La Paz, Mexico is one of the best places to visit in Mexico having variety of beautiful beaches, adventurous places, architectural sites, sea food, and marine life. Located in the Baja California Sur, La Paz provides you with the best tourist’s destination.
Here, I have curated a list of best places to visit and best things to do in La Paz, Mexico, so explore it get finest out of it!
Important Information
Time required for this trip: 5 to 7 days
Best time to travel to La Paz: You can visit any time of the year but if you want quitter and less crowded places then visit in winters.
Language: Spanish
Weather: 25-33°C in the summer and 18-25°C in winter.
Currency: Mexican Peso
The Best Things to do in La Paz
1. Visit Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Paz
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Paz is also known as “Our Lady of Peace Cathedral” and acts as a group of churches supervised by the bishop. It is a catholic church that is present in the old downtown of La Paz and Jesuits found his mission here in 18th century.
Most of the La Paz’s religious events are hosted at this place and it is sometimes used for the musical performances. It is a good place to visit to see the blend of history and modernism.
2. Visit the famous Museums
If you are an art lover like me then must visit the famous museums that is definitely one of the best things to do in La Paz. Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur also known as the Museum of Art is a good museum that represents the local artwork of Baja California Sur.
If you are interested in the evolutionary history of the humans then Museo Regional de Antropología E Historia de Baja California Sur or the Museum of Anthropology is a best place. Exhibitions are held at this museum featuring the Paleolithic and Spanish art that is the main attraction of this place.
3. See the graffiti art
DIY graffiti tour is one of the pleasurable and best things to do in the La Paz where you can closely see the beautiful artwork of the local artists both from public and private sectors. Gorgeous murals are placed here that tell the stories of the legends of La Paz. You can also find the local artwork in the other regions of the La Paz.
4. People watch in Jardín Velasco
Velasco Garden is a calm and serene place full of beauty that is present within the main square between Museo de Arte and Catedral de Nuestra Señora. When you are tired with the busy routine you can sit on the benches in the garden and relax for certain time, you can also have your lunch here peacefully.
5. Food and Drink at La Paz
Having good food is definitely one of the best things to do in La Paz and the good news is that you can have world class food over here.
Few best items of the La Paz are listed here for your convenience;
- Chilaquiles: sliced corn tortillas topped with cheese and tomato sauce.
- Mexican potatoes: fried potatoes that are cubed.
- Refried beans: mashed beans with the paste
- Avocado: guacamole
- Pancakes: fluffy and tasty pancakes
6. Hike in the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains
Sierra de la Laguna Mountains is present between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz is consists of canyons, mountains and plains. You can find various hiking tracks in this region some are used by beginners are some are for the professional hikers. Take the help of some local guide to carefully choose your hiking trail.
It is a very captivating place full of palm trees, desert, hot springs, cacti and water falls, so must include it in your itinerary to the La Paz.
7. Shop the markets
La Paz is a modern and lively city and there are a lot of markets from where you can buy souvenirs for your friends and family. Local weekend markets are best place for this purpose where you can buy this material at an affordable cost and support the local community.
It will be good to visit Mercado Francisco for handmade craft, vegetables, fruits and meet. In my list shopping is one of the best things to do in La Paz but if you do not like shopping much you can skip this activity.
8. Take Pictures with the La Paz sign
The La Paz sign is present on the Malecon and provides a good place to take pictures. Please usually consider it one of the best things to do in La Paz because it is actually the testimony of their visit to La Paz. These signs are illuminated at night and provide the best view. most of the people like taking pictures so it could be one of the best things to do in La Paz.
9. Find the Sculptures
Various beautiful sculptures are also present on the Malecon street so I would recommend to walk along and explore the beautiful art pieces made by local artists with symbols depicting the La Paz. The position of each sculpture represents the block entrance so it will be easier for you to find your way.
10. Walk the Malecón
A malecón is a street or a central avenue which runs all over a seafront. La Paz’s malecón offers delightful perspectives on the waterfront, as well as sea shores, parks, docks and seats.
It offers play area for kids and a bandstand for musical performances. You can walk along the street or rent a bike to cover the 5 km area. It is highly recommended to see the sunset at this place that is really an enchanting scene.
