When you finally hop off your flight from the United States and touch down in Los Cabos, your first instinct is probably to head straight to the resort pool and refuse to leave for the next five days.
I completely understand that urge. But if you are willing to rent a car or hire a private driver for just one day, the most rewarding adventure on the entire Baja Peninsula is waiting for you just an hour up the Pacific coast.
The drive north on Highway 19 to the designated Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town) of Todos Santos is a rite of passage for seasoned Baja travelers. The landscape transforms from sprawling luxury mega-resorts into stark desert coastlines, towering cardón cacti, and a laid-back, bohemian atmosphere that feels decades away from the busy Cabo San Lucas marina.
If you want to curate the absolute perfect day trip, you need to balance utility, local secrets, and a bit of high-end indulgence. Forget the massive group tour buses.
Here are the three stops you cannot miss on your drive north to make your Todos Santos day trip completely unforgettable.
Stop 1: The Insider Pit Stop – Agricole Cooperativa
Most tourists making the drive to Todos Santos blaze right through the tiny farming community of El Pescadero without a second thought. Do not make this mistake. Just before you hit the main town limits of Todos Santos, look for a roadside stop on the right side of Highway 19 called Agricole Cooperativa (or Agricole Tienda de Campo).
This is the ultimate insider secret. What used to be a humble roadside farm stand has evolved into a beloved, open-air farm-to-table market.
Agricole immediately immerses you in the region’s massive agricultural culture before you even start exploring the art galleries in town. You will find aisles stocked with impossibly fresh organic produce, artisanal local cheeses, and fresh-baked bread.
But the absolute main event—and the exact reason you need to pull over—is their legendary strawberry shortcake. Served simply in a clear plastic cup, layers of hyper-fresh, locally grown strawberries are stacked with soft vanilla cake and rich cream.
Grab a cup, sit at one of the rustic wooden tables in the garden, and enjoy the best mid-morning snack in Baja. It is an absolute game-changer.
Stop 2: The Practical Beach Detour – Playa Los Cerritos
One of the biggest shocks for first-time visitors staying on the Pacific side of Cabo is realizing that the ocean is generally too violent to swim in. Plunging drop-offs and massive rip currents mean most of the coastline is strictly for looking. That is exactly why Playa Los Cerritos provides such massive utility for your day trip.
Located about 15 minutes south of Todos Santos, you take a quick detour down a dirt road to find a massive, crescent-shaped bay. Because of the way the bay naturally curves and protects the shoreline, Cerritos is that rare Pacific-side beach where you can actually get in the water without fearing for your life.
It is a total haven for both swimmers and surfers. The vibe here is the complete antithesis of the crowded, high-energy beach clubs on Medano Beach in Cabo. You can rent a surfboard for the afternoon, grab an umbrella and a couple of beach chairs from a local vendor, and watch the waves roll in. The water is refreshing, the sand is pristine, and the atmosphere is effortlessly laid-back. It is the perfect place to wash off the desert dust before heading into town.
Stop 3: The Culinary Climax – Jazamango
Todos Santos has quietly transformed into an absolute culinary powerhouse over the last decade. While the historic downtown is filled with great taco stands and charming cafes, you want to end your day trip with a meal that you will be talking about for years. For that, you need to book a table at Jazamango.
Founded by renowned Mexican chef Javier Plascencia, this spectacularly aesthetic open-air restaurant is the absolute pinnacle of Baja’s farm-to-table movement. Tucked away off a dirt road, the entire dining room is built around the property’s lush organic garden.
The name itself translates to “arugula” in a regional dialect, which perfectly sets the tone for the menu. Everything you eat is deeply rooted in the surrounding land and the nearby Sea of Cortez. We are talking wood-grilled chocolate clams prepared over mezquite, incredible lamb barbacoa, and wood-fired pizzas topped with ingredients pulled straight from the soil just feet from your table.
Sitting under the open sky, sipping a craft cocktail laced with fresh garden herbs, and eating world-class food in a rustic, beautifully designed space is the ultimate finale. It completely ruins the standard resort buffet experience in the best way possible. When you finally make the hour-long drive back south to your hotel under the stars, you will immediately want to plan your next trip back.
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