10 Best Sights in Los Cabos Side Trips, Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

Todos Santos is an oasis, meaning fresh water naturally runs through the desert into the ocean. Greenery blooms alongside cracking stretches of hardened sand, with palm trees and cacti living as neighbors. Within the heart of the oasis sits Playa Las Palmas, one of the only swimmable beaches in Todos Santos. You need to walk through a corridor of lush plant life (and potentially an ankle-deep stream) to reach the ocean, which feels so surprisingly out of place, you'd think it was planted by a gardener. It's a quiet, beautiful place to spend some time, although beware of horse droppings and sand fleas. There are no amenities, so bring your own umbrellas and snacks. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming.

There are more than nine palms here, but who’s counting? People who brave the dirt road to this off-the-beaten-track beach are here to surf the rippable right-hand point break. It's about an hour drive northeast from San José del Cabo, along with two other great surf spots, Shipwrecks and Punta Perfecta, which are clustered around La Fortuna and Boca de la Vinorama. The best time to surf is during the summer months, when southwesterly swells provide optimal conditions. But for those seeking only sun, sand, and breathtakingly beautiful views, Nine Palms is a year-round pleasure. Amenities: none. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

A rocky point shelters a clear, warm bay at Playa Balandra, 21 km (13 miles) north of La Paz. Several small coves and pristine beaches appear and disappear with the tides, but the water is calm and shallow enough that you can wade between them. This is Mexico's most famous beach, so the most popular way to visit is with a boat tour, whose guide typically provides beach chairs, snorkeling gear, and lunch. If you go independently, there are some restrictions, as Balandra was named an ecological conservation site by UNESCO. There is an entrance fee of about $3 per person, and you can stay for up to a maximum of four hours during either a morning (8--noon) or afternoon (1--5) time slot. A maximum of 450 people are allowed to enter during each time slot, so if you're traveling during peak season (or even on a weekend), you may want to arrive and line up early to guarantee admission. You will be made to leave once your time slot closes, regardless of when you arrived. The most iconic site at Balandra is "El Hongo," a rock formation that looks like a mushroom. It's a photo op, for sure, but climbing on it is forbidden. There's also a 30-minute hike from the parking lot up to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay. When walking in the shallow waters, you're advised to shuffle your feet, kicking up sand to disturb any potentially sleeping sting rays. Sand flies can be a nuisance on the beach, particularly between July and October. Amenities: parking (fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Situated 5 km (3 miles) north of La Paz, half of Caimancito "belongs" to the locals (though anyone is welcome), with sun-shading palapas and some government signage. It's a good beach for families with young children, as the calm, shallow waters feel more like a large natural pool than ocean. The second half houses El Caimancito Restaurant & Beach Club, which is owned by the boutique hotel, Orchid House Baja. There are very cute day beds and wooden swings, plus a DJ and fan to keep cool in the heat. A $500 MXN ($25) consumption minimum is required for nonguests of the hotel. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: partiers; swimming.

On a calm, sunny day, Playa El Tecolote could pass for being in the Caribbean. It's extremely gorgeous, and extremely fun, with the total vibe of a true Mexican beach. Restaurants and bars serve all sorts of seafood, though some will try to charge you a minimum spend ($400 MXN [$20])or flat rate($100 MXN [$5]) to dine on the sand versus inside their open-air establishment. Vendors rent out beach chairs, umbrellas, and kayaks, and will give banana boat rides. To the right of the restaurants is where the locals station up, often setting up tailgates from the backs of their cars and/or under large awnings. Camping is permitted (no hookups), and you'll see vans and RVs parked right on the sand, facing the beautiful surf. To the left is a hidden, quiet beach, accessible only by hiking or by boat, called El Tecolotito. Visit during the summer (May through November) for the best conditions. From January through March, it can be windy and the waves rough. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

White sand lines this quiet public beach in La Ribera, a sleepy town just north of Cabo Pulmo National Park. The beach feels almost untouched, with calm water that's great for sportfishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkeling. Costa Palmas is just down the beach. Amenities: toilets. Best for: solitude; snorkeling; swimming.

Playa Los Barriles runs the entire length of town, curving gently toward Bahía de las Palmas. Amazingly, it is almost completely free of people, except from November to March, when wind-sports companies offer rentals during the gusty season and it becomes a jumping-off point for activities including kiteboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and foilboarding. Those seeking sun and sea views recline on chaise lounges at beachfront resorts, and those seeking a congenial atmosphere hang out at restaurants or beach bars set just off the main shoreline. You can drive your ATV or truck onto the beach, and many locals do. Beware of jellyfish in the water. Amenities: none. Best for: walking; swimming; fishing; wind sports.

This long, expansive beach on the Pacific Ocean, about 64 km (40 miles) north of Cabo San Lucas and on the way to the town of Todos Santos, is famous among surfers for its wonderful breaking waves in winter. Great for beginners, the waves here are consistent, accessible, and not overly powerful. Boards and lessons are available via multiple surf shops right on shore. This beach works best on northwest swells. Even if you don't ride the waves, you can watch them crash along the shore. The sandy beach is wide, flat, and ideal for wading and swimming close to shore. Swimming farther out is not recommended because of the strong currents.

There are a small but lively number of beach bars and restaurants, including Barracuda Cantina, which was featured on Netflix's Taco Chronicles, plus a couple of modest beachfront hotels. Several condo and hotel developments are in progress, with locals predicting that Cerritos will be the "next Médano" (the mega-popular beach in Cabo San Lucas) in a decade or so. You can still camp or stay in RVs near the beach, although there are no organized campsites or RV parks in the area. The beach is quite dog-friendly, and you'll no doubt cross paths with a few four-legged friends (and their owners) on any given day. It's also a nice place to get an affordable massage, with a number of massage beds set up right in the sand.

Access to the beach is marked on Highway 19 (which connects Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos) by a sign for Playa Los Cerritos at Km 64 (13 km [8 miles] south of Todos Santos). The graded dirt road to the beach is 2½ km (1½ miles) from Highway 19. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers (for restaurant patrons); toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Playa Pichilingue is a good back-up beach for when El Tecolote and Balandra are too crowded. The water is pretty, and a local BYOB beach club, A Plein Soleil, will rent you cushioned chaise loungers for $150 MXN ($8) for the day. Points could be docked for the nearby ferry terminal, number of fishing boats, and sound of traffic, but those are rather surface-level complaints. The clear, shallow ocean water is great to sit—or even lay down—in and watch tiny fish swim by. There are a couple of restaurants to patron for lunch and drinks. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets. Best for: swimming.

The closest beach to downtown Todos Santos, Punta Lobos is where fishermen launch their boats in the early morning. It's fascinating to watch them go out, as well as return in the afternoon, boats barreling onto the sand at high speed. You may see the occasional swimmer, but it generally isn't advised due to strong currents. Strolling along the sand and enjoying the scenery, however, is highly recommended. Punta Lobos, named after the sea lions native to the area, is also the starting point of some of the town's most beloved hikes. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: sunrise; walking.