Is the Paradero Hotel in Todos Santos, Mexico Worth the Money?

Okay, okay. If you’ve done a Google search for the Paradero Hotel in Todos Santos, and you’ve stumbled upon this post, you’re probably looking for a quick answer. Is the Paradero Hotel worth the price?

Well, I won’t make you scroll to the end of this article to find out. The answer is a resounding YES!

However, with rooms starting at $550 dollars per night, I’m guessing you’re going to want to know why the Paradero hotel is worth it. Keep reading, because I have the answers. After having just returned from a 5 day stay there with my husband, I am going to fill you in on ALL the details, plus everything you need to know to have a perfect stay at this luxurious,  eco-minded hotel.

Planning to explore the area while you’re at the Paradero Hotel? Check out my Todos Santos Travel Guide for everything to see and do in this laid-back Baja beach town.

Where is the Paradero Hotel and How Do You Get There?

The Paradero Hotel is located in Todos Santos, a sleepy surf town in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The best way to get there from the US is by flying into Los Cabos airport. While the glitzy tourist town, Cabo, is 20 minutes from the airport, Todos Santos is about an hour north, a straight shot on Highway 19, a very well-maintained highway.

If you are planning to stay for at least a few days, I highly recommend renting a car so you have the freedom to explore. We reserved a car in advance with Enterprise. The entire process was very easy and efficient. We took a quick shuttle ride from the airport to the Enterprise office, where we spent a few minutes filling out our paperwork before we were in our rental car, driving away.

If you rent a car, I want to share two pieces of advice with you. While the main thoroughfare through the southern peninsula, Highway 19, is a modern, paved road, many local roads in Todos Santos are unpaved. Because of this, I highly recommend renting a jeep or SUV with 4-wheel drive to navigate the terrain better. Also, if you drive from the airport to the Paradero Hotel, have some Pesos on hand for the tolls because it’s only cash. I think the tolls cost us around $5.00.

The Overall Design of the Paradero Hotel

When I first walked onto the grounds of the Paradero Hotel, I was overwhelmed by the resort’s simplicity and beauty. The hotel is designed by architects Ruben Valdez and Yashar Yektajo, and every detail of this space was created to mesh with the scenery rather than overtake it. From the desert and earth-toned hues to the brutalist, two-story structures that house all of the hotel’s accommodations, the hotel’s overall aesthetic seamlessly matches the landscape, so much so that you can barely see the hotel from the road.

I also appreciated the Paradero Hotel’s commitment to conservation. It is set amongst a farming community in Todos Santos, and part of the hotel’s grounds is dedicated to farming. During your stay, you can even take a complementary class to learn more about farming and gardening.

The Accommodations at the Paradero Hotel

The hotel offers several different room types. My husband and I opted for a rooftop suite with sweeping views of farmland, the mountains, and a sliver of the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

The space’s configuration reminded us of many hotels in Bali. The bedrooms are minimalist and cozy, with air conditioning. The open-air bathrooms are separate from the bedroom and situated across a small outdoor seating area.

But by far, the best part of our suite was the rooftop, which included a ‘star net,’ a hammock bolted into the walls, and an entire lounge area. We spent hours on the rooftop every night, gazing at the stars and Milky Way. Ground floor suites also have private outdoor areas, including soaking tubs, farmland views, and 200-year-old Cardon cacti.

The Food at the Paradero Hotel

First, I have to talk about what is now my husband’s and my favorite drink – the Mezcalita. Essentially, it’s a traditional margarita with mezcal instead of tequila. It sounds simple but the smokiness of the mezcal accentuates the tanginess of the drink and it was the perfect combo. My husband and I requested them during our first poolside dip (moments after checking in), and from there on out, everyone on the hotel staff knew what to serve us whenever we ordered a drink.

The food at the Paradero Hotel’s restaurant is adventurous but also sustainable. The menu mostly features local ingredients. That means lots of seafood – Chocolata clams, Hamachi tostadas, and softshell crab tacos, among other local specialties like ceviche.

