Todos Santos and El Pescadero: Singletrack, Ceviche, and Seven Days in Baja
Seven days in Baja with my wife, our two kids, our cousins, and a crew of small children who are not yet old enough to rip singletrack but made a strong case that they did not need to. Todos Santos and El Pescadero sit on the Pacific side of Baja California Sur, about 45 minutes north of Cabo, and they have quietly become one of the best spots in Mexico for trips where adventure and family time are not competing priorities.
The mountains are close. The ocean is right there. The food scene punches well above what you expect from a small Baja town. And the trail network that threads through high desert cactus fields, over mountain ridgelines, and right to the edge of bluffs that drop more than 100 feet straight into the Pacific is as good as any singletrack we have ridden. Here is what we found and why we are already planning to go back.
What makes the singletrack trails around Todos Santos some of the best mountain biking in Baja California?
The trails around Todos Santos put you in three completely different landscapes on the same ride: open desert with towering cardón cactus, mountain ridgelines with views in every direction, and Pacific bluff edges where you are rolling along a trail with a 100-foot drop straight to the ocean on one side. We were lucky to have Pete, a local from El Pescadero and part of our extended family, running point on the route. Having someone who knows every line, every turn, and exactly where the trail tightens up along the bluff changes the experience entirely.
The singletrack itself is technical without being punishing. Desert terrain means loose soil over rock in the lower sections, compressed hard-pack on the ridgeline, and exposure on the bluff descent that requires real commitment. You thread through cactus on the approach, earn long views in the middle, and stare straight down into the Pacific at the payoff. The descents back down the bluff section are steep and fast, and if the ocean view is not enough to make you respect your speed, the drop certainly is.
For the ride, pack light and pack smart. Baja mornings start cool and heat up fast on the climb. A breathable base layer that handles the sweat on the ascent without becoming a problem in the ridge wind is what you want. The salt. tee is what I wore for every warm-weather ride on this trip. It handled the Baja heat on the climb and stayed comfortable on the exposed sections without clinging when the Pacific wind hit.
Where do you rent mountain bikes and get trail intel around Todos Santos?
Over the Edge in the historic center of Todos Santos is the go-to for rentals, guided tours, and trail maps in the area. It is a full-service mountain bike shop, which in a town this size is not a given, and they know the network better than anyone running a public-facing operation. They cover bike rentals, demo bikes, repairs, guided rides, and self-guided maps for riders who want to explore on their own schedule.
Trail names worth knowing before you show up: Cactus Battle, Dave’s Trail, El Cardon, Old Port, and Sierra Madre. Each has a different character and a different level of commitment. El Cardon runs through the namesake cactus desert. Sierra Madre gets you into the mountain elevation where the views open up. Cactus Battle is exactly what it sounds like. Over the Edge is open 8am to 4pm, closed Sundays. If you are visiting without a local connection, book a guided tour through them before you arrive so the best routes do not fill. Find them at otesports.com or on Facebook at @otebaja.
What is Barracuda Cantina and why does it deserve a full afternoon on every trip to El Pescadero?
Barracuda Cantina is a family-owned open-air beach bar at Cerritos Beach in El Pescadero, and it made it onto Netflix’s Taco Chronicles Season 2 for a reason. The show found it the same way most people do: word of mouth that builds until you finally show up and understand immediately what the conversation was about. Danny runs the food program and the ceviche is same-day caught, meaning caught that morning by local fishermen, not same-day as a supply chain marketing term. That distinction is clear the moment it hits the table.
The fish tacos become the benchmark for everything else you eat in Baja after that visit. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and not once feel the need to branch out. The guacamole is fresh and not stingy. The margaritas are the spicy kind that make you order a second before the first is finished. Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 5pm with two-for-one margaritas and Pacifico Clara. Reggae night starts at 5pm on Fridays. Live music on Sundays.
