The shallow bay
Calm turquoise water at knee height.
Nathan Dugal — CC BY 2.0 · Omar David Sandoval Sida — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nathan Dugal — CC BY 2.0 · Nathan Dugal — CC BY 2.0 · Nathan Dugal — CC BY 2.0 · Adamina — CC BY 2.0
Balandra Beach is a shallow turquoise bay north of the city of La Paz, in Baja California Sur. White sand and calm water between brown rocky hills have made it one of the best-known beaches in Mexico. It is a protected area, with a set number of visitors allowed in at a time. Controlled entry was brought in to protect the bay from crowding. Visitors pay a digital fee for a wristband and then wait their turn for one of two daily entry slots, with 450 people in each according to a February 2026 update. The bay is so shallow that you can walk a long way with the water at your knees, and pale lines of sand show under the surface from above. At one end stands a mushroom-shaped rock, the symbol of the beach, which must not be climbed. A short trail up the hill shows you the whole bay from above, the finest view of the place. The calm water suits children and paddling. The beach is 19.9 km in a straight line north of central La Paz, and a car or taxi is the simplest way there. Arrive early, as queues form before opening on busy days. Services are few, so bring water and food and take your rubbish back with you. Shade is scarce, so pack an umbrella and sunscreen, and keep off the fragile rocks.
Calm turquoise water at knee height.
The symbol of the beach.
The whole bay from a short trail.
North of La Paz, Baja California Sur state
You need a paid wristband and a place in a slot, and the wristband alone does not guarantee entry, so arrive early.
Yes, the water is shallow and calm, but shade and services are few, so bring what you need.