Discover La Paz

La Paz, Mexico

La Paz is a seaside town in Mexico that remains largely, and surprisingly, untouched by tourism. While so many of Mexico's coastal resort towns have relinquished their charm, La Paz has retained its authentic, "Old Baja," small-town appeal.

Busy and charming, historic yet contemporary, La Paz offers a spectacular beachfront boardwalk and an abundance of colorful shops and markets, museums, galleries and theaters. Situated at the gateway to the Sea of Cortez, which Jacques Cousteau aptly called, "The world’s aquarium," La Paz offers world-class scuba diving, snorkeling, spectacular sport fishing, boating, water sports, and some of the best adventure-tourism in Mexico.

Day Trips from La Paz

Venture further to find even more history, culture and adventure. Travel the Baja Sur loop to some of the sleepy Mexican towns, explore the region and set your own pace. Or, choose from many single and multi-day excursions offered by the numerous tour companies of La Paz, so you can relax, enjoy the sights, and spend a few days discovering the diverse desert, sea and mountain landscapes.

Beaches

The beaches are one of the big attractions, with beautiful white, soft sand, and are swim able (unlike many of the resorts on the tip of the Baja peninsula). Amenities range from palapas, restrooms and showers to restaurants, bars and water sports rental equipment.

Dining & Nightlife

La Paz offers a wide variety of international fare from fine dining to casual…classic Mexican, Italian, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean and more. After hours there are many different clubs, cafes and bars that cater to a wide range of tastes from Latin Rock to Jazz to a quiet romantic respite on the malecon.

The Sea of Cortez

The Sea of Cortez is unique in several ways: it receives more sunlight than any other sea (340-plus days of sunshine per year); it has extreme depths of greater than 2 miles; and it contains three distinct currents. The result is an abundance of microscopic plankton, the stable diet of marine life. Thus, in this environmentally-preserved ecosystem, the wealth of marine wildlife is unequalled anywhere in the northern hemisphere.

The Sea of Cortez Experience

The Sea of Cortez, or Gulf of California, is a naturalist’s delight, both above and below the waters, and offers a huge assortment of water sports and eco-adventures for you to enjoy. For starters, it is a world-class sport-fishing, scuba-diving and deep-sea snorkeling destination. Equally a boater’s dream, the Sea of Cortez abounds with deserted islands waiting to be explored, as well as pristine, white sand beaches, secret coves, and uninhabited islets — perfect for a kayaking, sailing, or cruising expedition.

Espiritu Santo Island

Venture to the magnificent coves of Isla Espiritu Santo. This island, 18 miles north of La Paz, is a nature preserve rich in cacti, plants and wildlife, where you can camp overnight and spend long hours beachcombing, hiking, admiring the sunset and star-gazing into the wee hours. The Sea of Cortez gives a whole new meaning to the word captivating.

Protected Wildlife

The Sea of Cortez has been described as "Ferocious with life," by writer John Steinbeck, while legendary diver Jacques Cousteau referred to the Sea of Cortez as the "world's aquarium." In 2005, hundreds of islands in Mexico's Sea of Cortez were declared World Heritage Fund sites by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as it is home to one-third of the world’s whale and dolphin species. The Sea of Cortez houses twelve species of annual whales; including the Blue Whale (the largest animal that inhabits the planet), Humpback Whales and California Gray Whales, who travel 12,000 miles from the Arctic Sea to reach the choice lagoons which have become their annual birthing grounds.

Attractions

Go whale-watching in Magdalena Bay, where California Grey Whales migrate every year to mate and bear their young during the winter months. These gentle giants travel from the Bering Sea to the bay’s mangrove-lined lagoons, which are home to hundreds of species of birds, including pelicans and snowy egrets. Or, catch a wave at Todos Santos, a surfing destination with a thriving community of painters and sculptors.

Visit the historic Mission of Nuestra Senora de Pilar del La Paz (Our Lady of the Pillar of Peace). Originally founded in 1723, it became the Mission of Santa Rosa de Todos Santos in 1733. Or, trek by foot or horseback into the desert hills to discover towering cardón, the world’s largest cactus, which can grow to a stunning 60 feet. More than 4,000 plants thrive in this ecosystem and countless coyotes, foxes, pumas and bighorn sheep make their homes here.

Endless Possibilities

Camp out at the Punta Coyote and San Evaristo beaches, or head into the Sierra de la Laguna, which was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1994, and where you can catch a glimpse of fast-moving lizards and roadrunners. In the higher altitudes, discover the oaks and pines that thrive in the cooler climates.

Kite board or windsurf in Los Barriles, where winter winds make this the ideal spot to zip through the sea alongside sandy beaches. Become a part of the colorful display of sails soaring by, or sit seaside and enjoy the display of adventurous acrobats. Immerse yourself in the countless eco-tourism opportunities offered in La Paz, take advantage of the wonders of the Sea of Cortez, and create lasting memories that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

Getting to La Paz

With a population of 220,000, La Paz is the ideal base camp for your holiday, second home, or retirement property in Mexico. While large enough to give you all the conveniences of a modern city, La Paz has retained its small-town charm and authenticity. It's no wonder that Money Magazine, CNN and The New York Times have called La Paz the number one place in the world to retire. Our visitors come for the tranquility, safety, and vibrant traditional Mexican culture that only La Paz can offer.

By Air

Many airlines offer flights to and from the La Paz airport (LAP). Alaska Airline offers non-stop direct flights from Los Angeles (LAX), with connecting flights from many U.S. and Canadian cities.

Alaska Airlines (toll-free): 1-800-426-0333


American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, US Airways, Frontier Airlines, America West and Mexicana Airlines offer service into San José del Cabo International Airport (SJD). La Paz is just 100 miles north by car or tour bus.

AeroMexico offers direct flights to La Paz from Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara (GDL), Mazatlan (MZT) and Tijuana (TIJ).

By Land

Car rental agencies are plentiful and it's an easy ten minutes drive into La Paz from the La Paz airport. Rental cars can also be picked up in Cabo San Lucas, or any other major city. Buses are an excellent alternative to a rental car. They are generally clean, frequent, efficient and inexpensive.

Avis: (612) 122-1813*
Avis: (612) 122-7655*
Dollar Rent-A-Car: (612) 122-6060*
Hertz (Airport Location): (612) 124-1011*
Hertz (Downtown La Paz): (612) 122-5300*
National (Airport Location): (612) 124-6625*
National (Downtown La Paz): (612) 125-6585*
Thrifty (Airport Location): (612) 124-6365*
Thrifty (Downtown La Paz): (612) 125-9696*

By Sea

Cross the beautiful Sea of Cortez by ferry from mainland Mexico, or arrive at our marina in your own pleasure craft.

Baja Ferries operates two passinger ships, the Chihuahua Star and the California Star, with regular service to La Paz from Mazatlan and Los Mochis/Topolobambo.
Baja Ferries: (612) 123-6600*

Sailing into La Paz is easy to chart, with Marina CostaBaja just 16 nautical miles from the San Lorenzo Channel. Marina CostaBaja offers both long and short-term slip rentals for vessels up to 200 feet, as well as complete boat care services.
Marina CostaBaja: 612-121-6225*

* Dial 01152 first when calling from the U.S. or Canada