El Tecolote Beach in La Paz, Mexico (2024)

Greetings, Baja wanderers! 🌵☀️🌊

Welcome to our 2024 updated guide to El Tecolote Beach. This iconic shoreline stands as one of La Paz’s most beloved hangout spots. And rightly so. “The owl beach” (in English) is the ideal place to relax with friends and family, soaking in breathtaking views and enjoying the delights of the Sea of Cortez.

In this updated post, you’ll discover everything you need to know about El Tecolote Beach: its location, directions, dining options, top adventure tours, and insider beach tips (straight from a local) 🇲🇽😉🐠.

El Tecolote Beach

Ever since I was a child, I used to visit El Tecolote every summer. Like any typical beach-loving kid, I couldn’t wait to hit the warm sand and spend all day swimming in its crystal-clear waters. Back in the early 90s, it was the ultimate beach hangout for locals (trust me!).

Unlike Balandra, El Tecolote isn’t in a Natural Protected Area, so you can enjoy beach activities without affecting the environment too much. So, if you’re deciding between the two, El Tecolote offers a more adventurous experience compared to the laid-back vibe of Balandra Beach.

Location

Situated at the far end of La Paz Bay, Playa El Tecolote is the last stop as you drive from downtown via Route 11 (or Carretera Federal 11) toward the Pichilingue port.

Neighboring Balandra Bay and facing Isla Espíritu Santo (Holy Spirit Island), families and friends can dive into all kinds of water sports like scuba diving, fishing tours, snorkeling, and jet skiing adventures—we’ll get to the fun part in the next lines 😉.

How to get there

By Car

Renting a car is likely the best way to get to El Tecolote. All you have to do is take the main road toward the northwest coast of La Paz Bay via Route 11 (along the coast). Drive until you see the turnoff for “Playa Tecolote” and turn left. Keep driving until you reach the parking lot near the beach (it may be gravel or dirt but is generally well-maintained). From there, you can easily access the beach on foot.

Estimated time: 30 minutes

By Bus

As with Balandra Beach, you can take the “Playa Bus” at the Malecon Bus Station and ride along the La Paz – Pichilingue route (running every hour from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM). If you pick this transportation bear in mind:

• The one-way rate will cost about MXN 60.00
• Return journeys are about 45 minutes after every departure hour (bring cash to ensure you can pay)
• The palapas (Mexican palm shades) are often busy, so it is wise to bring your own

Estimated time: 40 minutes

By Boat

You can also visit El Tecolote as part of many boat tours, although this is mainly for Balandra Beach. This journey can be as part of short expeditions coming from La Paz Bay, but also bigger trips from the Pacific Ocean’s side in Cabo San Lucas.

Things to do

El Tecolote is a favorite hangout for paceños (locals) because it’s got it all: fun, adventure, natural beauty, relaxation, and peace. Whatever you choose, no matter the season, get ready to be amazed by the beautiful coral reefs and awesome marine life you’ll see, like puffers, rays, eels, angelfish, damsels, and yellowtail. Here, we list all the cool activities you can dive into:

1. Beach walk

El Tecolote Beach is perfect for a peaceful stroll, and if you’re into shell hunting like me, you’ll love collecting all kinds of adorable stones, shells, and sea glass.

2. Swimming

Famous for its shallow blue waters, you can walk 30 meters offshore and still be waist-deep, making it perfect for a relaxing swim—something common to most white sand beaches in La Paz Mexico.  

3. Chill out under a shade

You can bring a shade or hire a “palapa” to rest all day at the beach. This perk requires a minimum spend of $500 MXN on food and drinks.

4. Camping

El Tecolote is a popular beach to go camping (hence, one of my favorite adventures!). As it is a remote area, you can set up a bonfire and have an amazing stargazing session with the sound of waves in the background—literally priceless! Bear in mind:

• Winter months can be packed with campervans
• Toilet service is about MXN 15
• Shower service is about MXN 30
• While you can grab food from the nearby restaurants, we suggest bringing your own to keep it budget-friendly

5. Water sports

As mentioned earlier, this beautiful beach is all about water sports, and it will be easy to rent all kinds of beach gear, like kayaks and paddleboards, to row on its crystalline waters.

6. Rent a Jet Ski

For those seeking an exhilarating adventure, try catching waves like a cowboy. Just make sure to stick to the rules and handle your gear carefully.

7. Wind sports

Because of the weather conditions, activities like windsurfing, water skiing, and parasailing are available for a solo adventure. Literally, the sky is the limit!

8. Boat tours

This is the best way to experience the Sea of Cortez’s vibrant marine life. Boat tours usually offer expeditions for swimming at the beach, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddleboarding, and exploring hidden coves. Typically, you can arrange boat tours on-site (you might need cash) or check out these popular spots and adventures you can book online:

Isla Espíritu Santo

• Snorkeling with sea lions
• Paddleboarding adventure
• Scuba diving at Isla Ballena

La Paz Bay

• Swimming with whale sharks
• Sailboat rental adventure
• Water Skiing Experience

San Rafaelito

• Snorkeling with sea lions

Eat at El Tecolote Beach

One thing we love about El Tecolote is that, even though it’s off the beaten path, you can still find spots to grab a bite and enjoy a cold beer. But hey, if you’re expecting a Santa Monica beach vibe, you might be a bit let down.

While the facilities seem pretty basic, this spot has been a remote getaway for over 30 years, and locals love the simple life—that’s what makes it special. When you’re chilling at El Tecolote or nearby, there are plenty of great places to grab lunch.

The most popular is Beach Club El Tecolote, serving margaritas and dishes like ceviche, shrimp tacos, aguachile, seafood cocktails, etc. Plus, there are food trucks selling coconuts and preparations like tortas, empanadas, burritos, tacos, and even coffee.

Insider tips 

• Since this spot is a local favorite, it’s packed on weekends. It’s best to come during the week, and early, to dodge the crowds.

• When it’s busy, you’ll hear loud banda music—a Mexican genre with trombones and percussion. It’s not exactly Mozart, and some might find it annoying, but it’s all part of the local vibe.

• It is always wise to bring your own cash as this is a remote area—better safe than sorry.

• If you’re trying to save cash, bring a cooler stocked with snacks and drinks to avoid blowing your budget. It’s the ultimate Mexican money-saving trick!

• El Tecolote can get pretty windy, especially in the winter, which is great for windsurfing and parasailing. It’s smart to bring a light sweater since it can get a bit chilly.

• Just like at Balandra, you might run into stingrays at El Tecolote. They like to hang out and sunbathe on the shore, especially in the summer. Be careful and shuffle your feet to avoid stepping on them and getting stung.

Visit El Tecolote Beach

Now that you know all the wonders you’ll find at El Tecolote Beach, it’s time to start planning your next visit to this fun beach paradise. For me, El Tecolote brings back beautiful memories of sandcastles, shallow waters, and colorful fish swimming near the shore. So, if you’re looking for a cool space to chill, eat seafood, drink cold beers, and have tons of water fun, this beach promises epic times.

Our final thoughts are locals agree on one thing: El Tecolote is hands down a true gem of La Paz Mexico—and the perfect spot for creating lasting memories.

Happy Travels! 🦀 🇲🇽 🌵