El Tecolote Beach

Located 15 miles north of La Paz on the beautiful Baja California, El Tecolote Beach is literally at the end of the road, just after Playa Balandra on State Hwy 11.

El Tecolote has an unusually long stretch of fine white sand (about 8 miles) with shady palapa beach umbrellas and some beautiful shells if you care to collect them. It is one of the few beaches in the area that are long enough for a walk. Crystal clear waters and gentle waves with zero undertow make it more like a warm bath than a beach! The beach slopes very gradually down so even at 30m offshore, you can still only be waist deep, but it’s beautiful for swimming.

The word tecolote means “owl” In Mexican Nahuatl, hence the name of the Owl Beach Club which includes restrooms and a restaurant. There are other local bars and beach shacks offering food and drinks with plenty of parking nearby.

This peaceful beach has some motorised water sports available including water skiing and jet skiing. There are bike rentals, sea kayaks and banana boat rides as well as a local boat service to the uninhabited volcanic island of Isla Espirito Santo, part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Sea of Cortez. The surrounding area is dry and sunny with very little rainfall, hence its sandy rocky desert appearance.