Discover La Paz...
By Arthus. • Posted April 15 • 2024.
Coromuel Beach is by far the most popular beach for the residents of La Paz and a destination that travelers must definitely visit when in this city. It is a small beach divided in two by a pier that serves both as a spot for fishing or simply for appreciating the beauty of La Paz and taking lots of photographs. The wave action is minimal, as it is with practically all the beaches around here, and the waters are always calm, making it quite common for this to be the beach where many children from La Paz take their first swimming lessons taught by their parents, creating beautiful memories that truly last a lifetime.
I don't think it's a secret but one of the main reasons this is such a popular beach, aside from the pleasantness of its waters, is its proximity to La Paz. It is, in fact, the closest beach to downtown La Paz (not counting the one along the Malecón, where it's rare to see people swimming), just a 5-minute drive away, accessible by car, Uber, or bus. This becomes even more intense on the so-called "quincena" or payday (every two weeks), when this beach tends to fill up a lot, providing rest and entertainment for workers and their families after a couple of weeks of hard effort. This is true for all the beaches in La Paz, like Balandra, Tecolote, Pichilingue, and others, but being the closest, this is where the largest number of people come, especially on those payday days.
Welcome to El Coromuel Beach (Photo by us).
Coromuel Beach is so popular that a few years ago, it was envisioned as a water park. Large facilities were built for the enjoyment of residents and tourists, but the project was never completed, and even the slides that led into the sea were removed some time ago (which I thought was a great idea, but for some reason, it didn't work out). Although the massive facilities still stand, they seem underutilized. Don’t get me wrong, these facilities have restrooms, showers, as well as shops and restaurants, and it's possible to rent boards, kayaks, and other things for fun in the sea, but despite this, the plans were so grand that the facilities simply seem underused.
In La Paz, there are various beaches, each with something unique that provides a different experience. For example, the incredible untouched beauty of Balandra, the bustling beach and fun at Tecolote, the breathtaking landscapes of La Ventana, the cozy Caimancito, or the natural pool you can find at Pichilingue... While Coromuel does have calm waters and is extremely pleasant to swim in, it stands out mostly for its proximity to La Paz and especially how easy it is to get there. Unlike Balandra, which has controlled access, or Tecolote, which is relatively further away (not to mention La Ventana), getting to Coromuel is really simple and quick, which translates to a lot more people. It is a beach that fulfills its purpose; it is very beautiful, and you can really enjoy the water there, but there are certain times when there are too many people and the services, both food and drink as well as the restrooms, particularly the restrooms, deteriorate significantly. So, I suggest doing what I do with my wife: we arrive before 8 am (the place opens at 8 am), and we are among the first to get there, we grab a public palapa (it's also possible to rent umbrellas), and spend a couple of hours there or leave as soon as we see it beginning to fill up, then we head to either El Tecolote or El Caimancito. Personally, I find this the best option—not because people aren’t friendly, they are, but again, the facilities really suffer when crowded and significantly decline in quality.
La Paz is known for its calm and tranquility, not just in the city but also in its waters, and Coromuel Beach is no exception. Its waters are peaceful and the waves gentle, barely disturbed by the passing of a boat or yacht that sends slightly larger waves, but overall, it's a great beach for swimming and enjoying the sun of this city. As I mentioned earlier, this is one of the reasons why many children from La Paz learn to swim here, guided by their parents or relatives, knowing that the beach is so peaceful that there is no risk involved, all of course with the utmost precautions. This beach welcomes many tourists and residents, so you'll hear several languages, not only Spanish and English but several others as well, but everything unfolds in a cordial and tranquil atmosphere, so characteristic of La Paz, Mexico. This is more noticeable on this beach due to its small size and crowdedness, unlike Balandra, for example, which is enormous and the distance between people tends to be much greater, plus they only allow 200 people per shift.
This is a busy beach, at least by La Paz standards.(Photo by us).
Of course, the marine life of La Paz is present at Coromuel Beach, where it's possible to see marvelous, colorful fish swimming among the people. Snorkeling here is something I highly recommend, and if you're a good swimmer, I suggest moving a bit further from the beach to better appreciate the incredible marine life of these waters in the Sea of Cortez. In general, this beach is greatly enjoyed for swimming; the water is clear and the current is mild, which allows us to swim safely (which is the standard in La Paz), as well as to bring children or grandparents for a wonderful day in these waters. I've truly seen young children sitting on the shore, amused as they feel the waves on their feet that barely move them, so their parents can be assured that they will be fine.
