A Magical Place where the Desert meets the Sea

Travel Blog | Written by Jennifer Dyer @solymargoddess

La Paz, or “the Peace” in English truly is a destination of peace, raw authentic beauty, adventure, and wanderlust. A wonderful destination to enjoy the captivating Sea of Cortez and its vast marine life just waiting to be explored. Set eye on Balandra beach, one of the most scenically beautiful beaches in Mexico, with its magical aura entangled in desert landscapes, breathtaking views and endless sun you will surely be booking your next trip to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico after your done reading this! As always, DM me for any questions, recommendations or comments after your read! Enjoy and thanks for exploring my work.

Why is La Paz Unique 

Location & Travel

Recommended Tours & Experiences 

Recommended Restaurants

Recommended Hotels and Airbnbs 

Why is La Paz Unique 

Nestled in the extraordinary Baja California Sur, La Paz is a vibrant city that’s a gateway to some of the most breathtaking natural wonders on the Pacific Coast. Known for its gorgeous scenic beaches, incredible wildlife,  vast desert landscape and the lush Sea of Cortez, this destination is a paradise for anyone looking to connect with the sea and experience the raw beauty of nature. But, La Paz is so much more than just a beautiful beach town! It’s a place where the desert meets the sea, creating a unique landscape that’s begging to be explored. From the rugged mountains of the Sierra de la Laguna to the crystal-clear waters of the Sea of Cortez, there’s a sense of untouched beauty that’s hard to find anywhere else.

La Paz is a special place, with authentic roots, and also being the capital city of BCS founded in 1535 by the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés. Interestingly enough, initial attempts at colonization failed. The area eventually became a major hub for pearl diving during the 16th and 17th centuries. Indigenous groups, including the Pericues and Guaycuras, inhabited the region long before the arrival of the Spanish. These indigenous communities had rich traditions and left behind evidence of their culture. Such as rock art and artifacts, which can still be explored today in local caves and taverns! 

Mentioning Caves, there’s a beautiful scenic hike location in La Paz, called Cerro de La Calavera! It’s a nice short hike with elevation gain, so be prepared with hiking shoes and water. The most stunning golden views at sunset. A must when heading to La Paz. Also mentioning tours and hiking brings me into my next must do hikes in La Paz, Balandra Beach. The paradise of Balandra beach is made up of actually 7 beaches, where most people only know one or two of the beaches (main one and the one with the famous mushroom rock formation, formed by water and erosion). The Balandra protected area is much more extended either trails ideal for exploring! While hiking Balandra, it’s like being on sensory overload. Passing through rocky cliffs, beach views, desert terrain, all being exceptional views. I also have seen plenty of sea birds, invertebrates, dolphins, sea turtles and mobula rays. I recommend a 8am start, as the sun starts getting too intense around 10-11am, as there is no coverage or

Shade. The hike takes about 2 hours to complete for reference! There are even some hikes in Balandra where you hike down into the bay. I will be attempting this hike when I go next in March! 

The amazing thing about La Paz is that you can have a genuine Baja experience, without the hustle and bustle of the loud buzzing city, like the neighboring city of Cabo San Lucas. La Paz makes it easy to immerse yourself in local culture, art, activities, markets and all accessible from the seafront Malecon promenade. It is clear that the locals of La Paz welcome visitors with their warmth and hospitality. The city’s residents take pride in their rich history and vibrant cultural traditions. While also embracing the city’s future as a hub for ecotourism. Fishing and Pearl Diving have long been essential to the local economy, but today, many people also work in tourism, conservation, and marine biology, reflecting the region’s commitment to sustainable development and protecting its natural resources!

Location & Travel Time to destination 

La Paz is quite easy to get to. Only being a 2 hour drive from Cabo San Lucas, through a beautiful scenic landscape, of rugged desert villages, surfer towns and ranches. One things to be aware of during your commute are the random horses, cattle, and donkeys walking along side the highways. Some of these animals are wild, some have wandered off from their ranches. This happened more frequently than not so heads up always! Take a pit stop at the darling town of Cerritos beach, and grab a coffee from @uvasyhojas, take a pottery class with @offgridjackpots, or even take a surf lesson with @hotelsofarsogood! Some of my favorite stops in Todos Santos. Looking for a delicious lunch pit stop also? Head to @oystera_ts for the absolute most fresh sashimi I have ever had all locally Baja caught, and the atmosphere is absolutely gorgeous! 

Another option is to fly direct to La Paz from your destination. La Paz airport is an international airport but on a smaller scale than Cabo San Lucas. If you’re in a time restraint I would opt to fly direct into La Paz, but it will be more expensive with my experience. La Paz airport is only a 10km drive from La Paz City. Another bit, especially in La Paz and other remote neighboring towns is it’s not recommended you drive at nighttime due to cattle, horses and donkeys being in the middle of the road.   You would rather be safe than sorry! Trust me, as I drove from La Ventana to Cabo one night and I almost got into multiple instances. 

