Tecolote beach, sun, fun and family.
By Arthus. • Posted March 12 • 2024.
In my personal opinion, Tecolote Beach is the most fun beach with the highest number of activities you can find in La Paz. And by this, I don't just mean the fun activities but also the atmosphere you find at Tecolote. Music, food, families having fun, various water activities, including some motorized ones, are all here, waiting for tourists and locals alike to have an incredible day. Unlike other, much quieter beaches, like El Caimancito and especially Balandra, where the goal is to enjoy and relax, Tecolote Beach is more about having fun, eating and drinking deliciously, and of course, appreciating the beauty of La Paz's beaches, where Tecolote undoubtedly stands out.
Where is Tecolote beach located?
Tecolote is a beach neighboring Balandra Beach, both to the east of La Paz. To get there, it's necessary to take the Pichilingue-Balandra-Tecolote highway, leaving the city. Along the way, you'll see a golf course on the right, condominiums on the left, and then merge onto the highway, which is in excellent condition. The drive lasts about 25 minutes, during which you'll be treated to beautiful landscapes, not just beaches and hills but also mangroves (yes, we have those in La Paz too, incredible, isn't it?) and, interestingly, you'll also pass through La Paz customs, where with a bit of luck, you'll see the trailers arriving with all the goods necessary to stock the stores of La Paz. Following the signs, you'll come to a fork in the road, where to the left you head to Balandra and to the right, you continue for about 5 more minutes to reach Tecolote. The first thing you'll see is a building with a big roof, which is the restaurant, Beach Club El Tecolote, where you'll be warmly welcomed and well taken care of during your day at El Tecolote.
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To get to El Tecolote, the best way is by car, whether it's your own or a rental, because it's the most comfortable and fastest option. It's also possible to get there by bus, but then you're dependent on the bus schedule and have to adjust your timing accordingly. On the other hand, with a car or SUV, you can freely manage and decide your own schedule. You can also pay for a tour that will pick you up and drop you off, including a guide who will show you around. However, it's not my personal favorite option. I feel that you don't truly get to know the place as you might have wanted, and you always have to be mindful of the schedule. While the distance from the city isn't much, about 25-30 minutes, it's important to mention that El Tecolote isn't close to anything, and in fact, cell phone and internet signal is lost, so thinking about ordering an Uber might not be the best idea.
Unlike Balandra Beach, which has two access times, access to Tecolote is completely unrestricted, with ample parking available, and it's even possible to park almost right in front of the beach. In fact, you can see RVs parked along the beachfront. Don't get me wrong, the vehicles are in front of the beach but well separated from it; that is, the beach belongs to the people, while the vehicles remain outside of it, yet close enough for their owners' convenience. It's not just RVs either, but also cars and SUVs, whose owners bring their own umbrellas, as well as food and drink to enjoy their time.
If you're arriving from the airport and wish to go directly to Tecolote, simply rent a car and you'll be about 40 minutes away from experiencing the beauty and fun of El Tecolote Beach. Another option is to take an airport taxi there, but honestly, I don't recommend this option, for the reason I mentioned earlier: there's no way to call an Uber to get back from Tecolote. I mean, the restaurant has internet and a phone, but they don't lend or rent it out, believe me, I've asked!
Sun, Fun and Family
I think the title of this article is spot on. Sun, fun, and family are exactly what you'll find at Tecolote. What I mean is that at this beach, you can find many different activities to do, whether alone, as a couple, with friends, or with family, but all of them fun and under the warm sun of La Paz. There's no other beach in La Paz with natural beauty, water activities (some motorized), tours to explore the coast or Isla Espiritu Santo, crystal clear and fresh water for unrestricted swimming, abundant food and drinks, and even live music! This last part happens when bands (even with the local heat, they're dressed for the show) perform and offer to play a song for a certain price. Mexicans, but also some foreigners, request and pay for many songs, but the live music is enjoyed by everyone else. Again, I repeat, this beach isn't exactly for relaxing, I mean, it's possible but there are a lot of people, laughter, engines, in addition to the noise of the sea and the wind, and if there's also music, then honestly, I find it hard to relax. For that, I always suggest Balandra or El Caimancito.
