La Paz, Mexico looks like an off-the-beaten-track vacation spot, however out of doors lovers have been coming to this attractive capital metropolis for ages. Located on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur, La Paz is just not solely house to Mexico’s most lovely seashores, however it’s additionally the proper leaping level for therefore many exhilarating adventures.
In simply 4 brief days, you may swim with whale sharks and sea lions, soak in sizzling springs, bathe beneath waterfalls, surf some Pacific waves, and spend a day on the seashore.
This La Paz itinerary is predicated on my expertise road-tripping round Baja California Sur, with La Paz as my house base. La Paz was my final cease on a three-month journey round Mexico.
I rapidly fell in love with the realm’s rugged magnificence and attraction. Although Baja is thought to draw loads of People (each vacationers and expats), La Paz itself feels to date faraway from the craziness of vacationer hubs like close by Cabo San Lucas.
The town is Baja California Sur’s capital and its title means “the peace” in Spanish. Locals name themselves “pazians” (peace individuals in English) and La Paz actually exudes peace regardless of its measurement. Life is gradual, locals are heat, and pure magnificence abounds. I hope you get pleasure from La Paz as a lot as I did.
Uncover this better of the area with this 4-day adventure-packed La Paz itinerary.
Be part of our group for entry to our free member sources!
Obtain Useful Outside Packing Checklists & Journey Planning Guides
The place is La Paz?
La Paz is the capital metropolis of Baja California Sur and is positioned on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula about 2.5 hours north of Cabo San Lucas. La Paz is on the Gulf of California aspect the place the water is extra calm than the Pacific aspect.
This La Paz itinerary works completely for folk flying into San José del Cabo because it begins and ends with adventures midway between Cabo and La Paz. It additionally works if you happen to fly into La Paz or are arriving through automobile as a result of the day journeys are simply an hour or two away from La Paz.
Here’s a map of the route with the entire factors of curiosity for this 4-day La Paz itinerary.
Obtained additional time to spare? Take into account doing a full Baja street journey – a very fashionable route for van lifers within the winter. You possibly can drive all thew manner down from San Diego to La Paz.
4-Day La Paz Itinerary
You will want a automobile for days one and 4, although you may simply swap these outings for extra native adventures.
As at all times, be happy to regulate this itinerary as a lot as you’d like. On the finish of this information, I point out another issues to do in La Paz so you may simply add or subtract no matter pursuits you most!
Day 1: Sizzling Springs and Waterfalls
Day one adventures happen within the Sierra Laguna mountains close to the small city of Santiago, the place desert terrain meets crystal-clear mountain streams and piping-hot pure springs.
Conveniently positioned 1.5 hours from Cabo and a couple of hours from La Paz, so you may both cease in Santiago throughout a drive between Cabo and La Paz or simply take a day journey from La Paz.
Many points of interest within the Sierra Laguna are on personal property, most hikes are usually not nicely documented, and telephone service is minimal, so it’s vital to plan forward. Additionally, you’ll need some water sneakers or sturdy sandals and produce loads of water and a few on-the-go snacks!
Be aware: For touring in Mexico, I like to recommend the Grayl Ultrapress Air purifier water bottle. It means that you can safely purify water from the faucet (or from streams), so you may keep away from shopping for and and utilizing so many plastic water bottles.
I like to recommend splitting your time in Santiago between the Santa Rita Sizzling Springs and Sol de Mayo Waterfall hike. Each are positioned on well-established personal ranches which can be used to welcoming guests (although few worldwide vacationers make it to those spots).
The 2 ranches are about twenty-five minutes aside, and are each about twenty minutes from the middle of Santiago, on a dusty filth street. You don’t want 4WD to drive on this street however anticipate some bumps. We drove it in a Toyota Corolla rental automobile with no points.
Begin on the Santa Rita Sizzling Springs, positioned a five-minute stroll from the car parking zone of Rancho Santa Rita. After paying a small entrance price to the rancher (carry money!), head down the pathway, passing the picnic tables.
