The 5 Best Beaches in La Paz Mexico

When people come to La Paz from the US and Canada, spending their days basking in the sun on gorgeous beaches is usually at the top of their wish list, and boy can La Paz deliver! This coastal desert paradise has a lot to offer, but its beaches have earned a reputation for being lovely, inviting and always clean. It wasn’t easy, but we narrowed it down to the five best, most beautiful beaches in La Paz, Mexico. Here they are:

Top 5 most beautiful beaches in La Paz

5. Playa El Coromuel

Best for: hanging with the locals

If you’re looking for an immersive experience outside the typical tourist areas, try spending an afternoon at Coromuel on the weekend, one of the most popular beaches for locals. It’s not as big as some of the other beaches, but makes up for it in people watching!

4. Playa Pichilingue

Best for: lunch or dinner

Pichilingue is a very nice, clean beach, but what sets it apart is the great restaurant service just steps from the water. Some say the restaurant at Pichilingue is the best for seafood in all of La Paz.

3. Balandra Beach

Best for: families with children

The cove of Balandra is simply gorgeous. This huge expanse of water rarely gets more than knee deep, making it great for families with small children. The desert mountains against the light blue waters is like something from another world.

3. Playa El Tecolote

Best for: island views

Tecolote is a peaceful beach that completely embodies the name of the city “La Paz” (Spanish for “peace”). This is the best beach on the mainland for views of the islands out in the Gulf.

1. Ensenada Grande (Espiritu Santo)

Best for: privacy and beauty

This beach is an hour’s boat ride from the mainland on Isla Espiritu Santo, but it is definitely worth the trip. Ensenada Grande was rated the most beautiful beach in Mexico and one of the top twelve in the entire world. Its somewhat remote location makes it a very intimate and relaxing beach, with plenty of opportunities for fun activities if you want to shake things up a bit.

Discover an Enchanting Paradise in La Paz Mexico

On the coast of the Gulf of California in Southern Baja, Mexico, is a tranquil paradise of a city: La Paz. The city’s name means “peace” in Spanish, and that is exactly what you’ll find here – although these is plenty of adventure and excitement if that’s what you’re looking for! Many have praised La Paz, Mexico as “the St. Maarten of the West”, and visitors who have been to other popular tourist destinations in the country rave about how relaxing this port town is compared to Los Cabos or any resort towns on the Yucatan; all in all, an enchanting paradise in the middle of the desert.

Natural beauty and wonder in La Paz, Mexico

The desert hills are ochre yellow, the sea a deep sapphire blue that becomes turquoise in the bays and coves along the coastline. From Tecolote beach you can catch a glimpse of the sheer red cliffs of Isla Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit). Strolling along a beach in La Paz is like walking through an oil painting.

And if you venture out into the sea on a boat, you’ll be awestruck by the beauty of the wildlife: whales break through the surface of the water, dolphins leap through the waves, and sea lions lounge about on the island, taking full advantage of the warm, sunny weather of their home in paradise.

A friendly, laid-back atmosphere

When you’re the mood to socialize, simply point yourself towards La Paz’s “malecón” or boardwalk, a three-mile stretch dotted with lively bars and restaurants with the freshest local seafood and tons of fun.

One thing’s for sure about La Paz: it doesn’t feel like a tourist town. Even though it’s grown significantly over the past several years, it still feels like Mexico’s best kept secret. There aren’t cheesy souvenir shops lining every street, and the locals are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Many people here have moved from all the way across the country because they know that La Paz is one of the best places to live in Mexico.

But don’t take our word for it – come and experience this desert paradise for yourself. We’re certain it won’t be your last visit!

Have the Best Spring Break Ever in La Paz Mexico

Everyone is ready for a vacation by the time Spring Break rolls around – college students are feeling burnt out from months of studying, and all you want to do is soak up the sun on a gorgeous beach with an ice-cold margarita in hand. If you haven’t given much thought as to where you’ll spend these precious vacation days, we have a suggestion for your best Spring Break ever: La Paz, Mexico, in Southern Baja California.

Why spend Spring Break in La Paz?

