Best things to do in La Paz (Baja California Sur, México): a travel guide with everything you need to know

La Paz became our favorite city in Baja California Sur during the month we spent in that Mexican state. Besides the plans within the capital, the surroundings of La Paz hide some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, such as Balandra beach, breathtaking landscapes, such as those of the national park of Espiritu Santo, and incredible adventures such as swimming with sea lions, whale sharks and seeing the curious gray whales up close.

We can confirm: La Paz offers (inner) peace, relaxation and adventure, especially if you have the time and the desire to explore.

In this guide we try to reflect all the best things to see and do in La Paz with specific itineraries in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days with practical suggestions, where to stay and even where to eat so you can make the most of your trip.

Check out our complete guide to Baja California Sur if you are planning a trip to the area.

Basic facts for traveling to La Paz

Language: Spanish

Currency: MXN ($) Mexican Peso (1$ equals 20$ MXN approx.). Check the updated exchange rate here

Population: 292,241 (in 2020)

When to go: La Paz has nice weather all year round although in our opinion the best time is from November to April when, besides enjoying its beaches and swimming with sea lions, there is the possibility to see different types of whales near La Paz (gray, humpback…) and swim with whale sharks. The hurricane (and too hot) season is during the summer, from June 1st to November 30th. We detail more about when to go to La Paz in this section of the guide.

How long to stay: In our opinion, especially if you are going to do marine animal watching (whale sharks, sea lions, gray whales…), we recommend 3-4 days in La Paz. In this section we share specific itineraries for La Paz to help you organize your trip.

How to get there: La Paz has an international airport, with many direct flights, so we recommend you use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with dates to get the best possible price. There are also international airports in Los Cabos (2h30 from La Paz) and Loreto (4h30 from La Paz). It is also possible to arrive by road (from Baja California, and other northwestern states of Mexico, or from some US cities like San Diego or Los Angeles), and by boat/ferry from Mazatlan (Sinaloa). More details in this section of the guide.

Visa: With a US, Canadian, European or UK passport it is not necessary to obtain a visa. Upon arrival in Mexico, it will be enough to show your valid passport, and depending on your departure date, you will be given up to a maximum of 180 days. Although Mexico does not require a passport with at least 6 months validity, some airlines do, so it’s better to comply.

Where to stay: Ideally stay near the malecon and the cathedral, where you will find more options for restaurants and bars in the evenings. This is where we stayed at Randomtrip and we recommend it. We detail more where to stay in La Paz and recommend specific accommodations in the blog section Where to stay in La Paz.

What to bring: A good travel insurance (in this link we give you a 5% discount on the one we always carry) and here is the list of what you must have in your backpack for this trip

How to get around: The best option is walking (downtown) and renting a car to move around freely or on tours like this one. More info on how to get around La Paz in this section of the blog.

How much it costs: From 1600 pesos (80$/day) per person (approx.) depending on the type of accommodation, meals and how much you want to explore the surroundings. More budget information in this section of the guide.

Internet connection: If you are visiting for a few days, your phone supports eSIM and you don’t want to complicate things, we recommend Holafly eSIM (unlimited data, 5% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP) or Airalo eSIM (limited data, but cheaper, 15% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP15). Otherwise, the cheapest way is to get a local SIM (we recommend Telcel). More info here

Vaccines: there are some recommended vaccines if you travel to Mexico, you can check them here

Time zone: UTC -7.

Where is La Paz

La Paz is the capital, main city and most populated city of the state of Baja California Sur. It is located in the south of the state, in western Mexico, on the Baja California peninsula.

In this other more detailed map you can see the location of La Paz with respect to other points of Baja California Sur such as Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Puerto Chale, Puerto San Carlos (Magdalena Bay)…

When to visit La Paz

All year round is a good time to visit La Paz since this area is characterized by low rainfall every month of the year, although in our opinion, the best time to go to La Paz is during the winter months (December to April), which coincides with the migration of various types of whales and when you can swim with whale sharks, in Puerto Chale (2 hours away) you can see the gray whales, and also have a good enough weather to enjoy its beaches.

To decide the best time of the year, there are 3 main factors: climate, marine fauna and tourist demand, which are detailed below.

Weather in La Paz

The climate in La Paz is quite hot and with very little rain, as you can see from its desert landscapes. During the summer, temperatures rise to the point of being uncomfortable, reaching peaks of 40º between May and October. From June to November, it is also hurricane season, so it is best to avoid those months.

Here is a summary table of the weather in La Paz to give you an idea of what to expect:

La Paz (Baja California Sur) weather chart with temperatures and rainy days by month:

Month	Minimum temperature	Maximum temperature	Water temperature (average)	Rainy days
January	12º	24º	21º	2
February	12º	25º	21º	1
March	13º	28º	21º	0
April	15º	31º	21º	0
May	17º	33º	23º	0
June	21º	35º	24º	1
July	24º	36º	27º	4
August	25º	36º	28º	7
September	24º	35º	29º	6
October	21º	32º	28º	3
November	17º	28º	26º	1
December	13º	25º	23º	1
Month	Minimum temperature	Maximum temperature	Water temperature (average)	Rainy days

Marine Fauna in La Paz

Besides its beaches, one of the great attractions of La Paz is, at least in our opinion, the possibility of spotting a great quantity and variety of marine fauna. This happens especially between December and April.

From September to May you can swim with sea lions. During the months of June, July and August visitors are not allowed to swim and dive with sea lions because it is their period of reproduction and birth. During these three summer months, normally the activity of swimming with sea lions is replaced by another point of the national park where you can snorkel and see other marine flora and fauna.

If you want to have the opportunity to swim with the whale shark, although the official season for the activity in La Paz goes from October to April, the best time to swim with the whale shark is usually in January and February when there will be more guarantees of being able to do the activity and also easier to find the whale shark and swim with it.

The 2024-2025 whale shark watching season started on November 13, 2024, after identifying 9 whale sharks in the area for 3 consecutive days, but it had to be stopped at the end of January 2025 because after an abrupt drop in water temperature (19º) and a drop in the amount of food, the whale sharks have left the area (more information here). It is unlikely that they will come back in the next months, so if you want to do the activity you will probably have to wait for the 2025-2026 season.

Tourism demand in La Paz

The times of highest tourist demand (and therefore, when we will find more people, more lines, more expensive prices and more complications in visiting the most famous restaurants or places) are:

• Summer (June to October): besides being school vacation time in many countries and increasing demand (and prices), it is the rainy season.
• Spring break (March): vacation for American college students
• Easter Week (March/April)
• National holidays (November, December)

So we recommend you avoid those dates if you want to enjoy the city more calmly and with better accommodation prices.

Important festivities in La Paz

If you want to be in La Paz during the biggest festivities of the year, don’t miss out:

• Our Lady of Peace Day (January): Every January 24, Our Lady of Peace, the patron saint of the city, is celebrated. Throughout this religious commemoration a series of activities are held in honor of the virgin, from prayers to kermesse and even pilgrimages.
• Carnival (February): a festivity with more than 100 years of history, being one of the oldest carnivals in Mexico. In the Carnival of La Paz you can enjoy the parade of floats and parades along the malecon, the “burning of bad humor”, presentation of comedians, norteño music groups and local bands, the election of the king and queen of Carnival, the children’s carnival, live music, fairground rides and various food and beverage stands along the malecon.
• La Paz Foundation Festivities (May): dance, music, theater, visual arts, literature, sports, gastronomy and popular art events, the main stage being the Esplanade of the Malecon Kiosk.
• Cine Pobre International Film Festival (May): a festival that focuses on the cinematographic recognition of autonomous projects, made with quality but by the filmmaker’s own means. Cine Pobre is a collaborative event, providing technology, critique, exposure, contacts and access to co-production. More info on their website
• International Concert Music Festival ( October): although it was declining, concert music was of great importance in the early twentieth century in Baja California Sur. For this reason, this festival was created for the students of the School of Music and the general public to retake this musical vocation that once distinguished the city of La Paz and where artists from all over the world participate.
• Mexican Revolution (November): every November 20 the population takes to the streets to parade on the date of the Mexican Revolution.
• Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Summary: Best months to visit La Paz

Based on the above, if you are looking to visit La Paz with fewer people, good weather and reasonable prices, the best months are from November to April, when you can enjoy pleasant weather to visit its beaches and the possibility of seeing marine fauna such as whale sharks, sea lions, turtles, gray whales and humpback whales.

