Overview La Paz, which means "peace" in Spanish, is the laid back capital city of the Baja California Sur. It's very easy to relax while visiting this area. La Paz is particularly popular for its water-related tourist activities (particularly in the Sea of Cortez), such as fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, water sports and marine wildlife watching (such as whales and sea lions). Other popular activities include bird-watching, hiking and rock climbing.
Weather-wise, La Paz is typically dry, warm and sunny. However, it can be quite humid during the summer.
The best way to get around downtown La Paz is by walking. For cruisers that aren't taking part in a shore excursion, taxis (and rental cars; which aren't really the best idea for cruisers due to the typically limited time in this port) are typically available to take you to the destination of your choice.
Destinations La Paz is included on select Mexican Riviera cruise itineraries.
Cruise Lines Departing Here
La Paz is not a cruise departure port.
Currency The official currency of Mexico is the Mexican peso (MXN). US Dollars are accepted at many places as well. Using a credit card whenever possible is a great way to avoid having to exchange currency.
Language The official language of Mexico is Spanish. However, many locals will speak English in the main tourist areas.
Tourist Attractions There are quite a few beaches in La Paz. Among them are Playa El Coromel, Playa Caimancito (calm water), Playa Balandra and Playa Pichilingue (about a mile from the port in Pichilingue).
Among the many shore excursions that some cruise lines typically offer in La Paz are snorkeling, guided city tours of La Paz, whale watching, scuba diving (for beginners and more advanced divers), kayaking and snorkeling with sea lions.
Todos Santos, located about 1 1/2 hours from La Paz, is a lovely oasis town offering fabulous views of the Pacific Ocean. There are many shops are galleries in this quaint area, as well as great colonial architecture.
El Serpentario Reptile Center, about 30 minutes from the port, features a large variety of reptiles, including various snakes, turtles, crocodiles and lizards. For the more daring visitors, reptile encounters are available there as well.
Port Location Larger ships (like those of Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line) use the pier in nearby Pichilingue (called Puerto de Pichilingue; located about 10 miles north of La Paz), while some smaller ships actually dock at the Port of La Paz (which is within walking distance of downtown La Paz). If your ship docks in Pichilingue there's typically a free shuttle bus that takes you to either downtown La Paz or to the beach.
