Famous picturesque Playa Ruinas is the beach that most often represents Tulum, with its beautiful white sands and turquoise waters home to well-preserved Mayan ruins.

The clifftop Castillo (“Castle”) was constructed as a watchtower in the 13th century and is now the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico.

The beach itself with its warm Caribbean waters is popular for swimming, snorkeling, diving, and all manner of water sports, while a number of restaurants, cafes, and shops are available to enjoy after a day of fun in the sun.

Lover’s Beach, officially known as Playa del Amor, is one of Mexico’s most famous beaches.

The beach is easily accessible by water taxi from the Cabo marina and boasts some incredible rock formations, fascinating caves, and clear azure waters. On the Sea of Cortez side, you can enjoy some outstanding snorkeling too.

While you’re here you can enjoy dining at the area’s many upscale restaurants, as well as take part in the happening party scene with numerous cozy bars and clubs.

Balandra Beach is the very best beach in all of Mexico.

Located a short drive from the city of La Paz, it boasts ultra white, soft sands that frame a gorgeous lagoon with clear cerulean waters that make it look as if it should be in the Caribbean.

This place is home to a unique mushroom-shaped rock that’s easy to swim out to, or even walk to when the tide is low.

In nearby La Paz, stroll the promenade that hugs the shoreline known as the Malecon, a beautiful place to enjoy a sunset as well as to dine at waterfront eateries and shop for local goods.

Chen Rio Beach is located on Cozumel, an island located off the Yucatan Peninsula.

Considered one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in the Western Hemisphere.

Explore a spectacular underwater world and enjoy soaking up the sun and sand, or rent a scooter and explore some of the lesser-visited areas of the island, Mayan ruins, and a marine park.

Nestled between the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, Todos Santos is a fabulous arts community, with a thriving food scene and a nearly always empty beach that stretches for miles.

Punta Lobos is an ideal place for surfing. Don’t forget your board, or just enjoy long strolls, watching the baby sea turtle releases and some of the most stunning sunsets on the planet.

Playa Norte (“North Beach”), is the main beach on Isla Mujeres, a tiny island just 10 miles off the coast of Cancun.

Playa Norte is famous for its glistening white sands that are lined with palm trees, and strikingly clear warm waters that are calm, shallow, and for safe swimming and snorkeling.

At Playa Norte you can rent a lounger at any one of the beach clubs, and enjoy live reggae parties starting at sunset with live salsa music and dancing on Sunday afternoons.

Hobox is a small island located just three hours from Cancun, the best-kept secret on the Yucatan Peninsula, offering a tranquil escape with seven miles of postcard-perfect sands and crystal-clear cerulean waters.

While there is little in the way of facilities, and no upscale hotels, unspoiled beaches can be discovered around every corner.

Every year from May through September, whale sharks gather in this area to feed on the plankton-rich waters that have made it one of the best destinations on Earth to see or even swim with the ocean’s largest fish too.

The island is also a bird watcher’s paradise, with more than 150 bird species, including flamingos and pelicans.

Playa de Tecolote or Tecolote Beach is one of the best beaches for swimming near La Paz and the entire Baja Peninsula.

Enjoy barefoot dining at the casual eateries on the beach, which serve tasty local dishes while gazing out at the brilliant waters in varied shades of blue and out to the uninhabited island of Espíritu Santo.

Wave runners and paddle boards are available for rent too.

Playa Maroma, or Maroma Beach, has become one of the Riviera Maya’s top resort destinations, offering luxurious accommodations and indulgent amenities to its already enticing natural advantages.

Playa Maroma boasts a lush tropical backdrop, bordered by mangroves and jungle, along with perfect white sands and extraordinary Caribbean waters in a shade of blue that causes jaws to drop.

Cabo Pulmo is also named the “jewel of the East Cape”.

Cabo Pulmo is a breathtaking 70-mile coastline that arcs from San Jose del Cabo to Los Barriles.

The unspoiled beaches give way to a calm, shallow bay that houses one of just three living reefs on the entire continent, located in a 10-mile-long by a three-mile-wide underwater park.