Mexico is the ultimate Spring Break destination for young people in the US and Canada, for obvious reasons. Most people end up following the herd and settling for Cancun on the east coast or Cabo San Lucas on the west, but if you want to have the best trip ever, you have to blaze your own trail. La Paz is Mexico’s best kept secret, but word is getting out fast about this incredible beach paradise.

Want to party with your friends on a boat, cervezas in hand, dancing in the sun and waving at passing dolphins? Stay out all night partying hard at bars and dance clubs? Snorkel with sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and even sea lions? Or maybe you just want to stretch out on pristine, white sand beaches with a margarita and listen to the gentle waves crashing onto the shore.

Best. Vacation. Ever.

Whatever floats your boat when it comes to Spring Break, La Paz can deliver and will completely blow your mind. People come here to have an awesome time all year round, intrigued by all of the things La Paz has to offer that Los Cabos and other places just can’t compete with.

If you’re ok with same old, same old, you’ll probably have a decent time elsewhere. But if you want to camp out on an uninhabited desert island that is home to the (official) most beautiful beach in Mexico, there’s only one place to do it, and it’s La Paz.

Top things to do in La Paz, Mexico

10 Awesome Things to Do in La Paz Mexico

You could easily spend your whole trip soaking up the sun on any of the best beaches in La Paz (spending at least one day like this is highly recommended), but there are so many amazing activities and things to do in this charming port city, it will never be because you can’t think of anything better to do. Below are some of the most fun and interesting activities in La Paz, Mexico.

1. Whale watching: the Sea of Cortez near La Paz is a centuries-old feeding ground for California gray whales. Hop onto a boat for a whale watching tour and get up close and personal with these majestic creatures.

2. Hiking on Espiritu Santo: the dry Baja California Sur weather means hiking is very doable even in the heat of summer (make sure to bring lots of water!). Isla Espiritu Santo is home to some interesting animal species, like a ring-tail wildcat and the black jackrabbit.

3. Snorkeling and scuba diving on the barrier reefs: the islands in La Paz contain reefs that are home to around 40% of the world’s known fish species! For scuba divers, there are also some haunting shipwrecks to explore.

4. Swimming with sea lions and whale sharks: the female and baby sea lions at Los Islotes in La Paz are friendly and curious, while whale sharks (although they look huge and terrifying) are toothless and only eat plankton.

5. Fishing charters: the Sea of Cortez has been called “The Aquarium of the World” and is a top fishing destination, with 9 species of snapper along with yellowtail, yellow fin tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo, sea bass, sailfish and 170 species of sharks (!).

6. Bar hopping and dining on the malecón (boardwalk): take a stroll, enjoy live music, watch (or participate) in a dance contest, the evening is yours!

7. Sea kayaking: a great way to experience the beauty of the coast and get close to marine life.

8. Off-road racing: the Baja desert has National Geographic’s blessings as one of the best topographies for adventure-seekers.

9. A day on the golf course: visitors rave about La Paz having the best golf course in all of Baja California!

10. Museums and historical sights: for culture and history buffs, there are tons of interesting museums and historical buildings between the malecón and the downtown area, not to mention cave paintings that date back to 1500 BC.

Your Next Ecotourism Adventure Awaits in La Paz Mexico

The peaceful port city of La Paz is Baja California’s official-unofficial ecotourism epicenter, with thousands of acres of World Heritage Biospheres and nature preserves and dozens of eco-friendly tours that allow you to immerse yourself in this biodiversity hotspot. There’s no shortage of things to see and do in La Paz, the surrounding Baja Desert, and its barrier islands, Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida; whether you like to play it safe or are up for the adventure of a lifetime, La Paz, Mexico is the ecotourism vacation you’ve been dreaming of.

Wildlife tours in La Paz, Mexico

Look around anywhere you go in La Paz’s natural areas and you’ll understand why John Steinbeck called this place “ferocious with life”. Land, sea or sky, there are thousands of different animal species that make their home here or regularly migrate through the area.

In the Sea of Cortez you’ll find feeding grounds and migration routes for several species of whales, most notably the California gray whale but also the blue whale, humpback whales and even orcas! That’s not to mention the dolphins, more than one hundred species of sharks and rays that leap out of the water and fly in the air.

