at Balandra and the sea-lion snorkeling trips out to Espíritu Santo island. Verdict: worth it, easily a full day, and the strongest reason to add a third day to a Todos Santos trip. If you only do one day trip, do this.

Cerritos and Pescadero (10 to 20 minutes south) — the easy one

Barely a day trip given how close it is, which is exactly why it’s easy. Playa Los Cerritos is the accessible surf beach for a lesson or a beach-bar afternoon; El Pescadero next door is the quieter farm-and-surf town with roadside produce stands and a slower pace. Drive south on Highway 19, 10 to 20 minutes (approximate). What you do: surf or watch surf, eat, drink, buy mangoes. Verdict: worth it, and simple to fold into a normal beach day rather than treating as a separate excursion. Mind the rip currents at Cerritos.

Los Cabos (about 1 hour south) — for the contrast

Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are close, about an hour down Highway 19 (approximate), but they’re the opposite of Todos Santos, resorts, marinas, nightlife and crowds. What you do: a boat trip out to the famous arch at Land’s End, a marina wander, or a night out that Todos Santos simply can’t offer. Verdict: worth a look if you specifically want that contrast or the nightlife, and easy to skip if you came to Baja for the quiet. Full picture at Los Cabos.

Skip unless you’re committed

Sierra de la Laguna hikes

The granite mountains inland offer real hiking and cooler air, but the good routes need a guide, an early start and a full, hot day on the trail. Verdict: great for the genuinely outdoorsy, overkill for a two-day town stop. Only if hiking is the point of your trip.

Bahía Magdalena for whales (2 to 3 hours plus, seasonal)

If you’re here in gray-whale season, roughly December to April, the up-close whale encounters at Bahía Magdalena are the real thing, but it’s a long haul north and effectively an overnight, not a day trip, from Todos Santos. Verdict: worth it in season if you’ll commit the time, skip it if you’re only after a quick offshore sighting, which the Todos Santos coast gives you anyway.

A note on the water

Every trip here runs on Highway 19 or dirt roads, and the Pacific beaches around town are for looking, not swimming. Save the swimming for the Sea of Cortez side at La Paz and Balandra, where the water is calm and the currents forgiving.