The beaches of Baja Sur just reopened to the public, so we’re bringing you some of our favorite beaches in BCS for easy social distancing. Spots where you can avoid large crowds while still getting your fill of sun, sand, and sea.
Bahía Concepción
Location: Mulegé, BCS
Why We Love It: It’s hard to write about the beaches of Baja without mentioning Bahía Concepción. The white sand beaches and shallow jewel-toned waters are the things that beach dreams are made of. There are a number of beaches along the bay, each with their own varied offerings. While beaches like Santispac and El Burro get a lot of the attention for their beauty and activities (and for good reason), the beaches to the south like El Requesón and Armenta will be less crowded.
DBTC Insider Tip: There are so many different bays and beaches to explore and Carla King’s guide to Bahía Concepción will give you the breakdown on all of it.
Playa Pichilingue
Location: La Paz, BCS
Why We Love It: While Playas Balandra and Tecolote draw most of the tourists in La Paz, Playa Pichilingue is left mostly to locals and visitors in the know. It’s a pretty little bay with white sand and turquoise waters as well as amenities like restrooms and a few restaurants for food and drinks. You can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas for the day. While it’s mostly a sandy beach, there’s good snorkeling at the rocky north end of the bay.
DBTC Insider Tip: There is a parking lot with easy access, but if you don’t want to drive, you can take the bus from town for about 100 pesos.
Buena Vista
Location: East Cape, BCS
Why We Love It: South of Los Barriles, this beautiful and expansive white sand beach is a great place for enjoying a beach day without lots of crowds. The wind can kick up in the afternoons (making the region perfect for windsurfing and kiteboarding), so go earlier in the day if you want to avoid strong breezes.
DBTC Insider Tip: While sportfishing is a huge draw for this region, the snorkeling is also excellent in certain spots (like near Rancho Leonero) right from the shore.
Playa Frailes
Location: Cabo Pulmo, BCS
Why We Love It: This beautiful beach in Cabo Pulmo is fantastic for snorkeling from shore to access the coral reef (one of only three coral reefs in North America), which starts not far offshore. The protected marine reserve is home to an abundance of sea life such as colorful tropical fish, moray eels, octopus, lobster and sea lions. Even if you don’t plan on snorkeling, Playa Frailes is great for enjoying a day at the beach with wide sandy shores and palapas for shade.
DBTC Insider Tip: This is the perfect place to go in Cabo Pulmo in the afternoon when the winds pick up as the bay is fairly protected and will provide calmer waters than some of the other beaches in the area.
La Pastora
Location: Todos Santos, BCS
Why We Love It: While a strong undertow and big waves make this beach unsuitable for swimming, this is one of the best surf spots in Todos Santos. It’s also a gorgeous and usually fairly deserted beach for enjoying a long stroll or a peaceful sunset.
DBTC Insider Tip: If you’re looking for a truly special getaway, stay at the nearby Villa Santa Cruz or catch a meal or drink at their new beachfront restaurant, The Green Room.
* Please note that all beaches in Baja California Sur are currently capped at 30 percent capacity and people may not congregate in groups larger than 6 people. *
When the virus problem settles down some friends and I plan to head south. Checking out the beaches you’ve shown here is certainly on our bucket list. So inviting we can’t pass them up.
Thanks
The beach just to the north of Todos Santos, in the community of Las Tunas, in front of a place called the Taj Mahal ( as I think it is known locally) is the most dangerous sandy beach I have ever been on. Rogue waves are endemic. There is a sign at this spot that discusses rogue waves and the danger of this particular spot. I know of two ‘macho’ males who have been swept to sea and died because of rogue waves. Don’t go anywhere near the water in this area. There is usually a berm and that can be wept over fairly easily. Looks safer than Punta Lobos, but it is not.