How to get to La Paz

La Paz has an international airport, so it may be your entry point to Baja California Sur, although you can also land at the airports of Los Cabos (2h30) or Loreto (4h10). We recommend you to use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with the dates to get the best possible price.

By road, La Paz is located 2h from Cabo San Lucas, 2h15 from San José del Cabo, 1h from Todos Santos, 2h40 from Cabo Pulmo, 4h10 from Loreto…

The most advisable option if you are organizing a trip to Baja California Sur is to rent a car, in order to have freedom of time and movement.

The other options are to hire private transportation (EcoBajaTours has a shuttle service between La Paz and some of the southern points of Baja California Sur) or by bus (with Autobuses Aguila, which connects the main points of the Baja California peninsula).

Do I need a visa to travel to Mexico?

For people with USA, Canada, UK and European passports it is not necessary to obtain a visa. Upon arrival in Mexico, it will be enough to show your valid passport, and depending on your departure date, you will be given up to a maximum of 180 days.

Although Mexico does not require a passport with at least 6 months validity, some airlines do, so it’s better to comply.

Are there any mandatory vaccinations for travel to Mexico?

There are some recommended vaccines if you travel to Mexico, you can check them here

How many days to stay in La Paz

Minimum one day but if you can dedicate 4 days or more to enjoy its beaches you will not regret it.

In this section we share specific itineraries of La Paz to help you organize your trip.

Things to see and do in La Paz

To make it easier for you to plan your walks around La Paz, we have divided the plans in two areas: the ones around La Paz (which in our opinion, are the best) and what is downtown La Paz itself (click here if you want to see directly the plans in downtown La Paz).

Map of La Paz

As we told you, we have divided the places into two zones and we have put each zone in a different color to make them easier to identify (Downtown La Paz in blue, Surroundings of La Paz in green). It’s all on a Google Maps map that you can take with you on your smartphone to use during your trip.

Things to see and do around La Paz

In our opinion, the most interesting plans are located in the surroundings of La Paz, and for this reason we decided to start here, although we recommend that you base yourself in the capital La Paz itself, in one of these accommodations.

Bahia Balandra and Playa Balandra

Balandra Bay, in addition to hosting some of the best beaches we enjoyed on our month-long trip through Baja California Sur, has dunes and mangroves, lookout points and even archaeological vestiges (more than 40 archaeological sites have been found around Balandra).

Since January 2025, it is necessary to buy your access bracelet online to visit Balandra Beach, with a cost of 120 MXN per person. You can buy it here (after registering on the platform).

In addition, the bay is of great ecological importance not only for its biodiversity but also for the mangrove ecosystem. These mangrove systems in arid areas such as this one generally have a coastal lagoon, as is the case of Balandra, with three species of mangrove: red, white and black. And within the Balandra mangrove, thirteen species of microalgae.

The area is protected and classified as a Balandra Flora and Fauna Protection Area and is not only a breeding, feeding and protection site for numerous endemic flora and fauna, but also a nesting and protection site for migratory and resident birds, some of which are endangered.

It is in this bay that Balandra Beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico, is located. This emblematic postcard beach with various shades of blue in its crystalline waters is surrounded by photogenic reddish mountains that contrast with the white sand.

Its name comes from balandra, a small boat used in the seventeenth century. Due to the shallow waters of the bay, sailing frigates could not access and smaller balandras were used to reach the coast. Apparently a balandra was stranded here in the 19th century and remained there until it was destroyed over time.

It is also on Balandra Beach that you will find the natural monument known locally as ‘Hongo de Balandra‘ (or Balandra Mushroom Rock), a rock formation with, precisely, the shape of a mushroom, the result of erosive processes over thousands of years. In short, a work of art of nature that owes its distinctive shape to differential erosion, a geological phenomenon that occurs when different parts of a rock are worn away at different rates.

Unfortunately, its popularity took its toll and in the 80’s a group of irresponsible tourists decided that climbing the mushroom was a good idea and it broke off. This alerted the population to the need to preserve Balandra Bay and, after the (difficult) restoration of the famous mushroom, some protective measures were taken (unfortunately, recently another irresponsible was caught climbing the mushroom again).

Precisely to protect this paradise from its popularity, access to Playa Balandra is currently limited and there are two shifts to access the beach with a maximum capacity of 450 people per shift. IMPORTANT! – Since January 2025 it is necessary to purchase the bracelet online before heading to the beach (there is no signal there), which costs 120 MXN per person. You can buy it here:

• Shift 1: Entrance to the beach at 8:00h and mandatory departure at 12:00h (they start “inviting you to leave the beach” at 11:30h).
• Shift 2: Entrance to the beach at 13:00h and mandatory departure at 17:00h (they start “inviting you to leave the beach” at 16:30h).

From a little before the parking area of the beach you can also take a short trail to this viewpoint where you can appreciate the views.

RandomTip: Buy your bracelet in advance to ensure your access to the beach. If you don’t get it you can go to a neighboring beach like Tecolote, an amazing beach just a few minutes drive away which we tell you about next. Remember to bring water and a snack because there are no services in Balandra. If you go with the Whale Shark Tour, as in our case, you will be able to enjoy Balandra Bay without people, in a beach with similar characteristics to Balandra Beach and where drinks and food are included. In our case, we enjoyed another empty beach in Bahia Balandra and walked to Balandra beach by the sea, at low tide and shallow waters, reaching the famous Balandra Mushroom.

How to get to Balandra Beach:

Playa Balandra is located about 25 km from La Paz and, taking into account the two shifts that exist, you can get there in:

• Car: if you don’t have your own car you can rent a car, as we did in Randomtrip for a month in Baja California Sur, and go to Balandra Beach. It will take you less than half an hour by car from the center of La Paz. When you arrive, you can park here
• Bus: on the Playa Bus of Autobuses Aguila that connects La Paz with Playa Balandra. There are several departures from 9:00 am at the Malecon terminal in La Paz and depart every hour; the trip lasts about 40 minutes and the ticket price is 70 pesos/trip. It stops at several beaches (Pichilingue, Balandra, up to Tecolote), and when it arrives it returns, so departures to return are usually at 30/45 also every hour. Confirm where is the pickup point to return when you get on the bus.
• Taxi/Uber: in La Paz you have the option to ask for a cab or an Uber to move to Balandra. The estimated price of the trip is 200-300 MXN each way and you can agree with the driver a return time (depending on whether you go on shift 1 or shift 2 you will know at what time you will leave the beach).
• Tour: you also have the option of visiting Balandra on a tour. For example, in this tour you can visit not only Balandra but also the other beaches of La Paz detailed below. If you are looking for something more exclusive, we recommend this other tour that includes kayaking and hiking in Balandra.

Remember to be responsible when visiting a place: respect the rules, do not climb the volcanic formation/tree/monument you are visiting, do not make graffiti or “sign” on its walls, avoid touching and, out of respect for the rest of the people visiting the place, do not make noise or “monopolize” the place with your photos.

Views of Bahia Balandra from Mirador Las Antenas and Mirador Balandra

One of the most breathtaking panoramic views you will have on your trip to Baja California Sur is hidden here, at this viewpoint of amazing views, the Mirador las Antenas (you can park here).

The breathtaking view of the bay of La Paz and the mountain formations that frame this picture thrilled us and made us look forward to all that we would enjoy below, both to cool off in those crystal clear waters and the possibility of meeting the marine fauna that inhabits these waters such as sea lions, turtles and even whales.

Getting to the viewpoint is, according to our particular Randomtripper Scale of Difficulty, easy, being a path with very little slope in which it will take approximately 45 minutes to go and return. You can see the route in Wikiloc in this link.

