The beach at the Malecon in La Paz, Mexico.
By Arthus. • Posted April 16 • 2024.
There's a beach that's within the urban landscape of La Paz and is an inseparable part of it, creating an urban scenery unimaginable in other cities around the world. I'm referring, of course, to the beach at the Malecon in La Paz, which as its name suggests, is located side by side with the Malecon of this beautiful city. It's undoubtedly the closest beach to La Paz simply because it's within the city itself, and reaching it poses no challenge because in this city, the Malecon is the center of urban life, where things happen.
Where is Malecon Beach located?
The answer is simple: it's right in front of the city, literally. In fact, it's possible to see it while walking through the streets of downtown La Paz, as it's only a 5-minute walk from there, truly making it part of the city's landscape. The Malecon and its surrounding streets host many of La Paz's most popular hotels and Airbnbs, so many visitors will wake up to the view of this beautiful beach to start their adventure-filled days in La Paz. These visitors will likely notice that there are hardly any people swimming at this beach, at least not as many as one might expect, and they might wonder, why is this the case?
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The answer is also simple: the locals, or "paceños," do not usually swim at this beach because they argue that, unlike other beaches in the city such as Balandra, Pichilingue, Coromuel, Caimancito, Tecolote, among others, the water here is not as clean. This is due to the presence of boats, yachts, and the Marina de La Paz (there's a valid point here). They also mention that when it rains, all the dirt from the streets is washed away by the rain and ends up directly on the Malecon beach. This last point has two components: it's true that the design of the streets in this area of La Paz slopes upwards from the Malecon, meaning they are inclined, so when it rains heavily, the water flow cleans the streets and everything ends up right on the Malecon beach. The other component is that it almost never rains, which makes me somewhat skeptical about this.
Don't get me wrong, the water at this beach is not dirty, but I must concede that the closer to the Marina de La Paz, the water is a bit murkier and not as crystal clear as in other parts of the same beach. Remember, this beach is as long as the Malecon, which measures 3.1 miles or 5 km, so it is a very long beach where it's possible to find crystal clear waters.
Anyway, visiting this beach along with the Malecon is definitely something you should do on your visit to La Paz. I mean, it's practically where everything happens in this city, so undoubtedly, you'll get to know it easily, whether you're coming straight from the airport or walking from your hotel or Airbnb (don’t forget to wear a hat). There’s no way that while being in La Paz, you won’t come across this spot which, although not the center of La Paz, is where festivals, concerts, and other events take place and where locals and visitors spend many of their afternoons enjoying the cool evening breeze after a hot day in this Mexican paradise.
Enjoying the waters of Malecon Beach?
Well, although the paceños, usually don't swim here, it's almost impossible to resist taking a dip at this beach, especially during the hot summer months when finding any way to cool off is quite normal. I would just recommend doing so beyond the Marina de La Paz. This beach also has public palapas, where you can shelter from the sun while enjoying the beach. It’s clear that more than a prohibition, not swimming here is more of a social convention among the "paceños," who rightly claim that the only ones who swim at this beach are tourists. They're right. The first time I visited La Paz, I didn't know this and swam near the Marina. I didn’t encounter any problems, but I could notice what I wrote above: the water can be a bit murkier, which might be normal in other cities of the world but is not the case in La Paz, where crystal clear waters are the norm.
In the photo above, which I took from a pier, we can see that the water is clearer and more crystalline, and even at a distance, we can spot some people swimming. Often, photos don't help convey the true beauty and colors of a place, especially when they are taken with an iPhone like mine. But believe me, I took that photo because I was so tempted to swim at that exact spot. The water looked so crystal clear and the colors so beautiful that I simply couldn't resist. That day, which was particularly hot (around 102°F), I enjoyed the Malecon beach as I hadn't in a long time. At this pier, it's very common to see people fishing. The clarity of the water makes it easy to spot schools of fish swimming around, and it's more common to see fishermen in the evening or at night when the sun's intensity has diminished. And don’t get me wrong, don’t imagine professional fishermen, no, I'm talking about fishing enthusiasts with their rods, spending a pleasant time, being respectful and careful with other people as they cast their lines.
So, taking a swim at the Malecon beach is almost unavoidable, although there are other beaches where definitely more people do it. The Malecon beach has enough length to find some spots with clear and pleasant waters for swimming, at least for some moments. I only recommend doing it a bit beyond the Marina de La Paz, where most of the boats and yachts from those arriving or living in this fantastic city are located.
Top Activities at Malecon Beach.
Of course, there are other activities available like kayaking, paddleboarding, or just walking. This beach is very expansive and allows for these activities without any problem. It's also possible to rent a bicycle, walk along the boardwalk, and even right in front of the Marina de La Paz, play volleyball—there's a net set up for that, and you can see many young people enjoying this activity. Next to it is a restaurant with a very youthful vibe, which is why I've never entered it, LOL.
- Kayaking: This activity is widespread throughout La Paz and could not be missing from this place, the true center of La Paz.
- Bicycling: Rent a bike and enjoy traveling the entire length of the boardwalk, with the incredible view of the beach on one side and the beautiful city of La Paz on the other.
- Swimming: The beach is beautiful, but it may not be the best for swimming, for the reasons I mentioned above. However, it really is hard to resist, although certainly, there are beaches where swimming is much more enjoyable.
- Fishing: The bay of La Paz is rich in a wide variety of fish, and of course, fishing, whether from the piers or a boat, is an activity that fishing enthusiasts will find irresistible.
- Walking along the boardwalk: This activity is a favorite of many locals who often do it in the evenings to cool off with the sea breeze.
