The Ultimate Guide to the La Paz Malecon Beach
The La Paz Malecon Beach stretches for miles from each end of downtown La Paz, along the city’s lively waterfront promenade (Malecón).
While La Paz is famous for Balandra and other breathtaking remote beaches north of town, the Malecon Beach is a lovely place to relax without leaving the city.
The calm, shallow water is crystal-clear up close, but appears in stunning shades of blue from a distance. The sand is white and soft, and the beach is lined with verdant palm trees that dance in the wind.
Yet all of La Paz’s incredible restaurants, coffeeshops, bars, and shops are within walking distance.
Thinking of spending a day at the La Paz Malecon Beach? Or trying to plan your next La Paz trip? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this serene downtown beach.
👋🏽 Note from the author: Did this article impact the way you planned your trip? Have any questions? Please comment at the end of the article! It helps this blog grow and helps me know what types of articles to write more. 💛
🌵 My La Paz Favorites 👙
🐋 Swimming With Whale Sharks: La Paz is one of the best places to dive with whale sharks. Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Best whale shark tour.
👙 Hot Springs and Waterfalls Day Trip: Get off the beaten track at the Santa Rita Hot Springs and Fox Canyon Waterfall south of La Paz.
🌅 Balandra Beach: Called Mexico’s most beautiful beach, Playa Balandra is 30 minutes north of town and is a must-visit spot! Exceptional Balandra hiking tour.
⛵️ Sea of Cortez & Isla Espiritu Santo Boat Tour: A trip to La Paz is not complete without a day on the Sea of Cortez! Embark on your own private yacht for the day or join a group tour to explore Isla Espiritu Santo.
🌴 Where to Stay: An oceanfront suite outside on the outskirts of town at Orchid House, a gorgeous boho suite with a view near downtown La Paz at Residence Las Flores, or an airy boutique room at The Mantarraya Outpost.
Introduction to the La Paz Malecon Beach
La Paz, Mexico (not to be confused with La Paz, Bolivia) is Baja California Sur’s capital city. Situated on the Sea of Cortez, La Paz is known around the world for its pristine beaches with crystal clear water and white sand.
As with most oceanfront Mexican cities, the Malecon (boardwalk) is the heart of La Paz. The Malecon spans for several miles beside the turquoise water. There are white sand beaches next to the Malecon in most areas. Most beaches don’t have names, other than Stella Beach, a small beach beside the marina.
In some areas, you’ll find palapa umbrellas that are free for use, while other areas have no umbrellas. The beach is wide in some areas, and in other areas, there really is no beach. Thankfully, downtown La Paz is safe and easily walkable, so you can explore the beach along the Malecon to find the best spot.
Things To Do at the La Paz Malecon Beach
Depending on the area, these are some of the best things to do at the beaches along the La Paz Malecon:
1. Wade in the shallow water
The water along the Malecon Beach is shallow, clear, and calm, making it perfect for wading.
Use your best judgement to determine how deep you can go out into the water based on if there are boats around. In addition, be sure to do the “stingray shuffle,” to notify any burrowed stingrays of your presence.
2. Read under the shade of a palapa umbrella
Bring a beach towel or blanket and relax under one of the palapas along the beach. As I mentioned above, there are only palapas on certain part of the beach. In my experience, there seem to be more palapas along the northeastern parts of the beach and near Stella Beach.
Even though the palapas are so easily accessible in downtown La Paz, it seems pretty easy to snag a spot throughout the day. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, flip open a good book (I recommend a few of my favorite on my In My Bag page) and enjoy.
3. Feast on some delicious takeout from a nearby restaurant
Most of the best restaurants in La Paz are within short walking distance of the Malecon. This makes the La Pa Malecon Beach a wonderful spot to enjoy some delicious takeout.
If you’re looking for a good place to try, I recommend my favorite La Paz restaurants in my Vegan Guide to La Paz.
Palapas along the La Paz boardwalk (Malecon) beach
4. Rent a kayak and explore the bay
La Paz has several local kayak rental companies. If you’re not sure where to go on a kayak around downtown, the folks at the kayak rental spots will happily offer suggestions.
If you’re looking for a more scenic kayak experience, consider a kayak tour at Balandra Beach.
5. Enquire with local tour companies about boat tours
Most boat tours leave from the Marina, which is right along the Malecon. You can walk to tour operators and ask questions about their offerings, and if the timing is right, join a tour right away. Some of the most popular boat tours include:
★ Snorkeling with sea lions, seeing Isla Espiritu Santo, and relaxing at Ensenada Grande Beach
★ Swimming with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez
★ Exploring Balandra Bay from the water
6. Watch the sunset
Despite being on the eastern side of the Baja peninsula, La Paz faces west and has incredible sunsets. No matter how long you have in La Paz, don’t miss the watching the sunset on the water from the Malecon.
Watching the golden sun set from Kiosko del Malecón
Essential Safety Tip for All La Paz Beaches
Stingrays are among the many incredible animals you may encounter at La Paz beaches. While generally harmless, they can sting if stepped on or scared, resulting in a painful and potentially life-threatening sting.
