La Paz solo journey: what might go fallacious should you journey to La Paz alone? Or perhaps what occurs should you strive? Right here’s my private expertise about solo journey to La Paz, Mexico!
📮 Trisha, I’m glad you made it to Baja California! Woohoo!!! I reside in San Diego and I’m a fan of your work. I all the time cherished seeing your Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita posts. Since I’ve a 9-5, these locations are a bit difficult for me. I all the time simply have 4 days of journey so Baja California is all the time splendid for me! Glad you might be right here! How is La Paz proper now? Is it secure to go to La Paz? How’s your present expertise there? I hope you’ll be able to share some insights! I supported your espresso fund as a result of I actually need to thanks for all of the trustworthy posts! Gracias!
Helen Jolly, USA
Hello Helen!
Thanks for the espresso! I actually recognize it! I simply moved right here two weeks in the past with my canine and we’re having a blast! I’ve been to La Paz many instances for brief visits however that is the one time that I made a decision to base myself right here.
I’ll be staying right here for a number of extra weeks however I’ll share with you my preliminary expertise with La Paz solo journey security. When you’ve got any questions that weren’t answered on this submit, please get in contact with me, and I’ll replace this text. Good luck, and I hope to fulfill you should you go to La Paz!
Xx,
Trisha
Embrace Your Journey of Self-Discovery!
Journey Solo, Dwell Freely: Find out about crucial pondering, enhance your situtational consciousness, and uncover your energy to journey the world alone in your personal phrases.
I respect your privateness—no spam, ever. Take a look at my privateness coverage right here.
La Paz solo journey: is it secure?
La Paz is secure to go to, and I really feel very snug right here. I can stroll all over the place, even in the midst of the night time. In fact, as a feminine traveler, I nonetheless get consideration, however please word that I’m an individual of colour and fluent in Spanish – our experiences is likely to be completely different with regards to getting consideration.
A pal of mine who additionally lives in La Paz is American and after we are out, she will get numerous consideration from being blonde. Once more, the eye I’m speaking about will not be to some extent the place she will get attacked – they don’t even communicate to her! She will get the look, which generally makes her very uncomfortable.
Numbers on-line say La Paz will not be a really secure metropolis and is at medium danger. Nonetheless, as all the time, all my solo journey security ideas are based mostly on my private experiences. The aim of this weblog is all the time to share real experiences so what’s written on this article could be very private.
Like in lots of locations in Mexico and all around the globe, there are petty crimes in La Paz like pickpocketing and bag snatching – however in a really delicate method.
It’s actually unusual what number of articles I learn on-line painted an image of La Paz as a notoriously harmful metropolis however once I got here right here, I didn’t really feel that method.
La Paz solo journey expertise
As I mentioned, this isn’t my first time visiting La Paz. I’ve been right here a few instances as a result of I personally assume that Baja California is such an amazing place to reside in! I rented an residence in La Paz for $650 USD. Today, I’ve to hire a home as a result of I’m continually transferring with two huge canine.
My Asian ethnicity will not be normally tremendous seen to most Mexicans (like the place I lived in Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, Mexico Metropolis, and Guadalajara), however right here in La Paz, everybody is aware of I’m Asian at one look! It’s actually very shocking for me as a result of I by no means get this remark particularly I communicate Spanish fluently.
Individuals on the streets can be like: “Thailand, Korea, Japan…???” and so forth. Once I say, “Philippines,” they are saying, “ahhh, Manny Pacquiao!!!” Since Mexico is a boxing nation just like the Philippines, Manny is a really well-known icon in Mexico. Some even talked to me about Imelda Marcos!
The individuals of La Paz are very heat and pleasant. I’ve noticed that not everyone seems to be as chatty except you begin the dialog. It’s most likely as a result of I all the time stroll round with my canine. In Mexico, persons are afraid of canine so they have a tendency to draw back from individuals accompanied by canine. To not point out my canine should not small!
