Quick Getaways: Day Trips From Los Cabos

Explore the surroundings with fun side trips

By Sarah Muñoz

While there is plenty to keep you busy within Los Cabos — and that can include checking out colonial San José del Cabo, lounging by the beach at one of the posh resorts on the 21-mile Tourist Corridor and partaking in the plentiful nightlife options in Cabo San Lucas (not to mention whale watching, ATV rides, golf and spa-going) — be sure to discover all that Baja California Sur has to offer by taking some day trips to discover the charms of neighboring towns like the quaint arts outpost of Todos Santos.

Todos Santos

It may not be as well kept a secret anymore, but Todos Santos nestled between the Sierra Laguna mountain range and the Pacific Ocean is still a delightful find for travelers driving north from Los Cabos (it’s just about an hour away and reached via Highway 19). It’s definitely not as quiet as it seems upon first impression, with many artists calling it home and displaying their work in dozens of shops and galleries throughout. Todos Santos is one of Mexico's leading artist colonies with potters, glassmakers and sculptors at work in their studios. Many of the artists are Americans and Canadians attracted to the peacefulness and slower pace of life.

Truth be told, Todos Santos is very much a shopper’s haven if you’re looking for one-of-a-kind pieces; from a dazzling painting to a rustic sculpture, this is the place to visit. A great place to start your tour of town is the pretty central plaza, where many of the locals can be found. Fanning out from the square are the many art galleries, where you'll find such items as milagro crosses (covered with charms representing small miracles), Frida Kahlo-inspired paintings and authentic Mexican folk art. In fact, each winter – normally the end of January, Todos Santos hosts its annual arts festival with live music, dance performances, film screenings, orchid and plant sales, poetry readings and other activities.   (See Events.)

There are plenty of great lunch spots to include in your day trip. In fact, Todos Santos has a vibrant culinary scene, with many well-established chefs opening up places of their own.   If you decide you want to stay overnight, there are a few lovely hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.

Todos Santos has been designated Pueblo Mágico, or Magical Town — part of a Mexican government initiative to assist and protect picturesque towns in much of its infrastructure to protect their innate loveliness and stimulate tourism. This is the home of the Mission of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de La Paz, founded in 1723, and ruins of sugar mills dating back to the 19th century.

Fans of The Eagles will be interested to know that Todos Santos is home to the Hotel California. The band has disputed that they named the song after it, but it’s still a fun stop to make. The hotel was renovated a few years ago and is centrally located within walking distance of all downtown attractions.

The road to Todos Santos from Los Cabos reveals a few gorgeous, secluded beaches, though the hard-crashing waves make most too dangerous to swim in.

Todos Santos 2010 Art Festival dates are January 30 - February 6
Visit: www.todossantos-baja.com/todos-santos/art/art-festival.htm

Other events and festivals in Todos Santos:
January -  Todos Santos 5K Run/Walk
February - Todos Santos Historic House Tour
March - Film Festival (Cine de Todos Santos) and House & Garden Tour
April - “Earth Day” Celebration

La Paz

This is one laid-back state capital — easy to navigate, friendly and with a pretty boardwalk and adjacent beach that calls for bare feet and a cold drink. Just a two-hour drive from Los Cabos, La Paz is worth exploring but is also a favorite location for adventure operators to kick-start an adventure.

La Paz’s surrounding desert landscape dotted with giant cardon cacti makes for unique photo moments, and its downtown area is easy to discover on foot. The malecón (seaside promenade) is the perfect site to enjoy incomparable sunsets. Its most popular section, of course, snakes along its beachfront, along with dozens of restaurants serving fresh seafood, ice cream shops and small souvenir stores. The beach stretching alongside the boardwalk is perfect for splashing around, and there are a number of sculptures lining the waterfront. It’s a lovely walk any time of day.

La Paz is the ideal destination for ecotourism, adventure and the discovery of nature, where you can experience the uniqueness of the Sea of Cortés — the largest aquarium in the world. The beaches of La Paz, among the best in the world, and their calm seas are the perfect places to glide across the water on a kayak, and see giant manta rays, pilot whales and sea lions around the islands.

If you'd like to fly like the wind, the season for windsurfing, kiteboarding and sailing is almost year-round in La Ventana and El Sargento. The perfect waves for surfing are in Los Cerritos, close to Todos Santos in the Pacific Ocean.

And you don't need to be an expert to enjoy the marine life, because with a snorkel or diving equipment the crystalline waters around islands like Espíritu Santo (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Cerralvo, and some areas in Bahía de La Paz, are an aquarium for professionals and amateurs. Whale and hammerhead sharks are among the most attractive specimens because of their dimensions.

The north end of Espíritu Santo hosts one of the most important sea lion colonies in the gulf. You can also cruise to the other islands in the Sea of Cortés on small eco-tourism boats.

One of the greatest challenges of sportfishing is capturing species like swordfish, marlin or dorado. They're all easily found in one of the world's most important sportfishing spots: the surroundings of Bahía de La Paz and Cabo del Este, especially Los Barriles.

La Paz also has deserts and mountains. The one-of-a-kind vistas of the Sierra de la Laguna natural reserve are extraordinary for camping and mountain biking tours, which are led by expert guides who know the environment.

Life has unforgettable experiences, and one of them is seeing a native Baja California gray whale in its own habitat: From December to March in the area of Bahía Magdalena, north of the La Paz municipality, you can't miss this.

La Paz has also become popular of late among developers, with real estate communities and resorts in the works; given its big-city conveniences and proximity to the Sea of Cortés, second and retirement homes are now all the rage here. But so far, most hotels in La Paz are plenty affordable and not quite as fancy as their Los Cabos counterparts, though infinitely more relaxed. Hotel Los Arcos, for instance, sits right by the boardwalk, facing the ocean. Seven Crown Hotel is also right by the malecón, within walking distance of most attractions. The property has a terrific view of the bay of La Paz from its rooftop restaurant and C.I.P. Bar, as well as available wireless Internet and a business center should travelers need to stay connected.

For more information on La Paz, visit www.visitlapaz.org. — La Paz Tourism Board

Check the events calendar for annual art festivals and other interesting reasons to visit.

Why is Cabo so much fun? There is so much to do! Click here for a list of dive, watersports, fishing and tour operators. You'll also find links to Cabo's world class golf courses, spas, adventure tours, horseback riding, wedding coordinators and cruises.