There is also another viewpoint a little further on, Mirador Balandra, also with incredible views.

Hiking Routes in Balandra

In addition to enjoying the views through the trail to the Mirador las Antenas, the Balandra Flora and Fauna Protection Area has three hiking trails that intertwine in the same route and offer three perspectives of the beautiful Balandra Bay, in addition to enjoying the local flora and fauna (you will encounter lizards, seabirds and, with luck, even a desert hare):

• Trail 1: Balandra Bay viewpoint – El Merito: 2.9 km trail, duration approximately 1 hour.
• Trail 2: El Merito Sur – Manglar El Merito: 1.1 km trail, duration approximately 50 minutes with the added bonus of ending with a dip in the beach.
• Trail 3: El Merito Norte – Punta Diablo: trail of 4.7 km in total, the most demanding, duration approximately 1 hour.

In the photo below you can see the map with trails 1, 2 and 3. The trails start in the place where we indicated you to park the car in the previous point (here).

Other beaches near La Paz

In addition to Balandra, the surroundings of La Paz have several incredible beaches that we detail below.

Playa El Tecolote

El Tecolote beach is located very close to Balandra beach, only 10 minutes away by car and is a beautiful, very long beach with views of the Espiritu Santo National Park just in front of it.

Its name comes from its mountain shaped like a tecolote (owl in Nahuatl) and it is the longest beach in the area. It may not be the best option on windy days since this beach, unlike Balandra, is not sheltered by the mountains. It is, however, our favorite of the La Paz beaches to enjoy free of charge and without restrictions.

With no shifts or bracelets, El Tecolote beach has services such as restaurants with terraces, restrooms and hammock and umbrella rentals. It is a beach frequented by locals, although not as crowded as the beaches closer to the capital that we will talk about next, so you may find some animation on the beach and sometimes even mariachis, especially on weekends. In addition, it has the particularity that you can stay overnight in El Tecolote with your camper or motorhome for free.

How to get to El Tecolote beach:

El Tecolote is located 26 km from La Paz and can be reached by:

• Car: if you don’t have your own car you can rent a car, as we did in Randomtrip during a month in Baja California Sur, and go to Playa Tecolote. It will take you about half an hour by car from the malecon in La Paz. When you arrive, you can park right in front of the beach, in the free parking lot of El Tecolote in front of El Tecolote Beach Club and Baja Toto Drinks.
• Bus: on the Playa Bus of Autobuses Aguila that connects La Paz with Playa Balandra and makes its last stop here in Tecolote. There are several departures from 9:00 am at the Malecon terminal in La Paz and depart every hour; the trip lasts about 40 minutes and the ticket price is 70 pesos/trip. It stops at several beaches (Pichilingue, Balandra, up to Tecolote), and when it arrives it returns, so departures to return are usually at 30/45 also every hour. Confirm when you get on the bus where is the pickup point to return.
• Taxi/Uber: In La Paz you have the option of ordering a cab or an Uber to get to El Tecolote. The estimated price of the trip is 200-300 MXN each way and you can arrange a return time with the driver.
• Tour: you also have the option of visiting Balandra on a tour. For example, in this tour you can visit not only Balandra but also the other beaches of La Paz that we include here.

Playa Pichilingue

Playa Pichilingue is a beach that is close to the cruise ship pier (this is where the ferry arrives from Mazatlan to La Paz for those who prefer to reach Baja California Sur by sea) but still away from the noise and crowds of cruise ships.

There are apparently two theories for its name. One version says that Pichilingue derives from the way the local population called the pirates that arrived from outside: the fleet of ships from the Netherlands, in the XVIII century, came from the port of Vlissingen and, not being able to pronounce it, it derived in Pichilingue. The other version sustains that the name comes from some big white herons, which are called “pichis”, so the native population, when they saw the pirates, compared them with those birds, calling them that way.

It is not so much a “virgin” beach as it is a developed beach with a marina, hotel and apartments, restaurants and a dive center. Around here there is a natural reef home to several marine species where you can snorkel.

It is a beach known for wakeboarding because of its extension and is quite crowded by local people during the weekends, especially on Sundays.

How to get to Pichilingue beach:

Pichilingue is located 20 km from La Paz and can be reached by:

• Car: if you don’t have your own car you can rent a car, as we did in Randomtrip, for a month in Baja California Sur and go to the beach. It will take you less than half an hour by car from the malecon in La Paz. When you arrive, you can park right next to the beach.
• Bus: on the Playa Bus of Autobuses Aguila that connects La Paz with Pichilingue. There are several departures from 8:00 am (the one from Balandra only from 9:00 am) at the Malecon terminal in La Paz and leaves every hour; the trip lasts about 30 minutes and the ticket price is 70 pesos/trip. It stops at several beaches (Coromuel, Caimancito, Pichilingue, Balandra, up to Tecolote), and when it arrives it returns, so departures to return are usually at 30/45 also every hour. Confirm when you get on the bus where is the pickup point to return and the time.
• Taxi/Uber: In La Paz you have the option of ordering a cab or an Uber to take you to the beach of your choice. The estimated price of the trip is 150-250 MXN each way.
• Tour: you also have the option of visiting Balandra on a tour. For example, on this tour you can visit not only Balandra but also the other beaches of La Paz that we detail here.

Book here your snorkel in the Pinchilingue coral reef

Playa El Tesoro

Playa El Tesoro is a more hidden beach than the others. It is a small bay, less crowded than Pichilingue, where you can rest, swim and even try its restaurant.

Apparently the name of the beach comes from a great treasure that was hidden here centuries ago by pirates who prowled the Sea of Cortez.

From this beach, you can walk to two other even less crowded beaches: Playa Aledaña and Playa El Tesoro Escondido.

How to get to El Tesoro beach:

El Tesoro is located 14 km from La Paz and can be reached by:

• Car: if you don’t have your own car you can rent a car, as we did in Randomtrip, for a month in Baja California Sur and go to the beach. It will take you about 20 minutes by car from the malecon in La Paz. When you arrive, you can park here, right next to the beach.
• Bus: The Playa Bus of Autobuses Aguila connects La Paz with Playa Balandra and makes stops at several beaches, including El Tesoro. There are several departures starting at 9:00 am at the Malecon terminal in La Paz and departing every hour; the trip lasts about 25 minutes and the ticket price is 55 pesos/trip. Confirm when you get on the bus where the pickup point is and the approximate time of return.
• Taxi/Uber: in La Paz you have the option of ordering a cab or an Uber to move to the beach of your choice. The estimated price of the trip is between 100 and 200 MXN.
• Tour: you also have the option of visiting Balandra on a tour. For example, on this tour you can visit not only Balandra but also the other beaches of La Paz that we detail here.

Playa El Caimancito

Playa El Caimancito, a beautiful beach named after a small alligator because of a rock formation there, reflects the dispute between large hotel companies that want to privatize the beaches (a disastrous trend that we saw in much of the Riviera Maya and the Mexican Caribbean) and the local population that fights against privatized access to its beaches, trying to prevent the paradise from becoming a luxury available to a few privileged people. This resulted in that, although access remains public and free, the business has occupied part of the beach with its Beach Club and restaurant.

Despite the urban giant, the beach is still very beautiful and calm waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling, one of the best options for swimming near the capital. It has ample free parking

How to get to El Caimancito beach:

Caimancito is located 7 km from La Paz and can be reached by:

• Car: if you don’t have your own car you can rent a car, as we did in Randomtrip, for a month in Baja California Sur and go to the beach. It will take you about 15 minutes by car from the malecon in La Paz.
• Bus: The Playa Bus of Autobuses Aguila connects La Paz with Playa Balandra and makes stops at several beaches, including Playa El Caimancito. There are several departures from 9:00 am at the Malecon terminal in La Paz and depart every hour; the trip lasts about 15 minutes and the ticket price is 30 pesos/trip. Please confirm when you get on the bus where the pickup point is and the approximate time of return.
• Taxi/Uber: In La Paz you have the option of ordering a cab or an Uber to take you to the beach of your choice. The estimated price of the trip is between 80 and 150 MXN each way.
• Tour: you also have the option of visiting Balandra on a tour. For example, on this tour you can visit not only Balandra but also the other beaches of La Paz that we detail here.

