El Pescadero at a glance
- Where: Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, on Highway 19 between Todos Santos and Cabo San Lucas
- Known for: Cerritos and San Pedrito surf beaches, organic farms, winter whale watching, quiet beaches
- From Cabo San Lucas: about 45 minutes by car
- From Todos Santos: about 8 to 10 minutes
- Nearest airports: Los Cabos (SJD) and La Paz (LAP)
- Best months: November to April for surf and whales; April to May for warm, quieter days
- Safety: Baja California Sur is at US State Department Level 2, the same level as most of Mexico’s main tourist areas
The Best Things to Do in El Pescadero
Short on time? Here’s what we tell every guest who asks.
- Take a surf lesson at Los Cerritos Beach
- Watch experienced surfers at San Pedrito and stay for sunset
- Buy fish straight off the pangas at Punta Lobos in the morning
- Spot humpback and gray whales from the beach (December to April)
- Release baby sea turtles with Tortugueros Las Playitas (winter)
- Ride horses along the beach or into the desert
- Take an ATV through the dunes and arroyos
- Hike into the Sierra de la Laguna foothills
- Wander the huertas and eat farm-to-table
- Grab fish tacos and a raw bar lunch near the Cerritos turnoff
- Spend an afternoon in Todos Santos, ten minutes up the road
- Do nothing at all on an empty beach
Why El Pescadero Deserves a Spot on Your Baja California Sur Itinerary
El Pescadero sits along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, roughly eight kilometres south of Todos Santos and about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas. It is a small farming village, in the truest sense of that description, with rows of chili and basil fields, palm-lined farm roads, and underground water flowing down from the Sierra de la Laguna mountains that keeps the land genuinely productive in what is otherwise Sonoran desert.
That agricultural identity is the first thing that sets El Pescadero apart. Most towns along this stretch of Baja coast exist primarily for tourism. El Pescadero still exists primarily for farming and fishing, and visitors who figure that out early tend to leave with a very different experience than those who just turn up for the surf.
The things to do in El Pescadero range from world-class Pacific breaks and wildlife encounters to slow mornings on near-empty beaches and farm-to-table meals eaten under palapa roofs. None of it requires a resort. Most of it requires only that you slow down enough to notice what is actually here.
For a broader look at the region, start with our Ultimate Southern Baja California Sur Travel Guide, which covers how El Pescadero fits into a longer Baja itinerary.
The Beaches Around El Pescadero
The coastline here runs long and largely undeveloped. There are three main beaches within easy reach of town, each with a different personality.
Los Cerritos Beach
Los Cerritos is the most popular beach in the El Pescadero area, and for good reason. The waves are consistent, the water is relatively calm compared to other Pacific breaks in Baja, and a small section of the beach is genuinely safe for swimming, which is rarer than you might expect on this coast. There are surf schools, a handful of casual restaurants, and enough shade and vendors to spend a full day here without much planning.
It is also the most developed of the local beaches, so if you want people and activity, this is where you want to be. If you want solitude, it is better to start here in the morning and move on.
We have a dedicated Cerritos Beach Guide that goes much deeper into the surf conditions, safety, and what to expect across different times of year. Read about the boutique hotels near Cerritos Beach before planning a day out.
Playa San Pedrito
About two kilometres north of Cerritos, San Pedrito is a different experience entirely. The waves are stronger, the beach is less developed, and the people who tend to end up here are experienced surfers, long-term campers, and travellers who specifically wanted to get away from a more organised beach scene.
There is no real infrastructure to speak of, which is the point. The sunset views from San Pedrito are exceptional, and the campsite atmosphere that builds up around the beach in peak season gives it a character that Cerritos, for all its convenience, can’t quite replicate.
Punta Lobos
Punta Lobos is not a swimming beach. The waves and current make it unsuitable for casual swimming, but it is one of the most visually dramatic points on this stretch of coast. Local fishing pangas launch from the shore here each morning, and at the right time of day you can buy fish directly from the boats before they have had time to travel anywhere else.
