Baja California Sur · Mexico
La PazGateway to the Sea of Cortez
Pacific Coast
Highlights
- Playa BalandraA shallow turquoise bay ringed by desert — often called Mexico’s most beautiful beach.
- Isla Espíritu SantoUNESCO-protected island of sea-lion colonies, pink cliffs and empty coves.
- Whale sharks in the bayFrom about October to April, the gentle giants feed just off the malecón.
- The malecónFive kilometers of seafront sculptures, cafés and Sea of Cortez sunsets.
About the destination
La Paz is the easygoing capital of Baja California Sur, curled around a bay on the Sea of Cortez — the body of water Jacques Cousteau famously called "the world’s aquarium." Life gravitates to the five-kilometer malecón, a seafront promenade of sculptures, taco stands and improbable sunsets over the bay.
The real draw is the water: Balandra, a knee-deep turquoise bay ringed by desert hills, is often named Mexico’s most beautiful beach, and the UNESCO-protected island of Espíritu Santo shelters sea-lion colonies, empty coves and world-class snorkeling. In the cooler months (roughly October to April), whale sharks feed in the bay itself.