Todos Santos and El Cerritos are a great combo, but this is the smart way to do it. You get private pacing (not a crowded bus day) and a full half-day structure that leaves room to shop, snack, and take photos at your own speed. A driver like Ricardo (also shown as Richard in some guide listings) is often described as punctual and accommodating, which matters a lot when you want the day to feel easy.

The main thing to keep in mind is timing. You’ll have free time in town and a stop back toward Cabo later, but if you fall in love with a particular shop or activity, the day can feel a bit scheduled.

Key things to know before you go

• Pickup and round-trip transport from Cabo San Lucas, with an air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water
• El Cerritos beach time with an optional extra hour if you want to linger
• Todos Santos Tequila Town free time where you can shop, grab a margarita, and do drinks on your own plan
• Iconic Todos Santos stops like Hotel California photos and time near the Mission of Todos Santos
• A couple of town time windows, so you are not rushing through everything once
• Works well for couples and small groups up to 4 people, price is per group not per person

Private half-day pacing from Cabo to Todos Santos and El Cerritos

This is built for people who want the highlight sights, without the stress of organizing your own driving and parking. For a group of up to four, you’re paying for convenience plus flexibility, since it’s a private tour and only your group participates.

Your day starts with pickup from your hotel in the Cabo area. The exact pickup spot gets confirmed after you reserve, and there’s one practical heads-up: some resort complexes are not allowed pick-up points, including Pueblo Bonito, Cabo del Sol, Riu Santa fe, and Riu Palace Baja California. If you are staying at one of those, you’ll likely need to walk a short distance to a permitted meeting location.

Once you’re on the road, the trip feels like a true half-day outing. Expect about five hours total, give or take with traffic and your timing in town. Tours operate within provider hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, so you’re not stuck with some absurd early departure if you prefer to sleep in.

Why I like this setup for you: you get a real local-day rhythm. Drive, snack, walk around town, return. No “one quick stop every 12 minutes” feeling.

Getting to El Cerritos and the beach breakfast stop

The first big chunk of the day is the ride out to El Cerritos, about an hour from Cabo San Lucas. When you arrive near Playa Cerritos, you’ll have a breakfast stop at a nearby restaurant.

Two important practical notes here:

• Meals are not listed as included. The tour includes bottled water, but lunch is specifically not included, and breakfast is described as a stop rather than a stated included meal. So bring small bills or expect to pay for your own food.
• This is a good chance to reset before Todos Santos. You’re switching from highway time to a more relaxed coastal feel, and a casual breakfast helps you start walking around town without getting hangry.

El Cerritos is also where the beach time happens. You’ll get around one hour of free time, and there’s an option to add another hour if the beach and the vibe are working for you. If you’re the type who likes a slow walk along the shoreline, this extra time option is the difference between a “quick look” and actually feeling like you had a break.

What to do with your free time at El Cerritos:

• Take a slow stroll and get your photos without fighting for space.
• Keep it flexible. If the group wants to relax, you can keep moving. If you’re ready to head out, you won’t feel trapped.

If the weather is rough, this part matters even more. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can trigger a date change or refund (more on that in booking advice).

Todos Santos Tequila Town: shopping, margaritas, and photo stops

Todos Santos is where the day turns from “drive and coast” to “walk and explore.” Your first town segment focuses on Tequila Town, the area where the drinks, shops, and tasting-style culture are easy to find.

You get free time to do what you want here:

• Walk and shop
• Have a margarita at a spot called Tequila Sunrise
• Take pictures at Hotel California
• Spend time near the Mission of Todos Santos
• Grab an ice cream and wander a little longer

There’s also a shopping alternative mentioned for this town time: Bazar Besame Mucho. If you want crafts and a more browseable market feel, it’s a nice option instead of jumping from one stop to another.

One thing I like about building the day around Tequila Town first is how it matches how people actually travel. You are not forced into a single formal tasting lecture. Instead, you get a window where you can choose your pace and your own drink and snack choices.

A small planning tip for you: if you want tequila flavors rather than just a margarita, ask what tasting options are available at the Tequila Sunrise location or nearby counters during your free time. The structure gives you the freedom to do that, but it does not lock you into a one-size-fits-all tasting flight.

And yes, the Hotel California photo moment is the kind of stop people remember. Even if you’re only snapping a couple pictures, it’s one of those Todos Santos landmarks that instantly tells you you’re in the right place.

How free time actually feels in Todos Santos (two town windows)

This tour gives you two separate windows in Todos Santos, instead of just one big block. One window is longer, built for exploring and browsing. Then later, there’s a shorter follow-up time back in town.

That matters, because Todos Santos travel has a natural rhythm:

• You arrive and want time to get oriented, walk, and pick where you want to spend money
• Then you want time to circle back for a second look, photos, or a second snack
• If you love a shop, you can return without feeling like the whole day is now ruined

In the longer town window, you can handle the “must sees” like Hotel California photos and time around the Mission of Todos Santos, but you still have space for the softer stuff like ice cream and wandering shop rows. If you prefer the classics, you can follow the photo spots. If you prefer shopping, you can focus on markets and local stores like Bazar Besame Mucho.

