Cerritos Beach & El Pescadero, Mexico Travel Guide

This post shares everything you need to know about visiting El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach Mexico. A pair of dusty beach towns in rural Baja California Sur.

We’ll share the best things to do, where to stay, what to eat and essential travel information.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links, that may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For full information, please see our disclaimer here. While all efforts have been taken to ensure the information included in this post is correct and current, travel information such as opening hours, business operations and prices change frequently. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.

About Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero

Often overshadowed by nearby Todos Santos, Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero have become popular places to visit in their own right.

🤔 All in a name – Cerritos Beach or El Pescadero?

Cerritos Beach (or Playa Los Cerritos) is the name of the very popular surfing beach south of Todos Santos. There has been a lot of development around the beach, and it has grown into a little suburb of its own. The name ‘Cerritos Beach’ refers specifically to the beach, as well as the general area around it.

Cerritos Beach technically falls as part of the small agricultural town of El Pescadero. Centred back from the beach around Highway 19, the town spreads far and wide and encompasses Cerritos Beach as well as a handful of other beaches.

I will use both names throughout this post, as many travellers will use one or the other, but they are essentially referring to the same place.

Located about 20 minutes south of Todos Santos, and less than an hour north of Los Cabos, El Pescadero is a small agricultural town in southwestern Baja California Sur, Mexico.

An oasis in the desert, the landscape is full of lush palm groves, and fields of produce. Strawberries, mangoes, greens, corn and avocados are just some of the fresh, delicious food you will find growing in the rich soil around the area.

Cerritos Beach has developed more name recognition than its parent town, being one of Mexico’s best surf breaks. Surfers have long flocked to Playa Los Cerritos for its waves, and have set the tone for the laidback, undeveloped vibe.

Also a popular spot for campers and RV’ers escaping the cold winters in the USA and Canada, there is something special about Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero.

The area is largely rural and relatively undeveloped. The roads are still dusty tracks and there are swathes of empty desert land covered in cacti.

But new accommodation options, cafes and restaurants are popping up constantly, in what feels like the middle of nowhere.

Development is on its way, and the area is slowly growing in popularity and establishing itself as a destination of its own right outside of Todos Santos.

So far the development has been slow, and this laidback town is still worlds away from the wild resort cities of Los Cabos.

Let’s hope it stays that way.

Our experience

We didn’t have a great first impression of El Pescadero and Cerritos Mexico.

Our search for accommodation was extremely difficult, as everything was hundreds of dollars out of our budget.

We decided to turn up, drive around and try to find somewhere affordable.

And after driving around the empty, dusty roads we were shocked at how this area could be so expensive!

It felt like a work in progress, and at first, we didn’t get the hype.

But after staying three nights in the area, it definitely grew on us.

Similar to Todos Santos, there is no real centre as things are spread across the beachfront at Cerritos, the main centre of El Pescadero along the highway, and everywhere in between.

But the landscapes here are spectacular, it is a completely rural area and the pace of life matches.

We loved seeing the sunsets from the beach, cruising around the dusty tracks in our Jeep Wrangler, and eating some delicious affordable food.

Staying at Pescadero Surf Camp was a big part of why we loved the area, and this laid-back gem fits the mood of the area perfectly.

🌈 Before visiting Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero, we stayed in Todos Santos for three nights. We did all the activities in Todos Santos, and north of the town first, before moving south to Cerritos Beach.

I have written a complete guide for Todos Santos, detailing all the best things to see, do and eat in this charming pueblo magical. Read the guide here

Getting there

Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero are very small and don’t have an airport.

There are two airports close by that you can choose from depending on where you are flying from.

The LAP – La Paz International Airport is around a 1.5-hour drive and receives flights mainly from within Mexico.

Alternatively, the SJD – Los Cabos International Airport is a 1-hour drive on a new toll road, and the airport is better connected to cities around the USA and Canada.

The best way to see Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero is via car, so we would suggest picking up a rental car from wherever you land and driving yourself into town.

