3-Nights Paradero Todos Santos from $1,200

Consider driving or taking a bus or guided tour up the Pacific coast to Todos Santos, 50 mi/80 km north of Cabo San Lucas. The road (Highway 19) passes gorgeous, isolated stretches of beaches where waves crash on the sand. You may also spot some of the organic vegetable farms and fruit orchards that provide Los Cabos restaurants with produce.

This small town has become a magnet for artists and entrepreneurs, thanks to its peaceful setting and slow pace. Todos Santos' compact downtown has been declared a national historic district. Many of the town's unusual fired brown brick 19th-century buildings have been restored. Some have also been plastered over and painted bright colors. Others now house gourmet restaurants, cafes, galleries and upscale handicraft boutiques that are well worth exploring. There is also a cultural center housing a small museum with eclectic displays highlighting the area's archaeology and history. Drive back before dark: The road is not lit, and cattle sometimes wander across it.