In the later, shorter town window, the tour is basically giving you a graceful out. If you ran slower the first time, you can use that time to finish a few items you missed. If you ran faster, you can use it to relax, grab a final drink, or just enjoy walking without pressure.

That is why this works especially well for couples. You get time for both “let’s browse” and “let’s hit the highlights” without negotiating every minute.

Cerritos beach time plus town walking: the best rhythm for a 5-hour day

One reason this combo works is the contrast. You go from:

• coastal free time at El Cerritos

to

• walking and photos in Todos Santos

to

• a return toward Cabo

This contrast is also a practical advantage. The beach time breaks up the day so you’re not just in and out of cars and shops all afternoon.

The tour is described as a half-day private experience, and the pacing reflects that. You are not overwhelmed with dozens of stops. Instead, you get meaningful time at the places people actually want to experience.

And because it’s private, the timing can be more “you-driven.” A driver like Ricardo is noted as personable, patient, and willing to customize. If you’re the kind of person who wants your day to match your interests, this is a real advantage.

Transportation comfort, bottled water, and what you pay for

The included basics are good, and simple:

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Bottled water

You’ll also have a mobile ticket.

What’s not included:

• Tips
• Lunch

Because lunch is not included, I suggest planning for food costs beyond the breakfast stop. The tour includes time near food spots in Cerritos and town, but your guide is not covering your meals.

In practice, this style of day works best when you go in with a snack plan and some cash or card flexibility. You might grab a quick breakfast near Playa Cerritos, then make your way through Todos Santos with small purchases like ice cream, drinks, and souvenirs. That way you’re not forced to find a perfect meal at a set time.

Also think about footwear. You will be walking in town, and it’s on a schedule where you may move between photo spots and shops. Comfortable shoes pay off fast.

Price and value: why $268.07 per group makes sense here

The price is $268.07 per group, up to four people, for about five hours. That can sound high if you compare it to a cheap group bus. But it’s a totally different product: private transport plus flexible free time plus the advantage of someone handling the route.

Where the value lands for you:

• If you are traveling as a couple, you’re effectively splitting the cost. Private days start to look reasonable when you have two people, not just one.
• If you have a small group, the per-group pricing is often the best deal you can get compared to multiple separate taxis or rental-car logistics.
• The tour reduces your planning load. You get hotel pickup (with noted limitations) and round-trip transportation without having to line up your own driver, route, and parking strategy.

When it might not be the best deal:

• If you are traveling solo and you want to do everything independently anyway, a private tour might feel like you’re paying extra for what you could manage with a rental car and a map.
• If you want a fully structured, guided tasting with no freedom, this is not built as a classroom. It’s a free-time exploration format with options like margaritas and local tasting stops.

Who this tour fits best, and when to skip it

This is a strong match if you:

• want a private day without crowds
• like the idea of a couple of hours in town where you can browse
• care about convenience and want pickup handled
• travel as a couple or small group of up to four

It’s also a good pick for people who dislike crowded bus tours. The private format naturally keeps your attention on the places you choose to spend time in, not on making sure everyone stays on schedule.

When you might want to choose a different plan:

• If you are arriving with tight timing constraints and cannot spare about five hours total, the half-day structure may feel limiting.
• If weather is a big unknown, remember the experience requires good weather. If conditions are poor, you’ll need to accept a possible date change or refund.

Final decision: should you book this Todos Santos and Tequila tasting tour?

I’d book this if you want a low-stress Todos Santos day that still includes the recognizable moments, plus beach time at El Cerritos. The private setup, flexible town walking, and the option for extra beach time make it feel like a real outing rather than a checklist.

One smart way to decide: think about how you like to travel.

• If you love browsing, photos, and picking your own food and drinks, this format fits.
• If you want a very structured tequila tasting with fixed stops and zero free time, this might feel too flexible.

Also, if you stay at one of the Cabo resorts that have pickup restrictions, plan to confirm your pickup meeting point early so the start of the day stays smooth.

If you book, a little prep goes a long way: comfortable shoes, a realistic food budget since lunch and tips are not included, and a weather-ready mindset. Done right, this is one of those Cabo excursions that feels like you actually experienced two sides of the region, beach and town, without burning your whole day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour duration is about 5 hours.

What is the price and group size?

It costs $268.07 per group, with a maximum of up to 4 people.

Is pickup included, and where do you meet?

Pickup is offered. The exact pickup location is confirmed after the reservation, and some resort complexes are not allowed as pickup points.

What areas do you visit?

You’ll travel between Cabo San Lucas and the areas of El Cerritos (near Playa Cerritos) and Todos Santos, with time in Tequila Town and around key Todos Santos sights.

Do you get free time at El Cerritos?

Yes. You get about 1 hour of free time in El Cerritos, with an option to add another hour.

Is breakfast included?

The tour includes a stop at a restaurant near Playa Cerritos for breakfast, but meals are not listed as included. You should expect to pay for food.

Is lunch included?

No, lunch is not included.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is private, and only your group participates.

What if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.