The new springs are positioned throughout the small bridge. In entrance of the bridge, you’ll discover a refreshingly cool stream. Change between the recent springs and the cool stream, and ensure to swim up the stream the place a small waterfall is positioned.
Subsequent, head to Rancho Ecologico Sol De Mayo, the place you’ll discover the attractive Sol de Mayo Waterfall. After you park and pay the doorway price, the rancher will direct you to the path. Catch beautiful views of the river and waterfall above earlier than strolling about 10 minutes all the way down to the bottom of the falls.
Don’t miss swimming within the calm swimming pools beneath the waterfall and revel in a snack earlier than heading again to Santiago, then to La Paz. Take into account stopping at Los Barriles for a seaside dinner, or maintain your urge for food and revel in certainly one of La Paz’s eating places.
Tip: Some fundamental Spanish goes a great distance in rural Mexico. Although you may actually discover Santiago and La Paz with out talking Spanish, I like to recommend memorizing a number of fundamental phrases and phrases forward of time. As at all times, present respect and gratitude to locals as you discover their personal ranches.
Day 2: La Paz’s World-Well-known Seashores
No journey to La Paz is full and not using a seashore day. Most visits to La Paz focus on seeing Playa Balandra, which has been known as essentially the most lovely seashore in Mexico.
Whereas Balandra Seaside is actually price visiting, I like to recommend planning on visiting different La Paz seashores as nicely, since Balandra can get crowded and has strict opening hours.
As of November 2023, Playa Balandra sometimes opens from 8am-12pm, closes for an hour, after which opens once more from 1pm-5pm. Entry is proscribed and guests are required to depart for the one-hour break every day at midday.
Plan to arrive at 8am to make sure entry and take advantage of your time. Most La Paz eating places and low outlets aren’t open early, so make breakfast at your resort. Take into account additionally packing a lunch since eating choices are very restricted round most La Paz seashores.
Deliver a good solar hat, a packable seashore towel, and doubtlessly a pair of sneakers to stroll in. At Playa Balandra you may hike up the cliffs to see the bay from above, lease kayaks to discover the coves and mangroves, hike to close by Playa El Tecolote, and stroll to the well-known “mushroom rock”.
After spending the morning at Balandra, head to a different close by seashore to get pleasure from lunch, lounge on the shore, and wade within the calm, shallow water. My private advice is Playa El Tesoro, a surprising seashore between downtown La Paz and Balandra with a chill, native vibe, and a seashore bar/restaurant.
After a number of cervezas or margaritas, head again to city for dinner and a sundown stroll alongside the La Paz Malecon (waterfront boardwalk).
Tip: When you don’t have a automobile, you may get to Playa Balandra through bus, DiDi, Uber, however you should definitely determine your return journey forward of time. You too can e-book a tour which incorporates mountain climbing, kayaking, and snorkeling.
Learn Extra
Get on the Water
Day 3: Swimming with Whale Sharks and a Sundown Hike
When you go to La Paz between October and April, you’ll have the chance to swim with whale sharks within the Sea of Cortez. This once-in-a-lifetime expertise is facilitated by native ecotourism firms and strictly regulated by the native authorities.
Remember to e-book a whale shark boat tour with a good firm forward of time because the quantity of individuals and boats is proscribed every day.
When you go to outdoors of whale shark season or desire to swim with a special marine species, you may go on a boat tour to Isla Espiritu Santo, which incorporates snorkeling with sea lions. Simply remember you can not leap within the water with the ocean lions throughout their breeding season, July by means of August.
As well as, some tour firms supply combo excursions that embody swimming with whale sharks and sea lions in in the future!
Most excursions embody lunch and return to La Paz within the early afternoon. Ensure to pack some reef-safe sunscreen, and I additionally advocate sporting a rashgaurd whilst you’re snorkeling to maintain the solar off your again.
Seize an early dinner and an hour earlier than sundown, head to the Estación de Servicio Repsol gasoline station, only a few minutes north of downtown La Paz. The gasoline station is actually the trailhead for the Cerro de la Calavera hike.
