Is Playa Caimancito La Paz One of the Best Beaches Close To The City?

ByIsabella Biava Updated on

If you’re planning a trip to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Playa Caimancito is one of the best beach options near the city.

Of course, it’s not the only one, and you can check out my guide to all the beaches in La Paz, but Caimancito Beach is a real gem. However, I would avoid weekends, when it gets really crowded.

In this post, I will tell you how to get there and what facilities you can find there.

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Where is Playa El Caimancito?

Playa El Caimancito is just 10 minutes drive from downtown La Paz along the scenic road to Pichilingue.

It’s nestled between the luxury Orchid House Baja (one of the best luxury hotels in La Paz, which I recommend) and the Playa de La Paz condos (which are always empty), so keep an eye out for a modest entrance with a small parking sign. It’s easy to miss if you’re not watching closely.

There is free parking available right by the entrance, but it tends to fill up fast on weekends. If you’re visiting during the week, you’ll likely find it almost empty—making it one of the most peaceful La Paz beaches to enjoy without the crowds.

Sandy beach with clear water, people under blue tents, and coastal vegetation. Residential buildings in the background. Bright, sunny day.

What to Expect at Playa El Caimancito

During weekdays, Playa El Caimancito stays relatively quiet. Its calm waters and soft sand are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, or simply relaxing with a book.

It’s family-friendly, clean, and ideal if you prefer a more low-key beach day.

On weekends, it gets busier with locals, but it’s still manageable compared to other, more crowded beaches.

The water is very shallow and calm, ideal for swimming.

Aerial view of a beautiful coastal area with turquoise waters, white sandy beach, buildings, and a road. No visible landmarks or historical buildings.

Facilities

There are no sun shades or beach chairs available, so you will need to bring your own if you need them. The beach club, which I will discuss in the next section, has very limited space.

There are no toilets or showers.

El Caimancito Restaurant & Beach Club

What makes this beach even better is El Caimancito Restaurant & Beach Club, right on the beach.

If you’re looking for a more comfortable setup, you can rent one of their beach beds by spending a minimum of 500 pesos per person, which is applied as credit toward food and drinks.

It’s a great way to enjoy the view, sip a cold drink, and have lunch without ever leaving your spot.

The only issue is that they have very limited space, so if you want to secure your chair, you must book in advance with the Orchid Hotel.

Otherwise, you can always lie down your towel anywhere on the beach and head to the restaurant later for lunch or a drink without using the beach beds. In this case, you just pay for what you eat and drink. The restaurant is open from 12 to 6 pm.

Beach Opening Hours

Caimancito Beach is open from 8 am to 7 pm every day.

More Beaches to Explore in La Paz

While Playa El Caimancito is a favorite, it’s just one of many incredible beaches in La Paz, Playa Corumel is even closer to the city and also a great beach option, with lots of restaurants, toilets and showers, besides shade.

If you want to explore further Playa Balandra to Playa Tecolote, this region is full of stunning coastal gems.

I’ll be sharing a full video soon covering all the top beaches in La Paz so you can choose which one fits your vibe best—but honestly, I recommend trying them all. You can also read my post, which is linked above.

Playa Caimancito Map

Map of La Paz, Mexico, showing Playa El Caimancito, Playa El Coromuel, and El Mogote. Roads, zones, and surrounding areas are labeled.

More pictures of Playa Caimancito

People enjoy a rocky beach with turquoise waters, and tents set up on the sand. Hills with houses are visible in the background.
Coastal landscape view of La Paz, Mexico, featuring a serene beach, clear turquoise waters, surrounding hills, and residential areas with modern buildings.
Aerial view of a beach with turquoise water, white buildings, a parking lot, and hills in the background in Baja California's La Paz.
Clear, shallow water at Playa El Coromuel, people swimming and relaxing on the sandy beach under blue skies with umbrellas and palm trees.

Isabella is a full-time traveler, travel writer, and photographer who’s called Mexico home since 2010. With over a decade exploring every corner of the country — from hidden cenotes in the Yucatán to surfing beaches like Sayulita — she shares personal, practical advice for travelers who want to experience Mexico beyond the resorts. She specializes in road trips, solo travel (especially for women over 50), and off-the-beaten-path destinations. Isabella is the founder of Let’s Travel to Mexico, Boundless Roads, Let's Travel to Cancun and the brand new site Discover Yucatan Peninsula and her work is based on first-hand experience.