Playa Coromuel

Playa Coromuel is the closest beach to downtown La Paz. It is located a few kilometers from the malecon and has the international “Blue Flag” distinction after implementing water measurement systems, environmental care and educational information. In addition to the beach, Coromuel has a water park with water slides, restaurants, sun loungers and umbrellas for rent.

According to what we read, the name of the beach of El Coromuel comes from the surname Cromwell, a pirate who presumably came to La Paz to hide a treasure in his flight from those who were chasing him. According to legend, he was around here for a while, going in and out of the port in his ship, but one day he sailed away leaving his treasure in these lands.

How to get to Coromuel beach:

Coromuel is located 7 km from La Paz and can be reached by:

• Car: if you don’t have your own car you can rent a car, as we did in Randomtrip, for a month in Baja California Sur and go to the beach. It will take you about 15 minutes by car from the malecon in La Paz.
• Bus: The Playa Bus of Autobuses Aguila connects La Paz with Playa Balandra and makes stops at several beaches, including El Coromuel. There are several departures from 9:00 am at the Malecon terminal in La Paz and depart every hour; the trip lasts about 15 minutes and the ticket price is 30 pesos/trip. Please confirm when you get on the bus where the pickup point is and the approximate time of return.
• Taxi/Uber: in La Paz you have the option of ordering a cab or an Uber to move to the beach of your choice. The estimated price of the trip is between 80 and 150 MXN each way.
• Tour: you also have the option of visiting Balandra on a tour. For example, on this tour you can visit not only Balandra but also the other beaches of La Paz that we detail here.
• On foot or by bicycle: since it is closer to La Paz, getting to Coromuel by the malecon and the scenic road can be a good plan. It will take you approx. 40-50 minutes on foot.

More distant and unknown beaches: Las Cruces, El Saltito, Los Muertitos and Punta Coyote.

If we go east from La Paz, there are several lesser-known and paradisiacal beaches, although access is through dirt/sand roads, so it is important to check beforehand with the local population if it is possible to get there by normal car or if a 4X4 is necessary:

• Playa de Las Cruces: it is about 30km from La Paz, and part of the access is through a dirt/sand road. It is a place with history, as it is said that Hernán Cortés arrived here in 1535 (looking for the origin of some pearls that were given to him after subjugating the Aztecs), and where he placed 3 crosses in honor of 3 ambushed soldiers. Today we can find 3 crosses that were placed there in honor of that story. Rancho Las Cruces, the first luxury resort in Baja California Sur, is also located here.
• Playa El Saltito: a virgin beach about 32km from La Paz, without any services, the favorite of many local people who want to escape from the city to an uncrowded place.
• Playa Los Muertitos: a virgin beach about 28km from La Paz, also without any kind of service. It has a reef accessible from the beach itself, so if you go don’t forget your snorkeling gear. Access is through a sandy road, so make sure beforehand if it is doable with a normal car.
• Playa Punta Coyote: another virgin beach about 26km from La Paz, without any services. It is popular for camping, and on new moon nights, to appreciate the starry sky and the Milky Way.

There are many more beaches in this more natural area to the east of La Paz, if you have a 4×4 you may be encouraged to discover others and probably have them all to yourself. Unfortunately, due to the increase of tourism and real estate speculation, this whole area is endangered by the interest in the construction of tourism-oriented projects and thus losing its remote essence, although fortunately, the population of La Paz is mobilized against it. One of the last projects that was fortunately rejected after the mobilization of the population was Kuni, which consisted of the creation of a mega-tourist complex with more than 15,000 rooms.

Snorkeling with whale sharks

One of the star activities you can do on your trip to La Paz is to spot and, hopefully, swim with the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, in a responsible way. The activity takes place in the bay of La Paz, next to the Mogote Peninsula and you can do it in the season that they pass through these waters, from December to April, although the best time is usually January and February.

The 2024-2025 whale shark watching season started on November 13, 2024, after identifying 9 whale sharks in the area for 3 consecutive days, but it had to be stopped at the end of January 2025 because after an abrupt drop in water temperature (19º) and a drop in the amount of food, the whale sharks have left the area(more information here). It is unlikely that they will come back in the next months, so if you want to do the activity you will probably have to wait for the 2025-2026 season.

In Randomtrip we did this tour with MéXplore and we recommend it: they explained the procedure to be followed as well as the rules, which they respected at all times, they organized us in 2 shifts (4 people each time) so we had the chance to swim with the whale shark 3 times, and also the guide took pictures and videos with his GoPro that he shared at the end of the tour.

Since it is an activity with animals in the wild where the main goal is that they are respected and that it is done under the current regulations, we recommend that you do not look for the cheapest operator, and that you do some research on who you are going to do it with and their position regarding animal welfare.

The activity is heavily regulated and monitored, and it is necessary to obtain permission to access the sighting and swimming area, in addition to active control of the position and speed of the boat by GPS.

We detail our whole experience of swimming with the whale shark in La Paz in this specific post:

Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz (Baja California Sur, Mexico): season, tours and everything you need to know

Snorkeling with Sea Lions

Another sought-after activity in La Paz is snorkeling with sea lions, which you can do in two locations, both in La Lobera in the Espiritu Santo Archipelago National Park (on the Espirito Santo tour) and in San Rafaelito, in La Paz Bay, on the whale shark watching tour mentioned above.

At Randomtrip we went to La Lobera with Punta Baja Tours and did a combined tour in Espiritu Santo Island that included snorkeling with sea lions in the national park, relaxing on an incredible beach (Ensenada Grande beach) and sailing through several points of the Espirito Santo Island National Park that we detail below.

We tell you all about our experience in our post about Swimming with Sea Lions in Espiritu Santo Island:

Swim with sea lions and visit Espiritu Santo in La Paz (Baja California Sur, Mexico)

Parque Nacional Archipiélago de Espíritu Santo

The Espiritu Santo Archipelago has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2005 and a National Park since 2007. Located in the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortés), the archipelago is formed by two major islands, La Partida, to the north, and Espíritu Santo, to the south, and by three islets located off the western coast of Espíritu Santo Island, called La Ballena, El Gallo and La Gallina.

Here is a map of the Archipelago of Espiritu Santo National Park, formed by the two islands, also indicating the location of the Lobera, the place where you can snorkel with sea lions:

This Archipelago of Espiritu Santo National Park is located approximately 25 km away from the city of La Paz (one and a half hours from the La Paz marina) and its access is only by sea, so to visit it is necessary to arrive by boat to the eastern limit of the Bay of La Paz.

It harbors its biodiversity in its islands and islets as well as in its adjacent marine area. In addition to its endemic insular flora and fauna, there are at least 15 species of marine mammals such as the California sea lion, with a reproductive colony of approximately 800 individuals, according to what we were told, in Los Islotes, north of the archipelago. It is precisely with them that we have the privilege of interacting during the visit.

All year round is a good time to visit Espiritu Santo Island. However, if you want to swim with sea lions, the ideal time to go is from September to May, since during the months of June, July and August, visitors are not allowed to swim and dive with sea lions because it is their period of reproduction and birth.

Fortunately, the Espiritu Santo Archipelago National Park (and its flora and fauna) has measures to protect the species that inhabit the park. If you visit La Paz and you are going to visit Espiritu Santo Island, we ask you to do the activity in a responsible way, with an agency that promotes sustainable tourism and animal protection.

In the tour we did with Punta Baja Tours, besides swimming with sea lions, we were able to visit several points of the national park such as the bird sanctuary (Gaviotas islet), the old pearl farm (San Gabriel Bay) and the rock formations of the La Paz Arch (apparently there is competition between this arch and the one in Cabo San Lucas) and the mask of the god Niparajá in Candelero Bay.

