FreeMalecón de La Paz
The seafront promenade that is the living room of La Paz: a long, flat stretch of sidewalk, sculptures, benches and sand along the bay. It is free, it faces west, and it is at its best around sunset.
1-2 hoursDetails →
Baja California Sur (Mexico)
La Paz (Baja California Sur)
La Paz is the relaxed capital of Baja California Sur, a bayside city with a long seafront promenade, a small historic core and some of the best wildlife water in the Sea of Cortez.
This guide covers the essentials for a first visit: the Malecón at sunset, the cathedral and Jardín Velasco, the regional anthropology and history museum and the art museum, the protected beach of Balandra, a boat day to Isla Espíritu Santo with its sea lions, the seasonal whale shark swim, sandboarding on the El Mogote dunes, a kayak safari on the bay and a guided street food walk. The five stays were each checked against current guest reviews and recent rates, from a design-led hotel on the Malecón to a resort on the Pichilingue road and simple budget rooms a couple of minutes from the water.
Don't miss
Malecón de La Paz
The seafront promenade that is the living room of La Paz: a long, flat stretch of sidewalk, sculptures, benches and sand along the bay. It is free, it faces west, and it is at its best around sunset.
Isla Espíritu Santo Boat Trip and Sea Lion Snorkel
A day on the water to Isla Espíritu Santo, a protected island in the Sea of Cortez, with a sea lion snorkel and beach time. Sea lion swimming runs roughly September to May.
Whale Shark Snorkeling in the Bay of La Paz
A small-group snorkel with the gentle giants of the bay, led by guides who know where the whale sharks feed. It is seasonal: sharks arrive from around October and the season generally runs into spring.
Museo Regional de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur
The state museum of Baja California Sur, run by Mexico's national heritage institute, tells the story of the peninsula from its first peoples and rock art through the missions to the 20th century. A rainy-day or midday-heat favourite.
Things to do in La Paz (Baja California Sur)
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeCathedral of Our Lady of La Paz and Jardín Velasco
The Cathedral of Our Lady of La Paz and the shady Jardín Velasco beside it form the quiet civic heart of the historic center, a few minutes inland from the Malecón. Free to visit and easy to combine with two museums.
30-60 minutesDetails →
Museo Regional de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur
The state museum of Baja California Sur, run by Mexico's national heritage institute, tells the story of the peninsula from its first peoples and rock art through the missions to the 20th century. A rainy-day or midday-heat favourite.
FreeMuseo de Arte de Baja California Sur
A contemporary art museum in a restored 19th-century building beside the cathedral and Jardín Velasco, with modern and contemporary halls and a room for Baja California Sur artists. Reported free, and a cool, quiet stop in the heart of town.
1 hourDetails →
Playa Balandra
A shallow turquoise bay about 27 km from La Paz, inside a protected natural area, with a mushroom-shaped rock, short trails and warm water. Access is managed with visitor limits, so plan ahead and confirm the rules.
Isla Espíritu Santo Boat Trip and Sea Lion Snorkel
A day on the water to Isla Espíritu Santo, a protected island in the Sea of Cortez, with a sea lion snorkel and beach time. Sea lion swimming runs roughly September to May.
Whale Shark Snorkeling in the Bay of La Paz
A small-group snorkel with the gentle giants of the bay, led by guides who know where the whale sharks feed. It is seasonal: sharks arrive from around October and the season generally runs into spring.
Sandboarding on the El Mogote Dunes
Slide down the sand dunes of El Mogote, the peninsula across the bay from La Paz, where desert, mangroves and sea meet. A guided session for beginners and active travellers.
Kayak Safari in the Bahía de La Paz
A two-hour paddle on the calm waters of the bay of La Paz, looking for birds, rays and other marine life with a guide. An easy, quiet way to see the bay up close.
Guided La Paz Street Food Tour
A three-hour guided walk through the everyday food of La Paz, from tacos and seafood to local snacks and sweets. A tasty way to get your bearings in the historic center on your first evening.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Baja Club Hotel
Historic Center, Malecón
A design-led hotel in a restored colonial-style villa on Paseo Álvaro Obregón, steps from the Malecón. The splurge pick, with a courtyard pool, a spa, a rooftop bar and a restaurant built on local seafood.
Check rates →Hotel Indigo La Paz Puerta Cortes
Pichilingue Road, Costa Baja
An upscale resort-style hotel on the Pichilingue road, renovated in 2023, with a swim-up bar, a spa and a free beach club. Pick it for a pool-and-beach stay a short drive from town.
Check rates →Hotel Catedral La Paz
Historic Center, near the cathedral
A well-reviewed mid-range hotel two minutes from the cathedral and five from the Malecón, with free breakfast, free covered parking and a rooftop terrace. Best value for a first visit on foot.
Check rates →Seven Crown La Paz Malecón
Malecón, Historic Center
A 54-room hotel on the corner of Álvaro Obregón and Lerdo de Tejada, one minute from the Malecón, with a rooftop bar, a jacuzzi and a restaurant. A value-minded seafront stay.
Check rates →Hotel Lorimar
Zona Comercial, near the Malecón
A simple budget hotel on Nicolás Bravo, a two-minute walk from the Malecón, with six room types, free Wi-Fi and tour assistance. The pick for travellers who spend their days on the water.
Check rates →La Paz (Baja California Sur) guides
First-Timer's Guide to La Paz, Baja California Sur
What to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and how the Malecón, the museums, Balandra, Isla Espíritu Santo and the whale sharks fit together on a first visit.
Where to Stay in La Paz, Baja California Sur
A neighbourhood guide to the Malecón and historic center versus the Pichilingue road, matched to five hotels that are open now.