🚗 Browse for rental cars from La Paz Airport or from Los Cabos Airport

If you prefer not to drive, you can reach Cerritos Beach from La Paz, Los Cabos or other parts of Baja California Sur via the Aguila bus.

These buses are new and comfortable long-distance buses and can be booked online. There is a bus station on the highway in the centre of El Pescadero.

Getting around

To put it simply, you have to have a car to explore the best of Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero.

We were very thankful we had our rental, and really felt like this area was a huge reason why everyone says you can’t see Baja without a car. A road trip is by far the best way to travel around the state.

The whole area is very spread out. The small town centre of El Pescadero is a 15-minute drive from the main section of Cerritos Beach. There are cafes, restaurants and bars hidden all over the dusty roads.

And of course, you will probably want to visit the popular town of Todos Santos too, which is the same situation transport-wise.

There isn’t any public transport, and the few taxis that are present in the area are more likely to be found in Todos Santos.

Nor are there any car rental places in Cerritos Beach or nearby Todos Santos, so I would definitely recommend arriving in town with a car. Pick one up from either La Paz or Los Cabos.

Besides the highway, most of the roads around Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero are sandy tracks.

We had a 4WD Jeep Wrangler, which we felt really comfortable in, but I don’t think a 4WD is necessary. You just need to take it easy.

Things to do in El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach

Todos Santos may have more sightseeing opportunities than sleepy El Pescadero, but if you want to get outside, enjoy the beach and hang out in an ultra-relaxed environment, you will be happy here!

1. Go surfing

The most popular thing to do in Cerritos Beach is go surfing.

One of the most popular surf spots in all of Mexico, Playa Los Cerritos attracts surfers from all over the world.

If you’re experienced and just need a board, you can head down to the beach and rent one from one of the many rental stalls along the sand.

When we visited, Brayden rented a board and wetsuit for half a day (400 MXN for a board + 200 MXN for a wetsuit / per day.)

If you’re a newbie, Cerritos is a great place to learn or improve your surfing!

There are plenty of surf schools that can give you one-on-one lessons, and help build your skills and confidence in the water.

Mario Surf School and CRT Surf School both have great reviews.

🏄🏼 Brayden’s favourite surf spot in Mexico was Sayulita in the state of Nayarit. Check out our Sayulita travel guide.

2. Hang out at the beach

Cerritos Beach

Even if you don’t want to surf, Playa Los Cerritos (aka Cerritos Beach) is one of the best beaches in the area for swimming.

The rips and waves here aren’t as strong as on other beaches, and there is usually one part of the beach that is calm enough for a swim. Albeit with some waves to watch out for.

The beach is also the most developed in the area, with plenty of facilities to spend a whole day.

You can rent chairs and umbrellas, there are vendors selling drinks and snacks, ladies offering massages and bathrooms are available.

The vendors aren’t pushy and the beach still feels relatively quiet.

Playa San Pedrito

A little further north of Cerritos is Playa San Pedrito (San Pedrito Beach).

This is a much quieter, more natural beach with few facilities.

The waves here are much stronger than at Playa Los Cerritos, and unless you’re an experienced surfer it may be a bit rough. I wasn’t tempted to swim!

Playa San Pedrito is popular with campers and RV’ers, as they are allowed to set up camp right on the sand.

Despite this, the beach still has a really relaxed vibe, without the development and vendors of Cerritos.

3. Watch the sunset

The sunsets in Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero are absolutely magical!

Heading down to the beach at the end of the day to enjoy the nightly show was a highlight of our time here.

Keep your eyes peeled for whales during the winter time too! We got so lucky and saw many whales splashing not too far from shore.

If you want to enjoy the sunset with a drink in hand, Amaya Beach Bar on Playa San Pedrito is the perfect spot.

But the view from Cerritos Beach over the iconic Hacienda Cerritos building is something you can’t miss!

4. Drinks and bonfires at Amaya

One of our best nights in Cerritos Beach was spent at Amaya, a laidback, casual beach club on Playa San Pedrito.