But one of the high points was being able to enjoy one of the paradisiacal beaches of the Espírito Santo Island National Park, in our case, we enjoyed Ensenada Grande Beach, an incredible beach of fine white sand and crystal clear and calm waters where we relaxed, snorkeled and enjoyed a good ceviche with Punta Baja Tours.

Gray whale-watching in Puerto Chale

What if we told you that only two hours away from La Paz there is a bay full of gray whales to sail around and meet them?

Bahía Almejas, whose most common access point is Puerto Chale, is located 2h10 from La Paz by car and is a place to live one of the most incredible experiences in Baja California Sur: watching gray whales up close. Although the “official” season runs from December to April, the gray whales start arriving at Bahia Almejas usually at the end of December and begin to leave back to the cold Arctic waters at the end of March. During all this time it is possible to see the gray whales, although the “peak” (when there are more whales) is usually in February/March.

At Randomtrip we did the activity with Camacho’s Tours and we can recommend them because on the tour we did, the captain respected the rules at all times. Fortunately, Mexico has a strong regulation and protection of whales, so whale watching activities have to follow some rules and the boats must have the corresponding official permit. In the case of gray whale watching in Bahía Almejas, the norm that applies is NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 (if you are curious, you can read it here).

We tell you all about our gray whale-watching experience in Puerto Chale in this post:

Gray Whale Watching in Puerto Chale, Bahía Almejas (Baja California Sur, Mexico): everything you need to know

Dunas de Mogote

A little more than 20 km from La Paz (less than half an hour by car) are the Mogote Dunes, a special and very photogenic place where the sea meets a vastness of sand.

El Mogote is a sandy peninsula that extends in front of the city of La Paz, forming the northern shore of the Bay of La Paz and is recognized not only for its extensive dunes but also for its mangroves, which serve as habitat for various species of birds and marine life. It plays a crucial role as a natural barrier, protecting the bay and the city of La Paz from storms and hurricanes. The mangroves present on the peninsula are essential for the conservation of various species and are protected under the Ramsar Convention.

A curiosity about the Mogote Dunes (present in all the places of the world with these characteristics, sand dunes or in the desert) is the phenomenon of the song of the dunes or the singing dunes. It is a low musical sound (with defined frequency and several harmonics) that is produced when an avalanche of sand (caused naturally by the wind passing over the dunes or artificially by the walking of people or animals) is triggered on the steepest face of the dune (called avalanche front).

The Mogote Dunes are a popular destination for sandboarding enthusiasts but are also an ideal place for hiking, running and walking, offering panoramic views of the city of La Paz and the Sea of Cortez. It is also an ideal place to enjoy the sunset. The views of La Paz from afar, the sea surrounded by the colorful mountains and the shadows dancing on the dunes with the colors of the sunset is a spectacle not to be missed.

Book your sandboarding at El Mogote beach here. If you prefer to enjoy the sea instead of the sand, book your Paddle surfing at El Mogote beach here.

Things to see and do in downtown La Paz

Malecon de la Paz

The Malecón (Paseo Álvaro Obregón) is an emblematic promenade that stretches 5 km in front of the Sea of Cortez and is the meeting point in the city. The 17 sculptures that dot the malecon every few meters, some of marine animals, warn us of what we may be lucky enough to find in these waters: a whale shark, a humpback whale, an octopus, a manta…

This open-air museum was installed along the malecon in 1998 and survives to this day. In addition to the marine fauna of La Paz, these works of art also reflect its history and culture, for example in the sculpture “La Paloma” by Juan Soriano, a symbol of peace and hope, or “El Viejo y el Mar” by Guillermo Gómez, which pays homage to the relationship of the people of La Paz with the sea.

The local gastronomy is another of the Malecón’s attractions. Along the promenade, you will find a wide variety of restaurants, terraces and food stalls offering everything from fresh seafood, such as ceviches and fish tacos, to artisanal paletas and bars where you can have a drink.

It is also here on the malecon where you will find the famous La Paz Letters that attract tourists and locals to pay homage to the city and the Casa del Artesano, where you can buy typical products of the region, such as jewelry and textiles.

But the best plan, in our opinion, is to enjoy one of its spectacular sunsets. The sky is tinged with red, orange and purple tones that are reflected in the sea, giving an unforgettable spectacle. If you are a fan of sunsets like us at Randomtrip, you will want to enjoy at least one sunset here (if you can, more).

It is precisely on the malecon, or close by, where we recommend staying in La Paz (here is a selection of accommodations, open the map to choose as close to the malecon as possible), so after sunset, you will have your bed just a few steps away.

Sunset at Cerro de la Calavera

If in our opinion you should enjoy, at least one day, the sunset on the malecon, the other day you should do it from the Cerro de la Calavera as it is one of the best plans to say goodbye to the day in La Paz.

Cerro de la Calavera is a rock formation located northwest of the city and its name is due to the peculiar formations and arches in the rock that, from certain perspectives and angles, resembles the shape of a skull (calavera in Spanish). Apart from coming to life with the lights and shadows of the sunset, the Cerro gives you one of the best panoramic views of the city and the bay of La Paz.

In addition to its natural attraction, the hill is surrounded by stories and legends. It is said that in pre-Hispanic times, local tribes performed rituals in its surroundings and in fact archaeological materials were found, vestiges of the ancient Californios, who used the caves of Cerro for shelter. For this reason, it is considered an archaeological heritage site by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

Of course, enjoying this sunset involves a little more effort than the Malecón. To get to the Cerro de la Calavera viewpoint has, in our particular Randomtripper Scale of Difficulty, a moderate level. It will take you less than half an hour to climb the 5 kms approx. but it is essential to wear appropriate footwear and to be sure to have plenty of space as some sections are slippery.

To get there, you can park in this area and the trail starts here.

It is an increasingly popular site, both with locals and tourists, so we would recommend that you avoid going on weekends.

Street Art in La Paz

If there is one thing that characterizes La Paz, as you will confirm if you take a walk around the city, it is the numerous murals that adorn the facades of many of its buildings. These murals narrate local stories, legends and, of course, the marine fauna that inhabits (or passes through) the waters of the Sea of Cortés.

In 2017, La Paz hosted the “Ciudad Mural” project, organized by Colectivo Tomate in collaboration with local organizations such as Urbanería. This project convened 26 artists to intervene more than 1,300 square meters in the center of the city, filling its streets with color and life. In addition, initiatives such as “El Color de la Memoria”, led by photographer Leonardo Luna and muralist Ulises Martínez, seek to rescue and document the stories of diverse communities through murals and documentary videos. In La Paz, they have worked in communities such as El Esterito, El Pardito, El Triunfo and El Manglito, among others.

The vast majority of these murals can be found on streets adjacent to the Malecón, but if you want to take a tour with those who know the history behind many of the murals, “StreetArt La Paz” offers guided tours in Spanish, English and French.

Cathedral of Our Lady of La Paz

The Cathedral of Our Lady of La Paz is located in the center of La Paz, in front of the Velasco Garden of which we speak below, and is the seat of the Diocese of La Paz.

Its construction took place between 1861 and 1865 and its design highlights the sober neoclassical quarry façade, reflecting the influence of the missionary architecture of the region. Before the construction of the cathedral, the site was occupied by the Mission of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Airapí, founded in the 18th century. Due to water shortages, the mission was abandoned and used intermittently.

In 1910, the left tower was added, and a decade later, the right tower was built, giving the building its current appearance. In its interior, we can find paintings of the XVIII century coming from the old Jesuit missions. It also highlights “El Sagrario”, a scale replica of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Velasco Garden

The Velasco Garden, right in front of the Cathedral, is a landmark and also a meeting point in La Paz. Here you will see locals and visitors strolling and relaxing in the shade of the tamarind trees.

The garden has existed in the capital since the 19th century and has witnessed several social, cultural and religious events. Throughout its history, the Velasco Garden has been remodeled several times, always respecting and preserving its iconic tamarind trees. These trees, which can reach 20 to 25 meters in height, are valued not only for their shade, but also for their wind resistance and vibrant green foliage.

