Day trips

Day trips from La Paz

La Paz is a genuinely good base, and the best trips are short and mostly on the water. Here they are in order of value, with an honest worth-it verdict on each.

Isla Espíritu Santo and Los Islotes

Travel time: about a 30-to-45-minute boat ride from the docks near the marina (approximate). The standout, no contest. A full-day island tour (roughly 7 to 8 hours) to snorkel with the sea lion colony at Los Islotes and swim off empty coves, with lunch on the boat. The pups loop around you; the water is clear and the coves are yours. Book a permitted operator and an early departure before the wind builds. Worth it without hesitation — for many people this is the highlight of the whole trip. Full detail at Espíritu Santo.

Whale sharks in the bay

Travel time: a short boat ride from town, roughly 20 to 40 minutes to the feeding zone (approximate). In season, roughly October to April, this is a half-day rather than a full excursion, but it counts as a trip because it is the reason many people come. Calm, shallow snorkeling next to a bus-sized filter feeder, on capped permits with a mandated distance. Worth it, in season, above almost anything else.

Balandra and the northern beaches

Travel time: about 25 to 40 minutes by car (approximate). Not far enough to be a real “trip,” but a half-day at Balandra’s shallow, protected water, plus a stop at Playa Tecolote for palapas, shade, and grilled fish, is an easy and worthwhile outing. Go at opening, since Balandra caps entry and closes once it fills. Worth it, and cheap.

Todos Santos

Travel time: about 1 to 1.5 hours by car, or roughly an hour on the Aguila bus (approximate). A small Pacific-side town known for its arts scene, surf, and cafes, easy to fold into the drive toward Cabo. Worth a day if you like galleries and a slower pace. Pleasant rather than essential — go if you have a fourth day, skip if you are tight on time and choosing between this and the water. More at Todos Santos.

Los Cabos

Travel time: about 2 to 2.5 hours by car or bus (approximate). Doable as a long day, but the appeal honestly runs the other direction: people escape Los Cabos to La Paz, not the reverse. Skip unless you specifically want the marina, the nightlife, or a big-resort day by a pool. As a day trip from calm La Paz it is a lot of desert highway for a busier version of a beach town.

What a friend who lives here would tell you: spend your days on the water and the islands. The boats are what La Paz is for, and no land trip beats them.