- Simply sitting and watching: Sitting in a palapa on the Malecon beach while watching the sunset is something I almost mandatorily recommend doing here in La Paz. Watching the colors and contrasts with the boats and the sea is an unforgettable memory.
- Renting a boat: It is possible to rent a boat for a ride around the bay of La Paz. Personally, it’s not my favorite activity, as I've mentioned in other posts, because I get seasick very easily.
- Visiting Isla del Mogote: This island is in front of the boardwalk, and you can still see the condominiums that exist there. There is also a restaurant that can only be reached by boat, departing from the Marina de La Paz. This point can be controversial; the project was heavily criticized by society, who claimed, in short, that a natural paradise would be damaged and that it wasn’t even feasible to build adequately there. They were right, today, almost all those condos are abandoned, the project was a failure, but there are still people who visit the facilities there. Not me; I am for returning Mogote to how it was before.
In this list, I'm not mentioning the activities on the Malecon itself, meaning I'm only talking about those related to the beach, because the Malecon in La Paz has a vibe that goes beyond just its beautiful beach. The Malecon in La Paz deserves an article of its own.
The Best Time to Visit Malecon Beach for an Great Experience
In another post about Coromuel, the most popular beach in La Paz, Mexico, I mentioned how this beach is the most frequented in La Paz due to its proximity to the city, its easy access, and of course, the beauty of the beach and the calmness of its waters, where the little ones can swim safely. I also mentioned that in the summer, due to the heat, this beach becomes crowded with people looking to cool off. However, it is not the closest beach to La Paz; that distinction belongs to the Malecon Beach. But as I've mentioned, it's hard to find people enjoying the waters at this beach, and if you do see someone, it's almost certain they didn't grow up here in La Paz, even in the summer when temperatures are high and cooling off is very necessary.
In the summer, this beach, the closest to La Paz, does not get crowded and, in fact, for most of the day when the sun is at its highest, it appears quite empty. Why? Because the locals take care of themselves from the sun and generally only leave their homes when it's not so intense. They've been living here for many decades or generations, so it's wise to listen to them. This changes during the fall, when the temperature is more pleasant and makes it possible to enjoy this magnificent city for longer during the day. Therefore, like all of La Paz, the best time to visit and enjoy Malecon Beach is in the fall.
As I have mentioned in other posts, the reasons why fall is the best time to come to La Paz are: The sun and the heat are not as intense as in the summer, and the sea water remains warm. I'll leave a link here for you to check out the temperature in La Paz, Mexico, by month. Now, if your desire is not to swim at this beach, following the wise advice of the locals, then winter or spring can also be excellent times to come to La Paz. However, not swimming at this beach due to the weather would mean not swimming at any other, and I certainly do not recommend that. The beaches of La Paz are beautiful, and this one is no exception.
What to Bring to Malecon Beach?
When we talk about the boardwalk in La Paz, we're essentially referring to the whole city. This is the true heart of La Paz, where everything happens—I mean cultural, artistic, social, and economic activities. Downtown La Paz is beautiful, but it doesn't have the life, the vibe that the Malecon does, and of course, its beautiful beach. So, what to bring to Malecon beach? Well, the same things we should consider at all times while in La Paz, Mexico.
- Money: credit cards are good, but cash is better, especially for the street hot dogs, or "hates," as they call them here.
- Drinks (including rehydrants)
- Snacks
- An umbrella, just in case there are no palapas available.
- Sunscreen
- Hats
- Sunglasses
I know, this list might seem very basic, but consider that you are in a place where many of the best spots to eat and drink are found in La Paz. So, if you decide to spend a day at this beach or simply stroll along the boardwalk, there are plenty of options for eating, drinking, and cooling off with air conditioning, which is sometimes very much needed. The previous list covers everything you need to have a great time here, where remember, you can rent or buy anything else you might need for a memorable day.
Insider Tips: Visiting Malecon Beach
Here are some insider tips from someone who has lived in La Paz for years, which will help you enjoy your visit to Malecon Beach even more:
- Watch out for the sun: This beach is beautiful but it's urban, so between the sun, the concrete, and the passing cars, it sometimes feels hotter than at other beaches in La Paz. I recommend visiting early in the morning or in the evenings when the sun is less intense and especially to appreciate its beautiful sunsets.
- Do not litter. This beach may not be as pristine as others in La Paz, I mean, it's within the city, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take care of it. There are trash cans along the boardwalk for disposing of waste.
- Do not swallow this water. There is some truth to what the locals say; this water may not be the cleanest in La Paz, especially around the Marina.
- If you're going to swim: Do it away from the marina, the water there is cleaner and clearer.
- The water is for enjoyment. The boardwalk is filled with restaurants that have restrooms in excellent condition, please use them.
- Never forget three things: A hat, sunscreen, and staying hydrated at all times are key here in La Paz, especially in the summer. Sunglasses are also very useful. I'm serious, do not forget this point.
- If you're going to eat on the restaurant terraces, try not to sit near a traffic light: I recommend this because when the light turns red and the cars stop, the noise of their engines and the smell of their exhaust don't mix well with food or drinks.
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, if you come to La Paz, there's no way you won't get to know the beach at the Malecon. It's right there in plain sight, in the place where everything happens in this city and where the paths that lead to the other wonders of La Paz begin. I'm not lying; if you want to go to Balandra, Pichilingue, Caimancito, Coromuel, Tecolote, explore the mangroves (oh yes, we have those here too), and other marvels, you need to pass through the Malecon. Without a doubt, you will be amazed by its beauty and, of course, by its beach, the urban beach of La Paz.
To see more incredible pictures, go to the Pinterest board for this article: Click
Tastes of La Paz.