The Best Beaches of the Sea of Cortez

The Best Beaches of the Sea of Cortez are located between the Baja California Peninsula and Mexico’s mainland. The region’s clear, quiet water, its lagoons and wetlands, ecological and marine reserves and desert landscapes all framed by the Sea of Cortez, are only a few of the marvelous features of this distant paradise.  Baja California Sur has been transformed into a highly attractive tourist destination for both Mexican and international travelers. Its natural beauty and untouched scenery set it apart from other destinations along the Mexican Riviera.  Here I will list the best beaches stretching from San Jose del Cabo to San Felipe.  Cabo San Lucas is probably the biggest destination on the Baja.    For information on Cabo beaches, click here, or visit us on Pinterest.

La Paz Area Beaches

La Paz is not itself a beach city, but within a 10- to 45-minute drive from the center you’ll find some of the loveliest beaches in Baja, reminiscent of the Caribbean with clear, calm turquoise waters.

The white-sand beaches that line the malecón are the most convenient in town, but locals don’t generally swim there — La Paz is a commercial port and the water in the bay is not particularly clean. The best beach nearby is immediately north of town at La Concha Beach Resort; nonguests may use the hotel restaurant/bar and rent equipment for snorkeling, diving, skiing, and sailing. It’s 10km (6 1/4 miles) north of town on the Pichilingue Highway, at Km 5.5. The other beaches are farther north of town, but midweek you may have these far-distant beaches to yourself.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

Caimancito Beach

Just 10 minutes from downtown La Paz, this beach will give you just what you need. Its name derives from the surrounding rock formations, which resemble an alligator. This beach is characterized by the arrival of pelicans, gulls and coastal fish, plus gentle waves and the low height of the water make this the ideal place for sports like surfing or paddle kayaking. Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

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Playa Coromuel

This is the closest beach to La Paz Centro, located virtually at the north end of the malecón.  It is a very pleasant beach and has parking, restrooms, a restaurant and a pier.  Being so close to town means it can get a bit crowded, especially on weekends.  Great for kids and those who want to stick close to town. If you are looking to stay close to town and enjoy a nice day in the sun this is the beach to go to.  Security guards are at the beach as well as local vendors if you need a bite to eat or small items you may need.  If you don’t have transportation don’t worry there is a bus every day of the week through Eco Baja Tours that runs a bus from the La Paz Malecon Tourist Bus Terminal to all of the beaches.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

El Tesoro

Continuing along the scenic road, you will find this oasis within a bay surrounded by mountains which acquired its name after 1965, when a pirate treasure was found buried.  Legend has it, the beach got its name because a pirate buried his treasure here. And much later it was actually found: Baja’s largest pearl ever discovered. This beach is great for families – shallow waters, food, and palapa umbrellas.  A marvelous secluded beach with restaurants and bars and shallow waves, so even children can swim here. The calm and shallow sea that is part of this beach makes it the ideal place to bring kids. You can also find a quiet restaurant with palapas to enjoy the beautiful view around you.  This is a tranquil beach with beautiful sunsets.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

Pichilingue Beach

An enchanting beach filled with white sands and washed by the clean ocean. One of La Paz’s most beautiful bathing spots.  It is located just 20 kms from the city of La Paz and can be reached by bus that leaves every 20 minutes from the station which is downtown or in a taxi, the price is not much and it can pick you up if you ask for this service. The Pichilingue beach has white sand and shallow waters and two or three small seafood restaurants and they also make small trips by boat.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

Balandra Beach

A true paradise on Earth. Balandra, a beautiful cove surrounded by green mangroves, is known for its crystal clear waters, soft sand and incredible scenery. This is where you can find the famous rock formation “The Fungus” and take a picture in one of the most emblematic places of the capital.  It is serene, quiet, peaceful and a favorite among locals. If going after a rain, watch for tiny jellyfish that sting. You’ll also need to do the “stingray shuffle” in the shallow waters here to avoid stepping on them. There are only mobile vendors here, so it’s a good idea to pack a lunch or cooler if you’re staying for the day.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

El Tecolote

It is located on the tip of the bay and from there you will be able to see The Espiritu Santo Island. It is one of the most developed beaches for tourism and you can find all kinds of  water sports.  In Spanish, tecolote means “owl.” Its namesake originates from an owl-shaped rock that overlooks the beach. This is a party beach during high season (Dec – Feb), the opposite of Balandra. Restaurants, bars, waverunners, paddleboats, etc. are available for rent.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

La Vantana Beach

It is one the favorite tourist destinations in La Paz, ideal for the adventurous. On the beaches you can practice all types of sports, including surfing and diving. It is also an area known for its outstanding offer to enjoy sport fishing, as marine life is abundant and varied.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

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Isla Espíritu Santo

Head out for a day of sun and surf with Baja Fun. The island takes about an hour to reach via inboard boat. It’s a magical day snorkeling with sea lions, lunching on a private beach and possibly swimming with a whale shark if you head there during the winter to spring months.  Visit our La Paz Vacation Guide here, and plan your beach vacation to La Paz and the area beaches.

