Owned by a husband-and-wife duo, Fabrizio and Nilù, Desierto Azul is a four-key boutique hotel perfect for travelers who prefer their vacation with a side of sustainability and a dash of worry-free tranquility.
Located in Mexico’s Todos Santos—a Baja California Sur town just over an hour from Cabo that we often refer to as “Cabo’s cooler younger brother—the stay is plopped in the middle of the desert, and a semi-brisk stroll from the region’s untouched beaches.
A marriage between minimalism and boho-chic panache carries the design narrative, from the four guesthouses to the open-air lobby. At Desierto Azul, you’ll quickly come to realize how clean lines have a wild fling with the gruff charm of rough textures, spawning a scene set by nature and the Baja desert itself. This romance comes to light via polished concrete interiors, local artisanal tiles, pergolas with hammocks, plus Palm leaf chairs and lamps that make you remember the ocean is not too far.
The desert garden on the property is full of native plants that don’t require much water and serves as a testament to the stay’s care for Mother Earth.
For those on vacation mode and feeling too lazy for a walk to the beach (we totally get it), the onsite saltwater pool beckons guests to swim under the Todos Santos sunshine, peering out at the cacti-clad landscape. And then, after a refreshing dip, experience a one-way ticket to relaxation via a nap on one of the encircling lounge chairs. Need a drink? A bar stall serving liquid delights like Kombucha and cervezas is a two-second waltz from the pool.
If downtime is not your vibe, the hotel has an onsite plant-based cooking studio, which often offers classes. The kitchen complements the gluten-free, dairy-free, on-premises boulangerie run by Fabrizio and Nilù, PANVERO Bakery & Elixirs.
Last but not least, it would be amiss not to share how the hotel isn’t shy about its eco-friendly efforts: solar-powered electricity, sun-heated hot water, bio digestors for black water, and a scattering of native plants that don’t require much rain to stand sturdy are a handful of initiatives imbued here.
All in all, Desierto Azul proves that, indeed, great things come in small packages.
Top Takeaways
Location: Todos Santos, Mexico
Rating: Four-star
The Vibe: A minimalist microcosm that exudes the magic of Baja through its design and programming.
Our favorite thing about the hotel: The minimalist, boho-chic architecture really puts you in vacation mode. And the pool that extends out to the barren Baja desert is a slice of paradise.
Food and Drink: The hotel has a bakery on site and a partial bar during select hours.
Any neighborhood recs? Stroll around Todos Santos, a place buzzing with charming mom-and-pop shops, nestled in a delightful smorgasbord of red-brick, straw-roofed, or flamboyantly colonial buildings. Sneak into Oystera, a spot hidden behind a jungle of plants, hosting a handful of concept stores and an oyster bar that’s the talk of the town. Got a caffeine itch? Mosey down the street to the ultra-local Café La Perla, where your espresso or iced coffee dreams will come true. When the shopping bug bites, merrily trot to stores like Mixtica, a treasure trove of antiques. .
What’s nearby? Punta Lobos, Todos Santos’ main drag with shops and restaurants, El Perdido
Amenities: Pool, partial bar, bakery, free WI-FI
Pricing: Rates start at $265
Room count: Four
Closest Airport: Los Cabos International Airport (75-minute drive)
