Why Choose La Paz, Mexico Over Cabo and How to Get There
Updated: Sep 2
Don’t get me wrong, Cabo is a beautiful destination full of amazing hotels, restaurants, and things to do. But if your vibe is more remote red desert landscapes surrounded by captivating turquoise-blue water, then you need to put La Paz on your bucket list.
Not only does La Paz live up to its name, “The Peace”, but it’s also a magical destination full of marine life, beautiful beaches, desert landscapes, and a much more relaxed atmosphere.
As always, remember to travel responsibly, respect the locals and their culture, and support local businesses whenever possible.
Why Visit La Paz?
La Paz offers beautiful beaches surrounded by miles of desert, making it such a unique destination.
It’s especially known for its incredible marine life. Depending on the time of year, you may have the opportunity to see whale sharks, sea lions, whales, dolphins, rays, and even different species of sharks.
The Sea of Cortez is incredibly rich in marine life, which is one of the biggest reasons we fell in love with this destination.
If seeing wildlife is one of your main reasons for visiting, make sure to research the season for the specific animal you want to see before booking your trip. Whale and whale-shark viewing can vary throughout the year and across different areas of Baja California Sur.
How to Get to La Paz
You have a few different options.
Option 1: Fly Into Cabo and Drive to La Paz
You can still fly into Cabo, spend a few days there, rent a car, and then drive up to La Paz.
This can actually be a great option because the drive is relatively easy and scenic. It takes around two hours, depending on your route and stops.
If you have the time, make a stop in the beautiful town of Todos Santos “All Saints”, which sits between Cabo and La Paz. You can walk around town, grab something to eat, explore the local shops, and stop by the famous Hotel California.
We recommend doing the drive during daylight hours. Some stretches can feel isolated at night, and cell service may be limited in certain areas. Download your maps ahead of time and make sure you have a way to communicate if you lose service.
Option 2: Fly Through Mexico City
This is actually how we got there.
Depending on where you’re flying from, it may be more affordable to fly into Mexico City first and then book a separate flight to La Paz.
We flew:
Dallas → Mexico City → La Paz
via Aeroméxico.
For our return, we flew:
La Paz → Los Angeles → Dallas
Booking the trip this way brought our airfare down to around $450 per person, compared with some options we were seeing closer to $1,200 per person.
Of course, airfare changes constantly, so always compare different routes and combinations before booking.
Option 3: Fly Directly to La Paz
Depending on your departure city, you may also be able to fly directly to La Paz or find an itinerary that connects there.
This is definitely the easiest option if the price makes sense, but when we were booking, it was considerably more expensive than piecing together our own route.
Best Time to Visit La Paz
We visited in July.
And let me tell you, it was HOT.
The daytime heat was intense, but the water was still comfortable, and evenings became much more enjoyable once the sun went down.
If wildlife is your priority, the best time to visit really depends on what you want to see.
For example, winter and early spring are generally better for many whale-watching experiences in Baja California Sur, while whale sharks and sea lions have their own seasonal patterns.
If you’re planning your trip specifically around marine life, check current local regulations and seasonal availability before booking.
Where to Stay
I cannot recommend this enough: find a cute Airbnb or boutique stay near the Malecón.
The Malecón is the waterfront promenade and one of the best areas to stay if you want to be close to restaurants, shops, bike rentals, nightlife, and the water.
During the day, it’s beautiful and relaxing.
At night, the Malecón really comes alive.
You’ll see families walking around, people riding bikes, restaurants filling up, vendors out, and locals simply enjoying the waterfront.
It was one of our favorite parts of staying in La Paz.
What to Do in La Paz
One thing we loved about La Paz is that you can have some incredible experiences without spending an insane amount of money.
Rent a Boat
If you have a little extra money to splurge, rent a private boat for the day.
I definitely recommend hiring a captain.
When we visited, there were options around $600 for a full-day private boat with a captain, although prices will obviously vary.
One thing we learned: don’t be afraid to compare prices once you arrive, the locals are always up for matching prices and driving a better bargain to win your business, though
it does help to speak spanish.
There are plenty of local operators around La Paz, and sometimes you can find better options in person than you’ll see online.
Visit Isla Espíritu Santo
If you’d rather book an organized tour and meet other travelers, look into a day trip to Isla Espíritu Santo.
The island is one of the signature experiences around La Paz and is known for its dramatic scenery, clear water, beaches, and marine life. This island is specifically known for it’s sea lion colony, we even got to see baby sea lions!
Rent Bikes Along the Malecón
Rent bikes in the evening and explore the waterfront.
There are several rental shops around downtown, and riding along the Malecón as the temperature cools down is such a peaceful way to experience the city, especially because they built designated biking lanes that hug the coast so you’re close to all the action.
Eat the Seafood
Please do not skip the seafood.
Especially the fish tacos, shrimp tacos, ceviche, and sushi.
La Paz honestly had some of the best seafood I’ve ever tasted and that is saying a lot considering I lived in Puerto Rico for more than 10 years.
How to Book Excursions
Like I mentioned earlier, La Paz is a popular vacation destination for travelers within Mexico, so sometimes the experience can feel a little different than heavily international tourist areas like Cabo or Cancún.
Personally, we found that talking directly with local operators once we arrived gave us more flexibility.
And yes, I get it.
If you’re anything like me, you probably want every single thing planned before getting on the plane.
My husband can confirm that I always need a plan.
But sometimes in Mexico, you’ll find that someone locally can offer the same experience for less and you’re also putting your money directly into local businesses and families.
That said, always make sure you’re booking with a reputable operator, especially for boating, wildlife, diving, or snorkeling activities.
Currency and Paying for Things
Credit cards are widely accepted in many places (Make sure to use a Travel Credit Card that doesn’t charge you foreign conversion fees), but I still recommend carrying Mexican pesos.
Cash is especially useful when you’re negotiating tours, shopping with local vendors, tipping, or visiting smaller businesses.
We usually prefer withdrawing pesos from a local ATM rather than exchanging large amounts of money ahead of time because it can sometimes be more cost-efficient.
Just make sure you check:
Your bank’s foreign transaction fees
ATM withdrawal fees
The exchange rate being offered
Whether your bank reimburses international ATM fees
And whenever a card terminal or ATM asks whether you want to be charged in pesos or U.S. dollars, check the conversion carefully before accepting.
DO NOT SKIP: Tacos Estadio
We’re honestly not huge on giving restaurant recommendations because everyone’s palate is different.
HOWEVER.
You have to visit Tacos Estadio. (Husband chimes in to approve this message)
It’s casual, affordable, and they had some of our favorite Baja-style tacos from the entire trip.
My recommendation?
Get the shrimp tacos.
You can thank me later.
Final Thoughts
I can’t wait for you to experience La Paz for yourself.
It’s peaceful, beautiful, adventurous, and still feels completely different from many of Mexico’s larger resort destinations.
As always, travel responsibly, respect the local culture, support local businesses, and when you can, pay in the local currency.
And most importantly, enjoy every second of it.
Jesus & Elaine
Aerglo Travel
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