It is also one of the better spots for coastal photography and for watching the Pacific at a moment when it isn’t performing for tourists. Come in the late afternoon for the light.
Surfing in El Pescadero: Breaks, Seasons and What to Bring
El Pescadero is the reason a lot of people find this stretch of coast in the first place. Two beaches do most of the work, and they couldn’t be more different.
Los Cerritos: where to learn
If you’ve never surfed, or it’s been a few years, start here. Cerritos is a sandy beach with a point at the north end that peels a friendly right, and it picks up swell from the south all the way round to the northwest, so there’s usually something to ride. It works on any tide. Surf schools and board rentals line the beach, and you can book a lesson the same morning most of the year.
San Pedrito: for confident surfers
A couple of kilometres north, San Pedrito is a right-hand reef break at the north end of the beach. It’s faster, more powerful and breaks over rock, with plenty of sea urchins. This isn’t a learner’s wave. Booties are a good idea, and so is watching a set or two before paddling out. It’s also a great beach for a sunset even if you never get wet. Playa San Pedrito offers a different kind of session. The break is faster, and the currents are stronger, and it tends to attract people who already know what they are doing. The cobblestone seafloor at low tide is worth knowing about before you paddle out.
When is surf season in El Pescadero?
There’s surf here all year, but the character changes with the seasons:
November to April: northwest swells bring the most consistent, clean waves. This is prime time, and it overlaps with whale season.
May to October: south swells hit Cerritos and the beach breaks. Water is warmer, crowds are thinner, but late summer brings storm risk.
Gear, lessons and costs
| What to expect | |
| Board rental | About US$20 to $25 a day on the beach (around 400 pesos at some shops) |
| Group lesson | About US$50 to $60 per person, usually with a soft top board included |
| Private lesson | About US$60 to $85 |
| Wetsuit | Water runs about 19 to 22°C in winter, so a 3mm springsuit is comfortable |
| Hazards | Rip currents, rocks, and urchins at San Pedrito |
| Best wind | Morning offshore winds from the northeast; afternoons get bumpy |
Booking a “Cerritos surf lesson” through a Cabo tour desk usually costs more (US$70 to $165), because transport from Cabo is built in. If you’re staying nearby, just walk up to one of the schools on the sand. Prices change from season to season, so check with the school before you go.
Surf breaks at a glance
| Break | Type | Level | Best swell |
| Los Cerritos | Beach and point, right | Beginner to intermediate | NW (also works S to W) |
| San Pedrito | Reef, right | Intermediate to advanced | NW and SW |
| Pescadero beach breaks | Peaks over sand and reef | Intermediate | SW |
Explore El Pescadero’s Agricultural Side
This is the part of El Pescadero that most travel guides skip, which is why it is worth spending time on.
The town’s name comes from pescador, fisherman, but the economy here has always been split between the sea and the land. The huerta, the agricultural zone that runs behind the coastal area, is a landscape of palm-lined roads, small farms, and fields growing chili peppers, herbs, and organic produce. An unusual combination of underground mountain water and Pacific air keeps the growing conditions here productive even through the dry season.
Several farms in the area operate with a genuine farm-to-table philosophy, not as a marketing angle but as a practical reality. Some of the produce grown here ends up on the menus of restaurants in El Pescadero and Todos Santos the same day it is harvested. If you visit during the right season and ask the right questions, it is possible to see this directly.
For a destination that gets talked about primarily as a surf and beach destination, the agricultural character of El Pescadero is a genuine point of difference. It is quieter, less photographed, and in many ways more representative of what Baja’s Pacific communities actually look like away from the water.
Pacific Coast Wildlife
El Pescadero sits in a stretch of coast that sees significant wildlife activity across different seasons. You do not need to book expensive tours to encounter it.
Whale Watching
Between December and April, humpback whales and gray whales migrate through the waters off the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur. From the beaches around El Pescadero, particularly at Punta Lobos and along the longer stretches of open coast, whale sightings from shore are genuinely common during peak migration months. You can watch whales breach without getting on a boat, though several local operators offer panga tours for a closer encounter.