It is in this garden where you will find the other letters of La Paz where you can have your picture taken (did you think there were only the ones on the malecon?). Around the garden, there are many restaurants, cafes and bars.

MUABCS: Museum of Art of Baja California Sur

The MUABCS is the first space in Southcalifornian territory dedicated and equipped to receive, mount and show Modern and Contemporary Art. It is located in the building that was the first Government House, rebuilt in 1981. As of 2019, expansion work began to house the MUABCS, and it was inaugurated in 2020.

In addition to the permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum offers various cultural activities such as editorial presentations and workshops aimed at children, youth and adults. To find out what exhibitions are on when you visit the capital, keep an eye on their Facebook page or Instagram page as they are often updated.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00h to 17:30h. Price: Free admission. The museum offers guided tours (the duration of the tour is 50 minutes approx.) that must be booked in advance, at reception, by phone or through social networks.

Teatro Juarez

The Juaréz Theater is a fundamental pillar in the promotion and diffusion of culture and art in Baja California Sur. It has capacity for 289 people and offers a variety of cultural events, not only plays but also dance, recitals, classical and popular music concerts, lectures, film screenings, book presentations and school festivals. It also has an exhibition hall.

Its construction began in 1906 and was inaugurated in 1910, in commemoration of the centennial of Mexico’s Independence. For decades, it functioned as a theater and cinema, being a point of reference for the cultural life of the city. In 1984, the theater closed its doors and remained in a state of abandonment until 1997, when the Patronato de la Cultura de Baja California Sur undertook actions for its rescue and rehabilitation.

Centro Cultural de La Paz

The Cultural Center of La Paz, inaugurated in 2010, is dedicated to the promotion, dissemination and animation of the artistic and cultural manifestations of the state, offering a wide variety of events from conferences, concerts, plays or film screenings to chess sessions, workshops or plastic arts exhibitions. You can keep up to date with the center’s cultural agenda on its Facebook page or Instagram.

The building that houses the cultural center is considered a historical monument by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). It was built at the beginning of the 20th century during the celebrations of the Centennial of Mexico’s Independence and originally served as the Municipal Palace. It has had several uses throughout its history, including military barracks and headquarters of political parties.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 08:00h to 20:00h, Saturday from 10:00h to 18:00h. Price: Free admission

Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of B.C.S.

The objective of the Regional Museum of Anthropology and History is to exhibit and preserve the historical and cultural richness of the peninsula, from prehistoric times to more recent events.

The museum has a valuable collection of fossils that allow us to understand the natural diversity of the Californian peninsula since 60 million years ago. The archaeological artifacts show the presence of the first inhabitants, which in the case of Espiritu Santo Island date back approximately 40,000 years. The exhibition also includes stones with inscriptions, photographs of cave paintings, mission books, regional handicrafts, details of pearl diving and ways of extracting gold and copper, as well as weapons and objects from the time when the people of Southern California defended their land from foreign invasions.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00h to 17:00h. Price: 75 MXN/person. Free admission on Sundays for nationals, residents, children under 13, seniors over 60, teachers and students.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe has the particularity that it has been under construction for 60 years! The first stone was laid in 1945 but until 2015 only approximately 50% of the construction of the religious temple had been completed. Presumably, the main funding comes from the faithful people and, for example, only the construction of the main dome of the temple required an investment of 50 million pesos…

Museo de la Ballena y Ciencias del Mar

A visit that we consider a must on your trip to La Paz, especially if you want to learn more curiosities of its marine fauna, is the Museo de la Ballena y Ciencias del Mar of La Paz. We would recommend you to go before the whale shark watching tours, Isla Espiritu Santo to swim with the sea lions and the gray whale watching because here you will learn not only about the characteristics and behavior of these animals but also how to do the activity in the most responsible way possible.

In addition to its work of study, research, dissemination and scientific conservation of these marine species, this museum also has a very important task of protection and even rescue of stranded marine animals in the region of the Bay of La Paz.

The museum, founded in 1995 as an art gallery, was transformed into a museum in 2009 for the purpose of collecting and exhibiting skeletons of whales and other marine mammals. It has four geodesic exhibition halls that offer an educational experience about the evolution and diversity of cetaceans, as well as other marine mammals and cartilaginous fish. Among the highlights are 38 skeletons of various species, including killer whales, manatees, sea lions, seals and sharks.

Follow them on Instagram and support their work with your visit, sharing their posts and, above all, acting according to what they teach us: responsibly and prioritizing animal welfare. You can also learn a little more about the history of the Museum, their team and their work in this podcast they launched in 2024.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 09:00h to 14:00h. Price: 80 MXN/person guided tour (the one we recommend); 60 MXN/person entrance without guide; 50 MXN/person for school groups.

Teatro de la Ciudad

The Teatro de la Ciudad de La Paz, inaugurated in 1986, is the main stage for the performing arts in Baja California Sur. With a seating capacity of 1,143 and an Italian-style design, this venue has hosted a wide range of cultural events, including plays, concerts, film screenings and conferences.

Get inspired by the stories of our visit to La Paz

You can see featured Instagram stories about our visit to La Paz here.

Where to stay in La Paz

In La Paz you should ideally stay near the malecon, where you will find several options for accommodation, restaurants and nightlife. This is where we stayed at Randomtrip and is where we recommend you to stay. We recommend the following specific accommodations, depending on how much you want/can invest per night:

• Hotel Zar La Paz (from 65$/night): one of the most economical options in downtown La Paz, close to the Malecon and with quality and comfort.
• Maar Studios (from 65$/night): if you prefer to stay in a self-catering apartment instead of a hotel room, check out these studios two blocks from the Malecón.
• Aquamarina (from 89$/night): an excellent value-for-money option. It was where our friends Sara and Rui stayed so we have excellent first-hand opinions.
• Hotel HBlue (from 160$/night): comfortable rooms, friendly staff, tasty breakfast and central location
• Malecón 1680 (from 186$/night): an unbeatable view and close to everything

• Casa Al Mar (from 268$): in the heart of the Malecón and with an entrance that does not go unnoticed when walking around, this accommodation has 4-star suites and a very good-looking restaurant.

• Baja Club Hotel (from 295$/night): if you want to treat yourself, this 5-star hotel, member of Design Hotels, is the place to stay in La Paz. Impeccable aesthetics, comfort and an incredible sunset from the hotel’s terrace bar. The companion we went with on the whale shark tour was staying here and couldn’t recommend it more, he was thrilled.

• República Pagana (from 308$/night): another option if you want to stay in one of the best hotels in La Paz with views and swimming pool.

If none of these accommodations convince you, take a look at all these in this link and remember that the prices we mention are approximate and change according to the type of room and the season.

Where to eat in La Paz

As in almost all of Baja California Sur, in La Paz seafood and fish stand out in its gastronomy, being able to find them in different forms and varieties. Likewise, La Paz has a great gastronomic offer with options for all tastes. Here are the restaurants we recommend in La Paz:

• Taco Fish La Paz: We loved these fish and shrimp tacos. Good, hearty and inexpensive with super friendly service.
• Tacos de pescado El Estadio: Alan, our guide on the tour to Espíritu Santo, recommended us this place; his description: “tacos that don’t close” and “if I eat three I’ll need a crane to get me out”. And sure enough, they were incredible and very filling.
• La Carreta: we liked the shrimp tostadas and the sierra salad so much that we repeated.

• Claros Fish Jr.: one of the best taco places in the capital, we loved it. Excellent value for money. Ideal to try several specialties of Southern Californian gastronomy.
• Made Pizza Bar: if you have a craving for pizza, go to Made, incredible quality and pizzas from the most traditional to the most original. In fact, in the same street pizzeria there are several options with several terraces and good vibes (Note that the pizzeria does not open until 17:00h).