Important Safety Tips for Best La Paz Beaches (Beach Visit in Definitely One of the Best Things to do in La Paz)
La Paz Beaches are inhabited by the tiny creatures, stingrays. They usually do not harm but can bite if scared by your presence or you stepped on them. Their sting is poisonous, so try to avoid it by changing the movement of your feet in the water, so they can notice your presence and run away.
It is good to wear the water shoes while walking because there could be rocky areas under water.
If you are getting bored by the busy schedule and planning a vacation then must look at the list of best La Paz beaches.
11. Snorkel with Sea Lions
Ever wondered to be snorkel with sea lions? Yes, you can do it at La Paz in reality. There are two sites where you can perform this activity Los Islotes at Isla Espíritu Santo and San Rafaelito. So, book your tour to this place as it is actually one of the best things to do in La Paz.
12. Go Whale and Dolphin Watching
You can closely watch dolphins and whales in the La Paz waters when it transfers to the Sea of Cortez. Have a boat trip for the best view and if you are looking for grey whales then you can go to Magdalena Bay that is 3 hours away from the La Paz.
Various tourists’ companies manage these trips and for the best experience try some licensed company that take cares of human and animal rights.
13. Visit Balandra Bay
Balandra Beach is the most famous beach in the Mexico and the place is really beautiful. People consider it the most attractive landscape because of the scenic hills, cliffs, turquoise water, beautiful mangroves, and white sand.
You can have a lifetime experience in the water by standing still in the smaller waves and water moves across your feet and it feels like you are moving with water but actually you are not. Apart from this you can also do other fun things such as;
- Walk through mushroom rocks
- Kayaking: I consider it among the best things to do in La Paz
- Hiking
Insider tips for Playa Balandra
There is no ticket to enter the beach but entry is time bound. You can enter between 8 am and 12 pm and then in the second shift visitors can enter the beach between 1 and 5 pm.
Because of the time schedule, you need to carefully plan your trip.
14. Try Sandboarding
Sand boarding is really and exciting experience and you can do it in the La Paz at El Mogote that is not very far from the main city. Doing it at the sunset from 100 feet height is one the best things to do at La Paz.
15. Go Paddle Boarding
If you are a calm person then try a relaxing activity like paddle boarding at Balandra Bay. Stand up paddle boarding is the most common thing people do at UNESCO World Heritage Site of Espiritu Santo.
Its fun to explore these areas with paddle boarding.
16. Scuba dive
If you are fond of exploring the world that is underwater then must do scuba diving in La Paz. But only do it if you are an experienced diver because you will have to dive with sea lions that could be terrifying but exciting for those who are professional divers.
17. Kayak in Mangroves
Do kayaking in the serene waters of La Paz and explore the Mangroves. Try it with a local guide for best experience because guide will tell you about the wild life and flora and fauna of the area. It is advisable to carry your snacks with you because it is difficult to get food items there.
Getting Around Baja California Sur
Renting a car: It is the best way to get around but carefully check the prices from local companies for better experience.
- Bus: You can find good bus services between Cabo airport and La Paz downtown.
- Tours: Guided tours can provide you with the best experience in the La Paz Mexico and other areas of Baja California Sur. Browse La Paz tours here to explore the tour of your choice.
- Uber, Taxi, and Didi: Taxi and Uber are good choices to travel to and from the airport. The new application (Didi) is also common in Mexico these days that provides safe travels at a reasonable price.
FAQs
Does La Paz have good beaches?
There are a lot of beautiful beaches at the La Paz that include, El Tesoro Beach, Playa Balandra, Playa Tecolote, Playa Ensenada Grande, and Cerritos. These beaches provide stunning views and snorkeling, and swimming activities.
Can you see blue whales in La Paz?
Blue whales are unique creatures and you can see them while moving from Loreto to the La Paz via Mechudo Corridor.
What is the best season to visit La Paz?
If you like crowd then July and August are the best months to visit La Paz, however, if you want to avoid the rush then visit it in May or September.
Is La Paz safe for tourists?
Overall the area is safe and closely monitored by the police because of its large tourist value. However, there are chances of certain unpleasant events when you go away from the Malecon.