La Paz vs. Cabo: 10 Facts You Must Know.
• Posted May 28 • 2024.
When someone is considering a trip to Mexico, one of the first places they often think of is undoubtedly Cancun, that Caribbean paradise of exotic beauty, which has been the most visited destination in Mexico for decades. However, another option that often comes to mind is Cabo, particularly Cabo San Lucas, as an incredible and wonderful beach destination with spectacular resorts and dreamlike natural landscapes. Yet, a small city about two hours north of Cabo is frequently overlooked. This city is known for its safety, family-friendly and tranquil atmosphere, and a natural beauty that far surpasses that of Cabo. I'm referring, of course, to the city that welcomed me more than 10 years ago... La Paz.
While all of us living here wish for the city to remain as it is, without huge resorts and millions of tourists altering its calm and peaceful vibe, we do believe it is a greatly underestimated travel destination, not only globally but even within Mexico. Mexicans think the same as foreign tourists: Cancun, Los Cabos, and other destinations. La Paz is usually much less known, but once people discover it, it’s very hard not to fall in love with its easy and quiet life, returning year after year, until finally, like me, they decide to move here permanently.
You might also be interested in:
Of course, I understand that most visitors are just that—visitors—so I would like to offer 10 facts you should know to help you decide which destination fits your travel style best. These are facts learned first-hand by someone who has been living in Baja for over 10 years, so they are reliable and quite certain. Without further ado, let's get to the facts.
1. Safety
Thinking about a trip to Mexico? Worried about safety? I know you might be thinking this because I thought the same thing, exactly the same. But, as I always say, Mexico is a huge country filled with many safe and wonderful places, though there are certainly some areas better avoided. In the case of Cabo and La Paz, both are safe for tourists, but honestly, I must confirm here that Cabo can experience episodes of violence that are never seen in La Paz, where safety and tranquility are felt in nearly every corner of the city. The population values this peaceful atmosphere and enthusiastically maintains it, as after all, it’s their hometown or where they have lived for many years. Cabo is different, due to its impressive tourist development and immigration from other parts of Mexico, which has made the city a poorly planned amalgam of urbanization and population. It grew very quickly but poorly, outside of the tourist areas, where social tensions along with drug trafficking issues can pose problems. Cabo is beautiful but chaotic; the traffic is maddening, and it does not offer the same atmosphere of safety that you feel in La Paz. So, in this respect, La Paz is definitely safer than Cabo. See La Paz Safety
2. Accessibility
There's no doubt, it’s much easier to get to Cabo than to La Paz. There are a wide variety of direct flights from the States to Cabo, so for example, if you’re flying from Los Angeles, it's just a 2:30-hour flight. To get to La Paz, you need to fly to Mexico City and then catch a connecting flight to this beautiful city, which, using the same example from Los Angeles, would take about 8 hours. Interestingly, once in Cabo, you can take a bus and in two hours you’ll be in La Paz. It's easy to see that they are close cities, but the lack of direct flights does affect the growth of La Paz. Cabo also can be reached by cruise ship at its large terminal designated for this purpose, whereas La Paz has a ferry that connects it with the city of Mazatlan, but it's simply not a tourist cruise. In this aspect, Cabo undoubtedly wins.
3. People
As I mentioned, with the development of Cabo as a huge tourist hub, the demand for employment skyrocketed, bringing many people from other parts of Mexico and Central America to work here. At this point, I’d like to be careful but honest: the people who arrived aren't always the friendliest or most educated in the country. They were attracted by employment opportunities, salaries, and tips. Let me say, there is a noticeable difference between the people of La Paz and those of Cabo—the former are generally very friendly and well-mannered, the latter, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, if you go to Cabo you will receive good service, always expecting a tip, of course, but if you visit La Paz, you’ll feel at home, expecting nothing in return, because the people of La Paz are naturally kind and cultured. In this point, La Paz wins without a doubt. See La Paz Population
4. Accommodation
This is a curious point: on one hand, we Paceños wish more tourism would come for greater economic development, but on the other hand, we do not want the mega-resorts that Cabo has. While spectacular, they would disrupt the untouched natural beauty of La Paz, and potentially turn it into a more chaotic and difficult city to live in. But undoubtedly, in this aspect, Cabo excels with its incredible resorts, which are spectacular and offer dream-like views. Don't get me wrong, the accommodations in La Paz have incredible views too, but here there simply aren't the mega resorts of Cabo. Instead, there are condos, boutique hotels, and many Airbnbs. Cabo clearly wins here, without a doubt.