The humpbacks are more acrobatic. The grays tend to travel in groups closer to the surface. Either way, the January through March window is when your chances are highest.
We have a full Whale Watching in Baja Sur guide that covers the species, the best viewing points, and how to choose a responsible tour operator.
Sea Turtle Conservation
North of Todos Santos, Tortugueros Las Playitas operates a turtle sanctuary that protects nesting leatherback and olive ridley sea turtles along the Pacific coast. During the nesting and hatching season, which generally runs from around December through late February, the sanctuary facilitates turtle releases on the beach.
Participating in a release is one of those experiences that is difficult to describe without sounding excessive, but watching newly hatched turtles make their way into the Pacific tends to stay with people for a long time. It is a conservation-focused operation, and the sanctuary takes the welfare of the turtles seriously, so participation means following their guidelines rather than treating it as a photo opportunity.
Get Outdoors Beyond the Beach
The landscape around El Pescadero is more varied than the beach-and-surf reputation suggests. Between the Pacific coast and the Sierra de la Laguna foothills, there is enough terrain to keep outdoor travellers occupied for several days.
Between the Pacific coast and the Sierra de la Laguna foothills, there is enough terrain to keep outdoor travellers occupied for several days. For a curated list of our favorite excursions, check out our guide to local adventures near Lejos de Todo.
Horseback Riding
Several operators in the El Pescadero and Todos Santos area offer guided horseback rides along the beach and through the coastal desert. Sunset rides along the Pacific, with the Sierra de la Laguna as a backdrop, are a particular draw. Half-day and full-day excursions are available and can be arranged locally. Prices and operators change, so ask at your accommodation for the most current recommendations.
ATV and Off-Road Adventures
The desert terrain inland from the coast is well-suited to ATV riding. Tours run through dunes, along dry riverbeds, and across desert trails that cut through the cardón cactus fields that define the Baja landscape. These tours are available for riders with a range of experience levels and are a genuinely different way to see the area outside the beach corridor.
Hiking and Nature
The trails along the Pacific coastline offer walks that combine ocean views with desert scenery in a way that doesn’t feel like either a beach walk or a mountain hike. The Sierra de la Laguna foothills are accessible as a longer day excursion for more committed hikers. AllTrails lists several rated routes in and around El Pescadero if you want specifics before arriving.
Eat Your Way Through El Pescadero
The food scene in El Pescadero is not as broad as what you will find in Todos Santos, but it is more rooted in the land and coast. That distinction matters.
Fresh seafood caught out of Punta Lobos ends up on plates within hours. The huerta produces organic ingredients that show up in menus that would look at home in a city with a serious dining scene. Fish tacos, the unofficial official food of Baja California Sur, are available in their roadside form and in more composed versions at sit-down restaurants. If you’re cooking during your stay, our list of grocery stores near El Pescadero covers the farm store, the local fish market, and the bigger supermarkets in Cabo.
Crudo, a raw bar and natural wine restaurant tucked off Highway 19 near the Los Cerritos turnoff, has become something of a benchmark for what El Pescadero’s food scene can be at its best. It requires some navigation, and it operates on Baja time, but it earns its reputation.
The broader farm-to-table dining culture here is tied directly to the agricultural landscape described above. Eating well in El Pescadero is not about finding the right restaurant as much as it is about arriving with the right expectations. This is not Cabo San Lucas. The places are smaller, the hours are less predictable, and the food tends to be better for it.
While Todos Santos has a broader restaurant and dining scene with more consistent hours and a wider range of cuisines, El Pescadero’s food culture is more directly tied to what grows and swims here. Both are worth exploring.
Take a Day Trip to Todos Santos
Todos Santos is eight kilometres north of El Pescadero on Highway 19, about ten minutes by car. That proximity means the two destinations work naturally together, but they are not the same place.
