Although Baja Mexico is known for its stunning beaches and relaxing vibes 😎, there are still wonderful hikes for those outdoorsy individuals! The Punta Lobos hike is a fantastic day hike featuring stunning views, great sea life, and a steep climb.
My husband and I spent the winter months living in our van on the beaches of Baja Mexico. While we enjoy relaxing, our favorite hobby is hiking 🥾. Luckily, we found out about the Punta Lobos trail near Todos Santos and it did not disappoint!
Along the way, you’ll get panoramic vistas 🤩 over the coast and you may even be able to see whales or dolphins from above. Once you get to the top, there are plenty of options to choose from: you can climb to various viewpoints or continue down the mountain to the water’s edge. It’s basically a choose your own adventure hike!
We saw some of the very best views our entire time in Baja. Also, we thought that it was the perfect length for a quick morning hike. If you’re in the area, you should definitely add this hike to your bucket list. Read below for your complete guide including how to get there and what to pack!
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Punta Lobos Hike Details
Quick Trail Info
Distance: 2.5-4 miles
Elevation: 450-850 Feet
Type: Out and Back Trail
Length: 1-3 hours total (depending on your pace and breaks)
Difficulty: Moderate (steep at points with some optional rock climbing)
Where is the Punta Lobos Hike?
You’ll find Punta Lobos about 20 minutes from the town of Todos Santos and an hour from Cabo San Lucas. It’s located on the Western side of the Baja Peninsula in Baja California Sur.
Punta Lobos is an area of the beach outside the town of Todos Santos. This area is well known for the beautiful coastal views, the quiet beach, and good surfing 🏄. There is one resort there, but otherwise it is relatively calm.
If you are searching for the trail on AllTrails it is called “Old Port of Todos Santos.”
This trail leaves from the side of a quiet road off of the main highway. It will be easy to find, because you can see the old ruins of a building on the left side of the road and a hotel 🏨 on the right side. From there, you can set off and get on the hike.
What You’ll See on the Punta Lobos Hike
Along this trail, you’ll be able to see bright blue water, rolling mountains, and amazing rock formations 🗿. As you walk up the mountain, you’ll be able to see water the entire time. It’s one of the reasons that this trail is so spectacular.
Once you get to the top, you’ll be met with a beautiful scene. Below you’ll see blue waters turning into shades of aqua as they crash on the shore. In front, you’ll see a beautiful rock formation that juts out into the sea. It’s a great spot to stop and take pictures 📸 or take out a drone if you have one (remember to always drone responsibly).
One of our favorite parts of being in Baja, is getting to experience the amazing wildlife. On this hike you can see great sea life and a vibrant bird scene. In the winter months, you can see whales 🐳 throughout the open waters as you hike. People report seeing sea lions down below on occasion and even dolphins! Birds perch on the rock formations in the middle of the sea. There’s nothing better than a great hike featuring both natural beauty and wildlife.
Best Time to Hike
Baja California Sur is known for its warm temperatures and sunny skies. So, if you are going to hike this trail, it’s best to do it early in the morning or late in the day. That way you can hike when the sun is less strong and temperatures 🌡 are lower.
Cabo and Todos Santos are great destinations all times of year. But, from the late Fall to early Spring you can expect more mild temperatures. So, it makes it the perfect time to hike over Punta Lobos. The air is crisp and there may be a slight breeze 🌬 to keep you cool on the steep trek.
Additionally, from them months of December to March you have the unique opportunity to see whales from the shore. Gray whales 🐋 make their annual migration from the Arctic to Baja every winter. That means in the winter you can often see plumes coming out of the water and if you’re lucky, you may even see the whales breaching. We saw a lot of whale puffs when we did this hike in mid-February.
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Where to Stay
Punta Lobos is located just South of Todos Santos and North of Cerritos beach. So either of those towns are great places to stay! We have spent time in both of those areas and they are perfect for exploring and enjoying the beach.
Hotels in Todos Santos:
Important Things to Know
💵 It is free to hike the Punta Lobos trail. There is no fee to enter the area surrounding the hike or to get to the Punta Lobos beach.
☀️ It’s very important to wear sun protection on this trail. The sun is very strong in Baja and it’s easy to get burned. Lather up, so that you can hike without worrying about feeling pain later.
⛺️There are multiple campgrounds in the area, plenty of hotels, and great resorts. You can either stay in Todos Santos, Los Cerritos, or Cabo. All of these are fairly close to the Punta Lobos hike.
🦮 Pets are allowed on the Punta Lobos Hike. Keep a careful eye on them as you get to the rocky peak.