This area has one of the oldest living coral reefs and has the highest concentration of sea life in the Sea of Cortez, including tropical fish, manta rays, sea turtles, sea lions, moray eels, and bull sharks.

No matter where you are on the beach, you can expect to catch some of the most glorious sunrises you’ll ever wake up to.

Colonial Zacatecas, Mexico’s second-highest city at 2469 meters above sea level, offers a chance to take a trek back through history with stunning architecture that includes many civil and religious buildings from the colonial area.

The Cathedral dominates the center of Zacatecas City and is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Churrigueresque architecture in Mexico.

Best known as one of the clusters of old silver mining cities, Zacatecas has long been valued for its rich deposits of silver and other minerals. The city also hosts the famous Holy Week Cultural Festival which features more than 50 dancers and other performers.

This UNESCO-listed nature reserve is an outdoor lovers’ dream come true.

Located off the coast of Baja, California, it’s a must-see, with pristine turquoise bays, windswept sand dunes, fiery red cliffs, and rich marine life as part of one of the most unspoiled ecosystems in Baja.

In the surrounding waters, view gray whales, swim with manta rays and sea lions, and on land, you’ll find five species of mammals and reptiles that are unique to the island, including a ring-tailed cat and black jackrabbit.

Chiapas is unlike anything you probably envisioned Mexico to be.

Here you’ll find a land filled with lakes and waterfalls as well as magnificent ruins in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, nestled within a rainforest along the northern border of the state.

The stunning structures here were built with remarkable artistry, while the onsite museum features stucco hieroglyphs, intricately carved panels and fantastical clay earns.

The incredible detail of the carvings and frescoes have revealed to archaeologists much of what they know about Mayan life today.

At nearby Agua Azul, you can take a dip in waters that appear so amazingly blue it’s hard to believe they’re real, but they’re actually the result of crystal clear water that runs over a smooth limestone riverbed, illuminated by the sun.

Puebla’s city center is also a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its magnificent monuments of Spanish colonial architecture and a colorful blend of cultures.

Stroll its central streets, passing buildings, facades, and gardens that reflect its history, and shop for intricately designed Talavera pottery. Nearby, you can view the world’s largest pyramid at Cholula, topped by a church.

After dark, head to the Plazuela de Los Sapos to enjoy the sounds of traditional mariachi.

This quiet fishing village hidden away on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, though it still remains a favorite budget-friendly destination in Mexico.

It’s also under the radar, with the exception of those who come here to surf. A beach break known as the Mexican Pipeline, putting Mexican surfing on the map, brings surfers from across the globe.

From May to July, waves can reach 30 feet or higher. Even if you don’t surf, the experience here is all about the beach, though you’ll also find an authentic Mexican culture and a bustling outdoor food market.

Huatulco is in one of the most bio-diverse regions of the country along the Pacific Coast, about 70 miles east of Puerto Escondido, and also in Oaxaca State.

It boasts a Green Globe Certification for sustainable tourism and features an abundance of eco-attractions and wildlife, along with nine pristine bays and 36 picturesque beaches connected by rocky cliffs that lead to lush rainforest-covered mountains.

Visit coffee plantations and explore pre-Hispanic ruins or enjoy endless snorkeling and diving among brilliant reefs – you’ll be stunned at how crystal clear the waters in Huatulco are.

This seaside village 40 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit was a secluded surfing town and sleepy fishing village just a decade ago, but that’s changed in recent years, with travelers from across the globe discovering Sayulita’s charms.

Don’t wait too long to visit, while you can still enjoy a low-key, bohemian vibe, unspoiled beaches, and rustic seafood eateries on the sand. If you’re new to surfing, this is also a good place to learn.

While the experience will find plenty of challenges, the bay has a nice break that’s ideal for beginners, and you’ll also find lessons as well as board rentals of all types available.

Just an hour’s drive from Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos is one of the most charming towns in Baja with its quirky mix of New Age spiritualists, surfers, artists, and fishermen.

It offers a world-class foodie scene too, though it’s managed to escape the rampant tourism of other towns in the region.

This unique, artsy desert oasis is tucked among ancient orchards of mango and palm while offering breathtaking views that overlook powdery white sands and the expanse of the dazzling Pacific.

