Why These Two Baja Destinations Are the Perfect Spot for a Honeymoon

Planning a wedding is a lot of work. There are so many decisions to make, things to account for, logistics to figure out, and not to mention, a lot of money to shell out. When I was planning my March 2025 wedding, the last couple of weeks felt like a total whirlwind. I’m happy to report that everything turned out so beautifully, but not without a lot of work in the lead up.

That’s why we didn’t even consider going on a big, multi-week honeymoon right after the wedding. My now-husband and I had absolutely no bandwidth (and to be honest, not a huge budget left over) to plan a big weeks-long adventure while simultaneously finishing up wedding planning. But we also didn’t want to go back to work on Monday after the big weekend, so we decided to go on a shorter honeymoon (a.k.a. a minimoon) to really milk that post-wedding love bubble and dopamine high. We tossed around a bunch of ideas—living in Los Angeles affords us a lot of great local opportunities: Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, Ojai, Palm Springs… But we also got a lot of suggestions from friends to check out Baja California Sur so we thought, why not? It’s a pretty quick flight from Los Angeles and we both hadn’t explored the area yet. 

We could have spent the whole time in one destination, but we’re not exactly the type of couple that can do multiple pool days in a row and we like a bit of adventure, so we decided to visit both Todos Santos and Cabo San Lucas on our five-day minimoon. It turned out to be a great balance of exploring and relaxing, so if you and your significant other are looking for something similar, check out our itinerary below.

Sarah Yang

Day 1

We flew out of Los Angeles International Airport on the first flight out (every time we do this I question my choices, but it’s always nice to get a head start on the day). When we landed at San José del Cabo International Airport we got on a shuttle to pick up our rental car to head to Todos Santos.

You can take a shuttle, taxi, or private car service to Todos Santos, but a lot of friends who had visited before (including Sunset Travel editor, Krista Simmons) suggested we rent a car so it would be easier to get around without having to wait for a taxi or Uber. There are lots of different car rental companies (like Alamo, Budget, Hertz, etc.), but we went with Cactus based on friends’ recommendations. It was an easy process to get the car—after about 20 minutes we were on the road to Todos Santos!

The drive along the coast is a beautiful, scenic one and we arrived to our hotel in Todos Santos, Villa Santa Cruz, in a little over two hours.

Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz

Villa Santa Cruz

A 15-minute drive from the town center, Villa Santa Cruz is a magical, idyllic oasis. We were generously hosted by the property during our entire stay in Todos Santos and it was the perfect home base. Driving in for the first time, I was taken by the beautiful grounds—from the stunning and dramatic front gate to the lush flowers and plants to the beautiful buildings, I knew we were in for a very relaxing stay. The property has stables and a thriving and sprawling 1-kilometer garden that’s home to vegetables, fruits, and flowers—all used for meals and cocktails at the resort. 

Villa Santa Cruz features 23 ocean view guest rooms—bungalows, villa suites, main villa rooms, rooftop villas, and what I believe is the crown jewel of the resort: the Tented Ocean Suites, which we were lucky enough to stay in.

Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz

The Tented Ocean Suites are like glamping on steroids. It looks like you’re in a tent, but it feels like you’re in a five-star hotel room. It was the best of both worlds for myself and my husband, since only one of us grew up camping and loves it (hint: not me). In our suite, there was a huge and extra comfortable king-sized bed, a shower, a toilet, a double vanity, and even a gorgeous bathtub. We had our own patio, a fire pit outside the tented suite, and a prime ocean view. It was so magical falling asleep to the ocean waves outside—nature’s sound machine!

Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz

Every morning we were greeted with a tray of coffee and pastries; there was a breakfast buffet every day at the hotel restaurant; the mini bar had complimentary water, cerveza, and snacks we could enjoy; and there was turndown service every night.

We took the afternoon to explore the resort and walk around—there was so much to explore, from the expansive gardens and grounds to the pristine and peaceful beach. We had the best nachos for lunch at the hotel lounge and then retreated to our suite to rest a bit before dinner.

Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz

For the first celebratory dinner of the honeymoon, we dined at Caracara, the hotel’s stunning alfresco restaurant set amongst the property’s farm and agave field. The dining room is in what they call “The Nest,” a unique structure that really makes you feel like you’re in a bird’s nest; it’s cozy and romantic and sexy all at once. The food was so fresh and flavorful—we enjoyed seafood tostadas, a beet salad (that might be my favorite beet salad of all time), lobster risotto, and chicken mole. The produce tasted exactly how you would think something that was grown just a few feet away from you would taste.

After dinner, we asked the staff to light our fire pit so we could end the night sitting by the fire and looking up at the stars.

Day 2

Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz

We started the day with the breakfast buffet. The spread included eggs, farm fresh veggies, homemade tortillas, beans, various breads, yogurt and granola, fresh avocado and salsas, and juices and coffee. The tortillas and beans were my favorite!

From midday on, it was our time to explore the town of Todos Santos. Taking a friend’s recommendation, we had lunch at TENOCH at Paradero, another hotel in the area. There were only a few others dining the same time as we did, so we grabbed a seat at the bar and chatted with the chefs and servers about their favorite dishes. Get the chocolate clams and the octopus taco!

Sarah Yang

After lunch we drove into the town center and walked around, visiting the historic Hotel California, Misión Santa Rosa de las Palmas (also known as the Todos Santos Mission), and all the charming shops nearby. We also grabbed a drink at Todos Santos Boutique Hotel, a chic and glamorous space with marble details, velvet and leather furniture, and stunning art and murals. It felt very New York and European at the same time. I wish we could have stayed more in town, exploring and tasting bites, but we had to head back to Villa Santa Cruz for a special excursion: sunset horseback riding.

