La Paz

Baja California Sur - Other Cities and Attractions

La Paz is the capital and largest city of Baja California Sur. In spite of its' growth, this city, whose name means 'Peace', has maintained its charm and small-town friendliness. Some call it the most traditional city on the Baja Peninsula.

The beaches of La Paz are snuggled into small coves, between cactus-studded hills and calm, turquoise water. This is prime windsurfing area, and is also popular for scuba diving and snorkeling. The calm waters off La Paz are perfect for kayaking, and both novice and experienced kayakers enjoy trips along the coast to nearby islands.

Playa Tecolote, or Owl Beach, is northeast of town and is a good beach for camping. Here, a quiet extension of the Sea of Cortez laps against a stretch of gleaming white sand, and restaurants line the beach. Just south of town is secluded Playa Balandra, which has a shallow cove that is excellent for snorkeling.

La Paz has also become a center for whale watching excursions to Magdalena Bay on the Pacific Coast. La Paz has an abundance of shops featuring Mexican folk art, pottery and hand embroidered clothing. Restaurants are plentiful and seafood is fresh, delicious and cheap. Mexican specialties include enormous grilled lobsters, homemade tortillas and guacamole.

The city's historical and sightseeing attractions are limited, compared to what awaits sports enthusiasts, ecotourists and lovers of the great outdoors. Nature takes top billing in La Paz, and most visitors spend time either out of town at the beach or on an offshore island exploring Sea of Cortés environs. Nonetheless, there are some sights to explore.

Plaza constitución

The city's main square (also called the Jardín Velasco) has been rebuilt and modernized since colonial days. On one side is the imposing Cathedral, built in 1861 by Dominican priests on the site of the city's original Jesuit mission, founded in 1720. On the Plaza's north side is the former Palacio Municipal, now home to the Baja Sur Youth Center.

Museo Regional de Antroplogia e Historia

The city's best museum features displays focusing on the peninsula's native inhabitants, ecology and geology. Displays are in Spanish only.

Teatro de la Ciudad

The City's sprawling cultural center has music, dance and theater performances, plus an art gallery and gray whale exhibit.

Malecón

La Paz city life revolves around the town's coastal promenade that lines Paseo Álvaro Obregón. Much of the City's dining and night life is here. The promenade stretches for several kilometers past sandy beaches (some of which attract sunbathers and swimmers). The city's more popular beaches are north of town along the Pichilingue Peninsula (see below). Strollers, vendors, fishermen, and the city's friendly residents make the malecón a lively spot for people watching. The seaside Parque de la Amistad (with benches and a two-story kiosk) faces one of several piers that extend into Bahía La Paz.

Beaches

To the north of town along Pichilingue Peninsula are several attractive, desert-backed beaches. The road leads past a large PEMEX facility, shipyards, shrimp cultivation ponds, and a failed desalination plant. Beach facilities are somewhat limited, but the setting is pure magic: calm warm water and soft white sand, backed by mangroves and cactus- studded mountains. Here are some extra special beaches (listed south to north as you head out of town).

Coromuel/El Caimancito (4.5 km): Popular with locals, especially on weekends, Caimancito is the location of the La Concha Resort.

El Tesoro (13 km): Small cove, named after buried pirate treasure was discovered here during road construction in 1965.

Pichilingue (19 km): Home to the La Paz ferry terminus and a large commercial harbor that never quite caught on. Nice beaches are just north of the deep water port; several palapa restaurants.

Balandra (23 km): This lovely cove and bay is backed by green mangroves; ideal for kayaking, swimming, and sunbathing. A few palapas and bbq pits are the only facilities. Don't miss the landmark balancing rock formation, El Hongo.

Tecolote (26 km): lovely stretch of white sand with Isla Espíritu Santo off shore; sport equipment rental, beachfront restaurants, RV and camper slips. Great swimming and water sports beach. Boats can be rented for crossings to Isla Espíritu Santo (a 6.5 km crossing).

Coyote (36 km from La Paz; 10 km past Tecolote via a dirt road): at the northern tip of Pichilingue Peninsula and facing the Sea of Cortés.

Island Exploration

Just off shore are some of Baja's most stunningly beautiful islands. Guided boat excursions take snorkelers, hikers and nature lovers for either day excursions or multiple night camping trips. Visitors have several options for seeing the island (kayak tours, panga rentals, nature cruises).

Isla Espíritu Santo: Stretching 19 km long and 5 km wide, this spectacular island has dozens of lovely bays, rich marine life and land-based reptiles, birds, and amphibians.

Isla Partida: Just north of Espíritu Santo, Partida has excellent snorkeling, particularly at El Cardonal and Ensenada Grande Bays.

Isla Cerralvo: This large deserted island (some 30 km long) is surrounded by some of the area's best diving spots.

Whale Watching Tours

Trips depart La Paz for the Pacific Coast villages of Puerto San Carlos and Puerto López Mateos (Magdalena Bay), Guerrero Negro (Scammons Lagoon), and San Ignacio (Laguna San Ignacio). Gray whales stop to bear their young in these bays during the months of January-March. Both day trips and overnight, multiple day excursions are available.

Buena Vista & Los Barriles (The East Cape)

South of La Paz, this coastal region is a string of beachfront fishing resorts and gorgeous beaches. The east cape stretches for about 30 km from Punta Pescadero south to Punta Colorada, along lovely Bahía de Palmas. It is about 70 km north of San José del Cabo and 110 km south of La Paz.

The region's two main communities (Los Barriles and Buenavista) are small villages 3 km apart. Most resort development has been pioneered by Americans that began coming here in the 1950's.

This area is renowned for its world-class sport fishing and windsurfing. Fishing here is outstanding - the area reportedly has the highest catch rate in the world! Billfish are caught from June - December, while smaller species bite the year round. Note: Catch and release is encouraged. Windsurfing is ideal from November - April. Surprisingly, the area also has an excellent surfing spot at Punta Arenas. The area is remote and secluded, catering to hard core sports enthusiasts, beach campers, and those wanting a peaceful, desert-by-the-sea escape.

Sierra de la Laguna

The mountains south of La Paz are home to rugged backcountry and a string of remote towns. Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1994, and accessible via Highway 1 on the route to San José del Cabo, the region has an incredible diversity of animal and plant life.

The region had its heyday in the 19th century thanks to silver and gold mines. Today much of the area is uninhabited, and attracts naturalists, mountain bikers, climbers, and hikers.

Villages in the regions (listed in order as you drive south from La Paz) include San Antonio (once inhabited by over 10,000 residents, dating to 1748 when a rich silver vein was discovered); El Triunfo (a former mining town with colonial-style buildings, a Victorian-style church, and crumbling ruins of an old silver mine foundry with a towering brick smoke stack); San Bartolo (a lush oasis famous for its fresh fruits and vegetables); and Santiago (a mission settlement dating to 1723. Also home to an interesting municipal zoo). All of these towns are stops along Highway 1 between La Paz and San José del Cabo.