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Here’s Why Now Is the Best Time to Visit Todos Santos, Mexico

Isolated beach of Baja │
Isolated beach of Baja │ | © jill.s / flickr

Todos Santos has long attracted bohemians, artists and surfers to its quiet streets. Each year the city’s food, drink, and cultural value continues to rise. A small-town vibe with big-town amentities, Todos Santos is making everyone’s travel list for 2017. Right now is a perfect time to visit this Pacific Ocean beach town and here are the reasons why.

The weather is perfect

Fall on the southwest side of the Baja Peninsula stays in the 70s until about December when the first winter storm or two brings colder weather to the region. October and November are when the summer heat and humidity has given way cooler, more pleasant days. Going into the winter months, Todos Santos is still nice although a bit cooler, and with the possibility of being a little damp from seasonal storms, still December and January are great months for surf in this part of the state.

The sun setting over the lagoon in Todos Santos

Whale watching

The whale watching season in Baja California runs from November to April, when gray and humpback whales make their yearly migration to these shores to breed and mate. Near the beaches of Todos Santos whales can often be spotted grooming themselves—scraping along the steep sandy bottoms to clean barnacles off their tough skin.

Fewer tourists

During the fall in Todos Santos you miss the local summer tourists who are already back to school for the year, but arrive before the snowbirds who flock to Baja Sur in the winter looking for warmer weather. It’s a mellow time to be in town and easier to mix and mingle with locals, both Mexican and foreign.

Isolated beach of Baja │

Day of the Dead

While Baja isn’t particular well known for its Day of the Dead celebrations you will still find that local families in Todos Santos visit family graveyards, decorate homemade altars and eat pan de muerto with their hot chocolate. Head to the neighboring town of La Paz (two hours away) for an even bigger celebration of this important Mexican Holiday.

The low season

Hotel

Because the fall is not the height of the tourist season, hotel and accomodation rates are generally much lower than in the summer, winter or spring. Todos Santos’ famous Hotel California, for example, has rates that are about US$60 cheaper during September and October than December or July.

Great new food and drink

Todos Santos is adding to its culinary options every year. The Todos Santos Brewing company opened up in June of this year serving 12 of their own beers (brewed on the premises), artisanal sodas and a lunch and dinner menu that includes vegan options. Renowned Mexican chef Javier Plascencia also opened Jazamango at the beginning of 2017 with a Baja-Med menu that focuses on freshness and seasonality.

Jazamango, Calle Naranjos, Las Huertas, 23300 Todos Santos La paz, B.C.S. Mexico, + 52 612 688 1501

Todos Santos Brewing, Calle Obregón #12, 23300 Todos Santos, B.C.S., +52 612 145 2023

New high-end accommodations

Hotel

The newly opened Hotel San Cristóbal provides beachside luxury in Todos Santos with 32 rooms, a swimming pool, restaurant and bar on the premises. Hip, kitschy and stylish, the hotel is brought to you by Texas hotelier Liz Lambert and located on a simple fishing beach called Punta Lobos 15 minutes south of town. Even if you don’t stay the night, come out for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, fearlessly led by Mexican chef Edgar Palau.

About the author

Lydia Carey is a freelance writer and translator based out of Mexico City. She has worked as an editor and writer for various publications including Mexico's English–language newspaper The News, Afar, The New Worlder, International Living and The Latin Kitchen among others. Lydia has been blogging and writing in Mexico for over a decade and lives a double life as a local tour guide in her adoptive hometown. You can find her on the street eating tacos or at her blog www.mexicocitystreets.com.

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