The Greatest Getaway – so close to home | WOW! Travel Small Group Travel

As much as I love faraway exotic destinations, there are some special places closer to home that provide just as many wonders.

And every once in awhile, I discover an especially special place. Last weekend I took my hard-working operations team to experience my new favorite place for themselves. As expected, they loved it too!

Here’s some of the things I love about Todos Santos in southern Baja:

Though I have no issues flying long distances, this place is a quick flight from Los Angeles. It’s easy to get to San Jose del Cabo (SJD) on a non-stop flight from several other U.S. gateways, too (Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Santa Ana, San Jose, Phoenix, Newark, San Diego, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle). You need not go in or through Cabo to get to Todos Santos, which is only 45 minutes away from the airport on a newly-opened toll road.
The town is pleasant, unspoiled (so far), historic and quirky. My kinda place! It’s got historic buildings, dusty side streets, galleries galore and restaurants ranging from trendy farm-to-fork to the world’s best tamales at the modest little Alma & Manny’s place (with free wifi).
Alma & Manny’s – an institution!
The first time I ever heard about swimming with whale sharks was from someone who had done it in the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, 9,826 miles from Los Angeles. How amazing it was to learn that it’s possible to swim with these massive creatures, a mere 1,098 miles away!

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I’m a novice with my GoPro camera, and even more clumsy when it comes to editing my video clips – but I managed to take footage of this extraordinary experience and published a short video clip to YouTube. It will certainly not win me any awards – but will give you an idea of what I experienced. And these guys were just juveniles – only about 25 ft. long!

Another amazing recreational experience was called a “Cliff Walk.” While there was a bit of walking involved, it was more accurately clambering, which Merriam-Webster defines as, “to climb or crawl in an awkward way.” It wasn’t pretty – but the scenery was stunning, spectacular and pristine.

The CTP Team: (clockwise from top left) Whitney (before she spotted a wasp and quickly abandoned her zen moment), Michael strikes the classic “wow” pose, Howard smartly seeks the shade and Gabriel hefts a cactus tree that the locals decorate for Christmas.

(Clockwise from top left) We started the hike at Punta Lobos, where local fishermen have put in their pangas for decades; a huge concrete pad has been poured for Phase One of the “Tres Santos” development; the deserted beach where we finished our “walk”; one of the stunning cliff scenes along the way

The best team in the world! I found “Mr Wow” on the trail!

We had some tired tootsies at the end of the hike; the silky, smooth sand was refreshing to say the least!

And the best part of all was the amazing resort: Rancho Pescadero. It’s a 28-room (all-suite, all adult) hideaway, about 10 miles out of town, about as far from civilization as you want to be. No TVs or telephones and adequate-but-not-great internet connectivity. The staff learn your name right away, and you never need to present ID or sign a chit for the duration of your stay. You will get a bill to review on your last night – but what a pleasure to stay someplace that feels more like home than hotel. The rates are far less than you’d expect from such a top-quality place.

The staff are exceptional – simply exceptional! Food is mostly grown locally – much of it on site in the chef’s gardens. Of our four nights, we ate dinner on property on two of the nights – and we had the world’s best churros (with warm salted caramel dipping sauce) on all four nights. Addictive!

Suites are homey and comfy. Each morning, they deliver a big basket with a pot of piping hot coffee, fresh fruit and freshly baked goodies.

The pool is fabulous and they provide sarongs, cowboy hats and sunscreen. There’s an adult (quieter) pool, too – but then you’d miss out on Danny’s fabulous concoctions from the bar. I can’t name anything specific – but they are not to be missed!

Complimentary morning yoga in a separate studio is a great way to start each day. A stunning sunset on the beach is a great way to begin the end of your day.

I can’t recommend this place highly enough. I took a group there in May who loved every moment. My staff loved every moment. You will, too!

Rancho Pescadero as reflected in the swimming pool.

The resort’s laid-back, casual, rancho vibe is reflected in the original artwork like this one from a talented young local artist, Eric Ochoa.

On our last night, before a dinner on the beach next to a roaring bonfire, we participated in a turtle release! Five lucky little turtles crawled across the deserted dunes to their watery new home.

Comments? Ready to come to Baja with me in March?

6 Comments

Connie December 18, 2015 at 4:05pm

I would love to!

Gabriel Haigazian December 18, 2015 at 4:17pm

This was without a doubt one of the highlights of my travels this year. I too can’t say enough about the destination and the resort. In the last several years Mexico has received such negative publicity. I can tell you from first hand experience, Mexico is still amazing, safe, fun, different and very very special. I wouldn’t think twice about returning.