• Paradiso Bakery: if you don’t want Mexican antojitos or local breakfast in the morning, Paradiso’s bread, juices, croissants and coffee are your best option. It was the place where we had the best breakfast in La Paz. It is on the same premises as Made Pizzas but Paradiso is not open in the evenings, only in the mornings so they share the beautiful terrace.

• Fuego y Leña: Another excellent place for handmade pizzas, cooked in a wood-fired oven.
• Hantō: if you’re looking for something different, several people recommended this Japanese restaurant to us
• Patio Península: We didn’t try the food but we went to have a few Palomas (cocktails with tequila and grapefruit soda) while we enjoyed the sunset.
• Mariscos El Toro Güero: recommended for seafood at good prices.
• La Baja Crudas Mariskeria: another excellent place for seafood
• Azotea HRP: The rooftop terrace of the República Pagana hotel has a unique design and incredible views at sunset.

For a drink in the evening, we recommend Mezcalería La Miserable.

La Paz Itineraries

As we mentioned at the beginning of this guide, we consider 3-4 days to be the ideal amount of time to get to know La Paz, as well as its surroundings. If you are looking for a beach, which as you have seen there are many, you can extend the days you want. Since you don’t always have that much time, here are our suggested itineraries for 1 to 4 days in La Paz.

Things to see and do in La Paz in 1 day

If you only have one day in La Paz, you will have to choose between dedicating it to the city, the surroundings, or half/half. In our case we would choose the surroundings, but here are 3 suggestions with the 3 options:

Option 1: things to see and do in one day in downtown La Paz

• Start at the malecon, where you can walk along the sea, appreciate the different sculptures and take a picture with the letters of La Paz.
• Visit the Whale Museum, and eat at one of the delicious restaurants we recommend in La Paz.
• Visit the Cultural Center of La Paz, pass by the Juarez Theater and continue to the Velasco Garden and the Cathedral.
• Visit the MUABCS
• If you stay for the sunset, you can choose to watch it from the Cerro de la Calavera or from the Malecón itself.

Option 2: things to see and do in one day around La Paz

In the surroundings there is a lot to see and do, so you also have several options: take a tour like the one to Isla Espiritu Santo to swim with sea lions that will take you all day, or take a tour of the beaches (Balandra, Tecolote, Caimancito, Tesoro…) and the Mogote Dunes.

Option 3: things to see and do in one day in downtown La Paz and surroundings

If you want to do a bit of both plans, simply choose the plans from each option above that appeal to you the most (keep in mind the museum opening hours if you want to visit any of them).

Things to see and do in La Paz in 2 days

With two days we would dedicate one day to La Paz and another to the surrounding area:

• Day 1: Option 1 of the 1-day itinerary
• Day 2: option 2 of the 1-day itinerary

Things to see and do in La Paz in 3 days

With 3 days you can get a good idea of La Paz and its surroundings, dedicating one day to the city, another to some of the beaches and another to Espiritu Santo:

• Day 1: La Paz city center (option 1 of the 1-day itinerary)
• Day 2: La Paz beaches (option 2 of the 1-day itinerary)
• Day 3: tour to Espiritu Santo and swim with sea lions (except in summer, where you will snorkel in another area instead of with sea lions).

Things to see and do in La Paz in 4 days

We consider 4 days to be the ideal amount of time to get to know La Paz, although you can extend this itinerary to more days if you want to take better advantage of the beaches and relax. Two of the plans (seeing gray whales in Puerto Chale and swimming with the whale shark) can only be done in winter (December to April) and depends on the season:

• Day 1: La Paz city center (option 1 of the 1-day itinerary)
• Day 2: go gray whale watching in Puerto Chale in the morning, beaches in the afternoon
• Day 3: tour to Espiritu Santo and swim with sea lions (except in summer, where you will snorkel in another area instead of with sea lions).
• Day 4: whale shark swimming tour in the morning, beaches in the afternoon

Transportation: Getting around La Paz

Once in La Paz and in the center of La Paz, the ideal way to get around is on foot, since the distances are short between the malecon and the adjoining streets where most accommodations and restaurants are located.

But to move around the area of La Paz and go, for example, to the beaches of Balandra and Tecolote or even to Puerto Chale for gray whale watching, the easiest way to get around is by car (owned or rented), so you can have the freedom to move around at your own pace and avoid wasting a lot of time getting around. In our case we rented a car at the Los Cabos airport, where we landed, for our month-long trip through Baja California Sur.

We recommend using comparators such as Discover Cars to be able to compare prices and conditions quickly.

For the dates we wanted, we decided to rent with America Car Rental. The car (in our case, a small Nissan March quite new) worked perfectly, we had no problems and both the pickup and return were fast and smooth. To highlight the attention received by both the person of the pickup and the one of the return, both treated us very well and gave us many tips (of Baja California Sur in the pickup and of Oaxaca, our next destination, in the return). The price was 540 MXN (about 28$) per day, extending the insurance to have no excess.

Some tips when driving:

• Sometimes there are military controls, where you will have to stop and get out of the car and they will inspect the vehicle and ask you some questions (where are you coming from, where are you going, how long are you in the state, etc.). There is nothing to worry about, they are routine controls, just collaborate and that’s it. Randomtrip was stopped twice, both times without any problem.
• The roads are generally in good condition, but there are areas where there are potholes that can damage the car if you go too fast: drive slowly, with caution and attention, and avoid driving at night.
• Animals sometimes cross the roads without warning: cows, roadrunners, etc. One more reason to drive slowly, with caution and attention, and avoiding the night where it is more difficult to see the animals in time.
• Always fill the tank before leaving, especially when you are going to make longer trips: sometimes it is not easy to find gas stations, or you find one but it is disabled because they are refilling the tanks, so you should always have extra fuel.
• Parking is usually not a problem, it can only be a bit more complicated in Los Cabos / La Paz, but even there we always find parking space easily. Many accommodations have parking as well.

In case you don’t want to (or can’t) rent a car, you have some public transportation options:

• Taxis/Uber: the Uber app works in La Paz so you can use it to get to the surrounding beaches and within the city.
• Bus: the Playa Bus of Autobuses Aguila connects La Paz with Playa Balandra and Tecolote, making several stops at other beaches. There are several departures from 8:00h (only to Pichilingue) or 9:00h at the Malecon terminal in La Paz and depart every hour; the total trip takes about 40 minutes and the ticket price is between 30 and 70 pesos/trip, depending on where you get off. Confirm when you get on the bus where the pickup point is for the return trip.
• Tours: there are many tours from La Paz, so you can hire several to get to know the surroundings and not have to worry about transportation.

How to get from La Paz airport to downtown La Paz

The international airport of La Paz is about 20 minutes drive from La Paz so if you have a rental car (something we recommend to explore the area, when we went the car rental was around 600 pesos/day approx) it is very easy as you can pick it up right there, as we did in Randomtrip.

If you do not have a rental car, you can hire a transfer that will be waiting for you and take you to your accommodation, or pay a cab (about 400 pesos). Uber does not work inside the airport. Unfortunately, there is no bus service between the airport and the city.

How to have internet in La Paz

To always have internet on your smartphone, the easiest and most convenient way (if your phone supports eSIM) is to buy an eSIM from Holafly, which has unlimited data (you get a 5% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP), or to buy an eSIM from Airalo, cheaper but with limited data (15% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP15)

The other option, cheaper but more cumbersome, is to buy a local SIM, which we recommend is from Telcel (the main telecom company in Mexico, with more coverage).

Safety: Is it safe to travel to La Paz?

Although La Paz is not as touristy a destination as Los Cabos, it is one of the most touristic destinations in Baja California Sur, which is already one of the safest states in Mexico, so you have nothing to worry about, beyond the typical precautions you should take when traveling abroad.

In any case, we always have our Iati travel insurance (which also covers our belongings) as in all our trips and gives us more peace of mind. If you contract your travel insurance in this Randomtrip link, you will get it with a 5% discount.

