Todos Santos

What can you tell me about Todos Santos - we're thinking of doing a tour.

Great little town. Lots of history and culture. Tons of art gallaries and quaint restaurants. Best thing is to do a Google search.

Have done that...love art galleries, but they don't give too much info online. Any reasonable galleries? Everything looks like it's been discovered and the prices are up there.

I have been to Todos Santos twice. We own a timeshare in Cabo and have made the drive to Todos Santos each time in the last 2 years. It is the site of the famous Hotel California (from the song by the Eagles).

Todos Santos is a small Mexican town that is STARTING to develop an identity as am artists colony. I repeat STARTING to develop. There are several galleries but they are fairly small. There are just as many small tourist shops selling standard tourist stuff. There are also a few jewelry stores where the designs are made locally so in some cases, you can actually talk to the artist in the store. For lunch in Todos Santos I can recommend either the patio dining in the Hotel California or the restaurant directly accross the street from the Hotel California (can't remember the name). One of their specialties was shrimp stuffed Chile Rellenos (sp?) with 3 cheeses. Wife and our best friend swear by them. There is also a restaurant @ 1 block north @1 block west from the Hotel California that is also highly recommended but we haven't tried it yet because the prices seemed a bit high for just lunch (sorry I can't remember the name).

Todos Santos is a much more traditional small Mexican town. Much more so than the tourist stop Cabo has become. We will continue to make the drive there each year. It is a nice drive up the coast of Baja. Is it worth the cost of a tour, really depends upon what you are looking for. It is a nice small Mexican town but it would be a real stretch to say they have "tons" of art galleries.

Great little town. Lots of history and culture. Tons of art gallaries and quaint restaurants. Best thing is to do a Google search.

Sorry, when you live in a small town in Mexico "tons" equals over 15. I love Todos Santos and also guided tours there so I know the town well. You didn't mention if you were coming on a cruise or a land based visit. If you do the tour through the ship, you don't really have much time to visit the town. The tour is 5 hours and the travel time alone is almost 3 hours. If you are coming on your own, you will have more time to spend there. Also, if you come during December-March, you will see whales along the route. Out your left on the way up there and on your right on the way back. Way cool!

You mentioned that you did a Google search so you might already have these link but here are some links that might help you learn more:

http://www.todossantosguide.com/

http://www.todossantos-baja.com/elcalendariotodossantos.htm

http://www.loscabosguide.com/todossantos/index.html

http://www.loscabosguide.com/todossantos/articles.htm

Info on the galleries:

http://www.todossantos-baja.com/todos-santos/art/art-galleries.htm

http://www.loscabosguide.com/todossantos/artgalleries.htm

*Each time I always go visit Ruben Gutierez (Manos Mexicano) and Charles Stuart's galleries. Ruben is the nicest man who does incredible pottery with the most brillant glazes...and cheap! Charles is the father of the art movement in Todos Santos. His gallery is in his home...one time he walked out of his bedroom going across the hall to the kitchen when I had a tour going through. My guests got to meet him in his pajamas! I don't care for his art but he is an interesting man as well as his wife who is always there.

A map of the main part of town:

http://www.todossantos-baja.com/todos-santos/maps/town-map.htm

http://www.todossantosguide.com/maps/downtownmap.htm

Restaurant info:

http://www.todossantos-baja.com/todos-santos/food/restaurants.htm

http://www.loscabosguide.com/todossantos/restaurants.htm

*My favs are Los Adobes and Todos Santos Cafe.

Info on some of the stores:

http://www.mexonline.com/bcs/todossantos-shopping.htm

*I always go to Ruben Gutierez's shop Manos Mexicano and the book store each time I go. The back of the bookstore has some of the most unusual and unique items!

As far as the Hotel California...sorry. As per Don Henley who wrote the song, it is not the inspiration for the Eagles song. But here is some info on it also. Is a pretty little place with a nice bar and expensive imported souvenirs. But it is the only place that I can find the insence I like.

http://www.loscabosguide.com/todossantos/hotelcalifornia.htm

Check out the wooden carved statues of the saints above the doorways along Centenario Street...Todos Santos means All Saints in spanish. Also, the view from the church...on the right hand side, outside all the way to the back on the square side. Overlooks the whole valley. Nice! Posada La Poza is a great place to stay or just go over to visit. You can take the trail that runs to the left beside it all the way to the beach. You go past this great lagoon filled with birds to the most isolated beach I have ever seen. It is a rugged hike though so wear sturdy shoes to climb over the rocks.

Solita, can you recommend any guides that do private tours of Todos Santos? Thanks.

Diana

Solita, can you recommend any guides that do private tours of Todos Santos? Thanks.

 

Diana

Let me ask a couple of guys tomorrow and I will post what I find out. I have one person particularly in mind that is great - Danny.

Thanks Solita, I appreciate it.

Solita

We are also interested in a private tour of Todos Santos. Will be in Cabo Dec 3rd.

E-Mail me if you find info.

welldone60@sbcglobal.net

Thanks

Welldone

Solita

We will be on the Dawn Princess and in Cabo on October 2 a Tuesday from 8 -6. We would love to tour Todos Santos on our own , can you help us. Can we take the local bus or who can we contact for this. How long doe it take to get there? Will wait for your response.:)

Thank You

Solita

We have to the Mexican Rivera many times. Also we speak Spanish and have taken the local bus system in PV but never in Mazatlan or Cabo. Will wait for your response.:)

Perfect timing! I finally spoke to the guide just yesterday I know that does private tours. His name is Daniel. Email address is: daniel.cactus@hotmail.com His rates are for 1-6 pax, $250.00 US that includes drinks (soft drinks and bottled water), transportation (2004 Suburban with A/C) for a 6 hour tour to Todos Santos. He also has rates for groups up to 14 pax. He is a very kind, respectable person who speaks fluent Enlish with barely a trace of an accent. Here is his cell number: 011 52 044 624 173 4021 Please let me know if you have any problems reaching him. I will also post his home number if need be.

Solita Thanks so much for your help.....I owe you a cold one.

Welldone

P.S. Know anyone in Ensenada?

Thank you so much!!:)

You guys are welcome! I really like Todos Santos and wish I could go more often. Please do not miss the bookstore. It has the coolest little things in the back section. It is on the main street at Hildalgo. The white building...can't miss it. Enjoy your visit. Ohhhhh and if you can, I suggest you stop at the strawberry warehouse just outside of town. That is what I call it because it is a large warehouse and kind of a distribution building. They sell strawberries out front. Fantastic flavor!