Two Days In Todos Santos

I decided to venture off to the Todos Santos Art Festival since this was my second trip to Cabo San Lucas.  I wanted to experience a different part of Mexico, and this sounded like a fun event. I didn’t want to do the usual hotel thing, so I started looking for other options.  I was lucky enough to find a casita in the downtown historic area.  I wanted a different kind of adventure, and it looks like I’m in for one!

Here’s the directions I received via email.

Hi Julie,

The first rule is to drive very cautiously, keep watch on all the cars around you (including the ones coming up fat), and expect the unexpected.  The unexpected absolutely *will* happen!  You will get passed on the left, on the right, in very unusual places.

Now, a bit about the roads and driving.  First, signals and stop signs are ‘run’ more often here than in most parts of the States.  Drive caustiously.  Coming up the hill out of Cabo, the road has little or no shoulder in a few spots, with the road edge eroding away, so keep an eye out.  I make it a point to *never* take my eyes off any road in Baja, unlike sometimes in the States. There is much more randomness here, much less regularity.

Also, you will be driving through *OPEN RANGE* — meaning cows, burros, goats, feral pigs, horses, and other creatures may wind up on the road or next to the road.  Goats are fast, and come in bunches, and one can never be sure if all the goats in a bunch are accounted for.  Be careful.  Cows are *very* slow to get out of your way, and can sometimes be unnervingly close to the side of the road.  Big and scary.  Horses can be twitchy, make sure you give riders and horses a cautious berth.

If you see car(s) coming towards you with their flashers on , it often means that there’s some problem or hazard up ahead, most often livestock near or on the road, but it could be other things, such as men working.  If you see any orange cones in the road, or other signs men at work, slow down considerably.  These guys don’t have the same amount of space on the road protecting them as people in the states, and need a bit more awareness from the driving public.

On the highway, a left-turn signal from a car ahead *often* (not always) means that they’re telling you to pass.  So, you could unwittingly be signaling a left turn, and have someone come screaming by you  on the left, or worse.  If there’s someone close behind on the highway, you may want to go past your left turn, turn around when safe, and come back.  Or, pull off on the right, let traffic pass, and make your left.

Be cautious going over the many rises you’ll encounter.  We’ve topped out over one, and had drivers coming at us in both lanes.  Exciting.

In about an hour or so, you’ll come into the south end of Todos Santos.  After you pass over the tope (speed Bump) at the top of the hill, you will continue downhill for several blocks (more topes) until you come to a street light (actually, *the* street light). You’ll now be on Benito Juarez, the main street of Todos Santos.

You’ll go up hill several blocks, going up to the lovely white adobe building at the top of the hill, and then a short block further, to the left-hand intersection with Calle Topete.  Please stop at the stop sign and be aware others may not… Turn left on Topete, and enjoy the next short 3 blocks through the main streets of  the Old Todos Santos.  Many of the buildings you are passing are connected to one another through patio areas in the center area of the blocks — these are family-built casas, some of which still house the same families who built them.

After those 3 too-short blocks, you’ll take a difficult left onto Calle Pilar, just after passing ‘La Arca’ and its lovely gardens on the left. There will be a refreshment stand (big ‘Pepsi’ sign — ‘Rico’s Raspados’) on the corner as you turn, then a wrought-iron gate and a long low adobe wall.  Jardin de Pilar is next on your right, with a tall brown gate, a white/rock wall, and another tall brown gate. There is no sign.

Just park at the second brown steel gate on the right, and enter the first gate, and come on down the driveway.  When you get to the gate to the gardens, give a shout, and we’ll take you to your garden casita.

Hope this helps,

Jardin de Pilar

Holy Crap!  This guy was thorough to say the least!

After this account of driving in Mexico, I wasn’t sure I wanted to!  I was, however, intrigued by the possibility of encountering a herd of fast moving goats!  And, what exactly did he mean by creatures?  Maybe a Chupacabra?

Legend has it that they puncture the necks of goats, and drain all there blood.  And, goats seem to be plentiful in the area.  Hmmmm….

Well, the drive went smooth, and without incident.  There were no goats, horses, burros, or Chupacabra.  There were a couple of cows along the way, but they didn’t look like they were moving any time soon.

Manipulated Reality is supported by readers. Product links on Manipulated Reality are referral links for things I like & believe you will too! Read more here.

After driving on well paved roads, I turned onto a dirt road… That shockingly wasn’t mentioned.  I circled around a couple times convinced I was lost.

I finally got out of the car, wondering what exactly I had got myself into. I went up to the gate, and gave a yell. The owner came out, and in I went. I was pleasantly surprised once I entered. It was a beautiful tropical jungle behind the gates.  I had found the secret garden!

What a relief! It was beautiful and had the charm I was looking for!

Subscribe to receive travel & photography tips, and special offers from our sponsors.

Connect me on social media.

• Follow Julie Miche on Instagram.
• Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.