Maria California Restaurant

La Paz in Baja California Sur has no shortage of activities and attractions to keep you busy. Consider including some of these things to do in your itinerary:

• Take a boat tour of Espiritu Santo island, where you can swim with sea lions
• Enjoy championship golf at Paraiso del Mar, Costa Baja or Bahia de los Sueños
• Sea kayaking to the beaches of San Jose island
• Snorkeling and scuba diving among ship wrecks and coral reefs
• Go whale watching (January to April) for gray and humpback whales
• Do some shopping and people watching on the Malecon
• Explore the lovely Cathedral Nuestra Señora de La Paz
• Soak in the sunshine at Playa el Tecolate
• Try a Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) boarding excursion
• Sportfishing for marlin and roosterfish (or rent a panga for some family fun)
• Go shopping for jewelry and crafts made by talented artisans
• Splurge on gourmet cuisine from one of many La Paz restaurants

To enter Mexico by air, land or sea, you must present a current passport and tourist card (FMT), the latter of which are valid for up to 180 days. You can apply for a tourist card online by visiting the website of Mexico’s National Immigration Institute. 

When flying in, the FMT is generally filled out upon arrival at the international airport.

La Paz has an average of 340 days of sunshine per year, and its coast — buffered by steady 10-to-15-knot winds — attract hordes of sea kayakers, stand-up paddlers, snorkelers, and divers. The summers are typically long and muggy; the winters are short, comfortable, and dry. The temperature typically ranges from 53 degrees F to 97 degrees F, and is rarely below 47 degrees F or above 102 degrees F.

The best times of year to visit La Paz for warm-weather activities are from mid-February to late June, and from mid-October to late December. September and October are the region’s rainiest months. December through April is high tourist season, when daytime temperatures hover in the mid-70s and 80s.

Gift and specialty shops, souvenir stands and upscale boutiques sell a variety of handicrafts, ceramics, clothing, jewelry and artwork. La Paz even has an authentic Chinatown, modern shopping malls and a local farmer’s street market that is held weekly. For those who revel in a little retail therapy, pay a visit to these La Paz gems:

• Ceramica Ibarra – unique, handmade pottery, lots of practical gift items
• Casa Parra – eclectic selection of carvings, baskets, ceramics and handmade arts and crafts
• La Antigua California -beautiful artisanal products including glass, silver jewelry, pottery and weavings plus typical souvenirs
• Mercado Madero – one of two public markets in town that sells inexpensive clothing and gift items. Also has food stalls selling fresh produce, meat and cheeses
• Allende Books – fantastic collection of English books in various genres, with a focus on travel and local history; located near the Cathedral Plaza.