Its rich history with centuries-old tradition and friendly hospitality combined with modern conveniences make it an ideal less-traveled destination.

Morelia is another one of Mexico’s most spectacular colonial cities, located in the state of Michoacan, home to the only indigenous people who were never conquered by the Aztecs.

The state capital of Morelia proudly displays its Indian roots among the majestic, pink quarry stone colonial buildings.

The cozy and picturesque town of Morelia It’s surrounded by villages devoted to the single crafts industry, including musical instruments, textiles, furniture, copper, and pottery.

Several of the most important monarch butterfly wintering sites on the planet are located in eastern Michoacan’s mountains.

The annual monarch migration is one of the greatest spectacles found in the nation when as many as 60 million to one billion of the orange-colored butterflies journey from eastern Canada to the forests of western central Mexico.

Cooper Canyon, located in the heart of the Tarahumara Mountains, is so enormous it could swallow the entire Grand Canyon.

Copper Canyon, formed by the confluence of six rivers, is lush and green with oak, fir, pine, and fig trees. Indigenous people have made the canyons their home for centuries, and living in this remote region, their way of life has largely been preserved.

You’ll need to venture deep into the canyon floor to meet the Tarahumara people. The best way to get there is via the Chihuahua al Pacifico Train which can be boarded at El Fuerte, a small colonial town on the El Fuerte River.

Ixtapan de la Sal is best known for its healing thermal springs. It’s a popular destination for Mexico City residents, located just a little over two hours southwest.

It’s also been an important source of salt since pre-Hispanic times, while its two rivers and the carbonated water of La Laguna Verde, a spring that erupts from the volcanic landscape, served as a public bath for indigenous people.

During the Aztec empire, it was said to be a sacred place for chiefs who took advantage of the warm waters for their healing and soothing properties.

The town is typical of others in Mexico, with high tile roofs and cobblestone streets framed in the traditional surroundings of 16th-century buildings.

This UNESCO World Heritage site and one of central Mexico’s most picturesque and best-preserved colonial towns manages to be cosmopolitan and quaint at the same time.

With narrow cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, and idyllic weather, many feel it’s the prettiest town in the country.

Foreign retirees, artists, and writers, mainly from Canada and the U.S. are flocking here for its vibrant art scene featuring numerous studios and galleries with working artists and artisans along with a moderate cost of living.

There’s something interesting to be found around nearly every corner, with its parish church, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Jardin Park, and Mercado Ignacia Ramirez a few of the highlights.

The small state of Tlaxcala, located just two hours west of Mexico City offers something for almost everyone, including fascinating sites for history buffs and beautiful scenery for nature lovers.

At Cacaxtla, one of the most important ancient cities in central Mexico, perfectly preserved pre-Hispanic murals vividly depict battles and pyramids from the different stages of the Olmeca-Xicalanca culture.

Its compact capital is filled with colonial buildings painted in warm, colorful hues, all set in a verdant valley with soaring twin volcanoes as a backdrop.

It rivals the Yucatan for restored and ruined haciendas and is also home to over 1,000 archaeological sites. During the summer, visit the Firefly Sanctuary where you can witness countless fireflies lighting up the forest at night.

An ideal destination for wine enthusiasts, the oldest continuously operating winery in the Americas, Casa Madero, can be found in the town of Parras de la Fuente, located in Coahuila state in northern Baja California.

It was actually this very winery that exported the grapes that started the wine industry in Napa Valley, back when the Golden State was still a province of Spanish Mexico.

Its wines are still found alongside the finest in the region and among the winners of international competitions.

While the main attraction here is the vineyards, you can also visit a sacred volcano and the charming chapel, El Santo Madero, which sits atop it, keeping watch over the town.

By visiting the “cave of the bats,” located in the Hotel Antigua Hacienda de Perote, just before the sun goes down, you can see and hear thousands of bats pouring out into the sky as they get ready for a night of hunting.

La Paz was once set to become the next Acapulco – Baja’s unassuming capital remained a laid-back city with just a few tourists joining vacationing Mexicans.

But that’s starting to change, much to the dismay of some, with resorts popping up just outside of town aimed at travelers looking for luxuries that can be found in places like Cancun and Cabo.

