pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1799
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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Todos Santos in the news
I hesitate to describe the Cabo Sun as "news," but I thought this article was fairly interesting in that it implied that the bloom would soon be off the rose for this erstwhile artist colony turned expat
playground. The same could be said for nearby El Pescadero, which has even more recently evolved (?) from sleepy surfer haven to an escape for
Millennial millionaires. Having visited the area since around 2010, the "secret" was out as soon as Highway 19 was completed between Cabo and Todos
Santos. The COVID shutdowns accelerated that trend. driving development that far outpaced underlying infrastructure. The article, however, is at least
5 years too late, maybe 10, making it yet another puff piece.
Having just come back from two weeks in El Pescadero (specifically El Gavilán), my jaw drops at the development I've seen in the relatively short
time I've been visiting, but I can't help still feeling enchanted. I suppose part of it is that the Northeast U.S. has had a particularly brutal
winter, but it's more than that. It's possible to re-calibrate one's mindset in Todos Santos without cleansing one's chakra, although there are plenty
of kindred spirits for the spirtiually inclined. It's also still possible to cook one's own meals in a rental home for a fraction of what one would
pay at a high-end restaurant. Truthfully, given that I live on Cape Cod. I found fantastic meals at places like Hierbabuena and Jazamango to be quite
reasonable compared to seasonal dining here on the Cape. So for us, it's still a wonderful escape.
Hasta la próxima, México.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
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Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Think you’re right. It’s a puff piece. The drama of Todos losing the vibe so hurry before that happens might beg the question how bad can
it get?
I’ve seen California prices for 10+ years. Agricole sells IPA’s for 100 pesos a bottle. No one is blinking.
Water has always been an issue. Ejido turns on the water Thursday p.m. and after filling the cisterns, turns off for a week. When water
doesn’t arrive, home owners get nervous. Beats waiting for the water truck esp. when they say they’ll be in the area, don’t show up, then
say they ran out of water.
No one seems to care. Todos is managed from La Paz — they’re not concerned either.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
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Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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Quote: Originally posted by Lee  | | Think you’re right. It’s a puff piece. The drama of Todos losing the vibe so hurry before that happens might beg the question how bad can
it get? |
Part of me thinks it's a marketing ploy. If the author of the piece pretends that the Gringofication of Todos Santos is about to happen instead of
something that's been over a decade in the making, why not get there before that happens? Be part of the problem before it's too late!
| Quote: Originally posted by Lee |
I’ve seen California prices for 10+ years. Agricole sells IPA’s for 100 pesos a bottle. No one is blinking. |
The visitors and well-heeled expats aren't blinking, and for the most part the locals aren't going to Agricole, Docecuarenta, Ostera, etc. Visitors
with some knowledge of Spanish (I describe mine as "básico") and local geography can shop in local markets or dine at sidewalk eateries. Those
options still exist, but they're somewhat hidden.
| Quote: Originally posted by Lee |
Water has always been an issue. Ejido turns on the water Thursday p.m. and after filling the cisterns, turns off for a week. When water
doesn’t arrive, home owners get nervous. Beats waiting for the water truck esp. when they say they’ll be in the area, don’t show up, then
say they ran out of water.
No one seems to care. Todos is managed from La Paz — they’re not concerned either. |
Water was an issue when I first came for a long weekend in 2012. Since then, megadeveloprs have promised sustainable water solutions and other myths.
During our two weeks in El Gavilán, we only caught wind of the dump situation for part of one day. That's another problem not exactly on the agenda
of those in La Paz.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20811
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by Lee | Think you’re right. It’s a puff piece. The drama of Todos losing the vibe so hurry before that happens might beg the question how bad can
it get?
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todos santos lost the vibe 30 years ago. today it is touristy faux-mexico kitsch, with cheesy orange county mcmansions for vapid gringos
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Pronoun: the royal we
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Don Jorge
Senior Nomad
Posts: 679
Registered: 8-29-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena | | The same could be said for nearby El Pescadero, which has even more recently evolved (?) from sleepy surfer haven to an escape for Millennial
millionaires. Having visited the area since around 2010, the "secret" was out as soon as Highway 19 was completed between Cabo and Todos Santos.
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Always was grateful we knew the area starting in the early 70s. I had a plant pathology professor at Cal Poly Pomona, Jerry Dimitman, in the 70s who
established a tropical research station near Todos Santos starting in the 60s. He spoke kindly of the area. But by the mid 70s hurricanes had
flattened it out and it became a memory.
Now that was before it all. But even by the mid 70s you could see the area was in development boom danger as the trustafarians along with the
successful sailing smugglers flocked to the surf spots of southern Baja. The mainland was getting hot so they took Pacificos from Mazatlan at $4 a
case and flojo chanclas from Jalisco and began the ending. You know, birds defecating in their own nest syndrome. 
Yup, its all relative isn't it.
�And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry
years. It was always that way.�― John Steinbeck
"Until a person learns to respect nature and talk to the animal world, he will never know his true role on Earth." Enzo Mallorca
"Nature bats last." Doug "Hayduke" Peac-ck
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2358
Registered: 4-23-2006
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As late as the late 80s todos didn't have a paved street yet.... if I recall correctly
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6328
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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I first passed through Todos Santos in 1986, and I believe the main road was paved then. I remember the Hotel California was a thing way back when,
but I am not sure what year I first experienced it.
I could be wrong about the pavement, that was a long time ago!
[Edited on 2-15-2026 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7507
Registered: 8-5-2011
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Highway 19 from La Paz to Cabo, which ran through town, was paved when I drove it in '86. I think the street that paralleled the highway in town was
paved as well. Other streets in town were probably all dirt.
[Edited on 2-15-2026 by SFandH]
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