Guide To La Paz

About La Paz

La Paz is one five main locations in Baja California Sur - which also include Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Todos Santos and Loreto. All of these places can be discovered individually with Mexperience.

La Paz - meaning "Peace" - is on Mexico's Baja Peninsula, the land immediately south of the United States, and cut off from mainland Mexico by the Sea of Cortez, sometimes also referred to as the Gulf of California.

This region of Mexico is a real paradise - with its hot deserts, and cool, warm breezed oceans of waters reflecting several different shades of blues and greens.

The region is a particular favorite with divers, golfers and people looking for sports fishing excursions (note: There is no golf in La Paz but you can find golf courses in both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo).

La Paz still exhibits the old world charm of Mexico's Baja region. The city is the Baja California Sur state capital, and there are four universities here, which gives the city cultural and academic slants including theatres and museums to enjoy.

No other town or city in Baja California Sur offers the range of medical facilities available in La Paz, so if you're traveling in the region and need some medical assistance, La Paz is your best stop.

La Paz boasts good hotels, adequate infrastructure and a friendly laid-back atmosphere - a perfect recipe for a first-class family holiday - it's no wonder many people bring their families here to enjoy this magnificent corner of Mexico.

Tropical deserts and fascinating wildlife make this venue a great place for people looking for an Eco trip. Unspoiled, remote beaches are just a short ride away from the town.

La Paz is an easy-going destination; and offers the best value for money in this region.

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Key Attractions

Best Beaches

If you're looking for some of the most beautiful beaches in the world - and which will easily rival any you may have seen in the Caribbean or elsewhere - look no further than a few miles from La Paz.   Soft sandy beaches and crystal clear waters reflecting the unmistakable blues and greens of perfect tranquility are waiting here for you to experience and enjoy them.

La Paz is a commercial port, so swimming in the waters nearby the city is not always ideal. The most popular beach for swimming is La Concha, which is just north of town. Beach tours will take you out to the more remote beaches, away from the crowds and the ships.

Nature and Adventure Experiences in La Paz

La Paz is a perfect base from which to enjoy Mexico's great outdoors and take part in a variety of Nature and Adventure experiences in Mexico.

The local ecology, the landscape, the climate and the proximity to the sea make this region a natural paradise for those who love enjoying nature. What more, you can find experienced and well prepared local companies in La Paz who are ready to help you enjoy the best of what this region offers.

Fishing, kayaking, sailing, camping, surfing, horseback riding, nature walks, fabulous bird watching, cliff hikes, sunset cruises, watching the amazing whales sea lions are just some of the activities you can enjoy in the area.

Water Sports

With its calm waters, fine weather and uncompromising beaches, water sports are one of the main attractions in La Paz. Snorkeling, SCUBA diving, kayaking, water skiing and jet-skis - if it's water based, you can experience it in La Paz.

Local Cruises

What better way to enjoy the scenery than on a local boat cruise? Local cruises take you on tours around the many islets surrounding Baja California Sur, and can include a visit to the largest sea-lion colony in the area (see below for more details about these) and sunset cruises that let you experience some of the most wonderful sunsets you'll ever view in your life.

Whale Watching & Sea Lion Colonies

From the Bering Strait, whales migrate to the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur between January and March of each year. To see the marvel of the great creatures, you'll need to visit 'in season'. There are 3 main areas where it's best to view the whales - the main one being Magdalena Bay off the Pacific Coast - check the Mexperience Travel Center for details of these organized Eco Tours (link below).

You can also take a cruise to one of the islands just off the coast of La Paz, and see Baja's largest sea-lion colony.

Sports Fishing Experiences

La Paz is one of Mexico's top destinations for Sports Fishing. Read our Guide to Sports Fishing in Mexico and discover just what a fantastic day out a sports fishing experience can be on your next visit to Mexico!

Away from the Water

Although water-oriented activities dominate La Paz's activity scene, don't miss some of the drier attractions waiting for you inland here.

The Anthropology Museum and City Theater are two main attractions, worth looking at if you're in need of a dry activity. The museum is open six days a week. Check locally for scheduled Theatrical presentations.

