An In-Depth Review of Hotel Paradero Todos Santos - AFAR

"Set at the intersection of sun-drenched desert, mountains, and the Pacific coast, this Baja California hotel is a working-farm, art-and-surf–adjacent cultural retreat that includes experiences—four-hour art walks, two-hour hikes, two-hour farming lessons and an eighty-minute Mayan ritual—as part of most stays. The 35 suites are designed to blend with the desert via rough concrete walls and handcrafted Mexican furnishings, and the open-air lobby with hammocks and oversized cushions reinforces the indoor/outdoor ethos; a tiny desert frog even wandered into a guest room. Sustainability is front of mind, staff wear woolen ponchos in the breeze, and meals prepared by a chef from Pujol are served simply at wooden tables; flame-grilled octopus tacos are a standout that draw visitors from Cabo. Complimentary yoga and fitness classes, guided ocean-view hikes and art walks to nearby Todos Santos complement add-on offerings such as surf lessons, taco tours, beach setups and outdoor massages. Personalized touches from guides like Regina (art-walk expert who teaches Talavera ceramics and DJs), Diego (who teaches transplanting papaya seedlings and leads multilingual, philosophical hikes), and Alejandra (who led a memorable sound-based Mayan ritual followed by a barefoot walk to an outdoor changing room and deep-tissue massage) make the experience feel restorative, culturally immersive, and distinctly local." - Laura Dannen Redman