Baja Desert Wellness Retreat at Paradero Todos Santos

The property is made up of suites and casitas spread across a corner of the desert, each with outdoor space. Ground-floor garden suites have a terrace and an artisan-made hammock that hangs out over the landscape. Sky Suites have rooftop decks with built-in suspended "star nets" — netting you lie in at night to look up at the sky. The Master Casita spans three floors with 360-degree views from the mountains and Las Palmas Beach across to the La Mesa farming fields. Bathrooms in several rooms are partly outdoors, which gives you privacy and a view at the same time.

Food is a genuine draw rather than an afterthought. The kitchen cooks Mexican, Japanese and French food, with a lot of it coming from the hotel's own farm and garden. Guests consistently single out specific dishes — the soft-shell crab taco, the chicken with alioli, truffle oil, pickles and ocotzingo cheese — and the bar makes fresh tortillas in front of you through the day. Chef Jorge has cooked for guests on the catamaran trips, including buying clams straight off a local fisherman and grilling them on the beach that evening.

The included experiences run on a calendar and are the main structured part of a day: surfing at two nearby breaks, a guided desert hike covering the local plants and wildlife, a cooking class working from garden to plate, and a morning bike ride out of Todos Santos. Beyond those, there's the Temescal ceremony (a traditional sweat lodge), massages, and the Ocean Safari, where guests have reported getting close enough to touch grey whales.

Where this differs from a standard wellness resort: it's genuinely remote and doesn't try to be anything else. The design blends into the desert rather than standing out from it, the food programme is restaurant-quality rather than spa-food, and the activities are real excursions rather than scheduled stretching sessions. Staff are repeatedly named in reviews — Fernando for hikes, Cesar for general care — and the service style is warm and personal rather than formal.

The hotel sits a short drive from downtown Todos Santos, with its galleries and restaurants, and from Cerritos beach. Transport to both is arranged by the hotel. It's an easy base if you want to combine desert quiet with a bit of town time, and an hour from Los Cabos airport.

What's included

- Accommodation in Master Casita, Sky Suite or Garden Suite - Access to pool and rooftop bonfire area - Surfing sessions at two nearby breaks - Guided desert hikes - Cooking class using on-site garden and farm produce - Morning bike rides to Todos Santos - Meals at the on-site restaurant (Mexican-Japanese-French menu) - Farm and garden access - Transport coordination to downtown Todos Santos and Cerritos beach

What's not included

- Flights to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) - Airport transfers (can be arranged) - Travel insurance - Spa treatments and massages - Temescal ceremony - Ocean Safari and catamaran trips - Alcoholic beverages beyond welcome drink - Personal expenses and gratuities