From the wild, open beaches of East Cape, where the Nine Palms right-hand point break offers an ideal longboarder's wave, to the cliffs between Pescadero and Todos Santos, where the Punta Lobos track reveals picturesque views of the Pacific, Baja California Sur offers the most breathtaking landscapes in Mexico. There's nowhere quite like it. Beaches like La Balandra in La Paz rival the Mediterranean's most stunning shores, while the Sea of Cortez teems with sea lions, manta rays, and dolphins year-round.

That's why I bought a bungalow in the Pescadero area in 2022, and have returned more times than I can count. You don’t have to take the path of homeownership to appreciate the area like a local: Book an Airbnb in Baja California Sur for a temporary place to make your own.

The Best Airbnbs in Baja California Sur, According to Vogue:

• For an Architectural Moment: Brutalist Design Home, from $540 per night
• For an Aqua Pool: Casa de Zorros, from $615 per night
• For Off-the-Grid Living: Casa Piedra, from $240 per night
• For Group Trips Near the Beach: Casa Baja Mar, from $337 per night
• For a Couples’ Stay Amongst the Fruit Trees: Villa Viajero, from $263 per night

Most first-timers do a road trip circuit through the southernmost stretches, beginning in San Jose del Cabo and curving up through Pescadero and Todos Santos before arriving in La Paz, where they can kayak through hidden coves and swim with whale sharks before continuing to La Ventana, one of the world's foremost kitesurfing destinations. From there, divers can stop at Cabo Pulmo National Park before completing the loop back in San Jose. Along the way, don't miss whale-watching season, either, which peaks in the middle of the region’s high season from October to May. If you have extra time, a detour north to Loreto and Magdalena Bay offers a chance to witness gray whales calving and blue whales passing through. It’s a place well-suited to those looking for adventure and those looking to relax; where you choose to stay can set the tone for either.

And that’s where I come in—here are your ideal Airbnb stops along the way.

Casa Playita

Located near Hotel el Ganzo in the La Playita neighborhood of San Jose del Cabo, this bright yellow two-bedroom abode is authentic Baja living at its finest. Offering one king bedroom and one queen bedroom, there’s plenty of space to stretch out and get cozy at this rustic seaside escape. Thick walls keep the home cool, while a front porch and a backyard dining area make for serene entertaining spaces. It’s ideally located—just a quick walk to one of the area’s only swimmable beaches—and offers easy access to downtown San Jose and its many laid-back restaurants like La Lupita taqueria and art galleries like Sala, where you can browse ceramics crafted by local artists.

Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Amenities: Fully equipped kitchen with stove, oven, drip coffee maker, and more, washer and dryer, indoor and outdoor dining area, parking, outdoor shower

Location: San Jose del Cabo

Best For: Guests who want rustic charm and easy access to downtown San Jose.

Casa de Zorros

Tucked between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra La Laguna mountains, this three-suite compound in El Pescadero is modern desert living at its finest. Filled with art and design pieces by Mexico’s top creatives, Casa de Zorros is a minimalist respite made from exposed concrete where craftsmanship shines.

Guests will spend most of their time in the main building, which offers an oversized kitchen, a living room with a floating poured-concrete fireplace, a sprawling pergola-covered dining terrace, and a solar-heated pool. Another building houses two king-size suites, each with an en-suite bathroom, while a third building offers a private suite with an outdoor bathtub. Surrounded by fragrant basil fields, a mango grove, and a horse stable, the property feels remote yet sits just minutes from the beach, top restaurants, and downtown Todos Santos.

Rooms: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

Amenities: Washer and dryer, indoor and outdoor seating areas, heated outdoor pool, parking

Location: Pescadero

Best For: A family who wants space to spread out and enjoy indoor-outdoor living.

Brutalist Design Home

A striking architectural retreat set on two acres of untouched desert, this brutalist home sits just steps from an empty stretch of Las Playitas. This home is remote, set about 25 minutes from Las Tunas, an artistic enclave on the outskirts of downtown Todos Santos. It’s open-concept and built around indoor-outdoor living, with sculptural concrete forms anchored by a central pavilion that opens to a pool and an outdoor kitchen outfitted with a stove and fire-grilled oven. Three private king suites are equipped with air conditioning so you stay fresh, while a sunken lounge with built-in banquettes and a fire pit makes for an unforgettable spot to gather as the sun drops behind the cacti—star gazing, anyone? As if that’s not enough, a rooftop terrace offers sweeping views of the desert, mountains, and the ocean.