Todos Santos was designated a Pueblo Mágico in 2006, a Mexican federal designation for towns with exceptional cultural and historical character. The designation fits. The historic centre has colonial-era buildings, a working church, art galleries, boutique shops, and a restaurant scene that has drawn a more international crowd over the past decade. It is a genuinely beautiful town.
The two destinations complement each other rather than compete. El Pescadero is where you go for the water and the land. Todos Santos is where you go for the art, the architecture, and the broader dining scene. Most visitors to the area benefit from spending time in both.
El Pescadero vs. Todos Santos
| El Pescadero | Todos Santos | |
| Setting | Pacific coast, farm country | Historic town, inland from beach |
| Vibe | Quiet, agricultural, surf-focused | More developed, cultural, artsy |
| Main draws | Surfing, beaches, wildlife, farms | Galleries, restaurants, architecture |
| Crowd level | Lower | Moderate to high in peak season |
| Food scene | Smaller, locally sourced | Broader, international-influenced |
Both are worth exploring. To see exactly which spots we recommend for a great meal, read our guide on where we like to eat locally
For a full breakdown of the best attractions, galleries, restaurants, and beaches in the area, see our guide to the Best Things to Do in Todos Santos.
The Quieter Side of Baja
El Pescadero does not have a resort strip, a duty-free shopping district, or a nightclub scene. What it has is a Pacific coast that largely looks the way it did before the development boom hit Cabo, an agricultural community that functions on its own logic, and enough outdoor life to keep active travellers occupied without any organised tourism structure.
The sunsets here are a matter of some local pride. Without the light pollution and high-rise buildings of Cabo, the sky does what Baja skies are supposed to do. The silhouette of a five-metre cardón cactus against a Pacific sunset is one of those images that becomes a reason people come back.
There is a slower pace here that some travellers find they were not expecting to want until they arrive. It suits the kind of trip where the itinerary matters less than the quality of what ends up happening on any given day.
Is El Pescadero Safe?
El Pescadero is a small farming and surf town, and day to day it feels like one. Most visitors spend their time between the beaches, the farms and Todos Santos without any trouble at all.
For the official picture: the US State Department rates Baja California Sur at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, which is the same level as Mexico overall and most of its main tourist regions. There are no extra travel restrictions for US government employees in the state. Baja California, the separate state to the north with Tijuana and Ensenada, has a higher rating, and the two often get mixed up in headlines.
A few habits that make sense anywhere on this coast:
- Avoid driving Highway 19 at night. Cows, potholes, and unlit stretches are the real risk.
- Don’t leave valuables in the car at the beach, especially at popular surf spots.
- Ask locally about currents before swimming. The Pacific here is powerful, and Cerritos is the beach with a calmer swimming area.
- Check the current advisory at travel.state.gov before you fly, since levels can change.
For more detail on the region, see our guide: Is Baja California Sur Safe?
Best Time to Visit El Pescadero
El Pescadero is a year-round destination, but the experience shifts meaningfully across seasons.
Winter (December to March) is the most popular period. Temperatures are comfortable, the Pacific swell picks up for surfing, and whale watching and sea turtle releases make this season particularly active for wildlife experiences. Accommodation fills up, and prices reflect it.
Spring (April and May) offers warm weather with fewer visitors, good beach conditions, and comfortable temperatures for outdoor activities. It is a strong option for travellers who want the Pacific coast experience without the peak-season crowds.
Summer (June to September) is hot and occasionally humid. Fewer international visitors come during this period, which means more space on the beaches and lower prices, but temperatures can climb to a point that limits midday activity. The surf season for larger swells also begins to build through late summer and fall.
Fall (October and November) brings the beginning of surf season and a shoulder-season quietness that suits independent travellers. The transition between the summer heat and the cooler winter months makes this a reasonable time to visit for a more stripped-back experience.