We ate dinner at the hotel’s open-air restaurant twice but also made sure to hit up some of the fantastic restaurants in Todos Santos. (Believe it or not, there’s actually a bit of a foodie scene in Todos Santos!) You can learn more about where to eat outside of the hotel in my Todos Santos travel guide.

Things to Do at the Paradero Hotel

If your agenda while on vacation is to do nothing more than lounge by the pool, you’re in luck. The Paradero Hotel’s 130-foot-long infinity pool is the perfect spot to sunbathe and devour a good book.

If you’re the type of vacationer who wants to get up and go, go, go, you’re also in luck! The Paradero Hotel offers a wide variety of activities you can partake in. I loved this because it meant I could get up early to do things while my husband slept in. Many of the options are free, and others are at an additional cost, so that’s how I’ll break things down for you here.

The Free Activities:

The free activities at the Paradero Hotel include yoga, daily hikes (both in the morning and late afternoon), meditation, fitness classes, and farming and gardening classes. The only downside is that most of these activities are not scheduled every day except for the morning hike, so you need to plan what you want to do in advance.

The Paid Experiences:

The Paradero Hotel also offers an array of paid experiences. These activities include sound healing, biking, cultural or taco tours in Todos Santos, an afternoon beach set up, sunset drinks on the beach, ocean safaris, and a day or overnight on a catamaran.

While some of these activities were very reasonably priced, like group biking at $23 per person, others, like renting the catamaran for $3500, were cost-prohibitive. We skipped the tours in Todos Santos so we could do our own exploring, but we did take advantage of some of the paid activities, including biking, the beach setup, and sunset beach cocktails.

Pro Travel Tip: The Pacific Ocean is very rough along the Baja peninsula, and swimming there is not recommended. However, there are specific beaches designated for surfing.

The hotel also has a spa and wellness center. In addition to more traditional spa services like deep tissue massages and facials, the resort offers a variety of traditional rituals, including Temazcal, Yenekamu, and Niparaja Anajicondi rituals. These treatments are pricey but worth the splurge if you want a healing and relaxing treatment.

Things To Do Outside of the Paradero Hotel:

As I mentioned above, Todos Santos is a charming, laid-back town that has attracted surfers and artists alike. It is worth spending a couple of afternoons in the downtown area, exploring the local galleries, shops, and restaurants. For the full rundown on Todos Santos, plus all of my recommendations, check out my Todos Santos travel guide.

I also highly recommend taking a day trip to La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur. Located on the Sea of Cortez, the town has spectacular beaches. While you can visit many of the beaches by car, it’s even better to explore by boat because then you have access to Isla Espiritu Santo, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and a National Park.

We did a group boat tour of the archipelago and it was a highlight of our trip. We saw dolphins and sea lions, snorkeled in crystal clear, turquoise water, and had lunch on a remote beach. This tour was not through the Paradero Hotel, but they helped us book everything.

Are You Ready to Book a Stay at the Paradero Hotel?

I will admit that with room rates starting at $550 per night, staying at the Paradero Hotel was a splurge for us. But it was 100% worth it and I would book this trip again in a heartbeat.

Why?

Because I know that resorts like the Paradero Hotel offer an unparalleled experience and stay.

This trip is one I won’t soon forget, nor the feelings of peace, happiness, and contentment that I had the entire time I was there. To me, those feelings are priceless.

From the friendly and knowledgeable staff and the beautiful surroundings to the delicious food and multitude of interesting experiences, this hotel gets a 10 out of 10 from me.

While my husband and I enjoyed visiting Todos Santos and getting to know Baja, Mexico, the main reason we loved this trip so much was our stay at the Paradero Hotel. We simply can’t wait to come back!

So, what do you think? Are you ready to book a stay at this luxurious, eco-minded hotel? If so, I hope this post has informed you of what to expect when you do.

Please let me know if you’re booking a stay, and I’ll send you additional tips!