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  • Emily Katz

Baja, Mexico. Be Here Now.

The Beautiful Cacti greeted us at San Cristobal in Todos Santos

The Beautiful Cacti greeted us at San Cristobal in Todos Santos

This year for my birthday, I partnered with Alaska Airlines to get away from the chilly December of Portland, and headed to Baja, Mexico.

We flew nonstop from PDX to San Jose Del Cabo which took less than 3.5 hours, and rented a car easily at the airport.

Our friend Pina, who we met a few years back at a floral retreat in Costa Rica, offered to host us in her beautiful home for part of the trip. All in all it was 6 days, two nights with Pina, two nights at Acre, and two nights at San Cristobal in Todos Santos.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo

The Entrance to Pina’s home new Cabo San Lucas

Before meeting her, we found a beachfront restaurant to soak up a few margaritas and have some tacos. We arrived early in the evening and had the entire place to ourselves. The wrap around benches were situated so you could kick off your shoes and bury your toes in the sand. It was beautiful, delicious, and just what we needed.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Casa Calavera

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo

beach sunset

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Casa Calavera

Really delicious tacos and THE SALSA!

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo
Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo

The entrance to the hotel where the restaurant was.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo

Inspiring rope installations at Casa Calavera

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo

Happy to be in Mexico with my love.

The best part of the evening was watching a wedding party assemble on the beach, and after the sun set, they lit off an EPIC display of fireworks, directly in front of us (ok a few hundred yards away) but it felt like they did it just for us.

We met Pina later that evening and spent a few wonderful days with her and her family. We went surfing ( I stood up on the board! Woot!) we ate fresh fruit sprinkled with Chili Salt, and slept soundly and deeply at her beautifully appointed home.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo

Killer tacos at Taqueria Rossy

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

Private Dining at Acre Baja

The next stop on our stay was Acre Baja. I had seen the lush and inspiring spot on Instagram, and my friend Kelly mentioned that it was her favorite spot with a Dog rescue, a wandering donkey, beautiful treehouse accommodations, and some sexy tile. We were sold.

We stayed in a treehouse for two nights, and I woke up on my birthday, ate a delicious fresh breakfast of fruit and homemade granola, went to a yoga class (no-one else was there so it was private for just us), and played by the pool. Adam and I got into a little argument, as is bound to happen (so silly in retrospect) but the sunshine melted our hearts and after swimming and reading we laughed it off.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

36 and feeling fine.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

The Pool at Acre Baja.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

The view from our treehouse

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

After we left Pina’s house, she had a wedding to set up, and it happened to be at Acre!

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

Tile love

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

Adam making friends with the pups up for adoption.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

Morning breakfast (included in our stay)

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

Thankful to be alive in such a beautiful place.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

Wearing a dress by my favorite Mexican designer Carla Fernandez

Best Places to Stay in Cabo- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo Acre Baja

The jungle filled pathways at Acre. See you next time!

TODOS SANTOS

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal

Perfect Pink welcomed us to our home away from home.

After a few relaxing days at Acre, we drove across the peninsula to spend the last two days at Hotel San Cristobal .

One of Adam’s best friends grew up with the manager of the hotel, and as we entered the room, we were welcomed with a bottle of chilled champagne. Needless to say, it was a super delightful way to arrive. But what really captured our delight was the design. The simple lines, the playful tile, the nice creative touches. Every detail was considered. So we drank the bottle, ate some incredible guacamole from room service, and chilled out until dinner.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal

Room service at San Cristobal

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal Benno Restaurant
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal

Tiled stairway to heaven…

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos- Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - Cabo San Cristobal Pool Bar
Exploring the ruins near the hotel - Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico -

Exploring the ruins near the hotel

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel

We did yoga on the second story patio in the morning sun.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel

Adam exploring the cute chapel onsite. It has really special stained glass inside.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel

This place was for sale

We had heard of a cute restaurant in Todo Santos that had really special Verde Chilaquiles. It was called La Esquina, and we played dice in the garden, drank our green juice, and I can honestly say we nearly went back the next day for a repeat of the chilaquiles, they were that good.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - La Esquina
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - La Esquina

In the afternoon we went back to the hotel and lounged by the pool with our books. The hotel is beachside, but the waves were pretty strong. We watched a pod of whales make their migration south, and enjoyed a pink and lavender sunset from the deck of the hotel, margaritas in hand.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel

another view of the pool

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel

Nerding out with our kindles by the pool

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel

Copal Incense filled the air with it’s sweet perfume.

Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel Church
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel
Best Places to Stay in Todos Santos - Emily Katz Travels Todo Santos Mexico - San Cristobal Hotel

We loved our experience so much and couldn’t stop talking about trying to get back to San Cristobal again. We are planning our wedding this Fall, and we joked about doing a tiny private ceremony there as well….. I hear there is a shaman who leads special ceremonies there too.

The town was quiet and very charming and we did find some super special fish tacos. We didn’t have nearly enough time to relax, eat, and explore, but it means we saved some for later.

Thank you to Alaska Airlines, Acre Baja, and San Cristobal Hotel for helping to make my birthday trip unforgettable.

Get there:

  1. Alaska Airlines flies NONSTOP from many destinations, including Portland, to San Jose Del Cabo. It was a 3 hour flight from rain to sunshine….

SAN JOSE DEL CABO

  1. Eat:

  2. Casa Calavera

  3. Flora Farms

  4. Acre Baja

  5. El Marinero Borracho (super yummy and cheap!)

  6. Taqueria Rossy

  7. Stay

  8. Acre Baja

  9. Vidanta (we didn’t stay here, but it was super pretty and on the beach)

TODO SANTOS

  1. Eat:

  2. Pool Bar at San Cristobal

  3. La Esquina

  4. Santo Chilote (yummy ceviche and tacos)

  5. Cafe Santa Fe (we didn’t go but heard it was good)

  6. Stay

  7. Hotel San Cristobal (so worth it!)

  8. We were also told that Cerritos beach was a good place to check out, especially if you want to surf. We never made it there. But next time?

All in all, the trip was incredible and we can’t wait to go back. Have you been down there? What are your favorite spots? Let me know below!

#Mexico #TodosSantos #travel #tripamonth

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