Adventures at Los Cerritos | Surfing and Serenity in One Place
• Posted Aug 29 • 2024.
Just 20 minutes from Todos Santos, you'll find one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in all of Baja—Los Cerritos. This expansive beach on the Pacific Ocean is an excellent spot for beach lovers and surfers alike. But don’t be mistaken, there aren’t any big hotels or big restaurants here, which is exactly what makes Los Cerritos so unique and different. Want to know why? Let’s find out!
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Getting to Los Cerritos
To get to Los Cerritos from La Paz, where I live, you just need to take the La Paz-Todos Santos highway, pass through the magical town of Todos Santos, and continue about 20 minutes south. It's important to mention that you shouldn't expect big signs telling you that you're close or that you've arrived. You'll need to pay attention to your GPS, which will guide you, but be careful—one time, it led us onto a private road, and luckily, no one was at the guard booth; otherwise, we would have had to turn back to the highway to find another entrance.
I should mention that the correct entrance is where you'll see a sign for Hotel Las Palmas. Turn right there, but once you're on that road, keep going straight until you reach the beach—don't turn off toward the hotel. It's a dirt road, and the area is still under construction and development, so keep that in mind. Besides the condos and a few small restaurants, there's absolutely nothing on the beach itself. And that’s part of its charm.
Starting from Cabo San Lucas, Los Cerritos is about 45 minutes away, thanks to the excellent road conditions that allow you to cover long distances quickly and safely. If you're coming from La Paz, it will take you about 1 hour and 20 minutes. I highly recommend stopping for breakfast at La Garita, a traditional roadside restaurant that serves a delicious, entirely local menu. If you're lucky, you'll see the cows roaming freely around the area since they're free-range. The restaurant also has activities for kids, like games and bikes. I recommend trying the machaca burrito and the carne asada burrito. Also, don't miss out on the cheese they make—it's simply delicious.
It's also a good idea to stop in Todos Santos and explore its beautiful streets, filled with art and color at every corner. You'll also notice a less dry climate with much more vegetation than in La Paz. But if you're in the mood for the sea or surfing, keep going straight to make the most of your day. No matter what anyone says, Todos Santos doesn't have beaches— they're all nearby, but none are actually in Todos Santos.
The last stretch to get to Los Cerritos is, as I mentioned before, a dirt road. It’s not in the best condition, but a regular car can handle it just fine. At the end of the road, you'll see several cars parked, a small sand hill, and the fences and walls of some condos and properties. But the entrance to the beach is wide and clear, where you'll spot some surfboards and a guy renting them out. He also rents umbrellas and lounge chairs for 100 pesos (about 5 USD) per hour or 300 pesos (around 15 USD) for the whole day. After that, you'll be greeted by one of the most spectacular views your eyes can see—the Pacific Ocean in all its majestic glory. You've arrived at Los Cerritos.
At Los Cerritos
Los Cerritos Beach is enormous, but it's just one of the many beautiful beaches in Baja California Sur. In fact, a friend told me that it’s actually part of a continuous stretch of beach that you can travel around the entire perimeter of Baja Sur. He’s confident because he’s done it himself, of course, equipped with a 4x4 truck and plenty of supplies. He mentioned that there are places where you won’t see another soul for miles. Naturally, I asked him about that experience, and he said it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime adventures. The untouched natural beauty you see, he says, goes beyond your wildest dreams.
Coming back to Los Cerritos, as I mentioned, it’s a vast beach, still mostly unspoiled. However, I know this won’t last long. Rapid urbanization, land sales, and the construction of houses, condos, and hotels will soon transform this beach into a spectacular tourist attraction, full of civilization, and in the process, it will lose some of its current charm. Being in this part of the beach allows you to stay away from the crowd that gathers further north along the same beach, closer to the impressive cliff where people tend to congregate, and there are a few places to eat. From a distance, you can see the cluster of umbrellas over there, making you appreciate even more the choice of picking a more secluded spot, with fewer people and the powerful sound of the waves in the background.
You can swim here, but be very careful—remember, this is open ocean, and the waves don’t have the gentleness of the beaches in La Paz, for example. In fact, the people who rent out umbrellas and other gear will tell you that if you’re not a strong swimmer, it’s better not to go in, and if you do, be cautious. This advice is particularly true for those venturing beyond the first set of waves, but along the shore, you’ll often see kids swimming and having fun without any issues. However, beyond that point, the waves and currents are different, so it’s best to be careful.
On the other hand, if you want to surf, this is an excellent spot. The waves are a good size, making it a great place to practice the sport. It’s common to see surfers out in the water, which is also why they rent out surfboards here. I’m not much of a fan of surfing myself, so I can only say that those who do it seem to really enjoy it. Not just surfing, but swimming and waiting for the waves in peace—they look genuinely happy.
Of course, it’s also possible to simply sit back, relax, and reflect with the sound of the ocean and the wind in the background, the stunning beauty of the landscape, and the almost complete absence of human noise. It’s not entirely silent because there are people enjoying the beach, walking their dogs, or just strolling around. But the space is so vast and open that what would normally be noticeable noise on other beaches is barely audible here. If you’re planning to eat at the beach, it’s better to bring everything you need, but remember one important thing: there are no restrooms, at least not in this area. The restrooms are located near the cliff where most people gather, but that’s not close by. I can also recommend a spot, the restaurant at Hotel Las Palmas, where the food is delicious and they have all the amenities you need. Personally, I recommend the shrimp burger with bacon and pineapple—oh my God, it’s amazing! Plus, the prices are excellent; three of us had a great meal for about $65.
So, being at Los Cerritos will allow you to swim, take in, or surf the majesty of the Pacific, and the sunsets—let me tell you—are simply epic. At this point, I’d like to mention that when you visit the town of Todos Santos, it’s common to go to Punta Lobos or some nearby beach. But as the locals in Todos Santos say, you can’t swim there—it’s dangerous, and if they say it, I believe them. I love swimming, which is why I prefer Los Cerritos over other beaches in the region. There are plenty to choose from, because as you go from north to south along the highway, everything to the right is beach—everything. That’s why there are so many beaches in this area. Basically, if you see a road to the right, it’s almost certain you’ll end up at a beach—this place is that incredible.
In conclusion, Los Cerritos is a majestic, expansive, and beautiful beach. The sound of its powerful waves reminds you of how small we are and the strength of nature. However, the shoreline allows for some swimming and enjoying the water and the constant surf. If you visit here, remember that there’s practically nothing on the beach itself. But around it, there are hotels and Airbnbs where you can stay and enjoy this experience for several days. Believe me, you should visit it on your next trip to Cabo San Lucas or my home, La Paz.
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Tastes of La Paz.