Breakfast
Eggs, beans and coffee
Eggs with beans and warm tortillas, with strong coffee, a plain start to a hot day.
Local tip Eat early, before the heat builds.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. La Paz is a hot desert town, so plan for sun, and book your boat day ahead.Details
- Getting here
- Fly into La Paz, whose airport is a short ride from town, or come by ferry from the mainland to the port of Pichilingue. If you land at Los Cabos instead, plan a long road north and book the ride ahead.
- Getting around
- The old centre and the waterfront are easy on foot. For the island you need a boat with a licensed local operator, and for the beaches north of town and the desert day you need a taxi or a car for the day. Highway 19 runs south and west from town.
- Heat and care
- Summer days reach the mid 30s Celsius, and the sea is warm, while winter water is near 20 degrees. Bring sun cream, a hat and a rash vest, drink water often and follow the rules of the protected areas. Storms are possible in late summer and autumn.
- First evening
- Day 1 begins in the old centre, so settle in and walk down to the waterfront before supper. Spanish is the language of the streets, and a few words go a long way.
How much walking? On foot, about 0.7 kilometers a day, and 282.1 kilometers by car in all across 4 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Day 1. The old centre and the waterfront
3 stops · 0.7 km on footLa Paz on foot. The cathedral on the plaza, an art museum a short walk away and a long evening stroll on the waterfront beside the bay. Everything is within a gentle walk, and the town is hot, so go slowly.
If you only have half a dayLa Paz Cathedral, then Art Museum of Baja California Sur. The cathedral at the heart of the old town, then a small museum of regional art a few steps away.
- 1Morning
La Paz Cathedral
The cathedral on the plaza at the heart of the old town of La Paz. Start here to get your bearings, and then wander the streets around the plaza. It is a working church, so stay quiet during services.
Go when Morning, before the heat.
Local tip It is a working church, so cover your shoulders and stay quiet during services. Use the plaza as your starting point for the old town.
Photo by Florian Delée on Unsplash About 2 min walk0.2 km - 2Midday
Art Museum of Baja California Sur
A small museum of art from the region, a few steps from the plaza. A cool, indoor rest in the middle of the day. Check ahead on the opening.
Go when Midday, when the heat is at its worst.
Local tip A cool indoor rest in the hottest hours. Check ahead on the opening and on any exhibition.
Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
Fish tacos
Battered or grilled fish in a warm tortilla with cabbage, a squeeze of lime and a smooth sauce, a classic of the Baja coast.
Local tip Add the sauces a little at a time.
Photo: Larry Miller, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 7 min walk0.5 km - 3Evening
La Paz Malecón
The waterfront road and walk along the bay, about five kilometres long, with a cycle lane, benches, shops and places to sit. A long, easy stroll as the light softens, with the town on one side and the bay on the other.
Go when Late afternoon into evening (about 6:43 PM).
Local tip Walk it slowly and stop wherever you like. A cooling night wind often blows in summer, so bring a light layer.
Photo by Azzedine Rouichi on Unsplash - Dinner
Seafood by the water
Grilled fish, shrimp or a seafood cocktail at a table near the bay, as the town cools.
Local tip Ask what came in today, and drink plenty of water.
Photo: Frits Hoogesteger at nl.w…, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Rain is rare, but a hot day is best spent indoors at midday. Keep the museum for the heat and the waterfront for the evening.
Day 2. A boat day to Espíritu Santo
2 stops · 49.6 km by carA full day on the water. A licensed local operator takes you to the protected island of Espíritu Santo, with its sea lion colony, its reefs and its beaches, and brings you back to a long beach on the north shore of the bay.
If you only have half a dayIsla Espíritu Santo, then Playa El Tecolote. A protected island with a sea lion colony off its tip, then a long beach at the end of the road north of town.
- Drive from La Paz MalecónAbout 45 min by car34.5 kmWhere Day 1 ended.
- Breakfast
Fruit and a roll before the boat
Fresh fruit, a roll and coffee, a light breakfast before the boat.
Local tip Take water, a hat and a snack for the boat.
- 1Morning
Isla Espíritu Santo
An uninhabited island in the Gulf of California, in a national park and a World Heritage area, with white beaches, coves and rocky reefs. A large sea lion colony lives on Los Islotes, off the island's northern tip, and snorkelling with the females and pups is a highlight of many tours. Go with a licensed operator who follows the rules, and keep your distance from the animals.
Go when Morning, as early as the boats leave.
Local tip Go with a licensed operator, wear a rash vest and reef safe sun cream, and keep well back from the sea lions. Boats do not sail when the port is closed for wind or storm, so keep a spare day.
Photo: Shawn, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A beach lunch of ceviche
Raw fish cured in lime juice with onion, tomato and chilli, eaten with tostadas on the sand.
Local tip Ask for the chilli on the side and eat it soon after it is made.
About 31 min by car or transit15.1 km - 2Afternoon
Playa El Tecolote
A long beach at the end of the road north of town, where many boat trips begin and end, with the island across the water. Stay for a late lunch with your feet in the sand, and swim in the shallows.
Go when Afternoon, after the boat.
Local tip Swim in the shallows and have a late lunch on the sand. Take water, shade and cash in small notes.
Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Grilled catch and rice
A grilled whole fish or a fillet with rice, salad and tortillas, eaten as the day cools.
