A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico La Paz vs. Guadalajara for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit La Paz or Guadalajara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Guadalajara can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

La Paz

La Paz is a authentic, cultural, and beautiful city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is a historical, vibrant, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

La Paz and Guadalajara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Paz or Guadalajara?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Guadalajara than La Paz, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Guadalajara is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while La Paz is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. La Paz is more touristy than Guadalajara and is popular for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. Guadalajara is popular for its mariachi music, tequila, and many festivals. It is also home to the Guadalajara Cathedral.

How is La Paz different from Guadalajara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Guadalajara and La Paz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in La Paz or Guadalajara?

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both La Paz and Guadalajara.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into La Paz. Sights and landmarks around town include La Paz Cathedral, the Museo de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur, the the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur, and Teatro Juarez.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Guadalajara. It's a city that's filled with culture and history, with many impressive landmarks such as the Guadalajara Cathedral. Also make sure you visit the Instituto Cultural de Cabañas, Expiatory Temple, the Government Palace, and the Regional Museum of Guadalajara.

Is the Food Better in La Paz or Guadalajara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both La Paz and Guadalajara both to be high quality destinations.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit La Paz. As the capital of Baja California Sur, you'll find many local restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The recipes include seafood and local produce. You'll find everything from food stalls to high end restaurants around town.

Guadalajara has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The cuisine uses some key ingredients such as corn tortillas, chilis, and beans. You'll find a lot of street food which includes tacos and tortas as well as restaurant dishes like birria (meat stew), pozole (hominy soup), and fish ceviche.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Nightlife?

Guadalajara is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, La Paz is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Guadalajara has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city comes to life at night. You'll find vibrant dance clubs, live music, and traditional bars. The craft beer scene has also grown in recent years. The most active areas are around Chapultepec Avenue and Zapopan.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in La Paz. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Resorts?

La Paz is a nice place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Guadalajara is not a resort destination.

La Paz has a few great resort options. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Guadalajara is not a resort destination.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz is great for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Guadalajara is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to La Paz to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. There are organized diving and snorkeling excursions available around town. It's location by the Sea of Cortez makes diving a world class experience.

Guadalajara is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Beaches?

La Paz is an amazing city to visit for the beach. However, Guadalajara is not a beach destination.

The beaches in La Paz are among the best in the world. The beaches in the area are the main draw, and you'll find beaches that are family-friendly, romantic, or full of amenities. Some consider the beaches in the area among the best in Mexico.

Guadalajara is not a beach destination.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for its Old Town?

Guadalajara is notable for its old town. However, La Paz does not have a historic old town.

Guadalajara is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The city center is filled with Spanish colonial architecture. With a walking tour you will find baroque, neoclassical, renaissance, and Gothic style buildings that highlight the city's long running past and rich history.

La Paz does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in La Paz or Guadalajara?

Both La Paz and Guadalajara are high quality shopping destinations.

La Paz is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Local boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries all make for interesting shopping opportunities.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Guadalajara. One of the best shopping streets is Avenida Juarez. A must-see stop is also the large indoor market of Mercado Libertad. You'll also find shopping centers and retail outlets around town.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Families?

La Paz is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Guadalajara is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in La Paz. Older kids will enjoy swimming with whale sharks, whale watching, and experiencing the region's wildlife. There are also many beaches in the area where kids can play.

Guadalajara is not the most family-friendly destination. While it's not the most popular destination for families, those who visit will enjoy exploring the nature parks or amusement parks.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Couples?

Both La Paz and Guadalajara are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

La Paz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy walking along the beach promenade known as Malecon. There are also beaches and amazing animal experiences such as whale watching or dolphin viewing.

Guadalajara is a good city for couples to visit. It's filled with nice architecture, a vibrant nightlife scene, and great urban parks, making it a nice and romantic destination for couples.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both La Paz and Guadalajara are high quality destinations for backpackers.

La Paz is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Guadalajara. There are plenty of hostels and cheap hotels around town.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

La Paz is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Guadalajara does not have public transit.

While La Paz offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Guadalajara does not have public transit. There's a bus system as well as a metro system with two lines, which are primarily used by commuters.

Is La Paz or Guadalajara a more walkable city?

La Paz and Guadalajara both are high quality when exploring on foot.

La Paz is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable.

Guadalajara is a very walkable destination. The city center is pedestrian-friendly. This is also where you'll find most of the sights.

For even more information, also check out Is La Paz Worth Visiting? and Is Guadalajara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Guadalajara or La Paz?

How long in La Paz or Guadalajara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both La Paz and Guadalajara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in La Paz than in Guadalajara. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Paz, and 2-3 days is enough time in Guadalajara.

Families should spend more time in La Paz than Guadalajara. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Paz, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in La Paz than Guadalajara. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Paz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Paz than Guadalajara if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in La Paz.

One day in La Paz or Guadalajara?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the beautiful city of La Paz. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people visit for the beaches. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Guadalajara. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in La Paz or Guadalajara?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of La Paz. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Guadalajara is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in La Paz or Guadalajara?

The authentic city of La Paz offers museums and nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Guadalajara. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in La Paz or Guadalajara?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting La Paz. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people visit for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Guadalajara. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.

When comparing the travel costs between La Paz and Guadalajara, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Paz Expensive? and Is Guadalajara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Paz or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of La Paz. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Guadalajara, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.