Mexico

One Big Party in La Paz!

Sail, Bike, Swim but save some energy for the nightlife!

LA PAZ,Mexico—Whether it’s the pounding of horse’s hooves along the shore, or the sound of boats dipping in and out of the water, La Paz has a heartbeat like its pulsing sun. And a nightlife filled with tequila. The city’s name means peace in Spanish and with secluded beaches, coves and islands that stand like grey statues amid a sea and sky of turquoise, La Paz stands true to its name. Approximately 200,000 people call this city in the Baja Peninsula home — tucked into a bay surrounded by the Sea of Cortez — the sailboats their closest neighbours. A short taxi ride out of the city takes you past the passenger ferry docks, through hills peppered with cacti to rocky beaches that stretch for miles. 

Puerto Balandra is very secluded, with only a few huts along its shore and each step taken around enormous black rocks, reveals new coves and sends tiny crabs scurrying in frantic directions. El Tecolote is a much more popular beach with restaurants, traditional mariachi bands, watersports and equipment to rent.Here, you can shove off on a kayak tour to Espiritu Santo Island with BOA tours, hike canyons and kayakbeneath1,000 foot cliffs into sea caves. Or you can snorkel above white sandy beaches with sea lion pups swimming beneath you and manta rays jumping into a background of sky. Dolphins and whale sharks call these waters home, but from January to March it’s the gray whales migration playground. This C-shaped bay is known for its beautiful diving scenery and deep sea fishing that could catch you anything from a marlin to a dorado. In short, it’s a seafood lover’s paradise filled with calamari and shark-fin soup. 

Through the city runs the malecon — a 5km sidewalk that borders the sea. Most shops, fine dining, taco stands and, more importantly, the ice cream parlours border this main spine of La Paz. Grab a bench because it’s also a front row seat to spectacular sunsets. Cement and stucco buildings line the streets like brightly coloured dominos, placed end to end. Palm trees create partial roofs and the Nuestra Senora de la Paz, a 19th century cathedral , reaches for the sky in the city centre. On the opposite side of the square, theBiblioteca deHistoria de las Californias houses paintings and documents on missions, regional topics and cave paintings. Other museums document the history of the area and its folklore. 

Inspired by tales of fierce, independent women, Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, led an expedition to the Baja Peninsula in the 16^th century. The Spaniards named it California and Cortes was said to have acquired the area’s precious black, white and pink pearls. Sadly, the oysters are only history now, having been mysteriously wiped out. The only pearls that remain in La Paz are the quaint bed andbreakfasts that are tucked between stucco walls. With only four rooms, Casa Tuscany Inn is one of them, huddled around a courtyard where you can have your private breakfast amid butterflies and the odd hummingbird. If you look closely, you can even see tiny salamanders climbing the walls. Whether spending the day sailing or bicycling,make sure to save enough energy for the nightlife. True to its Mexican nature, the night starts late (around 10 or 11 p.m.) and goes all night long, sometimes to 5 a.m! There are concerts, bars, clubs and lots of dancing. Men dipping women, their hair brushing the floor and tequila gracing the bar. La Paz is a city where beauty is abundant and crime is very rare. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the sun rise and set all in the same day.