Local tip Share a fish between two, and leave room for something cold.
If it rains. Boats do not sail when the port is closed for wind or storm, so check with the operator. If the day is lost, spend it on the beach north of town and eat a long lunch.
Day 3. Silver hills and the Pacific coast
3 stops · 117.7 km by carA day over the desert hills by car, with a long drive each way. A former silver mining town with a tall brick smokestack, a small town on the Pacific side with an old theatre, and a long Pacific beach. Start early and carry water.
If you only have half a dayEl Triunfo, then Todos Santos. A former mining town with a tall smokestack, then a small Pacific town around a plaza with an old theatre.
- Drive from Playa El TecoloteAbout 1 h 6 min by car62.9 kmWhere Day 2 ended.
- Breakfast
A big breakfast before the hills
Eggs, beans and a pot of coffee, to carry you over the desert hills.
Local tip Pack water and a snack, since the road has few shops.
- 1Morning
El Triunfo
A former silver and gold mining town in the hills, with a tall brick smokestack called La Ramona, built in 1890 for the mining company, once thought to be designed by Gustave Eiffel though that is not proven. Some old buildings have been restored as museums and cafes.
Go when Morning, before the heat builds.
Local tip Look up at the smokestack and walk among the old buildings. Check ahead on which museums are open.
Photo: Amante Darmanin, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons About 50 min by car41.3 km - 2Midday
Todos Santos
A small town on the Pacific side of the peninsula, in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, with old brick buildings around a plaza and a historic theatre. Walk the few central streets slowly, and stop for a cold drink in the shade.
Go when Midday, with a long, slow lunch.
Local tip Walk the few central streets and sit in the shade of the plaza. Some places close in the afternoon, so check ahead.
Photo: panza.rayada, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A garden lunch in town
A plate of salad, grilled fish or a quesadilla in a shaded courtyard, with a fruit drink.
Local tip Choose a table in the shade, and drink plenty of water.
About 29 min by car or transit13.5 km - 3Afternoon
Playa Los Cerritos
A long Pacific beach south of Todos Santos, known for its surf. The currents can be strong, so swim only where it is marked safe and never alone, and watch the surfers from the sand if you are not sure.
Go when Afternoon, as the sun softens (about 6:43 PM).
Local tip The surf and currents are strong. Swim only where it is marked safe, and watch the surfers from the sand.
- Dinner
A late supper back in La Paz
A simple supper of tacos or a bowl of soup, after the long road back over the hills.
Local tip Order something light and go to bed early.
If it rains. Desert roads can flood in a storm, so check the weather before you set off. If it is poor, stay in town and visit the museum and the plaza.
Day 4. A shallow bay and a last slow day
2 stops · 114.8 km by carA slow last day north of town. A white bay of shallow water with a rock shaped like a mushroom, then a beach beside the ferry port, with time left for a last stroll in town. A daily limit on visitors applies at the bay, so go early.
If you only have half a dayPlaya Balandra, then Playa Pichilingue. A white bay with shallow water and a rock called the Mushroom, then a beach beside the ferry port.
- Drive from Playa Los CerritosAbout 1 h 42 min by car110.6 kmWhere Day 3 ended.
- Breakfast
Coffee and a roll before the bay
Coffee and a sweet roll, a quick start so you reach the bay early.
Local tip Take water and snacks, since there is little to buy on the road.
- 1MorningBest early
Playa Balandra
A white bay of very shallow water on the Sea of Cortez, a collection of small beaches, with a rock formation known as the Mushroom (El Hongo). A daily limit on visitors applies and can change, so check ahead, go early and follow the rules of the protected area.
Go when Morning, as early as you can.
Local tip A daily limit applies, so go early, check ahead and follow the rules of the protected area. Wade across the shallows slowly and stay off the plants.
Photo by Alexandra Mendívil on Unsplash About 13 min by car or transit4.2 km - 2Midday
Playa Pichilingue
A beach beside the ferry port north of town, on the same road as Balandra. A simple, easy place for a last swim and a late lunch before the hot afternoon.
Go when Midday, with shade and water.
Local tip A simple beach beside the ferry port. Take shade, water and snacks.
- Lunch
A late lunch by the shore
Fish tacos or a seafood cocktail at a table by the sea, after the swim.
Local tip Drink water with it and stay in the shade.
- Dinner
A farewell supper in town
A last plate of grilled fish or shrimp, with a cold drink, at a table near the waterfront.
Local tip Book the ride out the day before, so the evening is relaxed.
If it rains. In a storm the bay may close. Spend the day in town, in the museum and on the waterfront, and go to the beaches when it clears.
Departure day
After the last day. Allow time for the road to the airport or the ferry port.Details
- Getting out
- Book the ride to the airport the day before and allow extra time in the morning. If you take the ferry, check the sailing and the check in time ahead.
- Your flight
- Rinse the sand and salt from your gear before you pack, and keep wet things apart from dry clothes. Spend your pesos, which are hard to change outside the country.
- If you have a few hours
- Take one more walk along the waterfront, or sit in the shade of the plaza with something cold to drink.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit La Paz?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, February to June and September to December are the best months for a beach trip to La Paz. This plan is built for november to April, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 4 days in La Paz, planned for november to April. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
On foot, about 0.7 kilometers a day, and 282.1 kilometers by car in all across 4 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
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