Stingrays the shallow waters of La Paz just as much as we do, and tend to burrow under the sand. The best way to avoid getting stung is to shuffle your feet as you walk through shallow water. This will notify any nearby rays of your presence so they can get out of the way.
When wading in the water at La Paz beaches, I always wear water shoes. Though they don’t prevent a stingray sting, they make me feel a little more at ease and make it more comfortable to walk through rocky areas. Water shoes are now a go-to essential item I bring on any beach vacation. Browse the best water shoes on Amazon here.
The sunset from the La Paz waterfront
Other La Paz Beaches to Explore
While the La Paz Malecon Beach is the most easily accessible playa in La Paz, you can find some of Mexico’s most stunning beaches just a few minutes outside of the city.
I have a full guide to the 12 best beaches in La Paz, but for a quick summary, here are my reccomendations:
🌊 Playa Balandra: Called the most beautiful beach in Mexico, Balandra is an unmissable beach thirty minutes north of La Paz. Due to its growing popularity, Balandra is only open for two shifts each day. Be sure to read my up-to-date visitors guide so you can make the most of your visit to Balandra.
⛱ Playa El Tesoro: If you’ve read any of my other La Paz guides, you probably know that Tesoro Beach is my personal favorite beach in La Paz. I explain why in my Tesoro Beach guide.
👙 Playa El Tecolote: Tecolote Beach is another stunning remote beach near Playa Balandra. It’s a great place to visit during the one-hour period when Balandra closes in the middle of the day.
Beautiful white sand beach along La Paz’s Malecon
Where to Stay in La Paz
🌊 Orchid House: My top choice. This gorgeous boutique 5 star hotel is the place to stay for a La Paz honeymoon, anniversary, or other romantic getaway. The property perfectly blends luxury with the rustic desert landscapes of Baja Sur, overlooking the turquoise blue Sea of Cortez. It’s located a short drive north of downtown La Paz. Check Orchid House’s nightly prices.
🌺 Residence Las Flores: My favorite hotel near the La Paz Malecon. This highly-rated boutique hotel in downtown La Paz is teeming with unique charm, and is known for its friendly staff and inviting atmosphere. I love their suites that have outdoor hot tubs with a view of the sea. Check Residence Las Flores nightly prices.
🚠 The Mantarraya Outpost: This charming downtown La Paz bed and breakfast reminds me of hotels in Tulum and Oaxaca, with its minimalist yet boho design. The property features a beautiful pool and daily breakfast. Check Mantarraya Outpost nightly prices.
The Best Things to do in La Paz
☀️ La Paz beach hopping: La Paz is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world! Balandra Beach is the most famous, but I have a full guide to the best beaches in La Paz if you want some more places to sunbathe and swim.
👟 Wander along the La Paz Malecón: La Paz’s waterfront boardwalk is the place to be in La Paz. People watch, mingle with locals, and walk (or cycle) for miles beside the turquoise blue Sea of Cortez.
🐋 Go diving with whale sharks: If you visit La Paz during whale shark season, don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get in the water with the ocean’s largest fish! This whale shark tour led by a marine biologist is the best way to do it!
👙 Take a day trip to Santiago’s waterfalls and hot springs: Just over an hour south of La Paz you’ll find my two favorite Baja hidden gems, the Santa Rita Hot Springs and Fox Canyon Waterfall.
🛥 Join a Sea of Cortez boat tour: Whether you hire your own private yacht for the day or join a group boat tour, make sure you get on the water and explore all the Sea of Cortez has to offer!
Getting Around Baja California Sur
🚙 Renting a car: The most convenient way to get around Baja California Sur since public transportation is lacking. You can compare rental prices from various rental companies here. Just beware that stop signs are treated more like yield signs and the overall driving experience can be a little nerve-wracking.
🚍 Bus: A few private bus lines operate between La Paz and Cabo. I’ve had good experiences riding between downtown La Paz and the Cabo airport with EcoToursBaja, but booking on their website can be a little confusing!
🚌 Tours: You can get to some popular attractions around Baja California Sur on guided tours. Browse La Paz tours here to see if there is one that goes where you want to go!
🚕 Uber, Didi, and Taxi: The best way to get around La Paz. Uber is most popular amongst tourists, but Didi is another rideshare app that is typically cheaper and often has more drivers. I recommend having both apps on your phone. You can also take local taxis, but be sure to ask for the price before you get in the car.
Final Thoughts: Malecon La Paz Beach
Before my first visit to La Paz, I had no idea that the city had such beautiful downtown beaches. I thought that I’d have to drive north to enjoy a day at the beach, but the La Paz Malecon Beach surprised me.
Whether you stroll along the Malecon at sunset, or spend an afternoon basking in the sun on the beach, I’m sure La Paz’s incredible waterfront will be a part of your La Paz experience.
Planning a Baja vacation now? Check out my other La Paz Mexico travel guides.
