TSWW FAQ

Where you are going Todos Santos is in Mexico, located in the state of Baja California Sur, which is the southernmost portion of the 760-mile-long Baja peninsula, stretching from Tijuana at the northern border, to Cabo San Lucas at the southernmost tip. Air travelers fly into Los Cabos Airport (SJD), located in San Jose del Cabo, which is just north of Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez. Todos Santos is an hour away from the Los Cabos airport via modern toll road running west to connect with Highway 19, a scenic route heading north up the Pacific coastline to Todos Santos.

 

 

 

View the state of Baja California Sur on Google Maps

View the town of Todos Santos on Google Maps (Note: TSWW HQ is in the La Cachora neighborhood)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Air travelers fly into Los Cabos Airport (SJD), an international destination for most major airlines. You will need a current passport that does not expire any sooner than three months from the date of your arrival. For assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact Vicky (vickidr@all-travel.com) or Yeny (yenym@all-travel.com) at All-Travel: 310-903-5131. Their assistance, for a modest fee, ensures good airfare rates, and an itinerary in synch with our event.

From The Airport To Todos Santos—and back TSWW provides shuttle service for travelers arriving on Saturday, Feb 3 and departing Sunday, Feb 11. The shuttle will take from 4 to 10 people in alternate shifts: early 9-10am, mid-day 12pm - 1, late 2-3pm. On arrival, you may be asked by your driver to wait at one of the airport’s outdoor cafés until other passengers arrive. The ride to Todos Santos takes about an hour.

Arrival: Plan on arriving no later than 3PM on Saturday, Feb 3, in order to clear immigration, baggage claim, then customs (as much as 1-hr during high season) and then to be able to make the 1-hr trip via highway to Todos Santos before dark, when driving becomes risky, and to settle into your accommodations, in time to attend the Saturday evening welcome reception (6 – 8PM)

Departure: Plan your flight leaving SJD no earlier than 8AM Sunday, Feb 11, the earliest date on which workshop participants can schedule departure, following our Saturday night closing event. Shuttles will leave Todos Santos beginning at 5AM to allow for the 1hr ride to SJD and two hours for international check-in/security. We will aggregate departures into three or four shuttle groups scheduled around everyone’s departure times.

You may choose to arrive on an earlier date or depart later, and we can advise on private airport transportation (see Alternative Airport Travel below), which runs about $150-$175 per person. Second week participants of course will be departing after the last day, Feb 16, for which shuttle rides may be arranged.

Car Rental The usual agencies at the airport (Hertz, Avis, Cactus, Budget, etc.) provide luxe-to-economy rentals at commercial rates (including Mexican insurance), which will allow you to explore the area more freely. Sharing rides daily with TSWW colleagues is encouraged.

Alternative Airport Travel The one-hour trip by toll road to and from SJD is expensive, but relatively affordable ($150 - $170US total) for two or more passengers. Call the numbers below for rates:

Todos Santos Private Transport - Phone +52 612 130 3319

Costanova Tours - +526121556569 or +5216121835470

Where Is TSWW Happening? Our workshop location is on a private estate in the La Cachora neighborhood, located on the Otra Lado (literally “the other side”) of town. The faculty is in residence on the property and all of our classes take place outdoors. In an email update, we will send you a map you can print out.

Where Do I Stay? Todos Santos has a range of accommodations, from high-end hotels, to boutique establishment, to AirBnB rentals. The key factor to consider is proximity to our TSWW HQ. Also, TSWW holds a number of rooms in certain hotels for attendees at advantageous rates. Keep in mind that our workshopp week is at the peak of High Season, when accomodations become scarce at any price. Please ask us for more information in order to book your accomodations early.

What To Wear Casual and easy is the prevailing style. Mornings and nights can be cool, so bring a sweater or a wrap. Days can be warm, so t-shirts, shorts, sundresses, or long pants are all fine. Good walking shoes, or hiking sandals, are a must. Hats are essential for sunny days. Festive wear is suggested for our fiesta night.

Meals included in tuition *

Saturday, Feb 3, 6 – 8PM: Tamales & Margaritas Reception

Light supper and drinks

Location: TSWW HQ

Friday, Feb 9, 6 – 9PM: Fiesta Night

Regional fare freshly prepared and served on premises

Location: Mercado Ranchero

Saturday, Feb 10, 6 – 9PM: Closing Night Supper & Open Mic

Menu and location to be announced

* Shuttle provided to and from all events

What To Bring, Techwise Your laptop, notebook, and pens are essential, along with charger and maybe a thumbdrive. Mexico’s electricity system is the same as the US, so no special plugs necessary. The local stationery story, La Palma, provides photo-copy printout from hard copy or email attachment (lapalmapape@gmail.com), as well as all the usual stationery supplies.

