Bucket List: What are the top tourist attractions to visit in La Paz, Mexico?

La Paz, Mexico, is the capital city of the state of Baja California Sur and is a historic port city with numerous natural and manmade attractions. Although it’s not as popular among tourists as its neighboring city of Los Cabos, tourists who do visit La Paz quickly discover the city as the hidden gem it is. The city is blessed with natural attractions etched into its landscape, memorable manmade attractions, and rich history that’s sure to make any visitors fall in love.

The city has a lot to offer for visitors, especially those with plans to stay for more than a couple of days. They’re left with a lasting impression of the city. Want to find out more? Here are the top ten things to do in La Paz, Mexico.

Visit the Whale Museum

Address: Navarro sin Número (8,068.82 mi) La Paz, Baja California Sur 23006
Telephone: +52 612 129 6987

La Paz is blessed enough to get frequent visitors to the Sea of Cortez, whales. A pod of whales journey to the Sea of Cortez each year during the winter months to court and mate, giving La Paz an up-close long-term view of these majestic behemoths. The Whale Museum or Museo de la Ballena was established. The museum displays a whole whale skeleton at its entrance and exhibits information on everything you’ll want to know about whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Visit their Museo de la Ballena Facebook Page

Swim with Sea Lions in the Sea of Cortez

Swim in the Sea of Cortez alongside an impressive array of marine life and the endearing sea lions. Swimming with sea lions has been steadily becoming a popular activity in the Sea of Cortez and is an activity that only La Paz and a few places worldwide can offer. Join a tour to Isla Espiritu Santo, where you’ll visit Los Islotes or San San Rafaelito, a cluster of smaller islands, to swim with these dogs of the sea.

Sail to Espiritu Santo Island

Speaking of Espiritu Santo Island, when you’re visiting La Paz, make sure to take a side trip to Espiritu Santo Island through an hour boat ride through the Sea of Cortez from the mainland. Nature and sea lovers are guaranteed to pick this as a highlight in their trip to La Paz. The island is part of a Biosphere Reserve declared by UNESCO in 1995 and is rich with beautiful sea creatures that visitors can swim with or snorkel.

Stroll through Vibrant Malecon

Malecon’s waterfront stretches 5.5km from north to south. It features countless attractions from trendy shops, colorful street arts, white sandy beaches, fantastic restaurants, and creative sculptures, all representing the vibrancy of La Paz’s culture. Get to experience all these attractions, all along with a beautiful view of the turquoise waters. The best part is viewing the magnificent sunset over the sea’s horizon.

Go Whale Watching and Snorkel with Whales

We’ve already mentioned La Paz’s yearly visitors. Because of the whale’s frequent visits, tourists can get in a boat and get as close as possible to these magnificent gentle giants. During their breeding season, the prime season to get a close look at the whales is between January to March. Join a cruise to Magdalena Bay to watch the whales breed and raise their young. Another great treat is swimming with whale sharks which lasts Oct to April.

Kayak in the Sea of Cortez

La Paz is a port city through and through. Still, it’s also a beach city with numerous white sand beaches that stretch all throughout its coasts. Not to mention the multiple islands and islets off its coasts frequently visited by tourists for their pristine beaches and rich marine life like Isla Espiritu Santo. These beaches and the unspoiled waters allow for the recreational activity of kayaking to gain popularity. Virtually any beach or island in La Paz, people can rent a kayak and wade through the beautiful pristine waters. I recommend kayaking in the Sea of Cortez during the sunset.

Visit the Cathedral de Nuestra Senora de La Paz

Cathedral de Nuestra Senora de La Paz or simply known by tourists as the Cathedral of La Paz is an important historical, religious, and cultural landmark located at the center of the city. The cathedral was built by Jesuits or Dominicans (depending on who you ask) in the 19th century in the beautiful neoclassical style of architecture and features two towers. The entrance is free, where visitors can easily view religious figures and listen to occasional religious or classical musical performances.

Learn Local History at the Museum of Anthropology & History

Known locally by the name of Museo Regional de Antropologia e Historia, La Paz’s Regional Museum of Anthropology & History is a great place to visit to learn more about the city and the peninsula’s history. The exhibitions in the museums are great pools of information about the original inhabitants of Baja Sur up to the Spanish colonization and the effect it has on the local people. History buffs will get a kick out of this visit, but keep in mind that most (but not all) of the exhibits are in Spanish.

Go Sandboarding

La Paz is a city known for its seaside location and the many water activities and attractions for visitors. Still, people can also go sandboarding in La Paz as a fun activity unrelated to the sea. Sandboard out on the desert sand dunes in El Magote just 20 minutes outside La Paz. It makes for a fun adventure with the region’s natural landscape, and it’s an exhilarating experience when going down the sand dunes.

Have Fun Off-Roading

Off-roading is a big sport in Baja California Sur, with the annual off-roading race, Baja 1000, finishing in La Paz every other year. The flat desert terrain just outside La Paz is some of the best landscapes to go off-roading globally and is a definite must-try for the more adventurous travelers. There’s barely any civilization near the tracks of the desert, so off-roaders are free to ride around and explore every corner of the desert.

La Paz Travel and Tour Packages

Searching for the best La Paz hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of inexpensive hotels and resorts via Agoda, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.

Want more updates about new tourist attractions in La Paz, Mexico? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.

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• The Best Places To See In Riviera Maya, Mexico