Cabo San Lucas may take the spotlight, but Baja’s coastline is dotted with six nearby communities that each bring their own flavor.
San José del Cabo blends colonial charm with a thriving arts scene. Todos Santos is known for its bohemian energy, while La Paz offers a laid-back waterfront. Los Barriles attracts wind and water enthusiasts, the East Cape delivers untouched reefs and marine life, and El Pescadero pairs farmland with gentle waves at Playa Cerritos.
Together, these destinations add depth to a Cabo trip, with art, culture, wildlife, and adventure that go far beyond the main resort strip. Each one is close enough for a day trip, whether you rent a car or join one of our guided tours that takes care of the details.
San José del Cabo
Trade Cabo's nightlife scene for cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. Just 20 miles northeast—about a 35-minute drive—San José del Cabo offers shaded plazas, bougainvillea-lined adobe buildings, and a relaxed atmosphere that feels authentically Mexican.
Start at Plaza Mijares, where local musicians play in the covered walkways and café tables spill onto the square. The Thursday Art Walk runs from November through June, when galleries stay open late and the historic district comes alive with browsing visitors and street performers.
Beyond the beaches, the town offers rich cultural experiences; visit the glass-blowing factory where artisans craft colorful treasures, browse exquisite pearl jewelry shops featuring local gems, explore charming artisan markets filled with handcrafted souvenirs, and wander through art galleries showcasing works from regional painters and sculptors.
Todos Santos
Just 48 miles north of your starting point, creative energy greets you the moment you roll into Todos Santos, a designated Pueblo Mágico tucked between the Sierra de la Laguna peaks and the pounding Pacific. Color-washed façades hide intimate galleries, and impromptu street exhibits build toward a calendar of art festivals that keep the town's bohemian pulse racing.
A quick stroll leads to the legendary Hotel California, often rumored (but not confirmed) to have inspired the Eagles anthem, before continuing south to the consistent breaks at Playa Los Cerritos and Playa San Pedrito, where surfers of every stripe queue for the next set. Farm-to-table kitchens pair that salty air with just-harvested produce from the surrounding hills.
The oasis sits about 75 minutes by car from the resort zone, but our Magical Todos Santos tour handles the drive, galleries, and secret stops so you can focus on the town's easy rhythm. Artists, wave-chasers, expatriates, and eco-minded travelers all find their tribe here.
La Paz
Push further north to discover La Paz, capital of Baja California Sur, lying roughly two hours from the resort strip on a scenic coastal highway. Its five-kilometer malecón pairs bronze sculptures with fiery sunsets, while cafés and fish-taco stands keep the seaside promenade buzzing with locals and visitors alike.
Between November and April, you can snorkel beside gentle whale sharks, then hop to Isla Espíritu Santo for playful sea lions. Year-round, pelicans skim Balandra's turquoise shallows, home to the iconic mushroom-shaped rock and knee-deep crystalline water that photographs like a postcard.
Our Balandra Beach & Snorkeling in La Paz tour covers round-trip transport, marine permits, and top-tier gear, letting you focus on the vibrant underwater world and fresh guacamole and burritos. The experience suits nature-loving families, photographers, and curious adventurers perfectly.
Los Barriles
Picture a sleepy fishing village where desert hills meet the neon-blue Sea of Cortez. Los Barriles sits on the Gulf of California, about 65 miles northeast of the resort area—an easy 90-minute drive along the coastal highway. Here, marlin, tuna, and dorado patrol deep water just minutes from shore, so anglers swap stories at dockside palapa bars while their catch gets filleted for the evening meal.
When winter winds arrive, brightly-colored kites pepper the sky. Steady northerlies turn the wide, crowd-free shoreline into a playground for kiteboarders and windsurfers seeking consistent conditions. Off the water, quiet dirt roads invite ATV rides, mountain-bike loops, and evening strolls to family-run taquerías where recipes haven't changed in generations. The pace stays easy, the smiles genuine; perfect if you crave salty air without the city buzz or resort schedules.
East Cape (including Cabo Pulmo)
Leave San José del Cabo and watch the world change completely. Pavement gives way to sand tracks, resorts disappear, and the Sea of Cortez stretches endlessly eastward. This is Baja's wild side; no crowds, no pool bars, just raw coastline where silence reigns.
Two hours northeast sits Cabo Pulmo National Park, home to one of North America's few hard-coral reefs, protected as part of the UNESCO-listed Gulf of California. The water here stays crystal clear year-round, perfect for spotting schools of jacks that move like silver tornadoes or sea turtles gliding over ancient coral formations that have been building for thousands of years.
Bring everything you need: water, snacks, and sun-protective clothing. The dirt roads get rough, so a 4×4 makes the journey smoother and more comfortable. This remote stretch rewards travelers who value silence over convenience and stars over streetlights.
El Pescadero / Playa Cerritos
Ten minutes south of Todos Santos, El Pescadero feels worlds away from tourist traffic. Organic farms stretch between desert hills and ocean breeze, creating a community where surf schools operate out of converted casitas and morning yoga sessions happen on the sand. Playa Cerritos offers some of the most forgiving waves on this coast; long, rolling breaks that give beginners plenty of time to find their balance and build confidence.
The farming community here means cafés serve vegetables picked the same morning, and accommodations stay small by design. Weekend farmers markets bring neighbors together, and late-summer turtle releases draw quiet crowds to the shoreline for one of nature's most moving spectacles.
The drive from the resort zone takes about an hour, but the pace here moves to a different rhythm entirely; one shaped by tides, harvests, and the kind of community gatherings that happen around bonfires on the shore.
Step Beyond the Resort to Uncover Baja's True Magic
A day beyond the resort opens an entirely different chapter of Baja. You can wander San José del Cabo's gallery-lined streets, ride Playa Cerritos' gentle breaks, or slip into La Paz's turquoise shallows beside whale sharks. Todos Santos blends bohemian energy with farm-fresh cuisine, Los Barriles greets you with steady winter winds for kiteboarding, and the East Cape rewards the extra miles with Cabo Pulmo's living reef.
Reaching these hidden gems is simpler than it sounds. Our City Tour of Los Cabos, Magical Todos Santos day trip, and Balandra Beach & Snorkeling itinerary each include comfortable transport, knowledgeable guides, and all the gear you need. You focus on the moment; we handle the logistics.
If you're ready for art walks at dusk, reef dives at dawn, and stories you can't find poolside, book your next adventure now.