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Loreto Area Beaches

The town of Loreto is one of the few tourist destinations on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico that has managed to retain the laid-back ambiance of a sleepy fishing village. Locals and visitors can relax on pristine stretches of white sand or explore hidden coves in the Sea of Cortez. For more secluded, uncrowded beaches, there are several options away from the main village area or on offshore islands.  Visit our Loreto vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Loreto and the area beaches.

Main Beach

In the center of town, a long walking esplanade runs across the waterfront, with a frequented beach in front and on either side. This Calle de la Playa is popular with locals, who frequent nearby coffee shops, cafes and bars, or gather to watch fishermen bringing in their daily catch. Families hit the sand with beach toys and games, volleyballs fly and sand castles emerge like tiny fortresses guarding a well-loved lifestyle in this small community. Swimming, snorkeling, beachcombing, kayaking and sailing are all popular activities in this area. Visit our Loreto vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Loreto and the area beaches.

Ensenada Blanca

Beachcombers willing to drive just 30 miles to the south of Loreto’s downtown core will find a treasure trove of shells and rocks on the beach of Ensanada Blanca. It faces the Candaleros and is a favorite for romantic sunset strolls. Snorkelers are also rewarded with a multitude of vibrantly colored fish that are drawn to intricate coral reef and oyster beds.   Visit our Loreto vacation guide,and plan your beach vacation to Loreto and the area beaches.

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Nopolo Beach

Nopolo Beach is about 5 miles south of the main village and complete with condos, luxury homes and high-end shopping centers. There are several small beaches with wide expanses of soft, white sand and few stalls or vendors crowding the pathways. The views across the sea are of El Carmen Island, with sailboats bobbing on clear blue-green waters.   Visit our Loreto vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Loreto and the area beaches.

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Offshore Beaches

Several offshore islands can be easily reached from the main sections of Loreto. Most of the Sea of Cortez in this area is protected by the Bay of Loreto National Park Reserve. This ecologically guarded reserve includes the five islands of Coronado, Carmen, Danzante, Monserrate and Catalan, all with explorable beaches and coves. They offer excellent opportunities to view sea lions, whales, dolphins and exotic birds from the beaches or offshore excursions. Local cruise operators offer packages that visit one or all of the islands in the reserve.    Visit our Loreto vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Loreto and the area beaches.

Rosarito Area Beaches

Rosarito Beach is easily accessed via a toll road that runs along the Pacific Ocean. The drive around Tijuana can be daunting. Follow the signs on the freeway, but be careful the signs usually appear only at the turnoffs. Don’t expect any notices before the turnoffs. From the north end (where the smokestacks are) all the way south through town, the beaches are wide and accessible. Locals love to camp on these beaches on holidays, and Baja travelers enjoy all of the traditional sun and surf beach activities, especially in summer.  Although all of the beaches are fun, visitors will find that the beaches on the south end of town, near the main hotels and condos, tend to provide a greater selection of tourist facilities.  There’s lots to do at Rosarito Beach including biking, hiking, frisbee, horseback riding, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and surfing.    Visit our Rosarito vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Rosarito and the area beaches.

Rosarito Beach

Rosarito Beach is one of the city’s main draws. This broad sweep of sand fronts the city center and is a hive of activity day and night. Spend the day exploring the sandy shoreline and enjoying the range of fun-filled adventures on offer. Relax under the shade of a beach umbrella while sipping the juice from a freshly cracked coconut.

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Mulege Area Beaches

Mulege has long been a favorite destination for tourists who seek rest and nature, from sport fishermen to history buffs and ecologists, to admirers of the striking Bay of Conception.  Located a few short kilometers from Mulege, the Bay boasts fantastic landscapes and numerous soft, white sand beaches.    Visit our Mulege vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Mulege and the area beaches.

