Pueblos Magicos: Todos los Santos, Baja is One of Mexico’s Magical Villages

Pueblos Magicos: Todos los Santos, Baja is One of Mexico’s Magical Villages

The 80-mile road that connects La Paz and Cabo San Lucas is a smooth four-lane highway through the Baja California desert. The climate in this area is dry and the rainfall is low, but the Pacific Ocean provides some humidity and wonderful views. The powerful ocean to one side and the calm desert on the other provide a breathtaking and invigoration contrast. 

At the point where the highway crosses the dessert and hits the coast you will find the town of Todos los Santos. Todos, as it’s known locally, is an oasis of green fields, fruit trees, and lagoons. Todos los Santos is also home to “the” Hotel California from the 1970s Eagles song. This little fact remained under wraps until the 1990s when U.S. journalist caught wind of it and started traveling to Todos los Santos to write articles about the urban legend.

Other notable buildings in the town include the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Mission and the General Manual Márquez de Léon Theater. The mission, built in 1733 by the Jesuits, it the oldest building in town and contains the Virgin of the Pillar statute. The theater, which was inaugurated in 1944, is a result of the area’s economic prosperity from sugarcane farming in the mid 19th and early 20th century.  The theater hosts regular performances and workshops, and during the month of February hosts the Todos los Santos Arts Festival. 

The area is also a paradise for fishing enthusiasts looking to catch tuna, sea bass, and snapper. A mile south of the town are the beautiful beaches or San Pedrito, La Pastora, Los Cerritos, Batequito, and Punta Lobos. In addition to fishing, visitors can enjoy the long sandy beaches and frequent sightings of whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Los Cerritos and San Pedrito are also a sought after destination for surfers due to their world-class surf breaks. 

The Pueblos Magicos program identifies towns that reflect “the culture of Mexico” through attributes like architecture, traditions, customs, music, gastronomy, festivities and handcrafts. There are currently 52 destinations throughout Mexico that have earned the Pueblos Magicos classification.