Laid-back, old-world beauty can be found on a stroll along the waterfront Malecón or in the older architecture around the Plaza Constitución; chichi restaurants, cafes and bars cunningly hide in between the cracks. It’s a surprisingly international town – you’re as likely to hear French, Portuguese or Italian here as English or Spanish, and yet paradoxically it’s the most ‘Mexican’ city in all of Baja.
PLAYA BALANDRA
The most beautiful in a series of beaches north of La Paz, Playa Balandra is an enclosed cove with shallow azure water that’s great for toddlers. Kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent, and beachgoers can also explore tide pools, gaze upon Espiritu Santo, and hike to neighboring coves. The beach directly to the north is home to the famous mushroom rock formation, a hit on Instagram and the unofficial symbol of La Paz. Though the top part occasionally tumbles from its perch, dedicated locals always repair it.
Playa El Coromuel
A little further north along the coast but feels sheltered inside its bay with shallow waters that stretch for miles.
Playa El Tecolote
The closest beach to Balandra, and sits at the northern end of the small peninsula, meaning the waves are a little rougher here. The beach is lined with restaurants, lounges, and palapas and feels the most developed.
Playa El Saltito
Located on the east of the peninsula, this beach isn’t protected by the Bay of La Paz and the waves here are strong. But the scenery is incredible, the beach is quiet and the drive here through the mountains is stunning.
THE MAGIC OF THE MALECÓN
La Paz’s waterfront, with its wide sidewalk, tiny beaches, tourist pier, benches, sculptures by local artists, and unimpeded sunset views, is the city’s highlight. It stretches 5.5km, from the Marina de la Paz in the south to Playa Coromuel in the north. It started getting a face-lift in 2017 that will continue in stages over a few years. La Paz’s Malecón offers beautiful views of the waterfront, as well as beaches, parks, piers, and benches. There’s a bandstand, where buskers and musicians can often be found, and a playground for little ones. You can rent a bike or hire a scooter and cycle the 3-mile (5km) waterfront to take in the views. We’d highly recommend pausing at sunset to see one of the best views in La Paz, the marina, lit up orange and red. Also situated on the Malecón are lots of ocean-themed sculptures. Making your own walking tour to find each piece is one of the best free things to do in La Paz. Their positions mark the entrance to each block, which can be handy for finding your way around. Each sculpture has been created by a local artist and is a symbol that represents La Paz. The Malecón of La Paz is one of the city’s icons. For locals and visitors alike, this waterfront boardwalk is the ideal place to meet, walk, exercise or simply enjoy the dazzling colors that the sunsets offer.
MURALS
The colorful murals in La Paz, Mexico display the cultural origins of the town, as well as many simultaneous themes of the indigenous people and their relationship with the sea. La Paz was the setting for the Ciudad Mural project in 2017, which hosted 26 artists to decorate more than 1,350 square meters of the city center with colorful murals. Since then, there have been several other street art initiatives, and as a result, the city is a rainbow of art reflecting the environment, culture and history of La Paz. The project was conceived by Colectivo Tomate, a group of artists, lawyers, architects and designers from the city of Puebla, north of Mexico City. They realized that street art could be a tool to spark imagination, empower the disadvantaged, and encourage locals to take pride in their city and culture. Their goal is to encourage people to re-appropriate their own public space and repaint it in their image. La Paz has a crucial relationship with the sea, something that was celebrated by ancestors in the area and still is by locals today. Visitors come now to La Paz for the aquatic biodiversity, sundry cultures, and profound history. This is what the project, Ciudad Mural, and the 300 people of La Paz who participated, choose to celebrate together. The city is home to over 80 different murals, which you can choose to discover via a street art tour or with a self-guided street art map.
SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS
Enjoy the grace and gentleness of the largest fish in the world
An awesome thing to do in La Paz is to swim with the whale shark. Whale sharks enjoy the warm waters of the Bay of La Paz where it feeds on plankton, and allows us to swim and observe its natural habitat closely. Its large size and noble personality place it in the classification among the largest fish in the world, with lengths of up to 12 meters and weight of up to 20 tons This good-natured giant does not represent any danger to humans, they are calm and friendly. Currently, they are in the danger of extinction category. This is happening as a result of the reduction of their populations due to legal and illegal fishing that they have suffered throughout history, in addition to other threats such as garbage in the seas, accidents with boats and pollutants that result in a change in their habitat. There may also be human behaviors in tourism that negatively affect the biology of the animal. Therefore, the best and most sensible thing to do when interacting with them is to listen carefully to the instructions and recommendations of the guides and choose those who have certifications and permits in order. In this way, it can be an enriching experience for you and a safe one for the species.