For now, the essential nature of the city hasn’t changed.

You can still enjoy a provincial Mexico town atmosphere along with picture-postcard beaches, lively squares, and city streets nestled between coconut palms, old laurel trees, and date palms along with the ultimate seafood smorgasbord.

La Paz has a desert climate. The climate of La Paz is typically dry, warm, and sunny with a year-round average of between 24 and 33 °C. Summer months (July–September) are typically between 34 and 36 °C and can be humid.

The winter months (December–February) are the coldest with temperatures dropping below 15 °C at night, but most maxima are from 20 to 25 °C. Breezes from Bahía de La Paz moderate the temperature.

The bay also acts as a barrier against seasonal storms in the Gulf of California.

Rainfall is minimal at most times of year, although erratic downpours can bring heavy rains. Rain tends to be concentrated in a short, slightly rainier season that peaks in August and September, following the pattern of the North American Monsoon.

The driest season, where it is common to have no rain, occurs from March through June. La Paz averages over 300 days of sunshine annually and it’s known to be very hot in the summer.

During the summer the cooling Coromuel winds, a weather phenomenon unique to the La Paz area, blow during the night from the Pacific over the Peninsula and into the Bay of La Paz.

As with most of the Gulf of California, the temperature of the water changes substantially over the course of the year, with temperatures around 68 °F during winter and around 85 °F during summer.

The guaycuras were the first inhabitants of the peninsula and named this place as Airapí.

On May 3, 1535, Hernán Cortés arrived in the bay by La Paz and named it “Santa Cruz”; he attempted to start a colony but abandoned his efforts after several years due to logistical problems.

In 1596 Sebastián Vizcaíno arrived, giving the area its modern name, La Paz.

Pre-Columbian history

Fourteen thousand years ago the first nomadic human groups arrived on the peninsula from the Pacific Ocean coasts.

There were three well-defined tribal groups in the pre-Hispanic era: the Pericúes, guaycuras and cochimíes.

The Pericues inhabited the southern part of the peninsula and extended north, from Cabo San Lucas to the middle of the peninsula, the Guaycuras inhabited the middle and the Cochimies in the far north.

In the vicinity of the current city of La Paz have been discovered indications of pre-Hispanic burials, which shed light on the funeral customs of the Pericues. In that sense, El Conchalito is a site of great archaeological importance.

First discovery of Baja California

In 1533 Hernán Cortés sent an expedition of two ships: “Concepcion” and “San Lazaro”.

This expedition had to explore the South Sea (Pacific Ocean). The Concepción ship was commanded by the captain and commander of the Diego de Becerra. The other ship was under the command of Captain Hernando de Grijalva.

On October 30, 1533, the expedition sailed from the port which today is known as Manzanillo (State of Colima). By December 20 the two ships had separated. The ship “San Lazaro” had advanced and waited in vain for the ship “Concepcion” for three days. Then having no sign from the companion ship, “San Lazaro” began to explore the Pacific Ocean and discovered the Revillagigedo Islands.

Onboard the “Concepcion” everything was different. The navigator and second in command Fortún Jiménez murdered Captain Diego de Becerra while he was sleeping. The loyal part of the crew was assaulted. Later, Fortun Jimenez left them on the coasts of Michoacán.

Fortún Jiménez sailed northwest following the coast and at some point turned west and reached a peaceful bay. Today it is known that he arrived at the city and port of La Paz, though he thought he had arrived on an island. He never knew he had arrived at a peninsula that would eventually be called the Baja California peninsula. There he met natives who spoke a language unknown to him and who also walked half-naked. They were very different from the natives of the Mexican highlands who had their own culture.

The crew members who accompanied him saw half-naked women. Having a long period of involuntary celibacy led them to take the women by force. The crew had realized that natives extracted pearls from the shells of mollusks that were abundant in the bay. So they dedicated themselves to looting the place and abusing the women. It is necessary to highlight that Fortún Jiménez and his companions did not give any name to any of the places they found.

The abuse of the women by the crew together with the looting to which they dedicated themselves to provoked a violent confrontation with the natives that ended in the death of Fortún Jiménez and some of his companions. The survivors left and they sailed erratically for several days until they reached the coasts of the present state of Jalisco. They ran into the subalterns of Nuño de Guzmán who seized the ship and took them prisoners.