Sarah Yang

My only horse riding experience has been a pony ride when I was little, so to say I was completely nervous about horseback riding would be an understatement. But Suez Taylor and Meghan Dhaliwal, who operate the stables on the property and lead the horseback riding adventures, made me feel safe and comfortable. They matched us with a horse that was best for our energy and skill level and we spent some time riding around the paddock to get used to riding. Then we were off, traversing through the property and then ending up on the beach. It was such a peaceful experience and it was so inspiring learning about the horses and the work that Meghan and Suez do to rescue and rehabilitate horses. And yes, the sunset was spectacular.

Courtesy of Villa Santa Cruz

After horseback riding, we headed to the hotel’s other restaurant, The Green Room, a casual oceanfront eatery with delicious margaritas and bites. The resort’s general manager, Paul, told us to get the Rosarito Beach Rolls (chimichangas with shrimp) and I could have eaten five plates of them!

To cap off our last night at the resort, we enjoyed a bottle of wine next to our fire pit. I knew I was going to miss looking up at the stars and hearing the waves so close by.

Day 3

Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

Sadly, it was our final day in Todos Santos, so we had one last breakfast (and I made sure to eat my stomach’s worth of tortillas) and said goodbye to the wonderful staff who made our stay such a delight. I know I said we’re not the type to spend too much time in one resort, but I would definitely do a longer stay next time!

We got back on the road to drive back to the Cabo airport to drop off our rental car since we planned on staying put at our next resort.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

After dropping off the car, we took an Uber to Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, which was hosting us for the second half of our trip. To get to the resort, you drive from busy downtown Cabo San Lucas through a magnificent private tunnel that feels like you’re in a cave and suddenly you’re transported to a stunning, tranquil resort. We were immediately greeted with welcome margaritas as we got out of the car and met our personal concierge, Hugo.

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal feels like a traditional vacation resort, but 10 times more luxurious. You really do get attentive and personalized service, thanks to special touches, like a personal concierge whom you can text throughout your stay with requests or questions, and my personal favorite, the daily chips, guacamole, and beer tray that’s delivered to your room between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day. It was so fun celebrating a special occasion at the resort because every day we were treated to special surprises, like a bottle of champagne and a tray of desserts, or complimentary glasses of bubbly at lunch!

Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

The resort features different types of accommodations, from rooms with a view to multi-room suites to casitas and villas. All of them either have a plunge pool or are located on the beach, so you’re never far away from the water. But you really don’t have to worry about water access, because there’s also an adults pool, kids pool, and family pool on the property.

There’s also plenty to eat and drink at the resort—there are three sit-down restaurants and three bars and lounges to grab a bite or drink. Plus, the Neutral Coffee Lab is a great place to grab coffee, tea, and pastries on the go.

Sarah Yang

After the warm welcome, we got to our room and were greeted with that champagne and dessert tray I mentioned earlier. We had lunch, walked around the resort, hung out in our private plunge pool, and enjoyed the afternoon chips and beer tray.

Sarah Yang

For dinner, we headed to the property’s jewel of a restaurant, El Farallon. You’re basically dining cliffside with the ocean waves rolling right beside you—it’s one of the most romantic settings I’ve ever experienced. It was an extra celebratory dinner with lots of champagne, wine pairings, delicious seafood and Mexican specialities, and dessert. We were stuffed, but not stuffed enough to enjoy a nightcap at the hotel bar, Agave Study at Peacock Alley, before heading to bed.

Day 4

Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Spa

I woke up wondering if the breakfast buffet at the Waldorf would hold a candle to the one at Villa Santa Cruz, and I’m happy to share that it did. The variety of items was impressive, from traditional Mexican fare to an egg station to a smoothie/juice bar to a huge selection of pastries. I had an omelette, tamales, Mexican hot chocolate, a concha, fruit and yogurt… I had to try it all, right?

After breakfast we spent a few hours at the adults pool—since our schedule was so packed with activities, it was our first dedicated pool time the whole trip! There’s just something about enjoying a pristine pool with the beach right in front of you with ocean views. You really feel lucky! We enjoyed a drink at the swim-up bar before heading to the spa.

Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Spa

Walking into Waldorf Astoria’s spa will make anyone’s blood pressure go down. It’s such a calming space with luxe amenities—a sauna, steam room, whirlpool, ice room, snacks, lounge areas, fluffy robes, and so much more. The treatments at the spa honor Mexican folk healing and many of the services are inspired by the phases of the moon. We started our treatment with a foot cleansing ritual and then enjoyed a couples’ massage which left both of us ultra-relaxed and sleepy. Afterwards, we each enjoyed the sauna, steam room, ice room, and whirlpool separately. We capped off our spa day by lounging by the tranquil pool.

At night, we headed to the resort’s other restaurant, Don Manuel’s, where we also enjoyed some live music. We got our usual nightcap and were lucky enough to catch a vibrant fireworks show that was happening for a private party on the property. We just told ourselves the show was for us!

Day 5

We woke up sad that our honeymoon was coming to an end. The checkout process was so smooth—they grabbed our bags, wrapped the tequila bottle and wine bottles we got during our stay, and had it all ready for us at the front entrance. We even got a box of cookies as a goodbye gift!

Recap

It was fun to get a glimpse of both Cabo and Todos Santos. The two destinations have completely different vibes in the best way possible, and I’m glad we were able to experience both. We left vowing we would explore each more in depth next time, especially since we didn’t leave the resort in Cabo San Lucas! Honeymoon/minimoon or not, Baja California is the perfect getaway for any type of traveler—whether you want something action-packed or ultra relaxing.