Why Travel Advisors Should Consider Booking La Paz, Mexico

While many borders remained closed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexico was one destination that continually welcomed travelers with open arms (or, elbow bumps?).

And although many U.S. travelers have spent the last two years flocking to the country’s sun-soaked coastal gems such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Los Cabos, there’s one under-the-radar destination that should be on travelers’ radars as we head into a busy summer travel season: La Paz.

The capital of Baja California Sur, the city of La Paz is located only two hours away from Los Cabos and one hour to tourism hot spot Todos Santos, making it the perfect add-on to any Baja itinerary.

Here, Fatima Aviles, director general of the Tourism Board of La Paz, shares why travel advisors should keep the destination top of mind when booking travel to Mexico.

How would you categorize La Paz as a destination?
La Paz is a destination that stands out for its authenticity, its pristine beaches and  luxury that can be felt in the enjoyment of its nature and one-of-a-kind soft adventure experiences.

What would be an ideal itinerary for someone who only has a few days to spend in the destination?
The major and most popular activities are swimming with whale sharks from October through April, and visiting Espiritu Santo Island and snorkeling with sea lions from September through May, which can be combined in one day trip. 

Todos Santos, one of Mexico’s “Magic Towns,” is about an hour south La Paz and is also a day trip. In Todos Santos, you will find farm-to-table restaurants. Another day trip would be to El Triunfo, an old mining town about 45 minutes away.

But a visit [to La Paz] would not be complete without a guided tour to Museo Ruta de Plata (Museum of the Silver Route), a complex that includes restaurants, audiovisual halls, a warehouse with lots of mineral rocks on display and the ruins of what were once the roasting chimneys for minerals. 

In short — [travelers should spend] a day on the Sea of Cortez just off La Paz city, a day in Todos Santos and an afternoon in El Triunfo. It would be a great escape. 

What type of client do you think would most enjoy La Paz? 
Travelers [who enjoy] soft adventure, families and multigenerational groups.

RELATED: Been There, Do This: Whale Museum in La Paz, Mexico

How accessible is the destination to U.S. travelers?
Americans can fly directly through Phoenix, Ariz., in the winter and the summer with American Airlines, and directly from Tijuana International Airport into La Paz through the Cross Border Xpress.

Another option is flying into Los Cabos Airport, located just two hours away from La Paz. There are also buses and transfer companies, or clients can rent a car and drive the peaceful highway through the desert. 

There are open spaces, friendly people and dramatic-but-accessible nature.

What new offerings are available to visitors in 2022? 
The destination will be receiving a fully renovated hotel by October 2022: Hotel Perla. Hotel Perla is a renovation of a historic property, set right on the Malecon (promenade) overlooking the Bay of La Paz. It will have 90 guestrooms, a spa, rooftop venues and more. 

[Also, there are] annual sports events such as L’Etape by le Tour de France and the La Paz Triathlon. Also, the Por Ellas open-water swimming competition, which is a fundraising event, takes place every October.

What COVID-19 protocols or restrictions are in place for travelers to the city?
In La Paz, the use of masks, hand sanitizer and body temperature checkpoints are enforced. Also, hotels, restaurants and tour operators enforce sanitizing practices in order to offer clean spaces and products. 
La Paz and the state of Baja California Sur are also recipients of Punto Limpio certification, a federal certification of health and sanitation practices. 

What advice do you have for travel advisors when it comes to selling La Paz to clients? What’s the best way for them to market the destination? 
[Travel advisors should be] showing La Paz as a quiet and welcoming destination. A place where you can feel at home, yet experience great adventures. This is a destination known for its pristine and swimmable beaches; its varied and tasty culinary scene (which includes local produce and seafood, of course); and its close contact with nature, which is highly protected and preserved by the local tour operators and authorities.

There are open spaces, friendly people and dramatic-but-accessible nature. 

Depending on the activities travelers are looking for, they will find a wide variety of established tour operators in the destination, such as BaCO (Baja Adventure Company), SunRider Tours and On Board Baja (for stand-up paddleboarding). 

Also, companies such as ElTorote Transportacion, Choya Tours and Magic Mexico can manage multi-day itineraries.

The Details
Tourism Board of La Paz