BajaNomad

La Paz

Bubba - 8-9-2018 at 08:42 AM

I have a good friend headed to La Paz next month. I've not been in yrs, can anyone recommend good restaurants, boats, things to see/do? Appreciate any information, thanks.

wilderone - 10-17-2018 at 09:36 AM

Drive out to Playa Tecolote - get there about 10 am. Sign up for a snorkel tour to Isla Espiritu Santo- $50 - 5 hr, lunch. Boat will arrive about 11:30 am. One word: Fabulous. (Hopefully choose a sunny, calm day). You'll return about 4:45 or so. Have a beer and dinner at Tecolote. Scope out Balandra beach on the way back - maybe spend part of the next day there. Get there mid-week before 10 am to snag a palapa. They might be underwater due to high tide, but stick close by until the tide goes down.







[Edited on 10-17-2018 by wilderone]

BajaBlanca - 10-17-2018 at 01:08 PM

I recommend EL ZARAPE on the malecon next to Tailhunter for a meal. They are fun and the nachos with chichen, for two, is enough food for four people easily! If it is a nice day, go to the stairs on the far right as you enter and sit on the balcony upstairs.

Perfect people watching spot. Food and drinks served up there!


weebray - 10-17-2018 at 01:56 PM

From there (Pismo) start here (Nomad). You will find plenty of tips and recommendations. From here (La Paz) start with a walking tour of the downtown (two to three hours). Grab a beer or ice cream on the Malecon and people watch. The restaurants and bars there are pretty touristy. (go figure) The best lunch in town is Esquina de Chef one block off the water behind the bus station. I would start there then continue up Independencia to centro. For a few suggestions, we would be happy to respond to a U2U.

David K - 10-17-2018 at 02:03 PM

This is a great Q & A post!
A Trip Report is what gets posted after your trip to share with us. :light:

You may see something of interest we enjoyed in our trip reports:
La Paz in 2012: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=61576
La Paz in 2017: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87323

Both reports are for more than La Paz.




[Edited on 10-17-2018 by David K]

JZ - 10-17-2018 at 04:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bubba  
I have a good friend headed to La Paz next month. I've not been in yrs, can anyone recommend good restaurants, boats, things to see/do? Appreciate any information, thanks.


Rent a jeep and drive up to San Evaristo (3hrs). One of the best coast line drives in Baja. Maybe the very best.

In San Evaristo, pay a panga to take you out 8 miles to Isla San Fransisco. Arguable the most beautiful natural bay in the entire Sea of Cortez. Take wood and build a fire on the beach for dinner.

You won't forget that trip.


[Edited on 10-17-2018 by JZ]

willardguy - 10-17-2018 at 04:17 PM

saturday night on the malecon, get a good seat, some tarro's and hang on!;)

AKgringo - 10-17-2018 at 05:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
saturday night on the malecon, get a good seat, some tarro's and hang on!;)


I haven't sampled the night life in La Paz for quite a few years. My recollection was that things don't really get started until after eleven o'clock or so!

Am I wrong? Remember that many of the revelers start with a siesta earlier in the day.

weebray - 10-18-2018 at 08:29 AM

IMHO the place to "party down" in Baja California Sur is in the Los Cabos area about 100 mi. south of La Paz. As the capital of the state, La Paz has always been quite a bit more subdued. A little more Mexican and a little more business oriented. It is evolving but you will find less English spoken here and the US dollar is not the currency of choice. There are a number of reasons for this (proximity to fisheries, direct flights, etc.) but it results in a little more relaxed and friendly area for expats to retire. It would not be my destination if I were looking to spend the day on the beach and the nights drinking, dancing and trying to mate.

Beer

bikehermit - 12-10-2018 at 09:26 AM

Don't know if it's still open but when we were there this time last year the Beer Box in La Paz had a great selection of craft beer from Mexico. I learned that there is a craft brewery scene in Mexico at least Mexicali and the mainland.

4x4abc - 12-10-2018 at 11:00 AM

best beer place in town https://www.facebook.com/CerveceriaPacena/

ncampion - 12-10-2018 at 12:51 PM

Try Las Tres Virgenes for dinner. A little on the pricey side, but the ambiance is great and the food worth the price.

Lee - 12-10-2018 at 12:56 PM

Asadero Rancho Viejo block off N. End of Malecon. Open 24 hours. Kilo of Arrachera para llevar.

David K - 12-10-2018 at 01:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ncampion  
Try Las Tres Virgenes for dinner. A little on the pricey side, but the ambiance is great and the food worth the price.


Probably the best steak dinners and many local specialties. This fine restaurant is owned by Baja Nomad JESSE (Jesus) who was a top chef in Tijuana at fine restaurants before joining with his brother in La Paz. We feasted here in 2012 with Nomad 'BajaTripper' (Steve) and Zully who have a home in La Paz.

https://www.facebook.com/LasTresVirgenes

https://www.facebook.com/chefjesuschavez/

Bubba - 12-10-2018 at 02:12 PM

Appreciate all the great info folks but my buddy was down and back quite awhile ago, had a great time. Hopefully others can use some of these suggestions.

JZ - 12-10-2018 at 02:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by weebray  
IMHO the place to "party down" in Baja California Sur is in the Los Cabos area about 100 mi. south of La Paz. As the capital of the state, La Paz has always been quite a bit more subdued. A little more Mexican and a little more business oriented. It is evolving but you will find less English spoken here and the US dollar is not the currency of choice. There are a number of reasons for this (proximity to fisheries, direct flights, etc.) but it results in a little more relaxed and friendly area for expats to retire. It would not be my destination if I were looking to spend the day on the beach and the nights drinking, dancing and trying to mate.


This is pretty inaccurate. La Paz is a huge party town. Just with less gringos.