There are a number of routes to the attractive Cerro de la Calavera viewpoint, which overlooks the town and bay. Essentially the most direct route is what locals really useful to me, and it takes lower than twenty minutes a method. Nonetheless, one other route recorded on AllTrails is 3.8 miles roundtrip.
No matter route you select, certain you may have close-toed trails sneakers and water. A headlamp (or telephone flashlight) can be useful for the hike again down. When you attain the highest, you should definitely watch the sundown and snap a number of photographs.
Day 4: Exploring La Paz and Todos Santos
Spend your final morning in La Paz exploring the town. A few of the finest issues to do in La Paz Centro embody:
- Be taught concerning the indigenous tribes of Baja California on the Museum of Anthropology and Historical past
- Go to the Whale Museum
- Take a look at Mexican folks artwork within the Museum of Artwork Baja California Sur (free)
- Chill on the La Paz Malecon seashore
- Seek for the town’s attractive murals and avenue artwork
- Wander by means of the Velasco Backyard and the primary sq. of La Paz
Everytime you’re prepared, leap within the automobile and drive simply over one hour to the Pacific surf city of Todos Santos. When you’re flying out of Los Cabos Worldwide Airport, pack your entire baggage within the automobile since Todos Santos is on the way in which again to Cabo. In any other case, deal with it as a day journey.
Seize lunch at Alma y Many’s earlier than exploring the colourful streets of Todos Santos. Remember to stroll a number of blocks away to the Lodge California, which can or could not have impressed the well-known Eagles music.
Wander by means of the close by Cielito Lindo Market, which options native artisans. Cease in native boutiques and surf outlets, and get a peek on the attractive Iglesia Mision Todos Santos and most important sq..
Subsequent, head twenty minutes down the street to Cerritos Seaside, which is named one of many finest surf spots in Baja. The surf at Cerritos is often appropriate for newbie surfers and surfboards might be rented proper on the seashore.
When you don’t surf, simply loosen up on the seashore, seize a drink from the bar stall, and stroll alongside the miles-long sandy shoreline.
In your manner again to Todos Santos, you should definitely cease at 5 Tacos and a Beer for tacos… and beer! From there, you may head again to both La Paz or Cabo.
Finest La Paz, Mexico Accommodations
Since every day on this La Paz itinerary is packed stuffed with actions, you received’t spend an excessive amount of time at your resort. However if you happen to’re attempting to determine the place to remain in La Paz, listed below are my suggestions:
- Lodge Posada Luna Sol: This budget-friendly resort is positioned simply steps from the seashore in La Paz’s industrial zone.
- Lodge & Suites El Moro: One of many highest-rated accommodations in La Paz, Lodge & Suites El Moro includes a water view, a stunning pool, and first rate costs.
- Orchid Home Baja: Within the probability you’re searching for slightly luxurious, don’t miss Orchid Home, a stunning beachfront boutique resort in La Paz.
Extra Issues to Do in La Paz, Mexico
In case you have additional time or need to swap out sure actions, there are many different issues to do in and round La Paz. Listed below are another suggestions:
- Go sandboarding on the Mogote Sand Dunes
- Take a day journey to La Ventana, a country seashore city well-known for windsurfing and its sizzling springs seashore. Their Thursday Farmer’s Market is superb!
- Lease a kayak on the La Paz Malecón
- Go horseback using by means of the desert at an area ranch
- Go on a long-distance kayak journey
- Take a day journey to Cabo Pulmo, among the finest scuba diving and snorkeling locations in Baja
Get ready in your journey with these journey suggestions
Save this put up to Pinterest
Effectively, there it’s! As soon as-in-a-lifetime experiences, attractive seashores, charming cities, and enjoyable actions all tucked into one 4-day La Paz itinerary. Get pleasure from this lovely a part of Mexico and you should definitely respect native communities and clear up after your self wherever you go!
You’ll find extra of Annie’s work over at Your Buddy the Nomad
Associated Posts