Bahia Concepcion

Bahia Conception is a 35km long peninsula that offers desert beach and crystal blue water. The views from Mexico 1 are really stunning. Beaches are several and not well directed. Coming from Loreto you will find Playa Armenta, Playa El Requeson, Playa la Perla, Playa Buonaventura, Playa el Coyote, Playa el Burro, Playa Escondida, Playa Santispac and Punta Arena. The best are Playa El Requeson, Playa el Burro and Playa Escondida. It makes for a wonderful drive with beautiful views.  The sand is soft like flour and the water is crystal clear and good for snorkeling and swimming (although it was a little chilly when we were there). These were definitely the most beautiful beaches that I saw while touring southern Baja.  Visit our Mulege vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Mulege and the area beaches.

Bahia de los Angeles Area Beaches

Bahia de Los Angeles, also called Bay of LA, is not quite what you would call a town, it’s more like a very large fish camp with a lot of amenities. It doesn’t have a full blown supermarket, but there are several small grocery stores that provide enough inventory so that you are able to stock up on the basic necessities.  The attraction for visitors, along with the extremely tranquil setting, is the proximity to the Sea of Cortez and all the activities that come with the peaceful, glassy waters. The incredible fishing is one of the major reasons most people travel here, it is, after all, not a casual two or three hour drive for most tourists. Kayaking is also very popular in the area and quite a few of the motels and RV parks rent them out at reasonable rates. Fishing, diving, snorkeling or sightseeing trips, are easy to arrange. If possible, try to deal directly with the boat owner for the best possible rate.

There are sixteen islands in and around the bay so the snorkeling, diving and just plain exploring are usually every bit as good as the fishing. There are sea lion colonies on some of the islands. It is also a great place to take your jet skis with lots of “usually” glassy water to play on.  If you bring your own boat, there are a few places to launch. However, be warned…winds in the Bahia de Los Angeles area can whip up quickly and can be rather strong. Northerly winds, as well as a strong Westerly, can suddenly make the bay “a not so pretty” place. Caution is the key here. Check with the local fishermen at Guillermo’s, Casa Diaz, Dagget’s or any of the launching ramps. You may not want to leave your boat in the water overnight.  Visit our Bahia de los Angeles vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Bahia de los Angeles and the area beaches.

Punta La Gringa

Punta La Gringa is the north end of the beautiful Bahía de los Angeles (Bay of the Angels). It is a popular camping, fishing, and shell viewing area. Starfish and other seashell varieties may be seen and photographed, but not removed, per national law.  Both sand and gravel stone beaches found at La Gringa, and the sheltered bay makes it an ideal launch site for fishing boats and an anchorage. On the gulf shore to the east and outside the bay is a view to Smith Island (Isla Coronado), famous for the volcano on the north end. Visit our Bahia de los Angeles vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Bahia de los Angeles and the area beaches.

San Felipe Area Beaches

Where the desert meets the sea in eastern Baja California, you will find boisterous San Felipe. Situated between the dramatic Colorado Desert and waters of the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez), this once sleepy fishing village has emerged as one of Mexico’s fastest-growing resort towns.  As you would expect from a water-side location, a beach is never far away from San Felipe. For walking, jogging, strolling and swimming, San Felipe offers a wonderful selection of beautifully quiet and unspoiled beaches to enjoy.  Whether you are looking for solitude and communing with nature, or seek the best spot for finding colorful seashells or harvesting clams, San Felipe has the beach for you. Visit our San Felipe vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to San Felipe and area the area beaches.

South Beach

What essentially defines this place to visit, are its beaches with little waves, the warmth of its waters and the soft white sand that they possess. The beaches extend south of San Felipe, along more than 80 kilometers. You can go kayaking, swimming, diving and sport fishing in the vicinity of the island known as Roca Consag, in Rancho Percebú and Punta Estrella, where you can also camp.

Todos Santos Area Beaches

Todos Santos is one of the most appealing towns in all of Baja, maybe even all of Mexico. A quirky mix of locals, fishers, surfers and New Age spiritualists, the town of ‘All Saints’ has thus far escaped the rampant tourism of the other Cape towns, but still has all kinds of things to see and do.  Visit our Todos Santos Vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Playa Cerritos

This is one of the best family recreation areas in all of Baja, with a wide, shallow swimming beach and a popular surf break along a rocky point at the north end. The beach here is ideal for swimming, gently sloped and hip deep well out into the water. There are many activities to choose from on the beach from Surf board rentals & lessons to horseback riding to beach massages.  Simply put, fun for everyone in the family. Visit our Todos Santos Vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Playa San Pedrito

Located south of town, west at Km. 59, then 1.5 miles to the beach. Good palm beach for day camping, fishing, surfing and boogie boarding on a reef break. A large trailer park provides a restaurant and bathrooms. Day use fee is $3.00 Visit our Todos Santos Vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Playa Pescadero