El Pescadero Weather by Month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | What it’s like |
| January | 24°C / 75°F | 15°C / 59°F | Cool mornings, peak whales, busy |
| February | 24°C / 75°F | 15°C / 59°F | Peak whales, good surf |
| March | 25°C / 77°F | 16°C / 61°F | Last of the whale season |
| April | 26°C / 79°F | 17°C / 63°F | Warm, quieter |
| May | 27°C / 81°F | 18°C / 64°F | Dry, almost no rain |
| June | 29°C / 84°F | 21°C / 70°F | Hot days, calm |
| July | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | Hot and humid |
| August | 30°C / 86°F | 25°C / 77°F | Hottest month, lowest crowds |
| September | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | Wettest month, peak storm risk |
| October | 29°C / 84°F | 22°C / 72°F | Storm risk easing, warm water |
| November | 27°C / 81°F | 19°C / 66°F | Surf picks up, crowds return |
| December | 24°C / 75°F | 16°C / 61°F | Whales arrive, holiday crowds |
Averages are rounded. Hurricane season on the Pacific side runs June to November and peaks in September.
How to Get to El Pescadero
Times taken from the live site: the El Pescadero page (Todos Santos about 10 minutes away) and the airport guide at /cabo-airport-to-todos-santos/ (Lejos de Todo about 20 minutes south of Todos Santos, 50 minutes from SJD).
Are there flights to El Pescadero?
There’s no airport in El Pescadero itself. You have two options:
- Los Cabos International (SJD): the most flights from the US and Canada. El Pescadero is about an hour away by car. Take the toll road out of the airport, which skips San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, then head north on Highway 19. Bring cash for the toll booth. Lejos de Todo, at Km 82, is about 50 minutes from the airport.
- La Paz (LAP): fewer international routes, but a scenic two-hour drive south through the desert.
No car? The Aguila bus runs between La Paz, Todos Santos, El Pescadero, and Cabo San Lucas, and drops off on the highway near Cerritos. It works for getting here, but you’ll want a car or a driver once you arrive. Our post on renting a car in Baja vs private transport goes into the trade-offs, and Cabo airport to Todos Santos covers the route step by step.
How Many Days Do You Need in El Pescadero?
The honest answer is that El Pescadero rewards slower travel. You can pass through in a day and check the main boxes, but the character of the place takes time to settle into.
One day: Los Cerritos Beach, a decent lunch, and a sunset from San Pedrito covers the essential version. It is worth doing, but it is not the same as staying.
Two to three days: This is the sweet spot for most visitors. Long enough for a surf session or two, a proper meal at Crudo, a morning at Punta Lobos watching the pangas head out, and a half-day in Todos Santos. Enough time to stop checking your phone.
Four or more days: Add outdoor excursions, a whale watching trip during the right season, a slower exploration of the huerta area, and the kind of afternoons that don’t really have an agenda. The farm-to-table dining scene reveals itself more clearly when you are not rushing to get to the next thing.
Where to Stay in El Pescadero
If you searched for “El Pescadero resort”, you’re probably thinking of Rancho Pescadero, the large luxury resort on the beach here. It’s a good fit if you want full resort service. If you’d rather have something smaller and quieter, with your own casita, a shared pool, and an empty beach out front, that’s what we built Lejos de Todo for.
Staying in El Pescadero rather than day-tripping from Cabo or Todos Santos changes the experience significantly. You get the Pacific sunsets, the morning beach access before the day visitors arrive, and the slower pace of a community that is not built around turning over hotel rooms every night.
Choosing a beach town between Cabo and La Paz
On the Pacific side, the three names you’ll hear are Todos Santos, El Pescadero and Cerritos. Todos Santos has the galleries, restaurants, and the Pueblo Mágico plaza. El Pescadero and Cerritos are where the surf, the farms, and the open beaches are. Many people stay down here and drive up to Todos Santos for dinner. Our guide to where to stay in Baja California Sur compares them in more detail.
Why stay here?
- Direct beach access without driving
- Easy reach of Los Cerritos and San Pedrito
- Ten-minute drive to Todos Santos
- Quieter than Cabo, less tourist-facing than Todos Santos
- Agricultural landscape and Pacific coast in equal measure
Lejos de Todo is a beachfront boutique property on the Pacific coast near El Pescadero, hosted by Mario and Vanessa Salice. Seven casitas sit directly on the Pacific, close enough to hear the ocean from every room. The property is the kind of place that makes the things-to-do list feel slightly beside the point, because being there is already the main event.
