100 SanDiegoMagazine.comNovember2011
Todos Santos
This dusty little haven is vibrant with art
and culture. Just 90 minutes north of Cabo
exists an oasis—a charming coastal town
and perfect antidote to the mega
resorts and thumping party scene on
Squid Row. Todos Santos (mean-
ing “all saints”) represents a taste of
authentic Baja with its colony of art-
ists and iconic 18th-century Mission
and historic architecture. Hidden
behind the brick walls of the former
sugar baron estates, the allure lies in its
famous surf breaks, quiet beaches, yoga
retreats, and an annual fi lm festival that
draws artsy-types from Los Angeles. In this
merry artistic hub, expats, casual travelers,
and surfers intermingle with local farmers,
residents, and rancheros, all enamored with
the magic and mood of this pueblo.
SLEEP Hotelito is a groovy four-cottage
boutique hotel in a rainbow of colors that
takes Mexican-contemporary and modern
architecture and infuses it with European
style like fi ne English linens, stamped mir-
rors, and canopy-draped beds. Owner Jenny
Armit’s aff able personality and coterie of
friendly dogs, horses, and baby goats casts
a spell over the bougainvillea-laced prop-
erty. It feels like you are staying with old
friends. Best deal in town, starting at $90.
thehotelito.com
EAT & DRINK La Casita Tapas &
Wine Bar is helmed by the talented Sergio
Rivera. Enjoy seared ahi with papaya-
ginger black bean sauce or go “freestyle”
and let the chef make magic with his
freshly caught fi sh and organic produce,
custom designed for you. Michael’s at the
Gallery has, arguably, the best ambience
in town, with a cool international crowd,
candle-lit garden patio, fi ne wines, and
gourmet Asian-fusion cuisine—all the mak-
ings for a memorable meal.
PLAY Cerritos Beach Club is a gigantic
aquatic playground for surf and stand-up
lessons, kayaking, fi shing, horseback riding,
and spa treatments. A music-fi lled seaside
restaurant and bar make it one big beach
party. Explore the hidden gems of this
area with Todos Santos Eco Adventure
via their hikes through cactus sanctuar-
ies, beach horseback riding, cultural tours,
cooking classes, multi-day surfaris, whale-
watching excursions, fi shing trips, and
jungle adventures.
READ The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John
Steinbeck (1941) or Almost an Island: Travels
in Baja California by Bruce Berger (1988)Las Animas
Wilderness Lodge
Looking for the wilder side of Baja? Scoff at
the idea of 600-thread count sheets and all-
inclusive resort chains with margarita slushy
machines? Then look into the primitive, pro-
tected islands in Baja’s Sea of Cortez.
BOOK A YURT La Animas Wilderness
Lodge is a perfect blend of rustic and comfort
for outdoorsy travelers and families. Reserve
one of their eight yurts (think luxury teepee on
the beach), which come with solar showers,
comfy beds, private cooks, and a welcome mat
of so white sand beach right outside the door.
No phones or television, but the
main lodge off ers an ocean view deck,
kitchen, communal game room, and
strategically hung hammocks.
GO OFF THE GRID Tell the
local experts at Las Animas what
you like, and let them lead you to the
best in water adventures out on the islands.
Surfi ng lessons, sailing, kayaking, swimming
with dolphins and whale sharks, or just sitting
on the beach and grilling the day’s fresh catch
could all be part of the agenda. Rates start at
$2,000 per week, including a private fl ight from
San Diego and all meals. bajaairventures.comKiteboarding at
Cerritos Beach✱
✱
Hotelito
cottage room