Hernán Cortés “discovers” California and founds the town of Santa Cruz

After having sponsored two exploration trips in the South Sea (Pacific Ocean) and without having obtained results, Hernán Cortés decided to head the third exploration trip.

Nuño de Guzmán had seized a ship during the first expedition which Cortés had already paid for. In addition, Nuño de Guzmán seized the ship Concepcion that Cortés had sent on the second voyage of exploration of the South Sea which annoyed him greatly. He decided to confront Nuño de Guzmán on his own land. He started mounting the third expedition by preparing a large number of troops on foot and horseback to march on the province of New Galicia of which Nuño de Guzmán was governor.

On September 4, 1534, Don Antonio de Mendoza who was the Viceroy of New Spain warned Hernán Cortés not to confront whoever had requisitioned his ships. Hernán Cortés refused this order by alleging that he had spent more than 100,000 Castilians in gold and was also designated by his Majesty the King of Spain Felipe II to conquer and discover new territories.

The confrontation between Cortés and Nuño de Guzmán did not occur mostly because Nuño de Guzmán feared Hernán Cortés.

In Chametla (Sinaloa) Cortes boarded ships “Santa Águeda” and “San Lázaro”. All 113 laborers and 40 horse riders boarded and 60 horse riders more were left to wait. After boarding, Cortés along with his expedition took a course to the northwest.

On May 3, 1535, Cortes arrived at the bay that was named Bahia de la Santa Cruz. This was the place where it was confirmed that the death of his subordinate Fortún Jiménez happened at the hands of the natives. Cortes had taken possession of the Bay of Santa Cruz. He decided to establish a colony and ordered to bring back the soldiers and supplies he left in Sinaloa.

Bad weather did not help him though. The ships were lost and only one of them returned to the bay of the Santa Cruz carrying a load of fifty fanegas of corn which was insufficient to feed the expedition. Cortés went out in search of food but what he found was insufficient. He decided to return to New Spain with the intention of providing the new colony from there.

Cortes left the town of Santa Cruz under Francisco de Ulloa’s control. However, the complaints of the relatives of those who had remained in the peninsula made the viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza order the abandonment of the Santa Cruz and all settlers returned to New Spain.

17-19 century

In 1596 Sebastián Vizcaíno arrived here, giving the area its modern name, La Paz.

In 1616 the Dutch pirates, nicknamed “Los Pichilingues”, anchored their ships, “Gran Sol” and “Luna Llena”, in a bay near La Paz that is now named after them and is the commercial port for the city and most of the southern peninsula.

In 1683 Admiral Isidro de Atondo y Antillón took possession of the port settlement and on behalf of Carlos II of Spain, designates it as Puerto de Nuestra Señora de La Paz.

In 1720 the Mission of La Paz was founded by the Jesuit fathers Juan de Ugarte and Jaime Bravo.

The capital of the Californias was transferred to La Paz in 1830. The settlement was re-established several years later and renamed La Paz.

William Walker’s Republic of Sonora

On October 15, 1853, William Walker set out with 45 men to invade and conquer the Mexican territories of Baja California and Sonora. He succeeded in capturing La Paz, the capital of sparsely populated Baja California, and declared a Republic of Baja California, with himself as president and his partner, Watkins, as vice president. He then put the region under the laws of the American state of Louisiana, where slavery remained legal in 1854. He declared independence from Mexico on January 10, 1854.

Fearful of attacks by Mexico, Walker moved his position twice over the next three months, first to Cabo San Lucas, and then further north to Ensenada to maintain a more secure position of operations. He never gained control of Sonora but three months later, he pronounced Baja California part of a larger Republic of Sonora.

A serious lack of supplies, discontent within his party, and an unexpectedly strong resistance by the Mexican government quickly forced Walker to retreat. William Walker’s Republic of Sonora left his existence on May 8, 1854.

The original capital of the territory was Loreto, which was founded 162 years later and continuously inhabited. Through the years that followed the La Paz settlement was abandon a couple more times for disease, lack of water and famine. So there is some contention as to which is the oldest city on the peninsula.