Rooms: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

Amenities: Fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, washer and dryer, outdoor shower, fire pit, sunken outdoor lounge, outdoor dining area, pool, rooftop terrace, beach essentials

Location: Playa Las Playitas

Best For: Design-minded groups seeking a desert retreat with direct access to an empty beach.

Casa Piedra

Set within a three-acre working farm just a short walk from the beach, Casa Piedra is a one-bedroom retreat that fully embraces rural Baja life. The home features a king bedroom, then flows from the kitchen to the living room to the dining area, spilling out onto a palapa-covered terrace where mango, banana, and olive trees flourish. When it’s time for your siesta or for stargazing, there’s a rooftop palapa with an outdoor queen bed surrounded by a net; downstairs, an eco-friendly natural pool is filtered entirely by aquatic plants. It’s chic, but leans into the area’s rustic aesthetics.

Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Amenities: Fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, palapa terrace, rooftop palapa with outdoor bed, natural plant-filtered pool, fire pit, outdoor seating area, pet-friendly

Location: Todos Santos

For: Solo travelers or couples seeking an off-the-grid farm retreat.

Villa Viajero

Set minutes from Playa San Pedrito, this elemental, split-level villa features an upstairs king bedroom with a private terrace, soaking tub, and hammock, and a fully-equipped downstairs entertaining space, whose kitchen and living area flow into an outdoor dining terrace that’s framed by a private garden with fruit trees and aromatic herbs. As part of Proyecto Palmita (a 10-acre sanctuary of palm trees, organic gardens, and fruit orchards), guests are encouraged to wander the palm sanctuary, harvest seasonal produce from the organic garden, and soak in the communal palapa's jacuzzi; a rare amenity in this quiet corner of Pescadero.

Rooms: 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms

Amenities: Fully equipped kitchen, private terrace with soaking tub, hammock, rooftop with seating, private garden, outdoor dining area, shared palapa with jacuzzi, access to palm sanctuary and organic garden, pet-friendly

Location: El Pescadero

Best For: Couples who want to be surrounded by nature, but not totally remote.

Casa Arena

Located within steps of the sun-drenched Malecón of La Paz, this cozy studio blends old-world charm with modern comfort. Original brick walls, vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, and a plaster headboard set the tone with rustic design in the bedroom, while the long, light-filled main space flows from a compact kitchen to a dining nook and lounge area. A private back patio offers a serene outdoor moment in the middle of the city, and a dedicated workspace makes longer stays easy. Once you step out the front door, the waterfront is just a few blocks away; as are the city’s top cafes, taquerias, art galleries, and bars.

Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Amenities: Kitchenette, dedicated workspace, Bluetooth sound system, private patio, smart-lock self check-in, free street parking, pet-friendly

Location: La Paz

Best For: Solo travelers or couples wanting a stylish, central base to explore downtown La Paz.

Casa Baja Mar

Set in one of the top kite-surfing destinations in the world, this three-bedroom home in La Ventana is all about warm, Mexican minimalism, with concrete finishes, terracotta-toned lattice screens, and oversized windows that flood the interiors with Baja’s picturesque light. The open-concept main floor flows from a concrete kitchen island with bar seating to expansive lounge seating.

Upstairs, three bedrooms offer restorative sleep. Head to the rooftop terrace for panoramic views of the El Sargento beach, and to the private patio for an evening by the fire pit. (You’ll also find an outdoor shower there.) With the Sea of Cortez just moments away, it’s incredibly well-situated if you plan to spend much of your trip on the beach.

Rooms: 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms

Amenities: Fully equipped kitchen, dedicated workspace, private patio, rooftop terrace, fire pit, charcoal BBQ, outdoor shower, bay and ocean views

Location: La Ventana

Best For: Active travelers and design-minded groups seeking a luxurious base for kite-surfing.

Designer Bungalow

Away from the hustle and bustle of Playa Cerritos, right near a mango orchard and farms of fresh basil, this designer bungalow near Playa San Pedrito is one of those special places you never forget.

I bought this villa in 2022, and I regularly escape to Baja California Sur from my home in Mexico City. It has just the right mix of serenity and calm, with an open-concept layout and a fully-equipped kitchen. When it’s time for my morning meditation, I go up the spiral staircase to glimpse sunrise over the ocean, farms, and mountains while hummingbirds visit the bougainvillea.

Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Amenities: Fully equipped kitchen with stove, oven, coffee maker; washer and dryer, indoor and outdoor seating area, parking, shared pool, shared clubhouse with billiards table

Location: Pescadero

Best For: Solo travelers who want tranquility and easy access to Playa Cerritos and downtown Todos Santos.