Last Updated on February 12, 2022 by Natalie
I fell hard for La Paz, Baja California Sur and part of the reason why are the incredible beaches. Where are the best beaches in La Paz, Mexico? After one of the best trips we’ve taken as a family, I’m here to tell you all about the best beaches near La Paz, Mexico!
This is a picture heavy post because I have so many incredible photos of all of the gorgeousness of La Paz.
Puerto Escondido, from the water.
Best Beaches in La Paz, Mexico
While there are beaches in La Paz, most of the best beaches are near La Paz. Balandra Beach and Tecolote Beach are near each other, but are about a half hour drive outside of La Paz. We also traveled nearly an hour to Punta Arena de la Ventana and I’ll let you know how that measured up to the closer options.
Disclaimer
Blissmersion a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. All parts of our travels are paid for by us and we do not accept free stays or discounts related to blogging.
Balandra Beach, La Paz, Mexico
Balandra Beach and the mushroom rock behind me.
First, I will say that I didn’t officially set foot on Balandra Beach. Before I explain why, I will tell you that Balandra is beautiful. We checked it out from our friend’s boat, to get an idea of what we were missing.
The reason we didn’t get a chance to check it out have to do with silly pandemic things. Yes, silly. Since Balandra Beach is the most famous beach in the region, the amount of people allowed is limited. The time you need to arrive to be able to enjoy Balandra varies, based on who you ask. Our friend told us we would have to arrive by 5:30 am. I saw a comment online that said you’d have to arrive by 5 am. On Easter Sunday*, 2021, the guards at the beach told us it was full by 4:30 am. I love beaches but I am not going to sacrifice that much sleep when Tecolote Beach, which is only a few miles away, is just as beautiful, shallow, calm, and there isn’t a limit on the amount of people allowed. It’s also big enough to not feel crowded, even on Easter Sunday.
This means I didn’t get to have my picture taken with the famous mushroom rock. Sometimes, it’s okay to miss out on the famous landmark. In our case, we saw something much better (which I’ll talk about at the end of this post). If I’m being technical, the mushroom rock is in the picture above. It doesn’t feel like it counts, since you have to zoom in to see it well.
*The Easter holidays are important in Mexico and many companies offer both Thursday and Friday before Easter as holidays. It’s also the same week as Spring Break for Mexican schools. Therefore, the week leading up to Easter is one of the busier holidays.
Playa Tecolote, La Paz, Mexico
Tecolote Beach (Playa Tecolote)
Tecolote Beach is down the road from Balandra and thus has many similar characteristics. The sand is soft and the water is calm and clear. It’s also shallow for a few hundred feet out. The water was still pretty chilly in April, but since the temperatures were hitting the 90s F (32 C and up), cold water wasn’t all that bad.
Another advantage of Playa Tecolote is that there are several food huts. My husband maintains that the best food we had all week was the food we purchased on that beach. First, we purchased around $10 worth of cut up mangoes ($100 pesos each for two cupfuls). Ripe mangoes are delicious and one of my favorite fruits here. When the kids mentioned they were hungry, I sent my husband off in search of food. It took a long time (probably 30 minutes) and he returned with arrechera, tortillas, guacamole, and beans in one container and a seafood medley, rice, and veggies in the other. It was all delicious and the seafood medley was a huge hit with my husband and kids. Arrechera tacos are my favorite, too.
An advantage of staying with a friend in La Paz was that we could borrow his beach equipment, including an umbrella, chairs, a straw mat to put over the sand, and of course, towels.
We loved Tecolote Beach and think it’s the best beach in La Paz.
My local friends didn’t mention this, but it has been brought to my attention that stingrays like to hang out at Tecolote. Do the stingray shuffle to avoid stepping on one and wrecking your awesome beach vacation. Water shoes are also helpful.
Punta Arena de la Ventana
The secluded Punta Arena de la Ventana.
Punta Arena de la Ventana directly translates to “sand tip of the window.” Located on Bahia de la Ventana (Window Bay), this ended up being one of the most amazing experiences for us. It’s located about an hour from La Paz, but when we went on the Monday after Easter, it was nearly deserted. The beach is at least 3 miles long. When we arrived, I think there were only four groups total. There was an SUV with a boat trailer on the back parked on the beach, but we never did see the people on the boat.
The sand here wasn’t as soft as the other beaches we visited and it was only a short time before my feet were cut up and aching. Water shoes would’ve been helpful here. We chose our spot because there was a man made palapa type shelter available. However, it was a good 100 feet from the water and I walked back and forth quite a few times. Further down (towards the lighthouse), there were areas where the sand was softer and with less broken shells.
But hurt feet or not, I loved this isolated experience. Not because I’m scared of people and their germs. Only because it was so peaceful to enjoy a lonely beach and the nature that surrounds it.
We were lucky. The beach caretaker told us that during the four days prior to and including Easter, the beach was packed. I believe it. It did have some human trash around, though it was mostly decent down by the water. Our palapa had lots of bottle caps and some other debris that I picked up so my kids wouldn’t step on it.