Some of the marine life in Caimancito waters (Video by us).
Of course, there are other activities available like kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboarding, but the beach is not as large as others here in La Paz, so personally, I recommend swimming, enjoying, and snorkeling. I don't recommend walking because there isn’t much space since, as I repeat, it's a small beach. For walking, I recommend Tecolote or La Ventana, enormous beaches where walking becomes a truly pleasant experience. Of course, I must not forget the beach walks at Balandra, where the water is so calm and there are shallow areas that allow you to walk in the water for several feet with just your ankles getting wet.
At this beach, having some cash on hand is a must. Everything is available there: umbrellas, food, drinks, entertainment, etc. Obviously, before leaving your hotel or Airbnb, don't forget to apply sunscreen (really, don’t forget it), wear a hat and sunglasses, and stay hydrated. Once you arrive, you’ll see that you can rent or buy whatever you may have forgotten. Remember that the beach umbrellas are public and no one can charge you for using them, but there is a fee for renting umbrellas, which is often discounted if you consume from the restaurant that rents them out to you (a win-win deal!).
Something I really enjoy about this beach is the delicious food and drinks available; I recommend the battered shrimp tacos and the piña colada—they are delicious! Plus, eating and enjoying the natural scenery of La Paz makes it even better. So, when you visit Coromuel, don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and cash—cash is better because everything can be rented or purchased here. In another post, I have given more specific recommendations on what to bring to different beaches, but in this case, I don’t consider it necessary because this place has everything available. However, I would like to provide a short list of essentials for staying at this beach or if you choose not to buy anything there (you’re missing out!):
It's a simple and even obvious list, especially for a place that provides everything, but a recommendation never hurts.
Coromuel is a nice beach, full of services for you. (Photo by us).
I've already mentioned that this beach is the most popular in La Paz, due to its proximity, easy access, and what it offers to visitors. This is true and even more so in the summer, when the sun in La Paz is intense and the heat can be overwhelming for some. The locals then flock to the beaches to cool off, and Coromuel, of course, receives the most visitors. This is no mistake; in the summer, people rush to the beaches to escape the sun. The water is delicious! It's cool yet warm, and anyone who has been to La Paz knows that the summer heat here is greatly mitigated as soon as we dive into the cool waters of the Sea of Cortez.
While Coromuel sees the most visitors in the summer, it might not be the best time to visit, especially for the first time, because, as I repeat, the summer heat in La Paz might not be for everyone. However, the next season, fall, is undoubtedly the best time to visit not only this beach but all of La Paz. During this time, the water remains warm, but the sun and heat are not as intense, making it a great idea to explore this beach and city during this season. As for winter and spring, we must not forget that La Paz is located in northwest Mexico, closer to Los Angeles than to Cancun, so in winter the water is very cold and not recommended for swimming, and in spring, while it is possible to swim, the water is still cold for most people.
The first time I visited La Paz and Coromuel was in spring, and believe me, the water was indeed cold and diving into it caused me to cough, which was when I realized that a beach in Mexico doesn't always mean heat and palm trees; sometimes it's cold and coughing. Although I enjoyed the visit and the beaches, I think it's a better idea to go when the water isn't cold, either in the summer, with a warning about the heat, or in the fall, the best time to discover this Mexican paradise.
Here are some insider tips from someone who has lived in La Paz for years, which will help you enjoy your visit to Coromuel Beach even more:
Remember, these tips come from someone who lives in La Paz, so I believe they will be useful as you plan your trip to this wonderful destination. Do not forget, courtesy and respect are also excellent tips when traveling to a place where most people speak a different language than ours. This is not Cancun; use common sense and be respectful of the people and the environment, which is highly valued here.
In conclusion, I recommend visiting Coromuel Beach. It's a very pleasant beach to relax and enjoy while you try some of the local food delights. If you don't mind the crowds, you'll really enjoy this place, its soft sand, and its delightful waters. If, on the other hand, you prefer quieter environments, you can follow my tips and still enjoy this beach, which is undoubtedly the most popular in all of La Paz.
Some people enjoying Coromuel beach. (Photo by us).
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Tastes of La Paz.