Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in La Paz?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in La Paz?

Not sure how much time you'll need in La Paz, Mexico? Most people spend two to four days in La Paz during their visit. After all, the beautiful city will let you swim at the beach, snorkel or scuba dive, tour the famous sights and museums, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant.

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur. The seafront city has beautiful beaches, amazing scuba diving, and many great local restaurants. There are also historical sights and many cultural opportunities.

Do you have one or two days to visit La Paz? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in La Paz?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the beautiful city of La Paz, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the beaches, scuba diving and snorkeling, the museums and landmarks, and the cuisine. And you'll want even more time to just relax at the beach, too. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around two to four days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in La Paz

The beautiful beaches await you in La Paz, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Balandra & Tecolote: hike, kayak and snorkel in paradise ($134)
  • City Tour & Beaches from La Paz ($91)
  • Small Group Sea Lions & Paddleboard tour - Balandra Beach ($153)

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Unique Mexican Spirits Tasting & Pairing Experience ($85)

La Paz is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city is very walkable.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in La Paz?

La Paz, a small city brimming with sights and attractions, holds immense popularity among tourists. So with a weekend, you'll probably feel rushed to swim at the beach, snorkel or scuba dive, tour the famous sights and museums, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the beautiful city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to four days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have a weekend or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.

La Paz, Mexico La Paz, Mexico

How to spend 2 days in La Paz

Having a weekend (two to three days) in La Paz will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Don't miss Balandra Beach during your trip to La Paz, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

The public transit in La Paz is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about La Paz, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.