Getting To La Paz

La Paz City Info

Baja Map

La Paz City Information

LA PAZ

While other Mexican seaside communities have been overwhelmed by the desire to service tourists and in the process destroy the special attributes that drew the folks to them in the first place, La Paz has managed to maintain its natural character of a truly Mexican city situated on a beautiful bay, Bahia de La Paz. There are no high-rise hotel complexes blocking the ocean like Acapulco, no commercial port where there once was sand dunes like Ensenada, no abandoned tourist zones like Mazatlan, no bar scene like Puerto Vallarta, no uncontrolled overbuilding like Cabo San Lucas. Fortunately, La Paz remains an undiscovered tranquil city resting on the turquoise Sea of Cortez. It’s brand, clean Malecon in the heart of the city still provide direct access to both beach and bay.

La Paz was discovered in 1535 when Hernan Cortez came and named it Puerto de la Santa Cruz "the Port of the Holy Cross". In 1596, it was renamed la Paz, that means Peace, because of its gentle people and restful environment. The feeling of peacefulness remains today as something tangible and desirable. The city’s economic history began as a trade and commerce center with pearling, and then fishing, creating jobs and international sources of income. In 1838, La Paz became the Capital of Baja California Sur that became a State. La Paz has remained the seat of government since 1838, the Governor resides here as do all State officials. The main branches of both State and Mexican Federal government offices conduct their business here. The government is the city’s major employer creating a relatively solid economy base and a significant middle income level work force. It is a very practical business community with a town that serves its needs. It is this strong economic foundation that maintains La Paz as a Mexican city unaffected by the tourist trade.

Although there is tourism, it is mainly nationals who come here to enjoy the water, the nearby islands and the isolation of the desert. The Japanese come just for scuba. The tourist industry of La Paz is involved in a unique chicken and egg situation that has stifled growth in this area. There are only one thousand hotel rooms available in the city. The airlines that already service La Paz won’t add more flights, nor will other airlines be willing to come in, because of the limited number of quality rooms. On the other hand, hoteliers and developers are reluctant to build since there is such limited air access and no guarantee more tourists can reach La Paz unlike Cabo San Lucas which has flights arriving all day long from all over the place. The economic future of La Paz is, therefore, heading away from traditional tourism; only ecotourism is being singled out as a potential growth industry.

For now, La Paz maintains a small town feeling, its streets seem uncrowded, its pace unhurried, even though its population is 180,000 plus and growing. Its culture can be said to be centered on the water, the beaches and the surrounding desert. Its totally romantic natural beauty, including spectacular sunsets, entices and captures foreigners. Unlike some other Mexican retirement havens, La Paz has no gringo ghettos, even though there is a concentration of Americans at the Marinas. The foreigners live everywhere, all around the city in neighborhoods where most of their neighbors are Mexicans.

Many foreigners used to arrive on boats and stay forever, while others stick around for a year or two and head off to parts unknown. Over the last seven years, there has been a noticeable growth in the foreign population ranging from older people living on social security to retirees who have bought nice comfortable houses to younger folks end entrepreneurs that participate actively in the local economy.

There are four major supermarkets. Two CCCs (pronounced say-say-say) which carry everything found in U.S. supermarket including deli items, Aramburo which is supposed to stock the best meat in town and Ley a new big supermarket with all Mexican specialty from mainland. There are many Oriental restaurants, so short grain rice and dried shitake mushrooms can be purchased. There is a significant Asian population in La Paz, their history tracing back to the Chinese who built the U.SS. railroads and then headed into Mexico, migrating into the Baja Sur. There are also public Mexican markets such as Mercado Madero, a tin roofed building where you can buy produce, meats, sea foods, fresh juices, as well as, hats, belts, blankets and flip-flops and the Mercado Bravo, famous for its seafood and its little restaurants with all typical Baja dishes. There are also street vendors that come around the neighborhoods selling fresh produce and plants.

There is a municipal bus service. They have used buses brought down from the States. There are jitneys, small vans that runs specific routes. There are lots of taxis whose reasonable prices are fixed by law, but you should still ask before the ride what they will charge.

Money Exchange Locations ... Most hotels will give you close to the bank exchange rate. Stores will accept dollars and credit cards on most purchases and give a reasonable rate of exchange.

Every hour shuttle buses run from the bus station downtown to the most popular beaches: La Concha, Balandra & Tecolote. Deep Sea Fishing, windsurfing and other activities can be organized through major hotels and travel agencies.

Medical care is perceived as adequate. There are seven hospitals including a Military hospital and the Centro de Especialidades Medicas (aka the Purple Hospital) near Fidepaz with a twenty four hour emergency room. The doctors in La Paz are said to be very capable but there are not enough who are bilingual. An office visit to a doctor is 200-300 Pesos. There is an acupuncturist and chiropractic services available. There are several Mexican style health stores which carry herbs, vitamins and tonics and make fresh, delicious juice drinks.