💡 FYI: This bar used to be called Pura Playa

A far cry from the pretentious beach clubs in Los Cabos, Amaya is a funky outdoor bar offering live music, great cocktails and a wonderful atmosphere.

We headed there for what was going to be one sunset drink, but ended up staying the entire night!

The cocktails were delicious, and whilst not the cheapest, the atmosphere and vibe was worth it. The meals we tried were yummy too.

Once the sun went down, the staff lit fires in the fire pits scattered around the area, and we spent the rest of the night snuggled up in front of our fire with some drinks, while the DJ played.

Check out their Instagram page for the latest opening hours and events. Find Amaya located on Playa San Pedrito here.

5. Pat some pups at the Cerritos Beach Dog Cafe

Literally my dream place – coffee and dogs!

This new not-for-profit organisation provides shelter and care to the many street dogs found in Baja.

To support their work and provide valuable funds, they have opened a cafe where visitors can come along, have a cup of coffee and play with some cute pups!

Their slogan is ‘every cup helps a pup’, so sweet!

You can find the cafe located here. Be sure to check out their Instagram for their latest opening hours (they change seasonally).

6. Release baby turtles into the ocean

Todos Santos is well known for its turtle conservation program and releasing a new hatchling into the ocean is a very common activity in the area.

What many people don’t know is that there is a second conservation group located in El Pescadero.

Grupo Tortuguero Pescadero A.C. does the same important work, collecting freshly laid eggs and protecting them in hatcheries.

Once the babies have hatched and dug their way to the surface, they are released into the ocean to start their lives.

The El Pescadero group operates a little different. Rather than having mass public releases which can draw an overwhelming crowd, they ask that you contact them directly to reserve a spot.

Their Facebook page is a good resource, and you can find more details about the hatchlings there.

7. Stock up on produce at the farmer’s markets

El Pescadero is an agricultural area, and you just need to glance around the landscape to see the fields of green in the middle of the desert.

The best spot to get your hands on some of this local produce is at the weekly farmer’s markets.

Baja Beans Cafeteria runs a weekly market on Sundays, which is more artisanal handmade clothes, jewellery candles etc. than food, but still great to browse.

Next to the Mayan Village Resort on the main section of the beach, Cerritos Farmers Market runs on Wednesdays and Sundays, with a mix of produce and artisan products.

Agricole Cooperativa is an organic market store/cafe that sells a whole range of gourmet goods and produce, 7 days a week. It’s a great place for a meal or drink too.

8. Visit Todos Santos

If you’re visiting Cerritos Beach, it’s practically assumed that you will also be visiting nearby Todos Santos.

The more popular town in the area, this pueblo magico is well worth spending some time in, whether that’s a few nights or a day or two.

The best thing to do in Todos Santos is to wander around the charming historic centre, exploring the colourful streets, galleries, and boutique stores.

But there are a number of other great activities in the area, that are technically ‘Todos Santos’ but are just as accessible from Cerritos Beach.

🌞 All of the best things to do in Todos Santos can also be done from Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero, and vice versa. The two areas are very close by, but in this post, I have tried to focus on things to do in the direct Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero areas. Check out my detailed guide on things to do in Todos Santos for more information about these activities.

Where to eat

El Pescadero may be a small town, but there is some excellent food and coffee here.

Farm-to-table restaurants, local taco spots and even a Netflix-acclaimed taqueria!

RESTAURANTS 🌮

• Barracuda Cantina: featured on the popular Netflix show Taco Chronicles for their famous fish tacos, Barracuda Cantina lived up to the hype! A funky open-air beach bar, with a taco truck inside dishing up some amazing fish and prawn tacos.
  
  Definitely a more upscale option with amazing cocktails, local craft beers and a great vibe and aesthetic inside the open-air restaurant. Although the prices are still very affordable.
  
  While the fish tacos are the star of the show, they also serve up fresh ceviche tostadas, burritos and quesadillas. And don’t miss their crunchy avocado taco, a very unique and delicious flavour.