Money in La Paz: cards, tips to save on commissions and tips

To pay and withdraw money in Mexico while minimizing fees, we recommend the 2 cards we use in our case:

• Revolut: with the standard version up to 1000$ without commission on card payments (remember to always pay in local currency – Mexican pesos). Up to 400$ of withdrawals at ATMs without commission, from then on commission of 1%.
• N26: with the free version you can pay with your card without commissions in an unlimited way. For ATM withdrawals, you pay 1.7% commission, which you can eliminate by paying for the monthly plans You (the one we use) or Metal.

It is important to keep in mind that although your card does not charge a fee for ATM withdrawals, ATMs in Mexico do charge a fee for their use. The ones that charge the least are Banamex (31 pesos, 1.7$), Banco Santander (34 pesos, 1.8$) or Banco Azteca (34 pesos, 1.8$), so when withdrawing money try to withdraw as much as possible to save money.

Another important issue when withdrawing money at an ATM in Mexico: many times the ATM will ask you if you want the transaction to be done in local currency (Mexican pesos) or in your own currency (in our case, it was euros): always choose the local currency option, otherwise, it will apply an unfavorable exchange rate and you will be overpaying (as a hidden commission).

The above also applies to card payments (although the option almost never appears, on several occasions also when paying with a card in establishments we were shown an amount in euros instead of pesos). In our case it almost always happened to us with the orange CLIP terminals. If this happens to you, ask the person to charge you in Mexican pesos.

A bad practice in Mexico is that in any business where you want to pay with a card, they have the habit of asking you for your card and do the whole process themselves, passing you the terminal only to enter the PIN (in Mexico they call it “firma” or NIP). This means that sometimes, depending on the type of terminal, you do not see the amount and/or you are charged in the original currency of your card instead of in Mexican pesos – making you lose money because an unfavorable conversion is applied. Always ask nicely to be allowed to see the process to make sure you are charged the correct amount and in local currency.

Finally, some establishments charge an extra commission for payment by card (the times it happened to us, it was 5%), they always tell you before and if you do not see it when confirming the amount. In those cases, it is better to pay with cash.

Tipping: The tipping culture is very well established in Mexico, and although it is not and cannot be obligatory by law, it is in practice, since it is frowned upon not to leave a tip. It is recommended to leave a minimum of 10% (usually you will be asked at the time of payment, and if you pay by credit card, the terminal usually gives you the option of adding 10, 15 or 20% as a tip).

How much does a trip to La Paz cost?

Making a budget is complex as it depends greatly on your type of trip: how many plans you want to include in your trip, if you are going to go to restaurants or cook to save money, the type of accommodation you are going to use… In any case, so you can get an idea, we leave below the average prices and what we consider as the average price per day (we reiterate that these are GUIDELINE prices and may vary at any time):

• Flights/transportation within Mexico: From 1200 pesos (60$) from CDMX and from 3000 MXN (150$) from Cancun round trip flight without checked baggage with low-cost airlines. Use flight comparators like Skyscanner and Kiwi to find the best price.
• Transportation: From 500 pesos (25$) per day for a basic car rental and insurance with excess.
• Accommodation: from 900 MXN (45$)/night for a room with a private bathroom or a small apartment with a kitchen. Find accommodation of all types and prices on Booking, with up to 15% discount.
• Restaurants: a multitude of options between 100 and 600 pesos (between 5$ and 30$) per person, for all tastes.
• Tickets/tours: If you go in season, the gray whale watching tours in Puerto Chale cost about 600 pesos (30$) per person, the whale shark swimming tour costs about 1600 pesos (80$) per person and the tour to Espiritu Santo swimming with sea lions also costs about 1600 pesos (80€) per person.

In total, a 4-day trip to La Paz can cost you between 1600 and 2000 pesos (between 80 and 100$) per person per day, with the cheapest lodging options, eating out in cheap restaurants and doing the gray whale and whale shark or holy spirit tours (not counting flights from abroad to get to Mexico). This can be reduced or extended depending on whether you do more tours or less.

Useful Apps to get around La Paz

• Google Maps (Android / iOS): is the one we use to save/classify all the places we want to go/we have been and as GPS both to orient ourselves on foot and if we rent a car. It also includes public transport information if there is any. You can see other people’s opinions of the places, photos, restaurant menus, telephone numbers to contact them, etc. You can also open our map with all the places included in this guide.
• Maps.me (Android / iOS): application similar to Google Maps but works offline (although Google Maps can also work offline, it works better) and in many cases has information that Google Maps does not have.
• Uber: app to order taxi/VTC.
• Windy (Android / iOS / Web): essential app for our trips. It allows you to see forecasts of rain, clouds, wind, etc. to help you plan your days based on the weather (as there are places that lose a lot depending on the weather). Obviously the forecasts are not 100% reliable.

Tips for traveling to La Paz as a responsible tourist

• If you are going to do whale watching or swimming with sea lions and whale sharks, choose to do it with a responsible company (whale watching is happily regulated in Mexico) that prioritizes the welfare of the animals and complies with official regulations.
• Be responsible when visiting a place: a large influx of people to a certain site can have a negative impact so respect the rules, do not climb the tree/monument you are visiting, do not paint on the walls, avoid touching and, out of respect for the rest of the people visiting the place, do not make noise or “monopolize” the place with your photos.
• Take care of the natural monuments and respect the existing rules
• If you rent a car, respect the speed limits on highways.
• Avoid the use of plastic and do not throw garbage away
• Don’t be an accomplice to animal abuse: Any other attraction where animals are in captivity and/or used for human entertainment.
• Respect other people: don’t play your music loud, pick up your trash; don’t throw cigarette butts, etc. Leave the place better than you found it.
• Always travel with travel insurance: medical expenses, theft or problems with your plane on a trip can cost you a lot of money, so the ideal thing is to take out travel insurance. At Randomtrip we always use IATI and we recommend it. If you purchase your insurance through this link you have a 5% discount.

Checklist: what to bring in your backpack/suitcase to La Paz

Here is a list of must-haves you can’t forget to bring on your trip to La Paz:

• International plug adapter such as these as they use type A plugs (those with two flat parallel pins).
• A reusable water bottle like one of these to carry water with you all the time and void single-use plastic.
• Water Shoes as these ideal to carry always with you to avoid hurting your feet when entering the water or not touching the ground.
• Snorkel kit (mask and snorkel) like this, a must to bring on this trip and contemplate the seabed. Besides being more hygienic because you do not share your snorkel with anyone, in several places they do not rent the equipment and, even if they do rent, with a couple of times you already amortize the price of your own kit.
• Water proof dry bag like this one, very useful to keep your photographic equipment, cell phone and wallet safe from getting wet on the boat (whales sometimes blow near the boat or even hit the water with their fin or tail near the boat, and water can reach the boat).
• UV protection T-shirt like this because in some parts of the Mexican Caribbean it is forbidden or not recommended to use sunscreen / sunblock because its composition damages the marine ecosystem.
• Quick-drying towel such as one of these, which, in addition, does not take up much space in the backpack/suitcase.
• A hat or a cap (like this one) and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun
• A good camera to register your adventures. At Randomtrip we carry a Sony ZV-E10 and a Gopro Hero12 Black (for underwater pictures)
• A Power bank: taking so many pictures will drain your batteries, so it’s always a good idea to carry a good powerbank. At Randomtrip we travel with these 2 (Anker 20000 mAh and  Anker 10000 mAh), which allow us to charge both our phones and our cameras.
• Sun screen: the sun is strong in Baja California Sur so it is a must to take care of your skin. Always look for a Coral Friendly Sunscreen, i.e. one that protects your skin without harming marine ecosystems by avoiding ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to corals. Nor that it has been tested on animals.
• Mosquito repellent: like this one, it should have at least 15% deet
• First aid kit: In our first-aid kit there is always a medicine against seasickness (such as biodramine for seasickness on boats), antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication (and a probiotic to recover more quickly), antihistamines, painkillers and antipyretics and, of course, travel insurance. If you hire your travel insurance with IATI using this link you will get a 5% discount

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What are you waiting for to treat yourself to some Peace? Bon Voyage, Randomtripper!