Compare Mexico: Todos Santos by Walking Connection vs Central Mexico: Puerto Escondido, Mexico City & Epic Mountain Views by G Adventures

Day 1: Arrive Cabo San Lucas – Todos Santos

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Los Colibris Casitas (4-Nights)

Todos Santos is located 90 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas and you can either self-drive or we can arrange ground transportation to and from the airport to your hotel or Casita. Upon your arrival, you’ll be met by our friends Bryan, Sergio or Mauricio and they will give you the lay of the land and show you to your accommodations. They will also serve as your hosts and guides during your entire vacation.

Tonight you dine at the world famous Hotel California in Todos Santos.

Days 2: Whale Watching! (October-April), Birding Watching, Rock Art

Meals: Breakfast

Morning

The whales of Todos Santos love people watching, so come out on the water and meet the neighbors! In Todos Santos we have 2 main whale species that visit each year, the humpback and the gray. The humpback can usually be spotted October through February, then again in April. The gray whale arrives from Alaska in late January and stays through mid-March to breed, mate and train the babies for the long journey back. We go out with local fishermen who are very familiar with the habits of these visitors.

OR Bird Watching – Baja California Sur has over 400 bird species, 150 of which have been spotted here in Todos Santos. The confluence of three different ecosystems in Todos Santos – ocean, desert and estuary – means a huge variety of birds. Most birders add to their lifetime lists here.

Afternoon

Rock Art Painting Walk – An indigenous culture that persisted for possibly 1,000 years is now long gone, but evidence that the Guaycura Indian tribes once lived and thrived here in Baja is all around us. A local anthropologist has spent the last four years creating a photographic journal of pictographs and murals made by these now-extinct peoples, and in this walk he’ll share with us one of his favorite sites, a spot that is still not open to the general public.

Day 3: Free day!

Meals: Breakfast

No activities are included today so that you can enjoy your vacation at your pace. Relax by the pool, go to town and wander the shops or choose from a variety of optional activities. Here are a few ideas:

San Vicente/Visit Mountain Potters

This is a fantastic opportunity to experience the traditional way of life of the mountain ranchers in Baja. We’ll meet local potters in a true mountain oasis, and learn how Baja Californians have carved their homes and livings out the mountains for centuries. Doña Ramona will give us a pottery class while sharing her ranching way of life. Her family will prepare an incredibly delicious ranch lunch for us, and will give us a tortilla-making lesson just before dining.

Cooking Adventures Day

Today you’ll take in the glorious scenery and nature of Baja, all the while preparing for the evening’s cooking class. Start the day off with a trip to Basilfields, Kayle Nordbo’s beautiful organic farm that supplies many of the restaurants in Todos Santos. Here Kayle will give you a tour of the farm and help you pick out the fruit or vegetables you want to have transformed into tortillas for the evening meal. Yep, that’s right. Whatever fruit or vegetable strikes your fancy – spinach, tomato, strawberry, nopale, basil, mint – we’ll take it to a local tortilleria that will turn it into a batch of fresh, delicious tortillas for you by the end of the day. With the tortillas in process, head out for a desert canyon walk to learn more about the beauty and bounty of the desert, then reward yourself for your exertions with lunch at one of the town’s great local restaurants like El Pastorcito – best place in town for tacos al pastor, or Compa Chava’s – a cute local joint serving up dynamite ceviche. After lunch head over to the beach at Punta Lobos to procure the final ingredient for tonight’s meal – the fish! Todos Santos is home to two fishing cooperatives whose captains and crew are all 4th generation fishermen and you’ll buy the fish from them right as they land with the day’s catch. Doesn’t get much fresher! After stopping to get the tortillas, you’ll head to the restaurants for a fabulous cooking class with the ingredients we’ve procured during the day!

Day 4: Hike in the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Cooking With Chef Iker Algorri

Morning

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hike in the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve

The Biosphere Reserve is one of Baja’s most beautiful but least explored areas. Part of an island off the coast of Baja 10 million years ago, the Reserve is home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal life, many of them endemic species – over 23% of plants and 10% of animals found in the Reserve are endemic to the area. It’s a glorious hike!

Mexican Cooking Lessons with Local Chef

This evening we take over Café Brown and local lawyer turned chef Iker Algorri teaches us authentic Mexican cooking! Great fun!

Day 5: Depart Todos Santos For Points Beyond

Meals: Breakfast

Day 1 Mexico City

Arrive at any time, and kick back at the hostel or head out to explore the city before meeting up with fellow Roamies in the evening. Grab a drink on the hostel rooftop terrace or check out the nearby main plaza, which is always buzzing at night.

Day 2 Mexico City

Mexico City is so huge that it's hard to know where or how to start exploring, but stick with us, we've got your back! Set off in a private ride with a local expert and head to the Monument to the Revolution to get great views from the top and learn a thing or two about Mexico's history. Continue to the iconic "El Angel" statue for the obligatory photos and then head to the trendy area of Colonia Roma Norte to visit a local market and find some mouth-watering tacos al pastor to devour for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to continue exploring the city or maybe take a trip out to visit the ruins of Teotihuacán. Lucha libre in the evening, anyone?

Day 3 Mexico City/Puebla

You’re not done with Mexico City quite yet! Head out to the colourful neighborhood of Xochimilco where you'll float along in a typical "trajinera" boat along the canals of this ancient water system built by the Aztecs. Browse the floating markets for souvenirs and snacks and maybe hear some mariachis along the way before hopping back on the bus. Arrive in the colonial city of Puebla in the early afternoon and brush up on your Spanish with the CEO before having some time to explore a bit or to relax at the hostel.

Day 4 Puebla/Oaxaca

Head south today on a bus to Oaxaca, (pronounced "Wah-ha-cah" in case you were wondering), a city packed full of culture and incredible food. You'll dive straight into the regional cuisine in the evening with a big spread of delicious local dishes like tamales, tlayudas or some of the ridiculously delicious mole. Throw in some local tequila and you’ve got yourself a party in your mouth.

Day 5 Oaxaca

Freedom! Enjoy a full day in Oaxaca where you can choose from a heap of fun things to do. Want to see some ancient ruins? Visit the nearby site of Monte Albán. Want to stay local? Take a city tour or channel your inner chef with a cooking class. Ultimately the day is yours so if that means having a few more sips of mezcal at a local tavern or chilling at the hostel then that is a-ok by us too.

Day 6 Oaxaca/Puerto Escondido

Road trip to the beach! Head out on a windy road up through the mountains, bound for the Pacific coast and the relaxed beach town of Puerto Escondido. Enjoy a CEO-led orientation walk upon arrival. The remainder of the afternoon is all yours; find somewhere for lunch on your own and settle in for some serious R&R or beach time, you deserve it.

Day 7 Puerto Escondido

Take a day to do as much or as little as you want, there's no judgement here. Maybe it's the beach or a surf class that's calling your name or possibly it's a 'hang-around'-the-hostel' kind of day with the crew. Your CEO is always on hand to make recommendations or to pull up a seat at the bar with, the choice is yours. Did someone say fish tacos?

Day 8 Puerto Escondido

Say goodbye to your Roamies and depart at any time, or keep the adventure going by heading to the Yucatán Peninsula on the next leg of this epic adventure.