Updated Travel Guide to La Paz (2021)

Travel

17 Aug

Written By Lisa Linh

The last time I was in La Paz was in November of 2018, and things have changed since my last visit, so why not create a new travel guide for this beautiful town outside of Cabo? To read my last travel guide, click here.

La Paz is located in Baja California Sur, about a 2.5-hour drive from SJD airport, which is actually a very easy drive (we rented a car for our trip). Most of the drive consists of lush scenery, some goats and cows, and there is a toll road that costs about $2 USD so be prepared to have some cash on you.

Where to stay?

Baja Club Hotel is the most aesthetically pleasing hotel in La Paz and is located right across the beach (and in the historical center of La Paz). Stare at the ocean every morning and listen to it every night from your room. We got a balcony room on the 3rd floor and I highly recommend taking advantage of the rooftop views, which is just one floor above.

The beds were extra comfortable, the bathroom features a beautiful shower and full-length mirror, there is a seating area, and of course, a balcony view. The Baja Breakfast Club is included during your stay, which includes yogurt, fresh fruit, juice of choice, coffee, and a fresh pastry. However, there are other options for breakfast, for an extra cost. Their lunch and dinner options are also great and their patio seating is so beautiful at night.

The pool area is perfect for a dip or tanning, and it also includes an outdoor shower for you to rinse off. There is also a spa on the property that offers massages, steam, and sauna rooms for your usage during the stay. However, I will have to be honest and say that I’ve had better massages and the aesthetics of the spa falls below expectations compared to the rest of the property. I’m sure it’ll improve over time as the hotel was opened this year.

What to eat?

If you’d like to venture outside the hotel’s restaurant, next door is Hambrusia. We had dinner here on our first night and enjoyed their steak tacos, fresh oysters, and their steak + fries. We sat outside and enjoyed the nightlife of the boardwalk.

Our favorite dinner though was at NEMI, a restaurant focused on quality and integrates the flavors of Mexico into their concept menus. We enjoyed a 6-course dinner, with each dish leaving us speechless. I absolutely love that they concentrate on local ingredients and there is a story with every plate served. You can tell that they love what they do and the manager was excited to talk to us about the food.

Another dining option is Anzuelo, which is located on the marina and features fresh seafood. La Paz is known for its fish tacos and Anzeulo offers that along with other delicious taco options. Catch the sunset here and have a drink while watching the sun go down. The ambiance is beautiful but make sure you have cash for the parking lot, which I believed was $2 USD for 2-3 hours.

If you’re looking for a coffee shop with the best lattes and freshly baked cinnamon rolls, go to Doce Cuarenta. It was so good that we went two days in a row! They also have smoothies and other pastries, but get the cold brew with ice cream and the cinnamon roll — trust me.

Things to do?

My previous trip included paddleboarding, a day trip to Todos Santos, and swimming with whale sharks and sea lions. November is perfect for whale watching, swimming with the sea lions, and whale sharks but since we went in August, the weather was a little more unpredictable. We experienced the 1 of 2 times a year that it rains there (with a thunderstorm), but it only lasted a few hours and cleared up by the evening. The majority of the year, La Paz’s weather is similar to Los Angeles, in that it’s sunny but can get very humid. Be sure to check the weather before you pack so you’re prepared.

With that being said, our nighttime paddleboarding and sand surfing activities were unfortunately canceled due to the weather. Hopefully, we’ll get to explore those activities on our next trip. We did get to take a day trip out to the beautiful Espiritu Santo Island, where we snorkeled for an hour and a half, got to learn more about the nearby islands and marine life, and had a delicious picnic on the island. We did get to paddleboard as well. We took our tour with On Board Baja, who were amazing, and I highly recommend booking with them.

If water activities are not your thing, take a walking tour with Red Travel Mexico. I love learning about the local culture wherever we go and our tour guide was so knowledgeable about the history of La Paz. We spent a couple of hours walking around learning about the local artists, how La Paz came to be and got the inside scoop on where to eat. Nothing beats recommendations from a local right?