If you’re looking for history and culture, you won’t really find it in Cabo San Lucas. Even the marina is a man-made harbor that hosts private yachts and is surrounded by restaurants, activity booths and shops. It is tourism personified. For great fun and the best places to eat in Cabo San Lucas, check out my blog post on the right way to do Cabo. In Cabo San Lucas, everyone insists on speaking to you in English and at any given moment you’ll likely be sitting next to someone from Nashville or California. But if, like us, you are more easily swayed by the promise of authentic experiences, there are many nearby towns that will fill your heart with Mexican culture. Read on to learn about the best road trips near Cabo San Lucas. These spots were our favorite part of the trip to the peninsula!

San Jose del Cabo

San Jose is the other Cabo. The less touristy one. San Jose is a sleepy Mexican town coming alive with art galleries, chic decorating, jewelry boutiques and exquisite dining. It will not take you long to fall in love with the bright colors and narrow streets of San Jose. The people are as warm as the weather. San Jose’s Art District is filled with original treasures from local artists. And the main plaza is home to the quintessential small town church. 

Toro Guero is authentic Mexican seafood restaurant in San Jose. You’ll find locals and tourists alike enjoying ceviche, margaritas and ice-cold beers. It is a must-visit and we had one of the best grilled octopus we’ve ever had in this joint!

Flora Farms

A little bit past San Jose, Flora Farms is a natural reserve of 50 acres with native flora and fauna. The field is farmed without the use of pesticides or genetically modified seeds and is worked largely by hand. It is an awesome place to spend the afternoon strolling through nature and dining at their Field Farms Kitchen restaurant which offers farm-to-table cuisine. The entire reserve is an expierence – coffee shops, boutiques and friendly people! 

El Merkado 

For a condensed version of Cabo’s culinary experience, this spot will definitely fill your hipster dreams. El Mercado is a modern and innovative food establishment. Located on the Koral Center off the corridor, this two-story warehouse features a cool collection of food stalls from all of the most popular restaurants in Los Cabos. A modern take on food trucks, have you, you’ll find anything from sushi to pizza and everything in between. It’s inside a warehouse and has an open setting and family-style seating. I absolutely recommed this place! Besides, my favorite shopping in Cabo was right next door at Beach Blu Boutique. It’s a modern bohemian mix of fun and unique pieces. Good luck leaving empty-handed!

Todos Santos

In opposite direction you can head to a small town that somehow has escaped the rampant tourism of Los Cabos. Located on the Pacific coast of  the Baja California Peninsula, the drive up is combination of dry desert, beachy palm trees and the beautiful coastal view. About an hour from Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos is a sleepy little town known mostly for the Hotel California which, contrary to local lore, is not the same place named in the Eagles song. Still, worth a walk-through the hotel that boasts rich colors and art or a drink at the long wooden bar. 

The neighboring town of Todos Santos, one of the main destinations for surfers and fishermen, is much more relaxed and quieter than Los Cabos. Here you can tour the art galleries, stroll through town or go to the beach and practice some of the various water sports available. Todos Santos is a Pueblo Mágico – one of about 100 or so small towns  that the Mexican government  honored for its natural beauty, cultural riches, or historical relevance.

On our way there, we stopped at a restaurant called La Garita. It’s a unassuming place know for their machaca which you’ll find drying above the roof. It’s truly delicious and worth the stop! In the back yard is a small zoo-like maze where you can see anything from peacocks, goat, ducks and more as well as a rooster and a black cat coming to ask for your leftovers. 

Tecolote and Balandra

Drive about an hour an a half north from Todos Santos and you begin questioning your decision as you see nothing but desert and an empty highway. But fortune favors the bold, the instant you arrive, you are greeted by bright blue sea that seems unreal. The two small beaches- Tecolote and Balandra are quaint and picturesque and offer the beauty of the Baja California peninsula without the boisterous tourism. 

Balandra Bay

Balandra is a coastal bay that includes a spectacular and healthy mangrove forest and beautiful sandy beaches. It is located within one of the main hydrological basins of La Paz, and as a central element of this landscape is the mushroom, which is an icon of the city.The bright, clear turquoise water and white sands are ideal for snorkeling or sun-bathing. Balandra is a calm, clean beach bay with white, sandy beaches. The shallow waters are still and perfect for kayaking. 

Tecolote Beach 

Right next to Blandra, Tecolote Beach is not fancy and has more restaurants, more people and more music. But still, it is quite serene and boasts picturesque views of Espiritu Santo Island. The minute you arrive, you realize the pace is definitely a lot slower as no-one seems to have anywhere else to be. Don’t leave without trying the ceviche.

Do you have any places you love to visit near Cabo San Lucas? I’d love to hear about them! Let me know.