🚙 Parking is on the side of the road next to the trail. You’ll see an old building structure made of stone. It is the ruins of the Old Port in Todos Santos. This is where the hike sets off. There are some reports of cars getting broken into, so lock your car and secure your valuables before you set off.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Punta Lobos Trail Details
Getting to the Trail
In order to get to the trail, you’ll need to drive 🚘 on the main highway there, Mexico 19. You’ll turn off of the highway on one of the classic Baja dirt roads, Camino Al Farro. Take care as you navigate this dirt road, which is rough in certain areas.
There will be a fork in the road and you’ll want to continue to the left side of the fork. From there, you drive for another 1.6 km to get to the trailhead 🪧. As I’ve said before, there will be an abandoned building on the left side of the road marking the trail. You’ll see steps up from the road to the building.
When we got there, no one was there and we weren’t sure we were in the right place, because there are no signs. Luckily, we had it up on Alltrails and figured out we were.
Continue up the steps, through the old abandoned building and walk over an open clearing towards the other structure 👣. There, you’ll see the trail as it climbs up the mountain and you can begin your hike up.
Up the Mountain
From the beginning of the trail, it will climb up and up. You will gain about 500 feet of elevation on your hike. Luckily, it is beautiful all around you, so you can take plenty of breaks to take in the views.
After about 200 feet of climbing, you’ll get to a flat area that is a nice perch for a break or for pictures. From there, you will continue 300 feet. Once you get to the summit ⛰ area there are a few different trail options. Take the path to the left to get to the summit over the rocky outcrops.
It is only a couple hundred feet more to the summit area. There are many different rocks 🪨 that you can rest on or walk to the right for a different viewpoint. It’s nice because you can have your own summit spot. We saw many different people choosing different areas to stop and relax.
At the top, you can see the turquoise water crashing below 💦, get great views of the rocks, and eat a snack. We loved it so much at the top that we sat there for just a little under an hour. It was a beautiful place to just slow down for a bit and take in remarkable views!
To the Shores
If you want to continue down to the shores below, you have the option to do so. There is a trail that leads from the mountain and meanders down the hill. Then, you can get up close to the shoreline and see sea lions 🦭 if you’re lucky.
If you choose to do this, just remember that you will have to go back the way you came. It adds about double the elevation to the entire hike and an extra mile. We decided that it wasn’t worth it for us, so we turned around at the top.
Packing Guide
Although this is a quick day hike, it’s important to prep for your hike. Baja gets very hot and the sun ☀️ is strong, so sun protection is your best friend. Wear plenty of sunscreen, bring a hat, where sunglasses, and make sure you keep some lotion with you to reapply.
Also, pack plenty of water 💧 so that you can stay hydrated under the Baja sun. Read below for all of the items I recommend bringing on this hike. You’ll be set to head off on this fantastic day hike!
Packing Guide:
- Comfortable Hiking Boots or Good Sneakers
- Small Pack
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat to block sun
- Shelter
- Camera or Drone
- Satellite phone
Get a list of all my favorite gear here!
Last Tips for the Punta Lobos Hike
This is one of the most popular trails in the area. We left early in the morning around 7:30 am and by the time we got on the trail there were already four more cars in the parking area. As we sat at the top and admired the view, we noticed around 20 more people there. So, get an early start to have some of the trail to yourself.
Also, this area is beautiful, but it’s not part of a park system. So, do your best to take care of the landscape. Clean up after yourselves and if you see litter on the trail, pick it up 🚮. That way other people can enjoy this lovely hike as well.
Other Things to Do in the Area
If you are visiting the Todos Santos area, then you are in for a treat! There are so many great things to do like shopping in town, trying a surf lesson, and seeing baby turtles 🐢 get released into the ocean. You can read more about it here.
You can also visit the Cabo San Lucas area, which has wonderful day excursions. Take a boat to the Arch, go kayaking in the sea, or go for a beach horseback ride 🐴. There is so much to do that you could stay for months! I hope you enjoy your trip to the area and that you add the Punta Lobos trail to because it is one of the best hikes in Baja!
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this trail guide!
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Loved loved loved this hike.
such a good one!
Great hike! Incredible views and saw a few whales. We went on a partly cloudy January day, starting around 8:30 and it was very comfortable. The directions in this blog were very helpful, especially finding the trailhead – there are no signs posted now.
I’m so glad you found it helpful! We will be going back again soon
I’m a healthy 83 yr old female, active but not athletic. Can I do the put a lobos hike?
It’s a bit steep, but as long as you are willing to go slow and take breaks I think you’ll be okay. We did see other families with older members on it. I would also bring shoes that have good grip!