Todos Santos is a surf town first. The Pacific hits this coast hard, and finding the best beaches near Todos Santos takes real sorting.
Instead, most guides list seven or eight Todos Santos “beaches” without mentioning that several will knock you off your feet. You need to sort the swimmable from the dangerous, the sandy from the rocky, and the accessible from the gated.
The beaches on this list pass two tests. First, the practical test: sand (not rock), public access, somewhere to park, and a road you can actually drive. Second, the photo test: if you would not stop and take a picture, it is not worth the drive.
In total, four beaches made the cut. All of them sit within 20 minutes of downtown Todos Santos on Highway 19.
Playa Los Cerritos: The Surf Beach
The Scouting Report
Los Cerritos sits about 15 minutes south of Todos Santos near the village of El Pescadero. The drive from town follows Highway 19 south. Then the beach stretches nearly 3 km in a crescent shape along a sandy shoreline.
Parking is available in a private lot for roughly 100 pesos. Also, free spots exist on the road above the beach, but they fill fast on weekends.
The beach has restaurants, surf schools, board rentals, and shade from palapa-style beach clubs. Cell service works here.
What You Will Find
Essentially, Cerritos is the safest swimming beach on the Todos Santos coast. The sandy bottom and gentle break make it the only beach in the area where beginners can surf and families can swim.
Specifically, the waves here break with enough power to keep intermediate surfers busy but stay forgiving enough for first-timers. Several surf schools operate directly on the sand, including Mario Surf School, one of the oldest in the area.
However, winter swells change the equation. From October through March, the waves range from two to ten feet. As a result, beginners should stay on the sand on big days.
Meanwhile, the beach clubs at the south end serve seafood and drinks. Barracuda Cantina and Shaka’s Cantina both sit within steps of the waterline.
Also, the crescent shape of the beach means the south end stays calmer than the north end on most days. Swim at the south end. Surf at the north end.
Before You Go
The private parking lot charges roughly 100 pesos per car. Free parking on the main road fills by 10 AM on weekends and holidays.
Also, the sand is a mix of tan and dark grains. Near the waterline, it firms up for easy walking. Higher up, it softens and gets deep.
Furthermore, Cerritos has grown fast. The small town of El Pescadero now has restaurants, surf shops, and vacation rentals lining the road to the beach. On busy weekends, the beach fills with day trippers from Cabo.
Cerritos is the beach for the reader who wants surf lessons, a cold drink, and actual swimming on a Pacific coast that rarely offers it. Fifteen minutes from Todos Santos, and the only sand on this list where you can wade safely.
Playa Punta Lobos: The Fishing Beach
The Scouting Report
Punta Lobos sits just south of Todos Santos at kilometer 54 on Highway 19. Turn west off the highway and follow the dirt road about 2.5 km to the beach. In total, the drive takes 5 minutes from downtown.
Parking is free on a sandy and paved area near the beach. Also, the road passes the Hotel San Cristobal before reaching the shore.
There are no public restrooms. However, small restaurants and seafood stalls operate near the parking area. Cell service works here.
What You Will Find
Essentially, Punta Lobos is a fishing beach first. Every afternoon, the panga fleet returns to the sand. Then fishermen lay out the catch and sell directly to anyone standing there.
The beach stretches roughly 2.5 km with golden sand and turquoise water. A large rocky point juts out at the south end, which gives the beach its name. Indeed, sea lions sometimes sit at the base of those rocks.
Specifically, the rock formations at the south end create a sheltered area. As a result, swimming near the point is calmer than the open beach. This makes Punta Lobos one of only two swimmable beaches near Todos Santos.
However, the open sections of beach have strong currents. Do not swim outside the sheltered area near the rocks.
Also, the sunset from Punta Lobos is the best near town. The rocky point frames the horizon, and the fishing pangas on the sand add foreground.
Before You Go
The dirt road to Punta Lobos is well maintained. Any vehicle handles it.
However, the sandy parking area has soft spots. Park on the packed sections near the road.
Additionally, the fishermen sell fresh fish in the early afternoon. Bring pesos. Still, prices vary by catch, but expect to pay 100 to 200 pesos for a whole fish.
Also, the Hotel San Cristobal sits along the access road. The hotel is private, but the beach itself is public. Drive past the hotel and continue to the public parking area.
Punta Lobos is the beach for the reader who wants to buy fish straight from the boat and watch the pangas come in. Five minutes from town, golden sand, and the closest beach to downtown Todos Santos.
Playa San Pedrito: The Palm Break
The Scouting Report
San Pedrito sits about 10 minutes south of Todos Santos near El Pescadero, at roughly kilometer 59 on Highway 19. Turn west at the signed gate and follow the unpaved road about 5 minutes to the beach. The road is bumpy but passable in any vehicle.
Parking is free on a dirt area near the shore. Facilities are limited. There are no bathrooms, showers, or restaurants on the beach itself.
Cell service is spotty.
What You Will Find
Essentially, San Pedrito is the secluded surf beach. Palm trees line the shore. Also, the beach stretches for several kilometers with almost no one on it during the week.