Recommended Tours & Experiences 

Besides the few hike trails I mentioned that are a must, there are many more tours I would recommend. Yachting is a big industry in La Paz. Since La Paz sits on the Sea of Cortez, you could only imagine the beautiful marine life, and seabirds all around. My favorite yachting company’s based out of Baja are @elencanto.baja and @lapazyachtgroup. I’ve set sail with El Encanto Baja multiple times and it never ceases to amaze me. To give you a little breakdown, they check you in, give you a briefing, then you head straight from the dock cruising the coast, looking for marine life. And let me tell you, all the times I’ve gone I’ve seen pods of dolphins, turtles, and sea lions. Then you head to Isla Espiritu Santo, where we park the boat for some water sports like Kayak and paddle board. Playa Candelero is my favorite stop on this island. After that, you cruise over to Balandra beach, enjoying some fresh ceviche on the way. At Balandra, there is designated time to swim, do some water activities and enjoy the scenery. This is a day trip leaving from 11am arriving back at sunset which is around 6pm. If you want a more private experience I would recommend checking out La Paz Yacht Group for your own special, private yacht charters. They have amazing, one of a kind experiences that you will surly love and enjoy with your loved ones for any special occasion, anniversaries, bachelorette parties, birthdays, there’s always a special moment to celebrate. Let La Paz Yacht Group take care of all the details for you, so you can have a restful, invigorating charter. 

Another fun little excursion is to head to Dunas del Mogote for an early morning hike!  Great place to dog walk, play in the sand and enjoy the beautiful scenic views! You can even look into doing dune surfing this looks like blast for those who love a thrill! 

Recommended Restaurants

There are so many superb artesian restaurants in La Paz, but I have a few that beat the ordinary, leaving you in gastronomic bliss. Gastronomy in the Baja, is an absolute art, it’s a whole culture. You see plenty of farm to tables restaurants and markets, fresh caught and sashimi fish like tuna or Mahi Mahi, and handcrafted, gourmet cocktails or vino from a region just a few hours north, close to Ensenada, called Valley de Guadalupe. The wine here is unmatched. There are over 120 wineries in this region, with the most popular being Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and zinfandels. Article on Ensenada and region to come in the near future. 

My top picks in La Paz for cuisine and ambiance are as followed: 

@azotea_hrp a buzzing sunset lovers paradise. Beautiful Bohemian architecture delicious cuisine overlooking the sea of Cortez. There are mini pools available to rent, as well as a champagne call button to press when you need more champagne. Yes this is a real place. 

@nemirestaurante Contemporary cuisine inspired by Mexicos heritage, culture and culinary perfection. The pairing of wines and meal layout was out of this world. They really take you on a culinary journey, with diverse flavors, textures, tastes. This is an experience to be enjoyed and appreciated. 

@biznaga.rest a mexican inspired menu. Known for their delicious Asian inspired flavors. Service is very warm and attentive. You can sit outside on the patio, inside or in the courtyard. A must try when in La Paz.

@buzosrestaurante is a delicious restaurant located on prime real estate in the heart of La Paz’s melacon overlooking the sea. Specializing in international cuisine, they are known for their delicious lunch and breakfast menu. Specializing in Salmon toast, pan frances and delicious pizzas and tacos for lunch! 

@cocobakery01 for all things homemade gourmet pastry’s and cakes. If you need a pastry chef for an event, or special occasion look no further then Coco Bakery. They’re the best in the business, and their details are immaculate.

Recommended Hotels and Airbnbs 

There are incredible hotels and Airbnbs I’ve had the luxury to stay at, and here are a few I would highly recommend and would stay with again.

@departamentoslaroqueta a beautiful Airbnb up on the hills of La Paz overlooking the sea. Has 2 beautiful community pools, and spacious accommodations! Fully furnished kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms. A very nice gated community with a localized gym. Great for a stay in La Paz with family and friends! 

@republicapagana This is an adults only hotel, perfect for a weekend getaway with your partner. Overlooking the sea one street away from the malecon. Beautiful rooms, and accommodations. This hotel is very bohemian being one of the only art boutique hotels in La Paz. Surrounded by many walkable dining options like, Nemi, Comedor, Azotea, and Limbo this is a perfect location for a weekend getaway. 

@casaalmarlapaz is another beautiful hotel, located in the heart of La Paz. This is not adults only and is Perfect walking distance to all the local bars and restaurants I love. Casa al Mar is a very beautiful Mar inspired hotel, with a stunning courtyard seating area. 

I hope you enjoyed this informative article on one of my favorite places in the world La Paz, Baja. If I am missing something in your opinion, or you have a question about a venue, or even want me to help book your upcoming trip here write me! I have all the connections you need to make your trip a once in a lifetime experience. 

Much love & travels,

Jennifer Dyer