My landlord and his spouse are each Mexicans and are tremendous pleasant. They test in on me on a regular basis. Additionally they picked us up on the airport since I’ve two huge canine crates. Additionally they helped me with vaccinations in La Paz. As a short-term resident in Mexico, I can get a vaccine throughout Mexico. They gave me all the knowledge and I’m scheduled to have my vaccine subsequent week.
Actually dwelling subsequent to me is a French lady. Under my residence is a lesbian couple. I used to be so shocked to be in a compound full of ladies and a few of them are foreigners! After we transfer overseas, having neighbors like this normally offers us the boldness to reside in a sure nation.
This made me really feel snug dwelling in La Paz, Mexico. It’s not that essential to many people however for me, I all the time have to know who my neighbors are.
Arrival in La Paz
I flew into La Paz Worldwide Airport, one of many least expensive airports to fly into Mexico. Many vacationers choose to fly in Cabo however even when Cabo is only a 2-hour drive, the flights are dearer as it’s a well-liked vacationer vacation spot.
I stayed in an residence and the host was tremendous variety to select me up. I had organized this after reserving the residence as a result of I used to be touring with two canine. The host got here with a monster truck and helped me load the canine cages!
Many individuals would ask me why I might belief somebody I have no idea to select me up on the airport. First, I communicate Spanish, and I can just about learn the vibe of the host. Second, I additionally requested round on Fb teams concerning the host they usually know him! The group in La Paz is small and everybody is aware of one another!
In my earlier journeys to La Paz, I additionally rented a automobile from La Paz Worldwide Airport and paid round $14 per day. In fact, that’s the flat charge and doesn’t embrace gasoline, security deposit, and many others. Total, I imagine renting a automobile in La Paz is affordable. Plus, it’s a automobile metropolis and public transport will not be very dependable.
Is La Paz secure at night time? Can I stroll alone?
Earlier than paying the downpayment for my residence, I already know the realm a little bit however I nonetheless requested the owner about security. Mexicans are normally trustworthy about security so once I requested if it’s okay to stroll at night time (I don’t actually need to spend some huge cash on Uber as a lot as potential), he mentioned that it’s one of many most secure neighborhoods in La Paz.
And he’s proper! Even when I’m strolling round with out the canine, I really feel very secure. The streets are tremendous well-lit and there are all the time lots of people round. FYI, my walks from my dwelling to the Malecon of La Paz take half-hour. Throughout that stroll, I by no means really feel very paranoid even when it was virtually midnight.
In these walks, I additionally see numerous white individuals round. I’m in a fancy group although the home I rented will not be that huge. I used to be simply fortunate to have discovered this Airbnb which occurred to be in an upper-class neighborhood.
All streets of La Paz even have bike lanes. They love biking and exercising right here! Because it’s too sizzling, you’ll all the time see individuals biking and jogging from 9:30 PM till midnight so there’s numerous motion at night time – you’ll by no means really feel alone and unsafe.
NEED HELP OR ADVICE? CHAT WITH ME ABOUT PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO MEXICO!
La Paz Mexico security ideas and recommendation
No stoplights in La Paz
… however I really feel safer with out the stoplights! Automobiles routinely cease for you if you end up about to cross the streets. Everybody drives sluggish as a result of not all the primary avenues have stoplights! The streets of La Paz prioritize bikers and pedestrians, it’s such an amazing metropolis to stroll in!
Males in vehicles will honk at you
That is tremendous annoying! I really feel very secure strolling round La Paz however males in vehicles all the time honk and whistle! This isn’t even a delicate automobile honk however a extremely annoying one. Typically, it freaks me out, particularly if I’m caught off-guard.
You then understand, they’re honking is their method of expressing that you’re handsome and that you’re getting consideration. They don’t actually imply hurt. In the event you get invited to leap in, say no except you realize the individual.
They are often actually pleasant however you continue to don’t know their humanity so don’t ever soar in vehicles with boys you don’t know! And significantly, I mentioned males as a result of girls don’t actually honk at males strolling on the streets.