At this beach, kids happily run along the shore, watching fish swim close to them (please, don't bother them) while they play with balls or sand shovels. Youngsters can rent a jet ski and speed across the sea (by regulation, all motorized vehicles must stay far from the beach to prevent accidents with swimmers), it's also possible to rent a boat to explore the coast or the Espiritu Santo Island - which is inevitably visible because it's right in front of Tecolote, in plain view of everyone. Other activities like banana boating, snorkeling, or paddleboarding are also available. Then there are people (like me) who prefer to walk the entire length of the beach (and it is long) simply listening to the sound of the sea and the wind, peeking into the crystal-clear water now and then to see the fish, clams, or birds swimming.
With all this, I mean to say, El Tecolote Beach offers sun and fun for everyone, and if you're going with family and kids, there's a wide variety of safe activities to do and have an incredible day, creating unique memories for a lifetime. Bringing your family to this beach is a great choice, you won't regret it, and both you and your partner will have a wonderful day in a place that's not just fun but of exceptional beauty. It's worth remembering that the safety and tranquility of La Paz are also present at this beach, where it's normal to not only see people enjoying it during the day but also camping at night, to appreciate the star-filled sky (highly recommended!) without any major concern, other than not missing any detail of El Tecolote's nocturnal beauty.
Food and drinks
There's a wide variety of options for eating and drinking at El Tecolote, from snacks to fresh fish and seafood (I mean, really fresh, I've seen them pull some from the sea to prepare), from a Coke to complex cocktails, this beach definitely offers a delicious range of food and beverages to its visitors. Not all beaches have this offer of sustenance, drinks, and fun in one place, in fact, the combination of these factors makes this beach unique in La Paz. I'm going to share a couple of photos from the menu of El Tecolote Beach Club, to show the variety of food and drinks available at this place. And remember, there are other restaurant options on the beach, but this place is simply my favorite. I recommend starting with their nachos with suadero. Awesome!
In this place, they have one of my favorite dishes, pescado zarandeado, which is charcoal-grilled fish, marinated with a delicious sauce, and prepared with great care directly on the charcoal fire, giving it an incredible aroma, flavor, and texture. In fact, upon arriving at El Tecolote and parking the car, one of the first scents you'll notice is that of the charcoal grill cooking delights such as fish, shrimp, or clams, among others. Of course, the other scent that immediately hits you is that of the sea. Simply beautiful. To add evidence to my claim, here's a photo taken by me of the pescado zarandeado. I know only a professional photographer can make food look good in a photograph, but God knows I'm not lying when I say that the taste of this dish is truly incredible.
Regarding drinks, you can order them with or without alcohol, a soda, a beer, a Coke, or a piña colada, like the one my wife ordered, and I'm showing the photo.
Remember how I mentioned they pull seafood right from the sea to prepare it? Well, here are the famous chocolate clams, in the crystal-clear waters of El Tecolote, visible to the naked eye without any trouble, and of course, you can take them out of the water to prepare them, truly fresh as I said. Below, I'm sharing a video where you can see them more clearly alongside some fish, showcasing the beauty and fun of the place.
So, delicious and abundant food and drink is not something that's missing in El Tecolote, where unlike other beaches, it's not necessary to bring our own food; just arrive, sit down, order, and start enjoying the abundance and variety that the coast of La Paz has for us. Here, I think it's important to mention how the palapas work, which unlike other beaches, are not public but belong to the restaurants. When someone arrives, they are informed that the price of the palapa is 700 pesos for the whole day, BUT, if you consume from the restaurant (something we're going to do), that cost is deducted from the final bill. I can mention that a day at El Tecolote for a family of 4 adults, costs around $2,000 pesos or $118 USD, depending on the exchange rate. Water activities, motorized or not, have a separate cost, since they are different service providers, of course, if you bring your own boat, kayak, or jet ski, you don't pay anything. But $118 for a whole day of fun and abundance, it's a great deal!