5. Beaches
We’ve all seen Cabo's spectacular beaches, either in person or in photos, but there's a catch. They are dangerous for swimming. Those huge waves that look spectacular in photographs and videos can sweep a person away to their end. These are not swimming beaches; they are really dangerous for that purpose. Of course, there are some lesser-known small beaches where swimming is possible and enjoyable, but they are few. The majority, where the resorts are located, are not suitable for swimming. This is where La Firme Paz shines—its beaches are like beautiful natural pools, almost waveless, with gentle currents that make them friendly for the whole family—and I mean everyone: kids, grandparents, adults, teenagers, and even pets. These are beautiful beaches surrounded by the contrasting beauty of the desert and the turquoise blue of the waters, along with the atmosphere of safety, peace, and calm that this city offers. If you go to Cabo and want to swim in the sea, take a bus to La Paz; you won’t regret it. In this aspect, La Paz completely dominates. See La Paz Beaches
6. Attractions
The Arch of Cabo San Lucas or the Mushroom Rock of La Paz are perhaps the elements we immediately associate with these cities and their attractions, but there is much more to discover in each of them, although Cabo may have a more focused emphasis on fun, nightlife, yachts, water sports, sport fishing, high cuisine, and perhaps a bit less on the historical and cultural side. But surprise—La Paz has it all: fun, nightlife, yachts, water sports, sport fishing, whales, islands, high cuisine, history, culture, museums, festivals, etc. Here it depends on our type of trip; if it's more focused on fun and alcohol, we will undoubtedly find more attractions in Cabo. If, on the other hand, we want to enjoy fun but also the tranquility of nature, culture, and peace, La Paz is our choice. Here I declare a tie. See Things to do in La Paz
7. Cuisine
It is often said that Cabo, due to its tourist profile, has one of the best cuisines in Mexico, and I agree, its cuisine is excellent. However, I'm not sure if it's the best in Mexico, because Mexico City offers world-class cuisine. Nevertheless, I don't want to overlook that the cuisine of La Paz is also spectacular, and I'd like to highlight a difference. Due to its distinctly touristy profile, the cuisine in Cabo tends to be more international, whereas the cuisine of La Paz is simply more traditional, with more local ingredients and spices. It's a more original cuisine because it hasn't had to modify itself to suit the tastes of international tourism. In this point, I also declare a tie.
8. Adventure
Cabo has spectacular resorts, beautiful infinity pools, boat trips, fishing outings, nightlife, and more. But for a more adventurous profile, La Paz is undoubtedly better, where you can go fishing, boating, visit islands, swim with sea lions, watch whales, swim with whale sharks, hike in the hills, bike or motorcycle across the hills, venture into the desert, and of course, enjoy its gentle and crystal-clear waters. In La Paz, you can do many more things than in Cabo if you have a more adventurous spirit. If, on the other hand, you prefer all-inclusive hotels, pools, air conditioning, then without a doubt, Cabo is your best option. In this point, La Paz wins once more.
9. Fun
I know that fun is subjective and depends on each person, so it's difficult to decide which destination is better here. I will simply say that if your idea of fun includes alcohol, partying all the time, and excesses, you should definitely go to Cabo. On the other hand, if your idea of fun is more family-oriented, with beach games, safety for your children, and a peaceful place, then La Paz is undoubtedly where you should go. I know that in Cabo, there are also hotels designed for families and children with dreamy pools and fun activities. Yes, but everything happens within the hotel; in La Paz, it happens in nature. Here I declare a tie.
10. Vibe
As you may have noticed, I have mentioned several times the vibe of peace and safety that is felt in the city of La Paz. I have mentioned it often because it is something that is greatly appreciated by those living in or visiting this city. In other words, La Paz has safety levels closer to those of Canada than to those of the States, and this is something we Paceños highly value. This city has a tranquil atmosphere that fills nearly every corner with a feeling of calm and belonging that, honestly, you simply won’t find in Cabo. Again, Cabo is a city that developed impressively fast, which altered its social composition by attracting a large number of workers from all over Mexico and with poor planning. Despite being a spectacular tourist destination, the city is nowhere near as beautiful as La Paz and far less kind to its visitors. Cabo has more of a perpetual party vibe, noise, and excesses. Each city has its own vibe, so here the winner depends on each person’s vibe.
Of course, the best opinions on all this will come from visitors who go to Cabo or come to discover La Paz. As a paceño, I can recommend that if you visit Cabo, you should not only stop at Cabo San Lucas but also venture a little further and explore San Jose del Cabo. This is a small town with a more tranquil vibe. Although it is one of the two cities that make up Los Cabos (yes, there are two Cabos), it is not nearly as touristy as its sibling, Cabo San Lucas, but it is well worth a visit.
If you come to La Paz, prepare to encounter a city so peaceful that you won't want to leave, with a natural beauty so dazzling it will make you fall in love. Just be ready for the climate; La Paz can have very hot periods. For more information
In conclusion, both are spectacular destinations, but they cater to different types of tourists. While Cabo is more about perpetual partying surrounded by spectacular views in incredible resorts, La Paz is more about relaxation and enjoying its untouched natural beauty, surrounded by an atmosphere of safety, gentleness, and friendliness, so characteristic of this small but incredible city.
To see more amazing pictures and leave a comment, go to the Pinterest board for this article: Click
Tastes of La Paz.