Todos Santos is a small Pacific coast town on Mexico's Baja California peninsula, about ninety minutes north of Cabo San Lucas. Designated a Pueblo Magico by the Mexican government for its artistic character and colonial charm, the town draws surfers to breaks like Cerritos Beach, art lovers to its dozen-plus galleries lining cobblestone streets, and nature enthusiasts who come for winter whale watching and sea turtle conservation. With the Sierra de la Laguna mountains as a backdrop and the desert meeting the ocean, Todos Santos runs at a slower, more creative pace than its flashier neighbor to the south.
Your best window to visit Todos Santos runs from late November through late April, with the heart of winter (December through February) standing out as the prime stretch. This is when the weather is at its most comfortable, humpback and gray whales cruise the Pacific offshore, baby sea turtles are released at sunset along the beach, and the town's cultural calendar lights up with a music festival in January, the Open Studio Tour and Art Festival in February, and a film festival in March. If you'd rather avoid peak-season crowds and still enjoy pleasant conditions, March and April offer warm, rain-free days with thinner visitor numbers and events like the GastroVino food and wine festival in late April.
Spring in Todos Santos, Mexico
By March, the scorching summer heat is a distant memory and Todos Santos settles into its most sociable stretch. Afternoons warm to highs of 86.8°F (30.4°C), pleasantly hot but nothing extreme, while mornings start around 64.3°F (17.9°C), cool enough for an early hike up to Punta Lobos before the sun takes hold. Rain is virtually nonexistent through the entire season, so you can leave the rain jacket at home and focus on sunscreen and a hat instead.
March brings the Todos Santos Film Festival, which screens a curated selection of Mexican and Latin American films across intimate venues in town. Art galleries along Calle Juarez are in full swing, and the town still buzzes with the tail end of the winter snowbird crowd. The surf at Cerritos Beach, about fifteen minutes south, remains consistent through spring, with the last of the northwest winter swells tapering off and conditions turning friendlier for beginners. If you time your visit for late April, the annual GastroVino festival takes over the main plaza with regional wines from Baja's Valle de Guadalupe and dishes from local restaurants.
This is the busiest season for visitor traffic, especially March, so book accommodations well in advance. By May, the crowds thin considerably as temperatures creep higher, making it a quieter window to explore the boutiques along cobblestone downtown streets and grab a table at open-air restaurants without a wait. Pack light, breathable clothing and a reusable water bottle for long afternoons wandering through town.
Summer in Todos Santos, Mexico
Summer is when Todos Santos truly feels like the desert it is. Highs climb to a seasonal average of 93°F (33.9°C), and early August marks the peak of the heat with temperatures pushing to 95°F (35°C) and overnight lows sitting at a sticky 79.3°F (26.3°C). Humidity spikes compared to the dry winter months, making the heat feel more oppressive than the numbers suggest. Even the ocean breezes offer limited relief during the midday hours.
August and September sit squarely within hurricane season for Baja California Sur, and while direct hits are uncommon, tropical storms can bring heavy rain, strong winds, and temporary flooding to the unpaved roads that connect many of the area's best beaches. The seasonal average low of 77.1°F (25.1°C) means nights don't cool off much, so air conditioning becomes essential rather than optional. Surf conditions mellow out significantly, with smaller and less consistent waves than the winter months produce.
The upside is that tourism drops off sharply, making this the least expensive time to visit. Accommodation prices fall, and you'll have restaurants and galleries largely to yourself. If you do come in summer, plan outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon, and keep a close eye on weather forecasts during the height of the storm season. Bring moisture-wicking fabrics and expect to spend more time in shaded courtyards than on the beach.
Fall in Todos Santos, Mexico
Fall eases Todos Santos out of summer's grip, though September still carries significant warmth with seasonal highs of 89.3°F (31.8°C). Lows settle to 70.5°F (21.4°C) as the season progresses, and the air begins to dry out after August's humidity peak. Rain is almost nonexistent through these months, and skies return to the clear, deep blue that defines the Baja landscape.
October brings one of the town's most beloved celebrations: the Fiestas del Pilar, a week-long party honoring the founding of Todos Santos and its patron saint. Expect horseback parades through the streets, regional food stalls, folk dancing, and live music in the plaza. Later in the season, early November brings Dia de los Muertos, when locals decorate altars with marigolds and share pan de muerto, and processions wind through the colonial center. These celebrations offer a window into the town's deeply rooted culture that many winter visitors miss entirely.
This is the quietest season for tourism, so you'll find the best accommodation deals of the year. The first humpback whales begin arriving off the coast in October, giving early-season visitors a preview of the whale watching that defines winter. Surf picks up again as northwest swells return. By late November, the town shifts gears as the winter season approaches, temperatures become more comfortable for all-day exploring, and the creative community begins gearing up for the packed calendar ahead.
Winter in Todos Santos, Mexico
Winter is when Todos Santos truly comes alive. Highs reach a comfortable 79.9°F (26.6°C), warm enough for a full day at the beach but cool enough that wandering through galleries and boutiques feels pleasant rather than punishing. Mornings dip to 58.4°F (14.7°C), so you'll want a light layer for sunrise walks along the sand before the day warms up. Rain is essentially absent during these months, making it some of the most reliably clear weather anywhere in Mexico.
The wildlife spectacle is the main draw. Humpback whales are visible from the shore through January, while gray whales arrive in late January and stay through mid-March on their epic migration from Arctic waters. You can spot breaching whales from the cliffs at Punta Lobos or book a boat excursion for closer encounters. Meanwhile, at Tortugueros Las Playitas just north of town, baby sea turtles are released into the ocean at sunset each evening from December through February, a genuinely moving experience worth planning around. The surf season at Cerritos hits its peak with powerful northwest swells, and the water is cool enough that many surfers reach for a wetsuit.
January kicks off with the annual music festival, which has become a major event featuring bands performing at intimate venues across town. February follows with the Open Studio Tour, when local artists throw open their doors and invite visitors to see work in progress, plus the broader Art Festival that fills public spaces with sculpture, painting, and folk art from across Mexico and Latin America. This is the second busiest season for visitors, with a noticeable spike around the holidays from late December through early January, so booking ahead is essential. Pack layers for chilly mornings and warm afternoons, plus reef-safe sunscreen for days on the water.
At a Glance
Monthly weather, visitor crowds, air quality, holidays, and daylight hours to help you plan your trip.
Travel Tips & Safety for Todos Santos, Mexico
Most visitors fly into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and drive north to Todos Santos, a scenic trip of roughly ninety minutes along Highway 19. A rental car with four-wheel drive is highly recommended, since many of the best beaches and trailheads are only accessible via unpaved, sandy roads. Have cash in pesos ready for the toll road and for smaller shops and taco stands in town that don't take cards. Taxis exist but are limited and relatively expensive, so a car gives you the flexibility the area demands.
Tap water is not safe to drink in Todos Santos, so stick to bottled or purified water and be mindful of ice at smaller food stalls. The town is generally considered very safe, but use standard precautions with valuables and be especially cautious driving unpaved coastal roads after dark, where signage and lighting are minimal. During summer and early fall, keep an eye on tropical storm forecasts if you're visiting, and carry extra water and supplies any time you head into the surrounding desert or mountains.