All of the Mainstream Guidebooks give detailed information about the non-water based attractions in La Paz.  Find a guidebook on the Mexperience Bookshelf.

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Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air - You can get to La Paz by air from Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana and Los Angeles (USA).

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines

By Bus - To get to Baja California Sur, your best bet is to fly there (see above); the bus journey from Tijuana to La Paz is about 27 hours; then a further 2 hours from there to Los Cabos.

By Car - Driving to La Paz from the southern border of the United States will take you about 20-24 hours on Highway 1.

See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

By Ferry - If you are on Mexico's mainland, or want to get to it, there is a ferry that crosses the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California) to and from La Paz to the port cities of Mazatlan and Los Mochis (Topolobambo). The ferry trip to/from Mazatlan takes 18 hours and does not run daily; sleeping cabins are available with advance bookings. The ferry to/from Los Mochis (Topolobambo) takes around 8 hours and does not sail daily either. Check the Ferry's web site at: www.bajaferries.com for details of routes, schedules, prices and contact details.

Note: Recently, a new catamaran service between Topolobambo and La Paz has been introduced, which cuts the journey time in half based on the previous ferry services. See the Baja Ferries web site (link above) for details.

Getting Around

From the Airport - The airport is about 10 miles southeast of La Paz. Terrestrial Transport is available from the airport into town; if you're traveling alone or with just one or two other people, ask for the lower fare option which will mean you share the cost with others in a comfortable suburban van. If you want to rent a car, agencies have desks inside the main airport terminal building. Booking in advance will save you money (see link below).

Local Buses - Local buses are available, but most of La Paz is accessible on foot provided that you're not adverse to a good walk!

Taxis - Local taxis are widely available, but not metered, so agree your price before you get in. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price. Another good reason to Learn Spanish.

Rent a Car - If you want to see all of the amazing beaches and scenery which reside within a 20-60 mile radius of La Paz, your best bet is to rent a car.

See the Mexperience Travel Center for Car Rental in La Paz.

By Local Bus - Renting a car is the most flexible way to see the surrounding area, although if your budget is tight or you want to see more of local life, local buses do run run frequently connecting La Paz, Los Cabos and Todos Santos as well as other destinations further north such as Loreto and destinations into Baja California Norte (e.g. Ensenada).

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses.

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Local Events Calendar

Starting in Late January, the five week long festival of the Gray Whale takes place, to coincide with the whales' migration from the Bering strait.

One of best carnivals in the country can be found in La Paz and it happens just before Lent.

May 3rd a party/festival marks the day Hernan Cortez landed on the Peninsula in 1535.

If you like competitive fishing, the annual fishing tournaments are in August, September and November.

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Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area of La Paz. During business hours, they and the Casas de Cambio will buy traveler's checks and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico - new ones open and old ones close all the time - but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.

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Accommodation

• Find a Hotel in La Paz

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Restaurants

Carlos'n Charlie's. International-Mexican. Corner of Paseo Alvaro Obregon and 16 de Septiembre, Centro. Tel. (612) 1229290.

Los Tres Chiles. Mexican food. Corner of Abasolo and Jalisco. Tel: (612) 3485521.

Las Brisas del Mar. Steak house. Corner of Alvaro Obregon and H. Colegio Militar. Tel: (612) 1235055

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When Night Falls

La Paz has a good selection of cafes, restaurants, bars and night clubs that will keep party goers going to the early hours of the morning.

Lots of visitors begin their evening with a drink at one of the cafes or bars along the malecon (boardwalk) to watch the sun set into the ocean.

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What to Buy in La Paz

See the Mexperience Travel Center for Shopping Experiences in La Paz.

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Local Climate

The weather during the summer months will be extremely hot; cooler near the coasts.  In the winter it can get cooler and windy, so if you're traveling in the winter, take some warmer clothes just in case the weather turns cooler (especially in the evenings) while you're there.   The 'rainy season' is September, otherwise this part of Mexico enjoys sunshine and dry weather most days of the year.

Live Weather Report:

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