Dream Destination: La Paz, Mexico

Given what’s been happening in *ahem* international relations with our neighbour to the south these days, travelling to the US for a vacation is becoming less and less popular. Traffic to the US from Canada is way, way down. Canadians, instead, are travelling more in our own country, or heading to Europe.

But there’s another destination that’s nearby (just a 4 hour flight–similar to flying from Vancouver to Toronto!) to sunny days, beautiful beaches and rich history–and that, of course, is Mexico.

I think when most people think of Mexico, they think of all inclusive resorts, and why wouldn’t you? They are a great way to take a super relaxing vacation and basically not have to think from the time you land till the time you leave. I LOVED Secrets Puerto Los Cabos. It really has everything you need all in one resort–golf, spa, beaches, pools, bars and restaurants. The rooms are lovely and big and the mini bar is always stocked.

The only beef I have with resort life is sometimes I want to be more adventurous and venture abroad. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing better than a resort when you’re tired and burnt out and just need to do a lot of nothing. But some adventures (especially culinary ones) can be fun, too.

I recently attended the Vancouver International Travel Show at the Convention Centre, and La Paz has now been added to my travel bucket list. Located in the State of Baha California Sur, right on the Pacific Ocean, it’s a peninsula that is surrounded on three sides by water. La Paz is the capitol of the estado.

Easily accessible by direct flights from Vancouver via WestJet for around $500, November is a great month to book this trip because it’s shoulder season. Or, if you’re heading to Cabo, La Paz is less than hour’s drive away, making it easy to plan day trips from the resort.

Where to stay in La Paz: 

You could for sure choose an all-inclusive resort, but I’m gonna be honest here–I’m looking for a more authentico experience this time around, so my dream hotel is Los Colibris Casita. This is a smaller property, but it’s family-run, and they have a foodie focus. They also are trying to be more sustainable by incorporating solar power, and including donations to Alianza Cero Basura. In addition, they are single-use plastic free, and have a program for turning any single use plastics into eco bricks.

Oh, did I mention it’s goregous?? There’s art everywhere, and the grounds are stunning.

But part of the reason this place is a dream destination is because of the food. The resort has its own private chef, and you can take cooking classes! Or you can broaden your horizons by heading into town to get an authentic meal there.

If you’re looking for something even more zen, Casa Tara Retreat may be for you. It has a focus on yoga, wellness and rejuvenation (Yin, anyone??). Again, food is a big focus here, which includes a commitment to seafood (it’s right on the water) and locally-sourced Mexican produce. Did I mention there’s also a spa?

Yeah, after a week in this place, you’d basically be a noodle.

Things to do in La Paz:

Magic Town:

La Paz has been designated as one of 177 “Magic Towns” in Mexico, so named because of their historical significance, culture, natural beauty, and unique Mexican charm. It’s in these historical towns that you will get a real authentic Mexican cultural experience.

In La Paz, significant stops include the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Paz, built in 1720, and other churches, as well as stunning gardens (Jardín Velasco), and public art.

Mural Tours:

Showing their dedication to local artists, La Paz has commissioned 26 artists to cover more than 1,300 square meters of the centre of the city with vibrant art works. You can stroll through and tour the murals on your own, or take a mural and food tour that includes stops for tacos.

Food Festivals:

La Paz hosts many food festivals, including the annual La Pazione por el Sabor, a Gastronomic Festival that features over 130 local chefs and includes both food and drinks.

There’s also an entire festival in July dedicated just to Mangos! Sign me up!

Vegan and Vegetarian Options:

Let’s see… we’ve got VegMex, which is a vegan Mexican resto, we’ve got the cauliflower tacos from Casamarta, Nim for Mediterranean (in case you get sick of tacos), or Hambrusia for the beet tacos (because how can you be sick of tacos? or the taquiles.

Where’s YOUR next dream destination? Share it with me in the comments below 👇