El Tecolote Beach (Video by us).
Activities
To mention the multiple activities available at El Tecolote Beach, it's important to note that we should always be careful and take basic precautions, as well as not forget common sense. I mean, the beach and its activities are safe, but we must always follow instructions, respect the rules, and other people present on the beach who are also enjoying it, just like us! Well, I can summarize some of the main or most popular activities, leaving my personal favorite for the end.
- Jet Skiing: If I remember correctly, this is the only beach in La Paz where you can rent jet skis, where the beach is so vast and the sea so wide that they can be used safely and at quite a speed, always respecting the instructions and other people. We don't want any accidents.
- Banana Boat: Some people love being taken for a ride on the banana boat and then flipped into the sea (that's how those trips end), so if you or your family enjoy this type of experience, you should definitely hop on a banana boat.
- Kayaking: This activity is very popular on the beaches of La Paz, commonly found on almost all beaches, including Balandra, which is a place so cherished by everyone. At Tecolote, you have the opportunity to explore its long coast and appreciate not only the beauty of the place but also the fish or the seagulls, birds that are not shy and swim, fly, and fish among the people.
- Tours: As I mentioned before, it's possible to hire tours to explore the coast of La Paz, or the massive Isla del Espiritu Santo, I mean, it's not that big, but from the beach, it looks like a huge stretch of land.
- Snorkeling: It's easier to bring your own, but there are also vendors who offer them on the beach, so you can enjoy the incredible and not shy marine fauna. It's truly beautiful to appreciate the colors, shapes, and behaviors of the fish, but be careful! there are also pufferfish swimming among the people. Don't worry, as long as you don't bother them, everything will be fine.
- Eating, Drinking, and Singing: This is undoubtedly a delicious activity, LOL. No alcohol in my case, and I always recommend being careful with that. I mean, it's a public beach.
- Swimming: It's impossible not to swim at this beach; the water is crystal clear, calm, it feels like a pool! Plus, it allows you to experience different depths, from being able to walk in the sea to diving down and exploring the ocean floor. Simply incredible!
- Walking along the coast: Definitely my favorite, walking along this beach, moving from the bustle of people to the silence and tranquility of the wind and the sea (yes, it's that big) is one of my favorite activities every time I come to El Tecolote. The further you walk, the more silence you can appreciate, and it's possible to reach the shell cemetery, a place where the entire beach is filled with shells thrown by the sea and as it's far from people it keeps getting filled even more. Then you turn around and appreciate the distance from the hustle and bustle and the indescribable beauty of the place. It's fascinating.
There will always be activities to discover, but I believe these are the most popular on this beach and allow you to take advantage of its location, its vastness, and of course, the indescribable beauty of La Paz. If the photos look good, just imagine seeing it with your own eyes.
Exploring the coast of Tecolote Beach
As I mentioned, El Tecolote Beach is long, especially compared to other beaches in La Paz, making it possible to walk along and explore it. This includes climbing its mounds or swimming with the fish, which are really curious about people and often come close to them, making this experience truly beautiful and close to nature. The further you go (taking the parking lot as the starting point), the more tranquility and unspoiled natural beauty you'll find, away from the restaurants and noise. It's still possible to see families in their vehicles having an incredible day, but the atmosphere becomes increasingly peaceful, more relaxed, interrupted only by the occasional swift passage of a jet ski or a boat on its way to a tour.
I always recommend wearing beach shoes so you can walk on the hot sand without discomfort, but at Tecolote, it's even more necessary if you reach the so-called shell cemetery, because that area does have some rocky parts and is truly filled with shells, some perfect and some broken. So, if you go barefoot, you won't have a good time in that part of El Tecolote, believe me!
On the other hand, walking and then suddenly going for a swim in the sea is something I highly recommend, not only because of the heat (always wear a hat and sunscreen) but also because the sea invites you to do so. The water is so clear, looks and feels so fresh, and the fish seem so happy that you just want to enter the sea and enjoy it, just as they do. Another animal presence is the seagulls, very curious and not shy birds that know this is their home and seem to just tolerate humans because they have no fear of them. This, to me, speaks to the respect that generally exists (there's always the odd joker) for nature in La Paz, which contributes to experiences that are closer to nature and therefore much more beautiful.