I sat on the shore for a long time, enjoying my life. I’ve never experienced being on such an isolated beach – that also doesn’t have any houses or hotels located nearby.
Here’s the beach location. Please aware that you have to drive a few miles down a sand road after turning off the main highway to get to this beach. As always, be careful when parking your vehicle on sand as it is easy to get stuck.
Playa Escondido
Playa Escondido as seen from the water.
The maps show me there is a way to access Playa Escondido from the road, but we didn’t park and hike over the mountain so I can’t tell you about that. We stayed with a friend in La Paz and that friend took us out on his boat. We ended up stopping at Playa Escondido because we were hot and wanted a swim. Located between Playa Balandra and Playa Tecolota, Playa Escondido has the same characteristics: soft sand, along with calm and shallow water. While the beach wasn’t completely empty, it also didn’t have that many people and most of them were concentrated at the other end of the beach. There were other boats that came and dropped off people, so I think it’s more commonly accessed by boat than by its parking lot.
This beach did have a few large rocks under the surface that weren’t pleasant to walk on, but there were enough sandy stretches to get to the shore. This particular experience made me feel like I was having a luxury beach experience without the high price tag. I know that most people heading to La Paz won’t have a friend with a boat. However, it’s pretty easy to find boats for hire and various tours that will take you around to different places. Our friend told us about beaches on the surrounding islands, but he couldn’t take us there because a permit is needed to drop off people.
Tips for visiting La Paz and its beaches
Do I have to rent a car in La Paz?
I recommend renting a car while visiting La Paz. While there are some city beaches, they can’t quite compare to the options that require a car to visit. As always, I recommend making sure you have good insurance and check your car for dings and dents before leaving the rental lot. The car we rented in La Paz was fairly dinged up when we got it, so we took a lot of photos while going over it with the rental agent. We had no issues with returning it.
Given current conditions in the rental car industry, there are a lot of car shortages. I recommend reserving in advance. I always recommend reserving in advance during busy holidays in the location you are headed.
What to bring
Since half of the beaches I’ve mentioned don’t have restaurants or hotels on or near the beach, it’s wise to bring your own food and drinks. I definitely recommend bringing water because La Paz gets hot. Bring your ocean safe sunscreen, too. I also recommend swim shirts and hats. Additional items to bring if possible: a beach umbrella or tent, beach towels or sand mat, chairs.
We were able to borrow these from our friend, which really made our beach time fantastic! It’s especially helpful to have the covering so that you are able to get out of the sun a little bit.
Which of the La Paz Mexico beaches do I recommend?
Another view of Tecolote beach.
Tecolote Beach was my family’s favorite. The sand was perfect for building castles and the water was beautiful like sea glass. After walking at least a hundred feet to where it finally starts to get deeper, I’d turn around and admire the sea, sand, and mountains! There are also food options, as well as vendors walking around selling food items and trinkets. Additionally, if there are restrictions on the number of people allowed into Balandra, Tecolote is a great second choice.
Other La Paz Beaches
There are other beaches in and near La Paz. We also visited Playa Pichilingue, which is closer to La Paz. I found it only okay. I don’t know if it was because it was low tide or not, but there was a lot of broken glass in one section, though it still had pretty water. Even closer to La Paz is Playa Tesoro, which our host recommended to us if we planned to go in the morning, but we didn’t get a chance to stop.
There are some hotels located on Playa El Caimancito, which looks really nice and we are strongly considering staying in a hotel near it on our next trip. We haven’t decided yet!
Our amazing boat trip
One of my husband’s friends retired to La Paz. He generously offered us a place to stay and took us out a few times, including out on his boat. He suggested that he take us by boat to Balandra, even though we could only view it from the boat and that we couldn’t get off the boat there. We viewed the mushroom rock from afar and took in the beauty of the beach and water. On our trip out, we saw dolphins swimming around. This was my first time to see dolphins in the wild! Well, I might have seen them from the shore before, but the distance was really far. On the boat, we could get a little closer (but not too close, of course).
We headed to Balandra. On the way we may have seen the yacht of one of the richest men in the US – you know- the guy whose company delivers anything your heart desires within a few days if you have prime? That guy. It was massive.
I’ve mentioned above that we got to see Balandra from the boat, which was beautiful. Then, we stopped at Playa Escondido and swam in the gorgeous water. We also took the boat over to see Tecolote from the water. We turned around and headed back to the marina.
Whales in April (with Video)
A whale shows off her tail near La Paz.
On the trip back, we were so lucky to see not one, not two, but three whales hanging around near the surface. I have definitely never seen a whale in real life. Back in my early 20s, I tried to go on a whale watching boat in New England, but the boat had mechanical issues and we had to return to port before seeing anything (we did get a refund). This time of year, it’s hit or miss whether or not you’ll see whales in La Paz. We’d been in Cabo San Lucas two years prior during Spring Break and they weren’t offering whale watching trips, so we assumed that we wouldn’t see any.
I have a lot of video with me ooohing and ahhing and exclaiming how amazing it is to see the whales. I couldn’t help myself. It was a moment of reverence for being so lucky as to see such large, amazing, and beautiful creatures. We spent around 10-20 minutes watching them do their thing and then kept heading back to the marina. We were treated to another whale, but he or she only surfaced twice before disappearing on us.
