Balandra Bay is One of the Most Beautiful Places You’ve Likely Never Heard Of

Balandra Beach (Playa Balandra), located on Balandra Bay, has been called the most beautiful beach in Mexico. In fact, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with its pure white sand, turquoise water and beautiful surrounding desert. The bay, part of a protected natural area, is the perfect place to sunbathe, snorkel, kayak or take a hike.

Balandra Bay is located off the Gulf of California, in Baja California Sur, Mexico. It is characterized by beautiful fine white sand beaches, shallow, calm turquoise colored water, adjacent mangroves, and an undeveloped hillside desert dotted with cardón cactus. The bay is actually made up of seven different beaches within half-moon-shaped bays of which only two are accessible by land. The larger bay is so shallow that you can walk across its entirety without wetting your hair. This shallowness also lends to the perfectly clear water. Because the bay is within a protected area, there is no development within eyesight, making it unque compared to so many other beaches within Mexico or the world for that matter.

I’ve visited Balandra four times, and each time has been equally mesmerizing. What was once a well hidden local secret is no longer the case. Word has gotten out about this perfect spot, and with each personal trip, I’ve noticed an ever growing crowd. I’ve always made a day trip to Balandra Bay while vacationing in Los Cabos, less than three hours south. If coming to Balandra from Los Cabos, you should plan to spend a full day here, as well as the nearby city of La Paz.

Activities

Balandra beach is the perfect place to soak in the sun while observing the beautiful view. The beach has a limited number of thatched umbrellas (palapas) for shade that are available on a first come basis. Therefore, it’s recommended that you bring your own umbrella. There are some nearby rock formations with shallow caves providing shade, but the sand here is also somewhat rocky that may make it uncomfortable.

Hiking is a fun way to explore the area and take in the amazing views of the bay and mangroves. There are six hiking paths throughout Balandra. The closest to the main beach and parking lot offers a breathtaking view of the bay. Off the main entry road, the fairly short trail goes up a hill, and at the top, you can really see the gradation in colors of the bay, ranging from a light turquoise to a darker blue. It’s more difficult to see these color changes from the beach itself.

Swimming is the most popular activity, but may be difficult due to its shallowness. This shallowness also allows for just relaxing and laying in the refreshing water. It also facilitates an easy walk across the bay to the other beaches. Stingrays are fairly common within Balandra Bay. They rest on the bottom, partially covered by sand, so it’s recommended to shuffle your feet while walking within the bay to avoid stepping on them. A mushroom shaped rock, known as Hongo de Balandra, is around the corner from the main beach. There are some coral reefs within the bay that provide for good snorkeling.

You can also rent paddleboards and kayaks directly on the beach, which allow visits to the other beaches or mangroves. Hourly kayak or paddleboard rentals are approximately $20 per person.

Food, Drink and Facilities

Porta John style toilets are provided at the beach parking lot. Make sure to bring your own food and drinks, as there are no restaurants or snack bars at the beach. A restaurant and bar is located at nearby Playa El Tecolote, a few minutes drive north of Balandra, where you can stop either after or before your entry to Balandra.

Getting There

If driving on your own, from La Paz, it’s an easy 30 minute drive straight north along Highway 11. Along the way, you’ll pass Palmira marina, the ferry terminal, and other pretty beaches including Playa El Coromuel, Playa El Tesoro, and Playa Pichilingue. From Cabo San Lucas, or San Jose del Cabo. take Highway 19 north, past Todos Santos, to Highway 1. Near La Paz, you’ll take a ring road (El Tecolote) that connects to Highway 11. The trip from Cabo San Lucas takes about 2.5 hours.

Organized tours also provide access to Playa Balandra, with pick up at various hotels in La Paz. Viator also offers various tours within a range of prices, including combined tours of La Paz and Balandra. You can also visit as part of a boat tour that takes you to various attractions along the coast, like San Rafaelito where you can spot sea lions. There are public buses that leave from the La Paz Malecon bus station, beginning at 10am, and every hour after. The return is every hour (at a quarter to the hour). The trip is about 40 minutes each way.

Entry and Hours of Operation

Balandra Bay is part of a natural protected area, so there are limitations on the number of visitors during two different daily time periods. The first period is between 8am to noon, and the second period is from 1pm to 5pm. Only 450 visitors are allowed per period. If you arrive in the morning, the attendants will ask you to leave by noon. Therefore, it is recommended that you arrive as early as possible in order to get a good spot.

If you are unable to get access at the park entrance, there are other options for visiting these beautiful waters. North of Balandra is Playa El Tecolote, another beach, but not quite as beautiful as Balandra. From here, you can hire a boat (for about $30 per person, plus tips) to take you to Balandra, that will provide you approximately one hour at the beach. We did this in 2021, during the height of the COVID pandemic when entry at the park was very limited.

Spend the Afternoon in La Paz

After a day at the beach, I recommend spending some time in the pretty, laid back city of La Paz. La Paz is the largest city and capital of Baja California Sur, with a population of about 250,000. American author John Steinbeck visited La Paz, and used it as the setting for his novel The Pearl. French explorer Jacques Cousteau named La Paz the “Aquarium of the World” due to the region’s marine ecosystem and biological diversity. Its popularity has been growing over the last decade. Once a sleepy town with mostly fishing related tourism, people have been discovering La Paz, its beautiful nearby beaches and eco-tourism activities. A growing number of Mexicans have purchased vacation homes here, and the town is also attracting American tourists and retirees. What makes La Paz so special? For one thing, its laid back atmosphere and lack of overtourism attracts people who would rather do without the major crowds while taking advantage of good restaurants, beautiful water and beaches, abundant nature, and cultural activities.

City Center and the Malecón – The Malecón is a 3.5 mile promenade along the beautiful turquoise colored bay facing the Sea of Cortez. It’s a great place to walk, jog, skate, ride a bike or watch the sunset. The Malecón is lined with a seascape mural and a number of sculptures, and leads to a fishing pier. Over 60 restaurants are within walking distance of the Malecón, many specializing in seafood. On my most recent trip, we ate at Casamarte Oyster Bar and Grill, offering a great selection of seafood, along with burgers, tacos, salads, and other items, with a nice view toward the sea.

Throughout the downtown area there is an abundance of street art, including over 80 hand painted murals created by Mexican artists. The themed murals represent the history and culture of the region, such as ocean conservation efforts, the fishing industry and desert rancheros.

The Cathedral Nuestra Senora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace Cathedral) is the primary Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of La Paz. Founded by Jesuit missionaries and completed in 1865, the cathedral features a neoclassical exterior with two towers. The interior has marble floors, stained glass windows and baroque altarpieces from the 18^th century, as well as paintings rescued from other missions that were abandoned. It faces Jardin Velasco, the main plaza in the city center.

The La Paz Cultural Center is housed within a former palace in downtown La Paz. The building was once called the House of the People, and has acted as the city hall, a military headquarters, and the headquarters of the National Revolutionary Party. The center includes exhibition space with a history of the La Paz region. On the walls of the ground floor are three murals made by the Mexican artist Francisco Merino. The center also hosts music, art and theater performances throughout the year.

Whale watching – Gray whales migrate from the Bering Sea, making their home in the Sea of Cortez between January and April. Swimming with Whale sharks is also a popular tourist activity. This endangered species, the biggest fish in the world, swim in the Sea of Cortez year round, but the highest concentration is between November and April.