La Paz

The capital of Baja California Sur on the Sea of Cortez: swim with whale sharks, play with sea lions at Espíritu Santo Island and wade in the glassy, white-sand shallows of Balandra Bay.

La Paz is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, set on La Paz Bay along the western shore of the Sea of Cortez in the southern Baja California Peninsula. About 200 km from Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula's tip, it moves at a much slower pace than Cabo and is known for its marine life and unspoiled beaches. The Sea of Cortez has been called "the world's aquarium," and getting out on the water is the main draw: from roughly October to April you can swim with whale sharks in La Paz Bay with licensed boats, and year-round you can take a boat to Espíritu Santo Island, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California," to snorkel with California sea lions at Los Islotes. About 25 km northeast of town, Balandra Bay, with its white sand, shallow water and mushroom-shaped rock, ranks among Mexico's most beautiful beaches, while El Tecolote beach is great for relaxing and eating seafood. In town, stroll the roughly 5 km Malecón at sunset, and visit the cathedral and the Regional Museum of Anthropology and History in the old center. To the southeast, La Ventana is a winter kitesurfing hotspot, and in the mountains El Triunfo is a 19th-century silver-mining town. The climate is dry; November–April is the most pleasant, while July–September is hot with a risk of hurricanes. Getting there: La Paz International Airport has flights from Mexico City, Tijuana and elsewhere, or it's about a 2.5-hour drive from Los Cabos Airport; ferries from the port of Pichilingue serve Mazatlán and Los Mochis. Plan on 3–4 days. Choose reputable, licensed operators for boat trips and book ahead; Balandra limits daily visitors and is closed on Mondays.

Top sights

Playa Balandra – A shallow bay with white sand and the iconic mushroom-shaped rock, one of Mexico's most beautiful beaches and a protected natural area.
Isla Espíritu Santo – A star island in the UNESCO-listed Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, with red cliffs, small white sand coves and clear…
Los Islotes Sea Lion Colony – Sea lion rookery rocks at the northern tip of the Espíritu Santo islands, where you can swim alongside curious, playful California sea lion…
Whale Shark Swimming, Bay of La Paz – Swim with young whale sharks in the shallow bay across from the city and get up close to the world's largest fish.
Malecón de La Paz – A roughly 5 km seafront promenade along La Paz Bay, perfect for strolling, cycling, watching sunsets, and admiring ocean sculptures.
Playa El Tecolote – A wide sandy beach north of Balandra, lined with seafood palapas, with views of Isla Espíritu Santo and boats heading out to sea
Playa Pichilingue – A small city-edge bay beside the ferry terminal, with calm, shallow water for wading and seafood restaurants on the shore
Playa El Coromuel – A city beach at the end of the seafront promenade, with a water slide and palapas, and a favorite cool-down spot for locals
Cathedral of Our Lady of La Paz – A twin-towered stone cathedral in the historic center, built on the site of a Jesuit mission founded in 1720; free to visit
Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Baja California Sur – A state anthropology museum covering the peninsula's prehistoric rock art, indigenous peoples, the mission era and mining history
Whale Museum (Museo de la Ballena y Ciencias del Mar) – A marine science museum displaying complete whale skeletons, introducing the whales of the Sea of Cortez and ocean conservation
La Ventana – A small seaside village southeast of La Paz where strong winter northerly winds make it a North American kitesurfing hotspot
Isla Cerralvo (Jacques Cousteau Island) – An uninhabited island on the east side of La Paz Bay, whose surrounding reefs and seamounts are favorite dive sites for advanced divers
El Triunfo – A mountain town that boomed with 19th-century silver mining, where the chimneys, a piano museum and an old church stand quietly
Cerro de la Calavera – A small hill beside the eastern stretch of the seafront promenade, about 20 minutes' walk to the top, with views over La Paz and the bay at…
Todos Santos – A 'magic town' on the Pacific coast where colonial architecture, galleries and surf culture blend; the most popular day trip from Los Cabos
Hotel California (Todos Santos) – An old hotel that visitors flock to because of the Eagles' hit song; it has nothing to do with the song, but its restaurant, bar and gift s…
Cerritos Beach – One of the few swimmable beaches on Baja's Pacific coast, with a cluster of surf schools, and a popular spot for first-time surfers

Where to eat

Mariscos El Toro Güero – A palapa-roofed seafood spot loved by locals and visitors alike, with generous portions, fresh seafood and a packed lun…
Bismarkcito – A longtime seafood spot on La Paz's Malecón, where you can watch the Sea of Cortez sunset while eating smoked marlin ta…
Taco Fish – A fried-fish taco institution founded in 1992 that gained fame through Netflix's Taco Chronicles. It is affordable, fas…
Las Tres Vírgenes – A wood-fired grill restaurant in a colonial-style courtyard in the old town, with a candlelit garden atmosphere ideal f…

Itineraries

Baja California Sur Cape Loop – Start from San José and loop through Cabo Pulmo, La Paz, Todos Santos, and Cabo San Lucas.
La Paz Whale Sharks, Sea Lions & White Sand Bays – Based in La Paz, spend three days seeing whale sharks, Espíritu Santo sea lions, and Balandra Beach.
Baja California Sur Winter Whales – Travel south from Loreto to Los Cabos, spotting blue whales, gray whales, whale sharks, sea lions, and humpback whales…