Positioned along the tranquil shores of the Sea of Cortés, La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, México, and one of the most exceptional destinations within the state. It’s the perfect blend of city and beach life. Located roughly two hours north of Los Cabos by car, La Paz offers a distinct experience: It’s more traditionally Mexican, more grounded, and more deeply connected to its cultural and ecological heritage. While La Paz has all the infrastructure of a major city—universities, a thriving culinary scene, and modern marinas—it retains a relaxed, small-town charm that feels welcoming and real.

Shaped by centuries of maritime trade, La Paz has long been a center of commerce, fishing, and exploration in the Sea of Cortés. Unlike its resort-heavy neighbors Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo to the south, La Paz isn’t defined by large-scale tourism. Instead, it draws a more intentional kind of visitor and resident: those who seek a traditionally Mexican experience and the slow pleasures of coastal living. In La Paz, the malecón, the city’s waterfront promenade, stretches for miles and is a focal point of local life. In the evenings, it fills with families, couples, and street vendors, all framed by sunsets that set the sea ablaze in color. And the nearby beach Balandra is known for its shallow, calm waters and mushroom-shaped rock feature.

Indeed, the natural environment here is among the most biodiverse in the world. Just offshore, Isla Espíritu Santo—part of a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve—offers extraordinary opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, and marine wildlife encounters, including seasonal whale sharks and dolphins. Inland, desert mountains and cactus-lined trails provide endless desert adventures.

La Paz is ideal for those who value finding connection to a place more than the traps of tourism. In La Paz, you’ll find a more genuine, sustainable Baja California Sur lifestyle—one rooted in heritage, surrounded by beauty, and built for long-term living.