One of the most inspiring places I have been to lately is Baja California, specifically La Paz and surrounding area. La Paz is probably somewhere that wouldn’t have registered on the map for me at all if it wasn’t for my best friend opening a B&B there. It is now one of my favorite spots to visit! My last trip offered so much inspiration for my spring/ summer line I just had to share this piece of paradise!
One of the best parts about La Paz is that it doesn’t scream tourist town! You won’t find an abundance of all-inclusive hotels and cheesy party spots! What you will find are quaint B&B’s, beautiful views, wonderful people, and lots to do….or if relaxation is your thing…not to do!
Here are a few of my favorite things in La Paz!!
Casa Kootenay Bed and Breakfast:
First of all your host at this wonderful B&B is my best friend Leeanne and she is wonderful! She is outgoing, friendly and will bend over backwards to make your stay perfect! Leeanne is from a small francophone town in Alberta Canada. Her family moved to the Kootenay’s (a region in SE British Columbia) in her late teen years where they owned a hotel in Creston. Leeanne’s adventurous soul soon had her packing her bags to backpack across Western Europe. 10 years, and countless countries later (including destinations such as the Bahamas, Thailand, Philippines, Palau, Honduras and Mexico) her years of travel had her yearning for a place to call home! The hustle and bustle and go,go,go/get,get,get attitude of North America was not what she was after since being exposed to the laid back lifestyles of other cultures! After researching many different places she settled on La Paz, Baja California Sur which allowed her to be close to family, offered great diving, a property with B&B potential, and great weather year round! And she hasn’t looked back!
Casa Kootenay is beautiful and and right on the water with spectacular views of the bay and amazing sunsets (rooftop patio!! STUNNING)It opened for the 2011/2012 winter season with two rooms and is now undergoing renovations to add 2 more rooms and a pool for the 2015/2016 winter season! The two new rooms will have ocean views adding to the charm of this homey B&B. All rooms face a beautiful garden tended by a friendly local man named Carlos. Rooms are comfortable and very clean and have fresh water and coffee stocked as well as robes!
Casa Kootenay also is a great venue for weddings or special events!!
Things to do in La Paz and area!
Casa Kootenay offers some great paddleboarding and kayaking! You can literally paddle into the bay and have dolphins swimming beside you! Check out the mangroves across the bay as well!!
A definite, must see, are the whale sharks and sea lions! There are many tours that are offered in the area. I prefer Baja Expeditions as they offer a lot of different activities and are reasonably priced. If you are a diver La Paz has many great dive sites and Leeanne at Casa Kootenay could tell you all about them and hook you up! (ten years of dive tourism experience around the world! La paz being one of her favorite spots!)
The Malacon offers a lot to do as well! There are many great coffee shops where you can engage with the locals and see what comes in with the morning catch! The Malecon is a beautiful walk along the shoreline with neat statues points of interest. Be sure to check out Harker Board Co for great food and a small surf shop with paddleboard rentals and classes. If you are into the late night scene check out Jungle Bar on Thursdays for ladies night and the weekend for dancing and good times!
La Paz is a great port city for those who enjoy sailing! I was lucky enough to meet a couple who spend their winters in the area. We went out sailing on a beautiful day (la Paz averages over 300 days of sunshine a year!!! I have never visited when it has been cloudy) and the views are stunning! Check out Marina de La Paz for details of yacht charters, slips or any other sailing info you need!
Just south of La Paz are a few smaller towns that have to be on the must see list! I was lucky enough to meet a local guy to take me around and show me some of the off the map places! I recommend hitting up Pescadero for the Sunday Market at Baja Bean Roasting Co! This is where I found some amazing gems and opals for some new silver projects I did this past spring! There are so many neat local vendors and some not quite local vendors (expats/residents selling their wares/food), live music and AMAZING Coffee! A great opportunity to get some local fruits and veggies! The sunsets off the beaches in Pescadero are phenomenal and there are some great Surf beaches and surf camps as well! check out Pescedaro Surf Camp
Another town you will want to see is Todo Santos! An artsy town with great food and live music at night! Its quiet, friendly, and has a lot to offer. It has a pretty big expat population as well so if you are thinking of relocating to the Baja you would find a lot of information here. If you are into yoga there are lots of opportunities in this are for retreats and classes! I found this town a little magical. It seems to call my name….
If you are looking for water sports La Ventana, 45 mins from La Paz, offers great kiteboarding and windsurfing. Check out Baja Joe’s for an awesome adventure! They have all the modern amenities including high speed internet, coffee bar, a lounge area with beer on tap including Baja Brewing Company, a variety of different budget accommodations, and of course water sports including kiteboarding, windsurfing, and fishing… basically a Baja Paradise! La Ventana is easy to access from La Paz as it is 40 minutes away so you can rent a car or if you are staying at Baja Joes check in with them about a ride!
What makes this place so inspiring for me are the people, the stunning views, and the surprisingly diverse list of things to do. i highly recommend adding this wonderful place to your bucket list!!
Casa Kootenay is offering grand opening rates, contact for details!
*Note:
I have not received any payment of any kind for these recommendations! These are based on my own experiences in La Paz through friends I have met there! I recommend you do your own research for the places and people that would be best for your vacation BUT this is a great place to start!
Please contact me if you are mentioned in this post and would like something changed or added.
Most photos are mine… those that are not are with permission form Casa Kootenay, Leeanne Vanderkooi
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