Day trips

Trips worth making nearby

Balandra is itself the day trip from La Paz, so think of these as the things to pair with it, either the same afternoon or the next day. Ranked by value.

Espíritu Santo island — the one to prioritize

Roughly 45 minutes by boat from the Pichilingue terminal, this protected island is the best trip in the whole area. Full-day boat tours run out for snorkeling in genuinely clear water over real reefs, and in season, swimming with the sea lion colony at Los Islotes. This is where you get the marine life that Balandra’s sandy shallows do not have. You are on the water most of the day, with beach stops on the island’s coves. Book ahead through a La Paz operator. Very worth it, and the single best use of a second day. See Espíritu Santo for the full picture.

Playa El Tecolote — the easiest add-on

About ten minutes further north on the same road, Tecolote is an open, free beach with palapa restaurants, cold beer, and clams on the sand. It is the natural plan B if the Balandra cap fills, and a fine lunch stop even if it does not. Half a day at most, often just a long lunch. Worth it, and effortless.

Whale shark tours off La Paz bay — seasonal, memorable

Roughly October to April, short guided boat trips let you snorkel alongside whale sharks in the bay. Genuinely memorable and strictly seasonal, a half-day out of La Paz. Worth it if the timing lines up; skip if you are visiting in summer, when the sharks are gone.

Todos Santos — a slower half-day, really a full day

About an hour by car on the Pacific side, Todos Santos is a small arts-and-surf town with galleries, cafes, and a mission church. It is a change of pace from the beach days, but honestly it fills a full day rather than a quick hop once you factor the drive both ways. Worth it if you have the time and want a town day; skip it if your trip is short and beach-focused.

La Paz malecón and downtown — not a trip, an evening

The waterfront walk, raspados, ice cream, sunset over the bay, and seafood. Do this any evening you are in town. It costs nothing and it is the easiest good thing in La Paz.

The blunt verdict

If you have one extra day, spend it on the Espíritu Santo boat trip, no contest, because it gives you everything Balandra cannot: reefs, sea lions, and open water. Tecolote and the malecón slot in around your beach mornings for free. Whale sharks are a yes if you are here in the cold-water months. Todos Santos is a genuine day out rather than an add-on, so only commit to it if your itinerary has room. For getting to any of these, see getting there and around.