Phones Check with your carrier about service in Mexico. Most carriers are served in Todos Santos, but roaming charges may apply for data. Many people access turn off their data, accessing the internet when logged into an internet connection, or only when necessary. WIFI connections are offered by some restaurants and most hotels and airBnB hosts. WhatsApp is useful for no-cost communications. WIFI available at TSWW HQ.

Buying Stuff – The Essentials Supermarkets offer just about everything you need, from phone chargers and sunscreen to baguettes and oat milk (also fresh tortilas daily). Local pharmacies sell everyday remedies, and do a brisk business selling medications usually requiring prescriptions in the US.

Buying Stuff – Local Wares Shops in the tourist quarter sell the same knickknacks you can find anywhere in Mexico, some of it made in China. But Todos Santos has certain crafts made locally and found only in Baja Sur: you can find pottery and other items hand-made in mountain ranchos, blankets woven on hand-looms. Boutiques sell stylish clothing by Mexican designers. Galleries display work by local artists for sale. A distinctive liquor made from the damiana plant, a species particular to Baja sur, boasts medicinal powers (try it and see!).

As for prices, keep in mind that Baja is practically an island, with almost all manufacured goods and specialty food items coming in by sea, air, or the long road from the border, so nothing is cheap. Still, you’ll find tasty tacos and delicious fresh fish dinners prepared with locally-caught catch of the day a bargain compared to wherever you’re from. Tipping is 15-20%, while patience and kindness go a long way to making your experience with locals rewarding in many ways.

The Water Local tap water is drinkable, and you can safely brush your teeth with it, but most people use bottled water for drinking. Bring your own coffee thermos and personal water container to avoid disposable plastic.

Getting Around Todos Santos It’s a small town and most restaurants and stores are within walking distance on paved and dirt roads. We will have shuttle points from which you can join others catching a ride to our TSWW HQ, and back again.

Language Most local residents speak English to some degree but buenos dias (good morning) and buenos tardes (good afternoon), por favor (please), and gracias (thank you) are helpful and appreciated in everyday interactions.

Currency US credit cards are accepted everywhere, and the best way to draw Mexican pesos is from the ATM at the airport, or the two banks with 24-hr ATM access in downtown Todos Santos. Having a few hundred pesos in your pocket each day will be sufficient. It’s fine to bring a couple of hundred US dollars to tuck away, but exchanging dollars for pesos in the bank requires your passport and possibly a long wait on a line.

Personal Safety Todos Santos is a dirt road rural fishing and farming village that is safer than many cities and towns in the US. A growing tourist economy, however, creates opportunities for those who would take advantage of unwary visitors. The usual cautions apply: Don’t leave wallets, handbags, valuables and computers openly visible in your hotel room when you go out. Leave nothing valuable on the seat of your car. No need to wear expensive jewelry or watches in Todos Santos. Local police are vigilant, and common sense is the best guide here, as anywhere.

In Case Of Health Emergency Accidents do happen, in which case you can rely on St. Jude’s Medical Centre, a 24-hour private local clinic where English is spoken. A public clinic also accepts patients at all hours. More serious cases are treated at fully-equipped and well-staffed hospitals in Cabo San Lucas catering to tourists and the international expatriate community.

Covid Policy: Though we no longer require proof of vaccine, it is our expectation that all who enroll and attend TSWW will have been fully vaccinated with an up-to-date vaccine.  Everyone has the right to their own decisions regarding their own health, but in attending a group workshop retreat you affect the health of many others as well.  For this reason we do not welcome those who have not received a recent Covid vaccine.

Local Beaches The beaches of Todos Santos are an unspoiled wonder. Empty of crowds and largely undeveloped, the beaches are easily accessible by a short walk from just about anywhere in town. But swimming is not advised, due to a rough shore break. However, with the annual whale migration visible in February just offshore, and miles of coastline empty of crowds or development, the beaches of Todos Santos—including a hidden cove adjacent to the fishing fleet’s launching spot at Punta Lobos—are spectacular and worth a visit, especially at sunset.

Restaurants Local dining ranges from inexpensive street-side taco and hot dog stands to farm-to-table menus, and fresh locally-caught sea food, as well as haute cuisine establishments serving exquisite variations on traditional Mexican food, with most offering vegetarian options. Hygienic standards make cases of indigestion rare. You will receive a list of recommended eateries on arrival at TSWW.