To see dolphins and whales on the same trip, while also getting to jump off a boat and into the glassy, cool waters of the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) wasn’t something I could even dream of in advance. It was the feeling of the hopes I have for many trips fully realized.
Final thoughts
La Paz, Baja California Sur, was a place I fell in love with quickly. I don’t know if it was because we stayed in a lovely home with a private pool and rented a car to get around or if it was because the beaches around it are amazing. Or maybe it is because of the vibe of the area? Touristy, yet still retaining its Mexican identity. I could see myself living there someday. I hope we do!
What’s your favorite La Paz Mexico beach? The best feedback comes from my readers. Please leave a comment. Thank you!
6 comments
Thanks for the info on Ventana beach. Did you do the stingray shuffle on Tecolote? Some reports on Tripadvisor that stingrays are there too, not just Balandra.
Hi Wayne,
I didn’t do the stingray shuffle on Tecolote. I actually didn’t see any stingrays there at all. My local friends didn’t mention it, either. I’ll add that tip to the post. Thanks!
Hi Natalie,
I’m in La Paz right now. Just back from El Tecolote, and a 2nd trip (3rd if you count the brief stop while on a tour boat to Espiritu Santo) to Balandra – hiking only.
I have to say Balandra is not for me. I was there yesterday at low tide – thinking that would be cool to walk around with barely any water and realized that novelty doesn’t last long. It’s also a bit too calm in Balandra for my taste. And even with limited capacity, it can feel more congested quickly. Given it’s not a horde of people, but I like my space. it feels more cramped as the area is an estuary surrounded by hills as you know.
I only realized the latter when I went hiking this morning up to the top of the nearby rocky hill. And what Balandra doesn’t have, Tecolote does have. Lots of wide open space and vistas. I think the sand is softer in Tecolote as well. Yes, the part with all the restaurants, music, waverunners, is a bit much, but easy to get away from that by driving down a bit. On my 1st visit to Tecolote yesterday, I hated it. But I walked out straight into the restaurant area….it was also a Sunday. I hated it so much I didn’t bother exploring the other end.
Coming on Monday — far fewer cars! And I drove up right next to where I setup my beach shade/tent. Call that convenience. The mountains in the backdrop and Espiritu Santo Island facing the ocean, is quite a view.
Oh….while I mostly wore water shoes (2mm dive booties)….I think the Stingray season is mostly over by November (From my research). I still did the shuffle, but I think once past Mid-November, it’s probably not necessary. Water is too cold by then (For stingrays). It was easier to do the shuffle in water shoes. More natural then my bare feet.
Only a couple of tripadvisor reports of stingrays at Tecolote, versus many more at Balandra. I don’t think the stingrays like the wave action at Tecolote, plus the water is deeper in most parts for them.
Different beaches for different tastes. Some may like the “feeling of security” offered by Balandra, while some want the massive open vista and feel claustrophobic / trapped in Balandra.
ok..well i haven’t read other posts from you, but hope you got to snorkel with the sea lions at Los Islotes. That was awesome! Nice well preserved coral there too. Day trip of Espiritu Santo ending with the sea lions, and relaxing with lunch on a beach (Ensenada Grande)….that’s a great day! My first full day in La Paz!
Wayne,
Thank you for your lovely comment! We didn’t wear water shoes or do the stingray shuffle when we visited La Paz beaches. I think that because the water is still pretty cold then that we got lucky and there weren’t any. I also appreciate your observations on Balandra. I only saw it from the water. It was certainly lovely, though I also believe that other La Paz beaches are just as nice. I absolutely love being able to drive right up the beach spot on Tecolote. It did makes going to the beach a lot less tiring!
How many days will you be in La Paz?
So…Dec-April when water temp is lower, stingray risk is prob very low to nearly non-existent? in Tecolote (But I didn’t ask anyone, just my guess). In Balandra I would still do it though even in these colder water months as the water can get so shallow, which is better from a Stingray POV. Plus the stillness of Balandra water.
Did not see any in either place. I read a few of your Mexico beach posts, I see you did not write about the sea lions. So guessing you haven’t done that. But if you like big sea animals, making another trip to La Paz just for the sea lions (And your family friend!) I would say is something you should put on your todo list while you are living in MX.
I got a love bite from a sea lion. Totally harmless. Just curious. A snorkeler right in front of me, a couple of feet away got a sea lion hug for a couple of minutes. I did find a video online of a NatGeo person getting the sea lion hug treatment.
The sea lions are friendlier then in the Galapagos, where I went a long time ago. There they touch you with their noses, but these sea lions were even friendlier – and numerous.
Based on my research, La Paz is the only warm water place one can snorkel / dive with sea lions! No wetsuit in the right months.
Wayne,
Thanks for the recommendation. I think snorkeling with sea lions sounds INCREDIBLE! What a cool experience! I’m dreaming about visiting La Paz again <3 I hope the rest of your La Paz trip is just as wonderful as these first few days!