Despite the city’s fabulous location on the Gulf of California and its beautiful nearby beaches, La Paz’s character is defined not by tourism but its busy port and university. This capital cit of fewer tan 200,000 people, seated at the bottom of a C-shaped bay, is sophisticated, with visiting theatre and symphonic groups and several worthwhile museums. It's famous for its streaky vermilion sunsets, observed equally well from a solitary, sandy beach on a turquoise inlet or an open-sided restaurant along the bay front promenade. Nearby are excellent deep-sea fishing and the peninsula’s best diving.

Whale watching trips in the water off La Paz can be arranged December through March with the larger hotels and with tour operators in the area. The best beaches are found to the north of town on the thumb of land that separates La Paz Bay form the Gulf of California.