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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
La Paz
Give La Paz 3 nights: one for the malecón and downtown, one for Balandra and the northern beaches, one for a Sea of Cortez island boat. Skip it only if you want resort nightlife.
La Paz is the calm capital of Baja California Sur, on the Sea of Cortez about 2 h by bus from Los Cabos. It is a working city with a long waterfront, cheap taxis and the best beaches in the region a short drive north. Most travellers stay 3 nights, use it as a base for Balandra, Isla Espíritu Santo and whale season, and skip the resort strip entirely.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- Jul–Sep (heat and hurricane season)
- Stay
- 3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget M$700–1,200 excl. bed · Mid M$1,200–2,500 excl. bed · High M$2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | M$40–70 |
| Fish or shrimp taco | M$30–60 |
| Seafood plate at a mid-range restaurant | M$200–350 |
| Beer: draught / can at a shop | M$50–90 / M$25–40 |
| Taxi across town | M$80–150 |
| Bike rental, per hour | M$40–100 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | M$200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LAP · La Paz International (General Manuel Márquez de León)
- About 8 km (5 mi) south of the centre; US and Mexican carriers. Taxi fares are preset and paid at the counter inside the terminal.About 5 mi (8 km) south of the centre; US and Mexican carriers. Taxi fares are preset and paid at the counter inside the terminal.
Typical fares
- Airport → downtown, taxi
- preset fare, buy a ticket inside the terminal
- Taxi across town
- M$80–150, agree first
- Beach bus to Balandra / El Tecolote
- about M$100 round trip
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Downtown is walkable. Taxis are cheap and plentiful — agree the total price before you get in, and confirm it is not per person. Uber also operates. A rental car pays off for the northern beaches and day trips; insurance is expensive and agencies may hold a large deposit on your card.
See and do
Known for
- Malecón waterfront
- Balandra beach
- Isla Espíritu Santo boat trips
- Whale watching and sea kayaking
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Balandra beach | Car or taxi north on the Pichilingue road, about 25 km (16 mi)Car or taxi north on the Pichilingue road, about 16 mi (25 km) | About 30–40 min |
| Playa El Tecolote and Pichilingue | Beach bus from the centre, or car | About 40–50 min |
| Isla Espíritu Santo | Boat tour from the malecón or Playa El Tecolote | Half day to full day |
| Todos Santos | Bus or car south on Highway 19 | About 1 h |
| Cabo San Lucas | Autotransportes Águila bus, direct or local | About 2 h |
| Loreto | Bus north on Highway 1 | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Centro and the malecón
- Walkable to restaurants, the waterfront and the bus terminal; best for a short stay without a car.
- Esterito
- Quiet streets just north of the centre, 5–10 min walk to the malecón; cheaper rooms.
- Playa Concha and the Pichilingue road
- Beachfront hotels and marinas 5–8 km (3.1–5 mi) north; you need a car or taxis.Beachfront hotels and marinas 3.1–5 mi (5–8 km) north; you need a car or taxis.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedees-KOOL-peh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah |
| Where is the toilet? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh |
| The total, not per person | El total, no por personael toh-TAL, noh por per-SOH-nah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- Agree taxi fares before entering, and confirm the price is for the car, not per person.
- Northern beaches have limited or no public transport; the beach bus leaves town around 10:00 and the last bus back leaves the beach around 18:45.
- Camping and landing on some Sea of Cortez islands requires a registered guide.
- Summer heat and hurricane season run roughly Jul–Sep; check forecasts before booking.
- Car rental insurance and credit-card holds can cost more than the rental itself.
Downtown La Paz is calm and walkable, including at night. The real risks are taxi fares quoted per person, summer heat, and swimming or driving on unmarked desert roads: agree prices first and carry water.
One and two days
No timed day plan for La Paz yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Malecón waterfront
- Balandra beach
- Isla Espíritu Santo boat trips
- Whale watching and sea kayaking
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Baja Ferries: bajaferries.com.mx/
- Wikivoyage: La Paz (Mexico), revision 5334086 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5334086
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
La Paz
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No US consulate in La Paz; the nearest is in Cabo San Lucas. Most other countries: embassies in Mexico City.
Preset airport taxi fares and beach-bus times change: confirm at the counter or terminal.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/la-paz-mexico). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.