Day 2,563 of Traveling the World | La Paz, Mexico | February 7, 2025

Jan and Mike

The Peace – La Paz, Mexico is the capital of Baja California Sur, and is on the coast facing the Gulf of California. It is just about 100 miles north of Cabo San Lucas. It is a typical small Mexican town, upgraded with amenities for cruise ship passengers. It is a little startling when you dock, though, as docking for ships is in Pichilingue, some 13 miles north of La Paz. There is absolutely nothing in Pichilingue, so if you want to see La Paz at all, you are forced to buy a $12 RT bus ticket to get there. The good part for locals, we guess, is that it provides jobs for bus drivers, bus escorts, and ticket sellers whenever a ship is in port.

The main attraction in town is the 3+ mile long Malecon, an esplanade along the waterfront. It features 17 sculptures, small huts with chairs to enjoy the views, and kiosk businesses. Across the street from the Malecon are all the more fashionable restaurants and tourist shops. We had to walk several blocks to get to the town’s most famous building, the cathedral. Compared to others, it was not so grand or large or beautiful. What was unusual were the Stations of the Cross on the walls, with descriptions in English. Not being near to the US border, we can only guess that the English is intended for the tourists who visit.

Across the street from the cathedral is the Velasco Gardens and the 1910 Juarez Theater, the trinity of history in the town. Nothing else is very remarkable, other than views of the Gulf. We wanted to get a Baja Fish Taco while here, so we went into a restaurant opposite the Malecon, which had good ratings and looked to be “high-end.” We waited about 30 minutes and were served tacos that were cold, soggy, lifeless, and uninspired. Fast food fish tacos in California are several notches above these “authentic” ones. When we told our server that they were cold and soggy, we got a shrug and “sorry,” accompanied by the bill. We have learned our lesson! We think we discovered the reason they had good ratings online. We posted a negative review, and shortly thereafter, several ecstatic reviews suddenly showed up below ours.

A stunning sunrise in La Paz.
The boardwalk makes for a nice walk out into the ocean.
La Paz was very busy, but we happened upon this serene scene on the main beach.
The color – and clarity – of the water is so inviting.
This pretty art installation at the entrance to the boardwalk is a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II upon her and Prince Philip’s visit on February 22, 1983.
We were confused as to their calling the Queen “Isabel,” but that is the Spanish translation of Elizabeth. (We do it all the time, as in calling the Italian city of Venezia – Venice.) The “beautiful pearl” referenced is one in her crown that is from this area of Mexico.
Looking north on the Malecon, the pretty ocean view esplanade runs for several miles.
The Malecon has 17 sculptures, this one a humpback whale.
Another of the sculptures, we wondered why a fat pigeon would be immortalized in metal – there are enough of them flying low over your head as you walk. Then we discovered it is the “White Dove” sculpture – called La Paloma!!
The La Paz sign attracts more tourists than anything else!
Teatro Juarez, recently restored, dates to 1888, although it didn’t open until 1910.
Outside the theater are these fun lampposts, mimicking those at LACMA in LA (where the installation is called “Urban Light.”)
A crazy “diver octopus” says this store is closed, with people shopping inside.
The pretty kiosk in the middle of the pretty Jardin Velasco.
Mission de Nuestra Senora de Airapi, more simply known as La Paz Cathedral. Construction began in 1835 and, unbelievably, it was inaugurated in 1925.
The cathedral is rather simple, so we are puzzled as to why it took 90 years to complete.
The Stations of the Cross in the cathedral are all in English, surprisingly. Even the churches acknowledge the power of tourism.
Our ship was greeted by this gentleman who was on a severe diet! — although he looked happy enough.

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