• Carnitas Miguel’s: essentially a Mexican-style pulled pork, carnitas is a juicy, flavoursome fatty meat that is the perfect topping for tacos. Carnitas Miguel’s is one of two carnitas spots in the centre of El Pescadero, (practically right next to each other!), but I think Carnitas Miguel’s was our favourite. Their carnitas tacos were absolutely mouthwatering.

• Carnitas Machin: the alternative to Carnitas Miguel, this spot also dished up amazing carnitas tacos, and they were open earlier than their counterpart. Both options are worth a visit, and it’s nice to spread the love between local businesses. Once you’ve had one serve of carnitas tacos, I can guarantee you’ll want more!

• Tacos El Zurdo: hidden on the side of the highway a short way out of El Pescadero centro is Tacos El Zurdo. If you’re looking for a late-night feed, this is the spot. Open until 3 am every day, you will smell the meat grilling before you see it!
  
  A great range of all kinds of meats, from seafood, pastor, asada and more, in your choice of taco, burrito, sope or quesadilla. Cheap, quick and delicious! 

• Noah Sushi: we didn’t expect to find a gourmet sushi shop hiding in the back streets of a dusty town in the middle of Baja California Sur, but hey we’ll take it! Noah Sushi is located a few streets back from the centre of El Pescadero and is an unexpectedly fancy option for sushi, sashimi and gourmet cocktails.
  
  The prices are a little on the high side, but for the quality and atmosphere, we think worth it. Great for a treat meal, and just a short stroll from Pescadero Surf Camp if you stay there.

• Coyote: this place has all the vibes. Think converted airstream caravan, neon lights, desert setting, funky cocktails and fresh seafood.

• Pizzeria el Potrero: delicious looking pizzas in a gorgeous slice of desert.

CAFES & SWEET TREATS ☕️

• Baja Beans Cafeteria: Mexican coffee beans freshly roasted and served how you like in a lovely outdoor patio area. Baja Beans is a must-visit in Cerritos Beach. In addition to coffee, they have a range of sweet treats, a small number of breakfast dishes and light meals. Don’t forget Baja Beans hosts a weekly farmers market and live music on Sundays!

• Petit Leon: a charming French bakery was another surprise in Cerritos Beach, but this area surprised us on many occasions. Petit Leon is a gorgeous little bakery and artisanal produce store, selling a range of bread, sweet and savoury pastries, cheeses, dips and spreads, superfoods and other locally produced foods.
  
  They also have a café serving up coffees, smoothies, juices and freshly made sandwiches for those who want to dine in.

📣 Update November 2023 – as far as I can tell, Petit Leon is sadly permanently closed. They are a seasonal business and do close for the summer months, but I think this time they are closed for good. Their baker has started a new venture in town, Tomy Bakery which has the same delicious bread, pastries and baked goods. Check that out instead!

Where to stay

Accommodation in the El Pescadero area can be very expensive, and most options trend toward the mid-high end of the budget scale.

But there are some great options for all budgets, once you take the time to look. Here are some of our top recommendations.

BUDGET 💰

• Pescadero Surf Camp: after a stressful few hours trying to find accommodation even remotely close to our budget, we stumbled across Pescadero Surf Camp. And we are so happy that we did! One of the best accommodations we stayed in all of Baja, this laidback spot had everything we needed.
  
  Pescadero Surf Camp has the option for camping (in a tent, or RV/van), as well as a number of small casitas. The cheaper ones share a bathroom, and the larger ones feature a private bathroom as well as a private rooftop patio on top of the room.
  
  We ended up in one of the ‘penthouse’ casitas, and it was still within our budget! Whilst distinctly not a hostel, and not a campground, Pescadero Surf Camp is the perfect mix of the two.
  
  It has a large outdoor shared kitchen, shared bathrooms, a pool and plenty of communal hang-out spaces. The vibe was absolutely wonderful, and it was nice to connect with other travellers, without the usual party scene of some hostels.
  