If you make it to the islands of La Paz (which is an absolutely must-do), you’ll find a diver’s dream come true: shallow reefs for snorkeling, encounters with 30 ft whale sharks, friendly sea lions, sunken ships which have spawned their own ecosystems, and underwater mountains frequented by hammerhead sharks. These waters are home to over 800 species of fish, and countless varieties of coral.

On land, you’ll find beautiful hiking trails for all abilities, mountain biking and rock climbing. Don’t be surprised if you see a ring-tail cat or black jackrabbit on the islands, or a roadrunner out in the desert!

Anyone who has ever visited La Paz understands why National Geographic put it on their Ultimate Adventure Bucket List. Think you’re up for it?

Is It Safe for Americans to Visit La Paz Mexico?

We’ve been getting our fair share of scary news stories in the US about violence and crime in Mexico. The ongoing issues with drug cartels in some parts of the country are generating quite a bit of concern, and the US State Department has travel advisories in effect for many areas of Mexico. What does this mean if you’re thinking about a trip to La Paz, in Baja California Sur?

Travel advisory for La Paz, in perspective

The unfortunate and unavoidable reality of government travel advisories is that there is always a significant delay between the unfolding of events and the publication of the warning. A current (as of this writing) warning advises US citizens to use caution when traveling to La Paz, which is the capital of the state of Baja California Sur. This is due to a higher than usual homicide rate, mostly stemming from organized crime and cartels.

However, if you look at the actual crime statistics for La Paz, you’ll see that there was a “blip” of increased violence that ended in October of 2015 – from October 2015 to April 2016, there have only been a handful of homicides in the city. Considering that La Paz, Mexico is a city of more than a quarter million people, the actual rate of violent crime has been on par with some of the safest US cities for six months, going strong.

A tradition of safety and peace in La Paz, Mexico

It’s also important to remember that La Paz has historically been one of, if not the safest city in the entire county. Before the violent “blip” came on the radar, Forbes had rated La Paz #3 on their list of Safest International Cities to Visit, and the New York Times rated it one of the Top 10 Places for American to Retire. Which really means that the elevated violence seen in late 2014-2015 was the exception, not the rule.

Of course, it’s always important to be aware of your surroundings and not make yourself a target – this is true whether you’re traveling to La Paz or Tokyo or Washington D.C. As long as you keep your wits about you, there’s no reason to call off your vacation to La Paz because of safety concerns.

5 Reasons La Paz Has Mexico’s Best Snorkeling Outside the Caribbean

The most amazing snorkeling experience is closer than you think! There’s no need to go all the way to Cancun to get your diving fix. Much closer to home in Baja California Sur is the beautiful beach city of La Paz, Mexico. If you need a bit more to go on than that, we’ve got 5 reasons why La Paz has the best snorkeling in Western Mexico.

1. UNESCO says so

Out in the Gulf of California, past the Bay of La Paz is the island of Espiritu Santo, which has been designated a Biosphere by UNESCO for over 20 years. This uninhabited island’s land and marine habitats have an astonishing biodiversity with some species that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

2. Travel Magazine says so

All of the beaches in La Paz are gorgeous, but the beach on Espiritu Santo takes the cake, being rated the most beautiful beach in all of Mexico by Travel Magazine and one of the top 12 in the entire world.

3. You get to snorkel with baby sea lions

La Paz’s Espiritu Santo is one of the few places in the world where you can dive with friendly, wild sea lions in their natural habitat at Los Islotes. These playful creatures have a colony on the northern tip of the island and people come from all over the world to swim with the females and young.

4. Also… whales!

While the reefs in La Paz are dominated by the sorts of tropical fish you would expect, just beyond them are many larger species that make for a once in a lifetime experience, including sea turtles, dolphins and yes, whales!

5. Or, if you’re feeling brave, sharks

Okay, they’re whale sharks, which only eat plankton and don’t have any teeth. But then you can go back home and tell everyone you snorkeled fearlessly in shark-infested waters, and it wouldn’t be a lie!