It seems that at El Tecolote, the sky merges with the sea, with colors so intense, they appear unreal. The experience of simply appreciating the natural beauty of this place, the sounds, the colors, the scents, creates a combination of factors that make this beach not just a must-visit location when coming to La Paz but also confirm to me that I made an excellent decision moving here.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit El Tecolote is probably in fall when the heat has subsided, and the water is still at a pleasant temperature, allowing you to enjoy all the activities we've mentioned. In winter, the water is very cold, and this lasts until after April. Of course, in summer, the heat is intense, making swimming at the beach a natural choice; the water is so refreshing that swimming after feeling the La Paz sun is a true delight. I mean, not everyone can enjoy La Paz in the summer; it's very, very hot, and the sensation can be overwhelming for some, especially if it's their first visit. Don't think that just because it's in Mexico, it's advisable to visit all year round (like Cancun or others). Remember, La Paz is in the north of Mexico, and in winter, the water is very cold. As I always say, it's not a good idea to swim during the colder months at the beaches of La Paz, but it's always a good idea to visit them and appreciate their natural beauty.
My own experience confirms what has been said; the first time I came to El Tecolote was in April, and the water was still cold. People looked at me curiously because I was the only one swimming! The people of La Paz don't swim in those months, unless, of course, they do it wearing wetsuits. This happened because I simply thought that in Mexico, all beaches are warm all year round, right? NO! The people of La Paz know (we know, as paceños) that there are months when it's better to just enjoy the natural beauty of the beaches, and boy, El Tecolote is truly beautiful.
Tips for Visiting El Tecolote Beach
As I always say, the best tip will always be to use common sense, especially when interacting with more people, many of whom do not speak our language. But here are some basic tips to make your visit to Tecolote a great experience.
- Don't litter
If you are at a restaurant, the waiter can take your trash, and if you're walking around, wait until you reach a restaurant or trash bins.
- Avoid taking your drinks or food into the water:
And especially avoid spilling them in it. Appreciate the clarity of Tecolotes's waters and keep them that way.
- The water is for enjoyment:
There are restrooms a few steps from the beach, you can use these.
- Do not disturb the fish:
It might seem unbelievable, but there are people who like to bother the fish, even trying to catch them (for what?), but remember, it's the fish that are in their home, we are just visitors. So, enjoy watching them, don't try to touch them. Especially at this beach, there are pufferfish swimming among people, and as long as you don't bother them, they will be happy. However, I've seen people catching them or trying to, and of course, they puff up and stick out their spines! I don't understand what those who do this are trying to achieve.
- Follow the guidelines:
If you're going to engage in any motorized activity, follow the service provider's instructions. These guidelines and rules are for your own protection and that of others visiting and enjoying Tecolote Beach.
- Wear a hat and sunscreen:
I mean, this is common sense, right? Yet, some people forget, and believe me, you don't want to forget. The sun in La Paz is intense.
- Don't drink too much alcohol.
I understand that it's easy to drink alcohol here; it's very cheap, and the atmosphere may be conducive, but just remember that you are in a public and family-friendly place, and there might be better times and places to do it.
- Mind the dates:
If you're like me and prefer to hit the beaches when they're less crowded, a great tip is not to go around the 15th or 30th of the month, because that's when workers get paid and the beaches tend to fill up as they take a well-deserved break from their hard-working days. So, if you prefer fewer people, avoid these days, known as "dias de quincena" here in La Paz and, from what I understand, in Mexico in general. If you prefer going when it's more crowded because that's your vibe, then those are the days for you.
It's easy to notice that these tips are really simple to follow, so all visitors can have an excellent day when visiting the beach that is undoubtedly the most fun in La Paz and one of the most beautiful and spectacular... El Tecolote.
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Tastes of La Paz.