The surf here is for experienced riders. The break favors right-hand waves, especially in winter when northwest swells push through.
However, the bottom is rocky in the surf zone. This is not a beginner break.
Still, the beach itself has good sand above the waterline. The palm trees provide natural shade, and the landscape feels tropical in a way that the rest of the Todos Santos coast does not.
Also, the wide empty sand and palm tree backdrop make this the best photo beach on the list. At sunrise, the light hits the palm canopy and the sand glows.
Before You Go
Do not swim at San Pedrito. The currents are strong, and the rocky bottom makes the water dangerous for anyone not surfing.
Additionally, the access road has a signed gate. It is public access, but the sign can be easy to miss at highway speed. Look for the “San Pedrito” sign just before reaching Todos Santos from the south.
Furthermore, bring everything you need. No vendors, no water, no shade structures. The palms provide some cover, but pack sunscreen and a cooler.
San Pedrito is the beach for the reader who brought a board and wants an uncrowded wave with a palm tree backdrop. Ten minutes from town, and a completely different world from the crowds at Cerritos.
Playa La Pastora: The Empty Stretch
The Scouting Report
La Pastora sits about 8 km north of downtown Todos Santos. To reach it, head north from the Hotel California on the road that drops into the palm valley.
Then follow the dirt road past signs for Agua Blanca. Look for a small sign marked “Pastora.”
The road is unpaved for the last several kilometers. Any vehicle can make it, but go slow.
Still, the sandy parking area at the end requires caution. Avoid driving into the deep sand without 4WD.
There are no facilities. No restrooms, no restaurants, no shade structures, no trash cans. Cell service is unreliable.
What You Will Find
Essentially, La Pastora is the longest and emptiest beach near Todos Santos. The golden sand stretches roughly 2.5 km in both directions. As a result, on weekdays you may have the entire beach to yourself.
In fact, the solitude is the point. No surf schools, no beach clubs, no vendors. Just sand, waves, and dunes lined with cacti.
However, do not swim here. The Pacific current along this stretch is strong. Rip currents and backwash have caused drownings on the Todos Santos coast.
Instead, treat this as a walking and sunbathing beach.
Also, the dune landscape behind the beach adds to the photo. Low scrub, cactus, and open desert roll inland from the sand. The contrast between gold sand and dry desert is sharp.
Before You Go
The access road is the challenge. It is unpaved, sandy in places, and poorly signed.
So start from the Hotel California area, head north downhill, and turn left toward the coast. Keep your eyes open for the small Pastora sign.
Additionally, the parking area is soft sand. If you do not have 4WD, park at the edge of the lot on firmer ground and walk in.
Furthermore, bring everything. Water, food, shade, and a bag for trash. Nothing comes in or out unless you carry it.
La Pastora is the beach for the reader who wants two hours of silence and a long walk on empty sand. Eight kilometers from town, and no one else in sight.
Getting Around the Todos Santos Coast
These four beaches sit along a short stretch of Highway 19. Los Cerritos and San Pedrito are south of town near Pescadero.
Meanwhile, Punta Lobos is just south of downtown. La Pastora is north.
For a full beach day, start at Punta Lobos in the morning to catch the fishermen. Then drive south to Cerritos for lunch and a swim. Stop at San Pedrito on the way back for photos.
Essentially, that covers the full range of what the Todos Santos coast offers.
Furthermore, any vehicle handles all four beaches. The highway is paved the entire way. Only the final access roads to each beach are unpaved.
Also, gas up in Todos Santos or Pescadero before starting. Bring pesos for parking at Cerritos and for buying fish at Punta Lobos.
Best Time to Visit Todos Santos Beaches
The best beaches near Todos Santos work year round, but the season changes the experience. Winter (November through March) brings the biggest surf swells and the coolest air at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. This is prime time for experienced surfers at San Pedrito and the north end of Cerritos.
Summer (June through September) brings warmer air at 30 to 35 degrees Celsius and calmer surf. As a result, summer is the best season for swimming at Cerritos and Punta Lobos.
However, September and October bring hurricane season. Occasional storms can close beaches temporarily. Furthermore, summer humidity in Todos Santos runs higher than the dry winter months.
In particular, avoid Semana Santa and Christmas week if you want quiet beaches. Cerritos fills to capacity, and Punta Lobos draws large family groups from La Paz and Cabo.
Instead, the sweet spot is October and November. The summer crowds leave, the surf starts building, and the air stays warm.
The Bottom Line on Todos Santos Beaches
Cerritos is the surf beach: sandy bottom, beginner waves, cold drinks, and the only safe swimming on this coast. Punta Lobos is the fishing beach: golden sand, pangas on the shore, and fresh fish for sale.
San Pedrito is the palm break: empty sand, experienced surf, and no crowds. La Pastora is the empty stretch: golden sand, total silence, and no one else in sight.
Four beaches. Four different reasons to go. All of them pass the sand test, the parking test, and the photo test.
For more best beaches in Baja, start with the one closest to your front door and work your way down the coast.