Males in vehicles will cease and speak to you
However actually, don’t fear. They’re innocent. Simply don’t soar within the automobile with them. I’ve to be trustworthy with you although – I’ve joined some pleasure rides however provided that I felt good.
There may be all the time that feeling of chemistry (romantic or not) that can make you say, “positive, these persons are innocent.” I simply don’t actually advocate it should you don’t communicate Spanish. They may get the fallacious message.
Within the evenings, take money from supermarkets
Supermarkets in La Paz have ATM machines inside they usually shut at 11:00 PM. In any case that you should take money within the night, you’ll be able to go to any Chedraui and Walmart to take cash out. It’s all the time the most secure possibility! When you’ve got a Mexican financial institution card, it’s also possible to take money from the counter however it’s important to purchase one thing in an effort to withdraw cash.
Public transport in La Paz is secure
Typically, once I don’t need to stroll half-hour from my dwelling to the Malecon (or if I’m with out the canine), I take the bus. La Paz has a really environment friendly bus system that solely prices 10 pesos ($0.50 USD) per experience!
The buses are all the time stuffed with locals. I don’t assume I’ve been on a bus the place I noticed foreigners. I chat with locals whereas on the bus, they usually all the time give me ideas! I realized the bus routes due to chatting with random passengers.
Police are all over the place in La Paz
Numerous cops swarms La Paz. Even the Nationwide Guards are right here! There are additionally vacationer police which can be all the time round. These are those whom you need to ask for assist in case of an emergency.
Get journey insurance coverage
I hate it when individuals journey with out insurance coverage! I solely pay $40 USD per thirty days for mine. At these very making an attempt instances, you shouldn’t go anyplace with out journey insurance coverage. We’re not invincible anymore. Be sure you do that earlier than leaving your nation – you don’t need to spend huge bucks on Mexico in case of an emergency.
Methods to meet individuals in La Paz Mexico
Listed here are a few of my native ideas for La Paz solo journey:
Go to La Depressing mezcaleria
La Depressing is an excellent cool haunt for younger individuals. It’s a really small place and the bartenders are very pleasant. You possibly can sit there by your self and simply chat with them whereas having drinks! There are additionally traveler musicians who play right here on the weekends. They’re very fascinating individuals to speak to and follow your Spanish with!
Bumble or Tinder in La Paz Mexico
Truthfully, everybody who seems on Bumble and Tinder in Mexico is in Los Cabos. It’s only a 2-hour drive away nevertheless it’s so shocking how most individuals on the radar are from there! Effectively, the general public on these relationship apps are on the lookout for a romantic date however I generally find yourself with matches with who I get alongside and grow to be associates!
Couchsurfing hangouts in La Paz Mexico
In case you are not snug with relationship apps, Couchsurfing could be very energetic in La Paz. You possibly can solely entry the hangouts by way of a cellular app. From time to time, individuals submit about having espresso, happening hikes, or day consuming on hangouts.
You possibly can be part of these hangouts and even make one your self! You’d be shocked what number of solo vacationers like you might be additionally in La Paz. I really like this app so strive it and let me learn about your expertise!
Observe your Spanish with everybody
Be chatty. Whether or not you might be in a bar or a avenue meals joint, simply maintain speaking in Spanish. Mexicans find it irresistible when foreigners strive talking in Spanish. The dialog will go on and on should you provoke the dialog in Spanish.
You’d even be very shocked how lots of people in La Paz can communicate respectable English, however not all. La Paz is a well-known vacation spot with Individuals so they’re very used to vacationers right here! The town’s earnings can be depending on tourism so that they do every part for individuals to have time right here.
I lately grew to become associates with the hotdog man on the nook of my home and we’ve chatted quite a bit about his household and the way he began his small meals truck. It does assist if you have already got prior data of Spanish. Simply don’t be afraid to have interaction as a result of Mexicans are pleasant!