Nestled between Las Palmas beach to the north and Cerritos beach to the south and a 5 minute walk from Pueblo Pescadero is Playa Pescadero.  This tranquil and expansive stretch of beach is perfect for beachcombing, sunset walks, shore cast fishing, and swimming (with caution).  To the north end of Pescadero beach is San Pedrito, a surf point that draws surfers from around the world when “surf’s up”. Very much a quite beach community, Playa Pescadero and its surroundings offer a relaxed and “chilled” environment enhanced by unpopulated beaches and farm to table restaurants. Visit our Todos Santos Vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Playa Los Palmas

Playa Las Palmas is a smaller quarter mile expansive beach bordered by a reed lagoon and protected by rock promontories on both sides. Groves of palm trees frame this gorgeous small beach located between Pescadero and Todos Santos.  There is a parking area about 200 yards from the beach. This is definitely one of the most picturesque sites on the Pacific Ocean side and well worth the drive.. This is an excellent area for hiking, swimming (with caution) and body surfing. Access to this beach is across private property but is allowed for day use only. Camping and fires are not permitted. Generally very few people use this isolated section of Pacific beach. Visit our Todos Santos Vacation guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

San Jose del Cabo Area Beaches

San José’s downtown is lovely, with adobe houses and jacaranda trees. Entrepreneurs have converted old homes into stylish restaurants and shops, and a very nice main plaza.  A 9-hole golf course and residential community are south of Centro (town center); farther south the ever-expanding Zona Hotelera (hotel zone) faces a long beach on the Sea of Cortez. Despite the development—and weekday traffic jams—San José is peaceful. If you want exciting nightlife and rowdy beaches, stay in Cabo San Lucas.  Visit our San Jose Del Cabo Vacations guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Playa Costa Azul

Located in a beautiful ocean cove known as Playa Acapulquito, (Old Man’s Beach), a surfer’s paradise and host to many surfing competitions, the privileged beach offers long rides and is ideal for long-boarders. Beginners can start with surf lessons before meeting up with the experts heading out to catch the waves, which are bigger in summer than in winter. The area is also great for snorkeling and swimming. You can rent surf boards and stand-up paddle boards at any of the surf shops in the area and set a time for lessons. If you don’t surf, and don’t want to learn, it is a great place to observe those who only have one thing in mind: Catch the Next Big One.   Visit our San Jose Del Cabo Vacations guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Playa El Estero

Located at the end of Hotel Row and fronting the San Jose del Cabo Estuary, this beach offers great bird watching.  The freshwater lagoon has over 350 species of wildlife and lush vegetation. Fed by underground aquifers, the river and lagoon are one of the few oases in the otherwise nearly desolate lower Baja peninsula. Swimming is not an option due to the strong undertow and waves. Kayaking in the lagoon is an option, depending on the water level.  Visit our San Jose Del Cabo Vacations guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Playa Hotelera

This beach offers great scenery, but is not recommended for swimming. Surf fishing is popular as are beach walks, especially at night, beach horseback riding, and beach volleyball. This stretch of beach is in front of the hotels lining the oceanfront of San Jose del Cabo starting at the Costa Azul Beach and continuing to the Estuary.  Visit our San Jose Del Cabo Vacations guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

La Playita

La Playita is a great location for swimming, fishing from the shore, watching the fishermen with their catch, and family gatherings with children. It is a long stretch of sandy beach with a roped-off area just outside the entrance to the Puerto Los Cabos marina. The natural open beach is perfect for swimming, skim-boarding, riding the waves or just enjoying the peaceful beach. There are well-maintained restrooms, covered palapas and fishing charters available. No food services are available on the beach, but there are several casual eateries in close proximity to the area. Follow the signs to La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos from Boulevard Mijares in downtown San Jose del Cabo.  Visit our San Jose Del Cabo Vacations guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

Palmilla Beach at Punta Palmilla

Those seeking calm waters, a family friendly area and a mile-long stretch of beach are welcome to Palmilla where you will be surrounded by oceanfront luxury homes, the world-famous One & Only Hotel resort and the world renowned Jack Nicklaus Ocean Nine golf course. On weekends, arrive early if you want a palapa or bring your own umbrella for shade. No services are available for food or sanitary facilities at present, but you can launch a kayak here, or rent a fishing panga or cruiser.  Pamilla Beach is a Blue Flag Beach.  Visit our San Jose Del Cabo Vacations guide, and plan your beach vacation to Todos Santos and the area beaches.

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