It’s an interesting mix of traditional Mexico, hippies, artists, and monied ‘palaces’. To me, it felt like a town of little oases hidden in the sand.
I must admit, Todos Santos was a bit of an adjustment at first coming from San Jose del Cabo. Outside of the main roads leading in and out of town, and a couple of arteries, the streets are all sand and dirt. It’s not super developed. There are more hills than I imagined, and more dogs and horses just wandering around. It’s not really a ‘nightlife’ kind of place. It didn’t feel unsafe, but it’s not very well lit after dark, and there weren’t a lot of people out. It seems like businesses are built more to cater to day-trippers from Cabo.
All of which adds to its charm, really. I warmed up to Todos Santos quickly and really enjoyed the week I spent there. My AirBnB was unique, kind of like a jungle hut in the desert, and my hosts were interesting and helpful. There are a lot of great little cafes and restaurants, not just in town but sprinkled around outside a ways. And some beautiful hikes and beaches within a 20 minute drive or less.
Time of Year and Weather
I was there in early May and had great weather. The days alternated between partly cloudy and sunny. It was really nice in the shade. If anything, it was a little chilly at times. My Airbnb host indicated that this was typical spring weather. He also said that he doesn’t want to be here starting about July when it turns hot and humid.
Todos Santos is located on the Tropic of Cancer, which is a source of pride and distinction. In the morning, it often felt later in the day to me than it actually was. 10 am felt like 2 or 3 pm. Perhaps because the sun is so strong.
Getting There and Around
I had initially considered taking the bus here and then renting a bike to get around. However, I ended up renting a car, and I was very glad I did due to the distances, hills involved, and random dogs wandering around. My car didn’t have 4WD, but I can see why you might want that. Outside of the main roads, the streets are mostly sand and slippery. A four-wheeler might also be an option; you’ll see a lot of those in town.
My Experience Renting a Car With Alamo
I was headed to La Paz after Todos Santos, so I booked a car through Expedia to pick up at San Jose del Cabo airport and drop off at La Paz airport.
I went with Alamo because of their good reviews and because it didn’t seem like some of the reputable local companies, such as Cactus, would allow a drop-off in La Paz. It ended up costing me about 440 USD for the week. Liability insurance was included. They tried to upsell me a comprehensive add-on that was priced at around $300, which I declined. Expedia also offered an option during booking to cover theft and vandalism for $11 a day, which I also declined. The Alamo representative explained that with the Expedia comprehensive insurance, I would have to pay for repairs myself and then get reimbursed, while with theirs, I could just hand over the keys and be done.
One thing I would look into more closely if I were to do this again would be 4WD. I think it was about $5 more per day.
I had no problems with the car. When I arrived at La Paz, it was slightly confusing where to drop off the car since there wasn’t an Alamo sign anywhere, and there were no instructions on the website. I simply parked in short-term parking and went inside, where they informed me that I needed to park in the middle lane in the middle of the terminal, and an Alamo representative would come to assist me.
