Resort on Quiet Surfing Beach Houses Spacious Suites with Pacific Ocean Views

Thanks to its shallow water and consistent breakers, Cerritos Beach is a favorite venue for beginner and intermediate surfers. It's also one of the only swimmable beaches in southern Baja, drawing such celebrity sun-seekers as Tommy Lee and Adam Sandler. Rising from the top of the beach's sloping shore, the Sol Pacifico Cerritos Hotel stretches across the secluded waterfront, supplying its condo-style suites with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

At 295 feet long, the hotel's infinity pool is one of the largest solar-heated pools in the Baja region. Its features include a small, landscaped island, a natural-stone water fountain, and a formidable armada of rubber duckies. Padded adirondack chairs and grass-roof tiki huts surround the perimeter, but the best seats on deck are loungers that attach to the edge of the pool, allowing guests to dip their toes into the water.

Inside the midrise hotel's three-bedroom penthouse suite, the spacious layout accommodates a living room with leather couches, a 10-person dining table, and a gourmet kitchen with stainless-steel appliances. A private oceanfront balcony includes a red brick fire pit. One- and two-bedroom suites incorporate elegant décor such as hand-painted wall murals, exotic vases, and stone vessel sinks.

Pescadero, Mexico: Quiet Fishing Town Famous for Surfing Beaches

Bordered by the Sierra de la Laguna, the small fishing village of Pescadero is located on the Baja peninsula, 40 miles north of Cabo San Lucas. The town's laid-back Cerritos Beach Club organizes kayak rentals, fishing trips, and waterfront ATV rides. Inside the club's grass-roof bar, patrons sample traditional Baja fare such as cilantro fish alongside a glass of Tequila Cerritos, which is produced in the Blue Agave farming region. On Sundays, the bar buzzes with live music, often headlined by jazz singer Deleane Jones.

A 10-minute drive from the hotel brings travelers to Todos Santos, an artists' village dotted with unmarked dirt roads and quiet surfing beaches. Founded as a mission in 1724, the town had become Mexico's sugarcane capital by the late 19th century, supporting eight sugar mills and an Oompa Loompa kibbutz. Today, Todos Santos nurtures its creative community with art galleries and annual film festivals.