  We honestly couldn’t drag ourselves away, and had a few very lazy days here! We hung out on our rooftop, lounged by the pool, and even read books in the pool sitting up at the BYO pool bar.
  
  Not bad for 1,000 pesos per night, we highly recommend this spot for a totally laidback, chill option in Cerritos Beach.
  • $45 USD + per night check prices Pescadero Surf Camp

• 💰 Pure Baja Suites & Retreats – a relatively new option in the area, this property is gorgeous! Typical Baja styling, with a white-washed building, palm-thatched roof, palm trees, minimalist design and a gorgeous pool. The rooms are spacious, there is a large communal kitchen and walking distance to great restaurants.
  • $50 USD + per night check prices Booking.com

• 💰 Casitas El Salitral by Rotamundos – this colourful Mexican-style property features palm-thatched casitas, each painted a vibrant colour. The location in the desert is gorgeous, there is a pool and a communal kitchen.
  • $60 USD + per night check prices Expedia

MID-RANGE 💰💰

• 💰💰 Olas de Cerritos –  a stone’s throw from the shore of Cerritos Beach, this top-rated option has bright and spacious rooms, breakfast included and a great pool and hot tub area. A thoughtful touch is the beach equipment for guests to borrow, like chairs and umbrellas.
  • $120 USD + per night check prices Booking.com

• 💰💰 Cerritos Surf Town – the original and still one of the best options in Cerritos, it doesn’t get more beachfront than this! Rooms are self-contained villas, some right on the beach and others with garden views. Their pool and restaurant area overlooks the waves, it’s perfect.
  • $120 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

• 💰💰 Baja Nomads Hotel – absolutely oozing with Baja desert vibes, this hotel is STUNNING! Choose from adobe teepees or elevated, palm-thatched treehouses, each with a gorgeous, minimal design. Laze under the palms by the pool, grab coffee and brunch from an old school bus, or a cocktail from their converted vintage Range Rover.
  • $150 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

• 💰💰 Hotel So Far So Good – a nearly new, Baja-style sustainable hotel. Gorgeous suites with airy, earthy décor. Lower floor rooms feature private plunge pools, terrace rooms have soaking tubs.
  • $150 USD + per night check prices Expedia

HIGH END 💰💰💰

• 💰💰💰 El Perdido Desert Dream –  offering just 7 luxury bungalows, each completely self-contained with a large kitchen. Rooms have private terraces and outdoor tubs and come complete with thoughtful touches like a mezcal bar and vegetables from the garden waiting in the kitchen.
  • $500 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

• 💰💰💰 Paradero – there’s luxury, and then there’s Paradero. This architecturally designed property sells the whole experience – stay, eat and play. With rooms offering features like soaking hot tubs and suspended star gazing nets, this is a stay like no other.
  • $650 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

Sustainable travel tips

There has been a great community push in El Pescadero to eliminate single-use plastics and clean up the beach and environment.

Cero Basura (Zero Trash) is a community organisation rallying, educating and inspiring businesses and community members to produce less waste.

Learning more about their initiatives, and being conscious of the waste you produce when visiting the area (or anywhere for that matter!), is one way you can ensure your footprint is small.

Help to keep Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero clean!

Final thoughts on Cerritos Beach and El Pescadero

Todos Santos might be a more well-known destination, but El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach Mexico are quickly growing in popularity!

Whilst many travellers would only deem the area worthy of a day trip from Todos Santos, we loved staying in Cerritos Beach.

The vibe is different, the food is good and the scenery is spectacular!

I still can’t believe how many surprises are hiding away down these dusty roads. With aesthetic cafes, funky cocktail bars and boujee restaurants, as well as some amazing boutique hotels.

There is so much more to this area than meets the eye. I encourage you to consider staying a few nights.

MORE TODOS SANTOS REGION POSTS

• 12 Best Things to Do in Todos Santos Mexico Travel Guide
• Where to Stay in Todos Santos, Mexico: Hotel & Area Guide