Cabo's East Cape or Todos Santos?

If you’re deciding between Todos Santos and the East Cape, you’re really looking at two of the most interesting alternatives to Los Cabos for people who want something a little more off the beaten path. Todos Santos sits on the Pacific side and has a true town center with a strong sense of culture—art galleries, boutique hotels, farm-to-table restaurants, and a lively artisan community. People often group Todos Santos together with Pescadero, which has the famous Cerritos Beach, swimmable and surfable year-round. There’s a lot of interest in the area, with developers like Ernesto Coppel investing in large projects that will put Todos Santos firmly on the map. Real estate there is largely raw land, with strict limits on massive development, which should help keep its authentic character. In the long term, having the anchor of a magical town with cooler Pacific weather is a huge advantage.

The East Cape, on the other hand, is more rustic and less established, with smaller communities like Los Barriles. It’s the land of ATVs, fishing boats, and wide-open coastline. Development is coming fast though—Costa Palmas, a luxury golf and resort project, is an anchor, and many landowners who’ve held property for years are beginning to build. The Sea of Cortez side is warmer, and the waters are incredible for snorkeling, paddleboarding, and even surfing in spots like La Fortuna. It’s more of a frontier feel, with greater opportunity to still find beachfront land at better value than Todos Santos.

If I had to choose, my personal pick would be Todos Santos. I like the cooler Pacific climate, the cultural anchor of the town, and the amount of investment and growth already happening. From a real estate perspective, it feels like the safer long-term play. That said, East Cape has incredible natural beauty, world-class water activities, and plenty of upside for people who want something a little wilder and more up-and-coming. The good news is, you can’t go wrong with either.

Update from this writing:  I’m becoming increasingly interested in the East Cape. It’s a more complex market to understand because of its diverse areas and the fact that much of it remains undeveloped. Right now, I’m under contract with investors on a large parcel in the East Cape, located not far from San José del Cabo.

Fletcher Wheaton - fletcher@remexico.com