La Paz vs. Cancun: 10 Facts You Must Know.
• Posted May 29 • 2024.
When someone wants to travel to Mexico, one of the first options often considered is undoubtedly Cancun, that Caribbean paradise of exotic beauty, which has been the most visited destination in Mexico for decades since it transformed from a small fishing village into the current mega-tourist development. However, another option that is not as widely discussed is a small city in the northwest of Mexico, known for its safety, family-friendly and tranquil environment, and astonishing natural beauty alongside the highest marine biodiversity on the planet. I am 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 that would disrupt its calm and peaceful vibe, we do consider it to be a highly underrated travel destination, not only globally but even within Mexico. Mexicans think the same as foreign tourists, Cancun, Los Cabos, Vallarta, and the other destinations. La Paz is much less known, but once people discover it, it’s very hard not to fall in love with its easy and peaceful life, returning year after year, until finally, like me, they decide to move here permanently.
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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 Sur for more than 10 years, so they are reliable and quite accurate. Without further ado, let's get to the facts.
1. Safety
Planning a trip to Mexico? But what about safety? I know you might be thinking this because I thought the same, exactly the same. But as I always say, Mexico is a vast country filled with many safe and wonderful places, though there are certainly others it’s best to avoid. In the case of Cancun and La Paz, both are safe for tourism, but honestly, I must confirm here that Cancun does experience episodes of violence that are never, ever seen in La Paz, where safety and tranquility permeate nearly every corner of the city. The local population values this peaceful atmosphere and zealously maintains it, as it is their hometown or where they have lived for many years. Cancun is different, due to its impressive tourist development and immigration from other parts of Mexico and the world, which has made the city a poorly planned amalgamation of urbanization and population. In other words, it grew very quickly but poorly, outside of the tourist zones, and social tensions along with drug trafficking issues can create problems, and they have done so more than once. Cancun is beautiful but chaotic, the traffic is exasperating, and it does not offer the same atmosphere of safety that you feel in La Paz. Therefore, in this regard, La Paz wins. It is much safer than Cancun. See La Paz Safety
Accessibility
There is no doubt, it’s much easier to reach Cancun than La Paz. There is a wide variety of direct flights from almost everywhere in the world to Cancun, so for example, if you’re coming from Los Angeles, it's just a 4:30-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, it's easier to reach Cabo, which is only two hours from La Paz, where it is possible to take a bus and in two hours be in the beautiful city of La Paz. It's easy to see that these are nearby cities, but the lack of direct flights does affect the growth of La Paz. Cancun can also 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, Cancun undoubtedly wins by a large margin.
People
As I mentioned earlier, as Cancun developed into 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 cautious 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, but let me say that there is a noticeable difference between the people of La Paz and those of Cancun—the former are generally very kind and well-mannered, the latter, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, if you go to Cancun you will receive very 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 an interesting 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 Cancun has, which, while spectacular, would disrupt the untouched natural beauty of La Paz, potentially making it a more chaotic and difficult city to live in. But undoubtedly, in this regard, Cancun excels; it has incredible resorts, spectacular with dreamlike views. Don't get me wrong, the accommodations in La Paz with incredible views are there, but here we simply do not have the mega-resorts of Cancun; instead, we have condos, boutique hotels, and many Airbnbs. Here, Cancun definitely dominates.
Beaches
We have all seen the spectacular beaches of Cancun in person or in photos, and they truly are breathtaking and delightful for swimming, with vibrant colors surrounded by incredible natural beauty. These beaches host all sorts of water activities, motorized or not, continuing the festive atmosphere of the city. And this is the point that I believe makes a difference between the beaches of both cities: Cancun is a party; in La Paz, the atmosphere is calm, peaceful, and tranquil. However, when it comes to beaches, La Paz shines; its beaches are beautiful natural pools, almost waveless, with a gentle and soft current that makes them family-friendly—and I mean the entire family: kids, grandparents, adults, teenagers, and even pets. They are beautiful beaches surrounded by the contrasting beauty of the desert with turquoise blue waters and the atmosphere of safety, peace, and calm that this city offers. If you go to Cancun, you will swim at spectacular beaches in the Mexican Caribbean surrounded by a party atmosphere. In La Paz, you will do so on beaches of untouched natural beauty, surrounded by the contrasting and striking beauty of the desert next to the turquoise sea, but in the serene atmosphere that envelops this city. Here, it's a tie, depending on what you're looking for, you can choose between the festive environment or the serene setting. See La Paz Beaches
Attractions
The color of the beaches in Cancun or the Mushroom Rock of La Paz are perhaps elements that we immediately associate with these cities and their attractions, but there is much more to discover in each of them, although Cancun 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 part. 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 Cancun. If, on the other hand, we want to have fun but also enjoy 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
Many argue that Cancun, due to its tourist profile, has one of the best cuisines in Mexico, and I agree that its cuisine is excellent. However, I'm not sure if it's the best in Mexico, because Mexico City has truly 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 Cancun tends to be more international, whereas the cuisine of La Paz is simply more traditional, with more local ingredients and spices, meaning it’s a more original cuisine because it hasn't had to adapt to the tastes of international tourism. In this respect, I also declare a tie.
Adventure
Cabo has spectacular resorts, beautiful infinity pools, boat rides, 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 Most, you can do many more things than in Cabo if you have a more adventurous spirit. If, on the other hand, your thing is more about all-inclusive hotels, pools, and air conditioning, then Cabo is undoubtedly your best option. In this point, La Paz wins once again.
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 Cancun. On the other hand, if your idea of fun is more family-oriented, with games on the beach, safety for your children, and a peaceful place, La Paz is undoubtedly where you should go. I know that in Cancun, there are also hotels designed with families and children in mind, 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 security that is felt in the city of La Paz. I mention it frequently because it is greatly appreciated by those living in or visiting this city. La Paz has safety levels closer to those of Canada than to those of the States, and this is something we Paceños value highly. This city has a tranquil atmosphere that fills nearly every corner with a sense of calm and belonging which, honestly, you simply will not find in Cancun. Again, Cancun 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, so despite being a spectacular tourist destination, the city is not nearly as beautiful as La Paz nor as kind to its visitors. Cancun has more of a permanent party vibe, noise, and excess. Each city has its own vibe, so here the winner depends on the type of trip each person desires.
Of course, the best opinion on all this will come from visitors who go to Cancun or come to discover La Paz. As a tip, I can recommend that if you go to La Paz, take a bus and in 2 hours you will arrive to explore Los Cabos, both San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas; the former is a very beautiful and tranquil small town, and the latter is the world-famous tourist destination. It's worth visiting both.
If you come to La Paz, prepare to meet a city so peaceful you won't want to leave, with such dazzling natural beauty that you'll fall in love. Just be ready for the weather, 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 Cancun 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 kindness, so characteristic of this small but incredible city.
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Tastes of La Paz.