To be clear…Marilyn’s version of our walk was a “cliff walk”. I would like to refer to it as a “near death experience cliff climb”. At that moment it was incredibly challenging however in the end, it was well worth every moment of our 3-hour climb. I’d do it again in a heart beat.

Rancho Pascadero is spectacular. Chic & understated elegance. Best guest experience i’ve had in many years. I still don’t know how they all remembered our first names. The food was incredibly good, and affordable. You could get away with a hot breakfast for under $10, lunch under $10 and dinner around $20 – $25. All freshly prepared, farm to table.

In 2016 I am absolutely going to return to Todos Santos, and more specifically Rancho Pascadero. I see a beautiful & relaxing weeklong vacation in my future.

Thank you, Marilyn, for sharing your secret find with the team and now with the entire world!!!

Julie Franz December 19, 2015 at 4:08am

Thanks for being honest about the rigors of the Cliff Walk, Gabriel. Someday I would love to go there, too!

Jill Stoliker December 18, 2015 at 7:02pm

This trip has been on my “Bucket List” for a long time. As it says on the WOW website, this is the World’s aquarium; Galapagos of North America; UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve; in addition to one of the most biologically diverse marine environments on Earth – just the kind of place that we all have been trying to save for generations to come. Whales were hunted in California until 1916 – to see the baby whales in Magdalena Bay is certain to lift my Spirit and renew the effort that we humans will continue to support this fragile world. What I miss most from my childhood is the night sky where the constellations are so bright that you are inspired to tell stories about them as the did the native people. Please bring your favorite “Sky Legends” to share with me.
P.S. I am an active senior and would like to share accommodations with an adventurous woman so that I may save the Single Supplement to spend on original art in Todos Santos. Contact Marilyn if you are interested. Jill Stoliker from Camarillo, CA

Julie Franz December 19, 2015 at 4:10am

Oh, I wish we could go on that trip and enjoy your company again, Jill! Have a wonderful time!
- Jill Stoliker December 19, 2015 at 7:06pm
  
  Dear Julie (and Bob), You are my personal designated photographer and swimming buddy. I would like to see you both in Baja!

Connie December 18, 2015 at 4:05pm

I would love to!
Gabriel Haigazian December 18, 2015 at 4:17pm

This was without a doubt one of the highlights of my travels this year. I too can’t say enough about the destination and the resort. In the last several years Mexico has received such negative publicity. I can tell you from first hand experience, Mexico is still amazing, safe, fun, different and very very special. I wouldn’t think twice about returning.

To be clear…Marilyn’s version of our walk was a “cliff walk”. I would like to refer to it as a “near death experience cliff climb”. At that moment it was incredibly challenging however in the end, it was well worth every moment of our 3-hour climb. I’d do it again in a heart beat.

Rancho Pascadero is spectacular. Chic & understated elegance. Best guest experience i’ve had in many years. I still don’t know how they all remembered our first names. The food was incredibly good, and affordable. You could get away with a hot breakfast for under $10, lunch under $10 and dinner around $20 – $25. All freshly prepared, farm to table.

In 2016 I am absolutely going to return to Todos Santos, and more specifically Rancho Pascadero. I see a beautiful & relaxing weeklong vacation in my future.

Thank you, Marilyn, for sharing your secret find with the team and now with the entire world!!!
- Julie Franz December 19, 2015 at 4:08am
  
  Thanks for being honest about the rigors of the Cliff Walk, Gabriel. Someday I would love to go there, too!
Jill Stoliker December 18, 2015 at 7:02pm

This trip has been on my “Bucket List” for a long time. As it says on the WOW website, this is the World’s aquarium; Galapagos of North America; UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve; in addition to one of the most biologically diverse marine environments on Earth – just the kind of place that we all have been trying to save for generations to come. Whales were hunted in California until 1916 – to see the baby whales in Magdalena Bay is certain to lift my Spirit and renew the effort that we humans will continue to support this fragile world. What I miss most from my childhood is the night sky where the constellations are so bright that you are inspired to tell stories about them as the did the native people. Please bring your favorite “Sky Legends” to share with me.
P.S. I am an active senior and would like to share accommodations with an adventurous woman so that I may save the Single Supplement to spend on original art in Todos Santos. Contact Marilyn if you are interested. Jill Stoliker from Camarillo, CA
- Julie Franz December 19, 2015 at 4:10am
  
  Oh, I wish we could go on that trip and enjoy your company again, Jill! Have a wonderful time!
  - Jill Stoliker December 19, 2015 at 7:06pm
    
    Dear Julie (and Bob), You are my personal designated photographer and swimming buddy. I would like to see you both in Baja!