Espiritu Santo island (Biosphere Reserve)

Isla Espíritu Santo (“Holy Spirit”) is an island in the Gulf of California, off the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is separated from Isla Partida by a narrow canal. It has a land area of 80.763 square km, the 12th-largest island in Mexico.

Isla Partida’s land area is 15.495 square km. Both islands are a short boat trip from La Paz.

The history of these places dates back to pre-Hispanic times, when the islands were occupied by indigenous groups of island pericues. Later, the Spaniards exploited the pearl deposits of the complex, the only resource of economic interest for the Spanish crown.

At first, they used the pericúes as labor, although later they rebelled and were definitively expelled from here.

The area is protected as part of the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna – Islas del Golfo de California and is an important eco-tourism destination.

Both islands together cover an approximate area of 100 square km. The French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau called it “The Aquarium of the World”.

It was declared a natural and protected area in 1978 and later in 1995 was declared by UNESCO as part of a Biosphere Reserve. Espíritu Santo is the only known habitat of the black jackrabbit.

The islands are both uninhabited. Ensenada Grande beach, on Isla Partida, was voted the most beautiful beach in Mexico and one of the top 12 beaches in the world. Sea kayaking is a popular activity around the island.

The surrounding reefs are home to parrotfish, angelfish, trumpetfish, Moorish idols, and rainbow wrasse, while many other species pass nearby including sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even whales.

Birds include brown pelicans, great blue herons, snowy egrets, turkey vultures, and hummingbirds. A large sea lion colony resides on Los Islotes, off the north tip of the islands; snorkeling with the females and young is a highlight of many tours.

Eco-tourism is by far the most important source of tourism income in La Paz as people come to enjoy its marine wonders, as well as its diverse and often unique terrestrial species endemic to the region. Tourists also visit the city’s balnearios. There are some 900 islands and inlets in the Gulf of California with 244 now under UNESCO protection as World Heritage Bio-Reserves and the Isla Espíritu Santo group, which borders the northeast portion of the Bay of La Paz and are considered the crown jewels of the islands of the Gulf (also referred to as the Sea of Cortez/Mar de Cortes), the primary tourist destination of the area. Its diving, snorkeling, and kayaking are considered world-class.

La Paz is also favored by water enthusiasts for its marinas, boat yards, marine supply stores, and cruiser club activities. The surrounding waters provide adventure for experienced boat captains and their customers. Novice captains enjoy the nearby island coves for day and overnight trips. A wealth of experienced sailors and boaters willing to share their expertise are readily available.

La Paz is served by Manuel Márquez de León International Airport with flights to the most important cities of Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Airlines flying into La Paz include Aeroméxico Connect, Volaris, and VivaAerobus.

Two ferry services operate from the port of Pichilingue outside the city, connecting the Baja California peninsula to the mainland at Mazatlán and Topolobampo, near Los Mochis.

Roads

Running along the coast in front of La Paz is a 5 km long Malecon Road.

The main purpose of this road is to allow easy movement across the city. However, it quickly became the focal point of tourist-related activities with a large number of bars, restaurants, and shops opening along its length.

Since 2004 extensive development has taken place which includes a large sidewalk that offers safety for large numbers of people to walk along the coastal front of La Paz.

In September 2011, a bicycle lane was added to the Malecon road, providing cyclists protection from cars and pedestrians.

La Paz is served mainly by two highways; Mexican Federal Highway 1 which links the south of the state from Cabo San Lucas to the north of the peninsula to Tijuana, and Mexican Federal Highway 19, which connects La Paz with other South Pacific towns. It is also served by two secondary roads, the Los Planes highway (286) that connects La Paz with towns such as La Ventana, Ensenada de los Muertos and Los Planes.

The other is the Pichilingue highway which links La Paz with its maritime port.

John Steinbeck visited La Paz in 1940. He describes the town in his 1947 novel The Pearl and mentions it extensively in his 1951 travelogue The Log from the Sea of Cortez.

The city is also the setting of the 1967 Scott O’Dell children’s novel The Black Pearl, chosen as a Newbery Honor Book in 1968, where La Paz is the home of the main character.