Playa Cerritos for 2026 — surf, sunset stays, and where to go near Todos Santos

Editor’s note: Hacienda Cerritos is no longer operating, and this article has been updated to reflect current travel options in the Playa Cerritos area.

There was a time when Hacienda Cerritos was the dramatic cliffside scene-stealer in this stretch of Baja Sur. Now, the smarter story is not what used to be open, but what is still worth the drive. Playa Los Cerritos remains one of the area’s best-known beach escapes, roughly 15 minutes south of Todos Santos and about 45 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas, and it continues to draw travelers for its swimmable shoreline, beginner-friendly surf culture, and easy sunset drama.

Why Playa Cerritos Still Works

Playa Cerritos is not trying to be polished in the Cabo sense, and that is exactly why people like it. It is one of the best-known swimmable beaches in this part of Baja California Sur, and it has built a reputation around surfing, relaxed beach days, and a more casual rhythm than the bigger resort corridors.

This is the kind of place where a good day can be very simple. Coffee. Sand. Surf check. Fish taco. Repeat. No one needs a five-page itinerary, and frankly, that is part of the charm.

Where to Stay Near Playa Cerritos

If you want to stay close to the beach itself, Cerritos Surf Town is one of the most straightforward choices. It is the kind of stay that suits travelers who want to wake up near the water, keep things casual, and spend more time outside than fussing over a room key.

If your style leans a little more design-forward and a little less sandy-footed-all-day, staying in Todos Santos gives you more options while keeping Cerritos within easy reach. Hotel San Cristóbal remains one of the area’s best-known boutique properties, with a Pacific-facing setting and a reputation built around strong design, food, and atmosphere. It is not on Playa Cerritos itself, but it works beautifully for travelers who want beach access by day and a more polished home base at night.

The broader Todos Santos and Cerritos area also offers a range of smaller hotels and inns, which is helpful if you want something more flexible than a full luxury stay. Even without Hacienda Cerritos in the picture, the beach corridor still gives travelers plenty of ways to settle in.

Where to Eat After the Beach

For a casual meal with your beach mood still intact, Barracuda Cantina is one of the easiest recommendations. Fish tacos, seafood, cocktails, and that kind of Baja atmosphere that feels best when nobody is in a hurry. Some destinations try too hard to manufacture laid-back charm. This one just orders another round and keeps going.

For something a little more destination-worthy, Hierbabuena in El Pescadero is still one of the area’s strongest names. It is the sort of place you choose when you want dinner to feel like part of the trip, not just a refueling stop after the beach. Garden surroundings, thoughtful plates, and a setting that invites you to linger all make it a worthwhile detour.

If you are heading back toward Todos Santos, The Green Room is another strong sunset-and-seafood choice. This is where you go when you want your ocean breeze to come with a reservation and your evening to feel just polished enough without losing the Baja spirit.

Where to Surf and How to Play It Smart

Cerritos remains one of the most approachable surf spots in the area for travelers who want lessons or a more beginner-friendly introduction to Baja surf culture. That does not mean the ocean should be taken lightly. Conditions can change quickly, and even a beach known for being swimmable deserves respect.

The practical advice is simple. Book a local lesson if you are new, watch the conditions before heading in, and do not confuse “swimmable” with “always gentle.” Looking relaxed in Baja is easy. Getting humbled by the ocean is even easier.

Why This Area Still Deserves the Story

Hacienda Cerritos may be out of the picture, but Playa Cerritos is not. The beach still has the surf, the sunsets, the salt-air charm, and enough nearby places to sleep and eat well without turning the trip into a full Cabo production. For readers who want Baja with more soul and less spectacle, this stretch near Todos Santos still delivers.

And for those who want to keep going, this corner of Baja opens easily into the rest of the peninsula’s pleasures. You can head south for the polished energy of Cabo San Lucas, carve out time for a more design-forward stay at Acre Resort Los Cabos, or make room for iconic stops like The Arch of Cabo San Lucas. The old cliffside landmark may now be a ghost of a different travel era. The beach itself, fortunately, is not.