The DJ sets and activations happen directly on the sand, no stage separation, no velvet rope between the music and the beach. You are standing on Cerritos with a drink, watching the sun work its way down to the Pacific horizon, and the whole setup feels like something that should cost considerably more than it does. We went back multiple times. That is the clearest endorsement available. Check them out at barracudacantina.com or on Instagram at @barracudacantina.
What is Doce Cuarenta and why do travelers in Todos Santos keep stopping there?
Doce Cuarenta is a Baja coffee roastery with their flagship location on Carretera 19 in Todos Santos, and their approach is farm to cup, meaning they take the sourcing seriously. Open at 7am on weekdays and weekends, which makes it the first stop before any morning trail session and the last reasonable excuse to linger in town before heading back to El Pescadero.
The range at the flagship goes well beyond straight coffee. Espresso martinis are on the menu and they are built correctly, which in a small Baja town is more surprising than it should be. The space works well as a remote workspace for anyone keeping up with obligations between activities. They also sell merch, and their hoodie is one of the most comfortable things I packed for the trip. I was wearing it while writing this post. Their Day of the Dead skull design ended up as a sticker on my MacBook before we left Baja. That is how you know a brand got to you. If you are in Todos Santos, stop in at least twice: once in the morning for the coffee and once in the evening for something stronger. Find them on Instagram at @docecuarenta.todossantos.
Can you do Todos Santos as a real adventure trip with young kids in the group?
Yes, and this trip made the case better than anything I could have planned on paper. Our kids and our cousins’ kids ranged from toddlers to grade school, and none of them needed the trails to have an epic week. While the adults were on singletrack, the kids were running a separate itinerary that held up just fine on its own terms.
RZR side-by-side runs up and down the beach, horseback riding along the shoreline, and full days with sand, waves, and space to move. By the end of the week the kids were asking to come back the same way the adults were. Barracuda Cantina is fully family-friendly. The open-air setup at Cerritos means there is room, the vibe is relaxed, and some of the best sessions we had there were the ones where the whole group was sitting together watching the Pacific. Todos Santos is one of the few places we have traveled where the adult adventure itinerary and the family itinerary overlap more than they conflict.
FAQ: Todos Santos and El Pescadero Travel Guide
What is the best time of year to visit Todos Santos for mountain biking?
Fall through spring, roughly October through April, is the best window for riding around Todos Santos. Temperatures are cooler, trail conditions are drier, and the desert sections are far more manageable. Summer heat in Baja makes meaningful trail time difficult before 8am.
Do you need to be an advanced rider to tackle the trails near Todos Santos?
The network covers a range. Cactus Battle and the Pacific bluff sections are technical and require solid bike handling, especially on the descents. El Cardon and some lower desert routes are more approachable for intermediate riders. Over the Edge can match you to a route based on your level, whether you book a guide or pick up a trail map.
Is Barracuda Cantina good for families with young kids?
Yes. The open-air layout at Cerritos Beach is relaxed enough for kids at the table, and the food is straightforward and fresh. The beach setting handles the entertainment side on its own. It is not a place where families feel out of place.
Where do you rent mountain bikes in Todos Santos?
Over the Edge in the historic center of Todos Santos is the local shop for rentals, guides, and trail maps. Open 8am to 4pm, closed Sundays. Book ahead if you are traveling during peak season. Find them at otesports.com.
What else is Todos Santos worth stopping for beyond trails and the beach?
Doce Cuarenta for coffee, espresso martinis, or a working afternoon. The historic art district in the town center is walkable and worth a few hours. The town has a real food scene, not just the beach bar circuit. And the sunsets over the Pacific from Cerritos Beach are the kind you do not have to work up enthusiasm for.
Todos Santos and El Pescadero delivered one of the best family trip formats we have found: enough adventure to make it worth the travel, enough ease to bring the kids without it becoming a logistics operation. If you are building your adventure calendar, put Baja on it. Gear up at saltoutfitter.com.