For more on boutique accommodation in this stretch of Baja, see our Boutique Hotels in Baja California Sur guide.
FAQ: Things to Do in El Pescadero
Surfing at Los Cerritos, watching the sunset from Playa San Pedrito, eating fresh seafood from Punta Lobos, participating in a sea turtle release at Tortugueros Las Playitas, and watching humpback whales from shore between December and March are consistently the highlights visitors talk about.
Yes, particularly for travellers who want a Pacific coast experience without the resort infrastructure of Cabo San Lucas. The combination of beaches, surfing, wildlife, farm culture, and easy access to Todos Santos makes it one of the more complete stops in southern Baja.
It is one of the better surf destinations in Baja California Sur for the range it offers. Los Cerritos suits beginners and intermediate surfers with its forgiving break and surf school access. Playa San Pedrito suits more experienced surfers looking for stronger, less managed conditions.
Yes. Los Cerritos is one of the few beaches in the Todos Santos and El Pescadero area where swimming is relatively safe, with a designated calmer section of the beach suitable for non-surfers. The outer sections carry stronger currents and are better left to surfers who understand the conditions.
El Pescadero is approximately eight kilometres south of Todos Santos, which translates to around ten minutes by car on Highway 19. The two destinations are close enough to visit in the same day, though both benefit from being given more time.
Primarily for its surf beaches, particularly Los Cerritos, and for offering a more authentic and quieter version of Baja California Sur than the resort towns to the south. It is also known locally for its agricultural character, its Pacific coast wildlife, and its proximity to the Pueblo Mágico of Todos Santos.
For a beachfront boutique experience directly on the Pacific coast, Lejos de Todo offers seven casitas with direct ocean access near El Pescadero. See our Boutique Hotels in Baja California Sur guide for a broader look at accommodation options in the area.
El Pescadero is a small, relaxed farming and surf town, and most visitors have no problems. Baja California Sur carries a US State Department Level 2 advisory, the same as most of Mexico’s main tourist areas. Use common sense: avoid driving at night on Highway 19 and don’t leave valuables in your car at the beach.
It’s sunny almost all year. Winter highs sit around 24°C (75°F) with cool nights, while summer highs reach about 30°C (86°F) with humidity. September is the wettest month and the peak of hurricane season. November to May is dry and the most comfortable time to visit.
There’s surf year-round, but November to April brings the most consistent northwest swells, which suit both Cerritos and San Pedrito. Summer south swells also produce good waves at Cerritos, with warmer water and fewer people. Beginners can find small, friendly waves at Cerritos almost any month.
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is the closest major airport and has the most flights from the US and Canada. La Paz (LAP) is the other option, about two hours north by car. There’s no airport in El Pescadero, so most visitors rent a car or book a private transfer.
El Pescadero is about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas by car on Highway 19, a well-paved road with ocean and desert views most of the way. It’s an easy day trip in either direction, though we recommend driving it in daylight.
Is El Pescadero Worth Visiting?
El Pescadero is not a destination built around a long list of attractions. Its appeal comes from what it combines: Pacific beaches that are genuinely usable, surf breaks across a range of ability levels, wildlife encounters that don’t require expensive tour operators, farm-to-table food rooted in an agricultural community that actually functions, and a proximity to Todos Santos that makes cultural exploration easy without leaving the coast.
It is quieter than Cabo, more grounded than the more developed parts of Baja’s tourist circuit, and honest in a way that slower travellers tend to appreciate.
If you are planning a visit to the El Pescadero area, explore the region from Lejos de Todo, a beachfront property on the Pacific coast near El Pescadero and Todos Santos. For a wider view of what southern Baja California Sur has to offer, our Ultimate Southern Baja California Sur Travel Guide is the place to start.
