This beautiful coastal city in Mexico is currently becoming increasingly popular

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Forget the overcrowded hotel zone of Cancun, the riotous nightlife of Puerto Vallarta and even the hastily polished beach of Cabo. There is one fourth coastal spot that is currently popular in Mexico, and if you are looking for less crowds and prices that won’t break the bankthis could just be your ticket.

The often overlooked capital of the state of Baja California Sur, La Paz, enters the high season with hotel rooms almost fully booked and a marked increase in foreign visitors, especially Americans.

Is La Paz Mexico’s most beloved destination?

According to Luz María Zepeda Esquerra, director of Fitupaz, the La Paz Tourism Trust, the municipality has a An increase of 10 percent year after year in air arrivals.

Last year it received 1.2 million guests. This year, between January and September, it already reached the 986,743 mark.

That is only at the beginning of autumn: the final quarterly figures are not yet known, but as of December 21, the hotels are “practically full”, as reported by Agustín Olachea Nogueda, the president of the Association of Hotel and Tourism Companies of La Paz.

Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that it is young travelers who are driving demand. More specifically: the level of satisfaction of people in the age group from 25 to 45 years, based on self-reports, with La Paz as a destination average 95%.

So what’s the secret wart here? What is it about this under-the-radar city that travelers are so hooked on?

La Paz is one of the most peaceful places in Mexico

For starters, La Paz is one of the most peaceful cities in the Mexican Pacific. It’s in the literal name: think of Los Cabos, but even quieter and just as beautiful.

It is best known for its scenic promenade (or Malecon), along postcard-ready beaches, and surrounded by green parks, art installations and bars.

In the center of the city stands the towering Nuestra Señora de La Paz, a 19th century cathedral built in classic Mission style, with a modest yet visually impressive interior, wooden altarpieces and a simple layout.

Near the cathedral is Velasco Garden, a large city park surrounding a dancing fountain and a romantic pavilion. With its curbside taco carts, it’s the perfect place to enjoy some street food while strolling around in the early evening.

In short, La Paz feels like a real one citypeople live somewhere, and it is still authentically Mexican, not just a resort shielded from the reality of Mexico.

Beautiful nature all around

In addition to its undeniable authenticity, La Paz has some of the most beautiful coastal nature reserves in the Mexican Pacific.

It is a short drive from Espíritu Santo Island, a UNESCO protected biosphere home to whale sharks, sea lions and paradise beaches reminiscent of the Caribbean (and trust us, these are hard to find around these ends).

You can only visit it with guided tours or official boat operators, and fortunately for tourists, most boats leave from the Malecon area, the boulevard in La Paz.

The tranquil Balandra Beach, known for its crystal clear, lagoon-shallow water and unique geological formations, is within equally easy reach of the city. A taxi ride there takes about 25–30 minutes, and a single ride costs between 200 and 300 Mexican pesos (about $10-15).

Even closer to La Paz, you can’t miss Playa El Coromuel if you’re looking for calm seas and a family-friendly environment, with a quaint little pier and plenty of beachside canteens serving delicious food at affordable prices.

Cheap and safe to visit

Speaking of prices, La Paz is probably one of the best value for money destinations south of the border.

Unlike big beach resorts where resorts will cost you hundreds of dollars a night, La Paz is noticeably cheaperwith downtown hotels costing an average of $70 (according to Budget your trip), and daily expenses for food and transportation $131.

According to Numbeo Estimates say a meal for two at an inexpensive, centrally located restaurant costs $17.37, and overall, eating out here is as much as 74% cheaper compared to Los Cabos.

Last but certainly not least, La Paz lives up to its name as a ‘peaceful’ destination: in recent years it has not once been stripped of Level 2 status granted by the US Department of State, meaning that Americans are not discouraged from visiting the country and very few tourists are affected by crime.

To summarize: there are none of Cancun’s wall-to-wall resorts, overly commercialized shopping districts, and there is a real, lived-in downtown area that feels like a real community. no staged show for visitors. As we like to say: come for the cheap cocktails, stay for the fascinating culture and unspoilt nature.