West Coast Weekend Getaways: La Paz, Mexico

Adventures

• Explore Espiritu Santo Island: This UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and National Park is a beautiful place to explore. With both desert and sea landscapes, volcanic rocks and multiple beaches, it is the perfect place to swim, snorkel, hike, kayak, SUP or fish. If you want to visit sunken boats or natural reefs, this is the perfect place to explore. We did a tour through Tuna Tuna Tours that included snorkeling with sea lions, a boat tour (given in both English and Spanish) through the park, which included drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), as well as a picnic lunch on one of the desert beaches that included more drinks, ceviche, burritos and snacks. All snorkel equipment is provided. Given we went in November at the beginning of whale watching season, we even saw some baby whales!

• Go Sandboarding: Whether you’re a seasoned board sport enthusiast or just interested in learning, sandboarding is a must-try while in La Paz. The Mogote Dunes are beautiful peaks not far from the city, where you can either board, slide or sled down for a fun time. We booked a Viator tour that included hotel pickup and drop-off (though we were within walking distance and opted to walk), a 4x4 ride to the dunes (which was very fun), sandboard and goggles for the 4x4 and water. We started on very small dunes for initial practice, just to get used to the movement before moving onto much larger dunes. Normally, the 4x4 picks everyone up at the bottom of the dune to drive back to the top (like a ski lift) but because a hurricane had recently blown through the area, there was a shallow lake just beyond the bottom of the dune, so we had to hike our way up. Needless to say, we got a great workout in and I definitely felt it the next day. You will get very sandy and dusty, so account for that when choosing what shoes and outfit to wear.

Relaxation

• Relax at Playa El Coromuel: This is a popular beach with both locals and tourists alike. You’ll find umbrellas and free palapas (dried palm tree leaf-covered open-sided tents) to provide shade, as well as food and drink services. This is a great place just to sunbathe, swim and relax. There are a number of facilities for showering and restrooms as well as parking. It’s only a 10-minute drive from the city, so it's very easy to get to.

• Walk the Malecon: The Malecon is a 3-mile beach promenade that feels like the main throughway of La Paz. You can walk, run, or bike through to see various sculptures, learn about the history and culture of La Paz and Baja California Sur, as well as people-watch. There are even skateboard and BMX bike parks along the way. At night, the boardwalk comes to life. Even on a Sunday evening, there are multiple cars driving through blasting music with party lights flashing from their cars, parents and kids riding bikes through the square, people eating dinner alfresco style, enjoying the ocean breeze. It’s such a different environment compared to most US cities (well except Manhattan in NYC, which is bustling with activity no matter the time or day of the week) that it was so refreshing to be a part of.

• Explore Old Town Downtown La Paz: There are many things to see in Old Town, such as Plaza Constitucion, La Paz Cathedral, the Museum of Art and the Museum of Anthropology. Given the amount of sculptures and murals in the city, it is also a great area for an art walk. Additionally, if you want to do any shopping, Mercado Francisco I. Madero is a great place to start.

• Maria California Restaurant: Easily my favorite meal of the trip. If you love breakfast food, then you must come here on your trip. We went for Sunday brunch. There was a bit of a wait, but it was worth it (even though we ended up having to practically run 10 minutes back to our hotel to make our airport shuttle). They have your most Westernized breakfast options like pancakes, French toast, waffles and omelets. As well as great Mexican options such as various chilaquiles, sopes, antojitos, burritos, tacos and much more. They also have a variety of freshly squeezed juices. I made my own chilaquiles with chorizo, mole and potatoes (which came out amazingly), guava juice, and my friend and I split an order of hotcakes. It was an amazing pre-flight meal that put me to sleep immediately.

• Restaurant Bismark: I’m not a huge cooked fish eater, but I felt it obligatory to eat some fish tacos while in La Paz. I’m glad we chose this place to get our fish tacos from because it turned me into the biggest fan. The fish was well-seasoned with perfectly fried breading with homemade tortillas. We also got a raspberry cheesecake for dessert, which was very good. It is right across from the beach, so either get there early for mealtimes or make a reservation to avoid a wait.

• Hambrusia: This is a Mexican Asian fusion restaurant along the Malecon. The menu does change frequently so there’s always something new to try. We ordered the cheeseburger, an Asian-inspired meatball noodle dish, as well as some sort of sope appetizer with refried beans, pork, guacamole and cheese that was very tasty. We opted to sit outside to watch people on the Malecon, which was the right choice as it was quite lively.

• HarkerBoardco: Right next to Hambrusia is HarkerBoardco. We decided to grab drinks here before grabbing dinner. Great service with great views. They have plenty of options for food and drinks.