Balandra Beach
Balandra Beach
4.5
About
This stunning cove is a favorite among locals who come to relax amongst the white sand dunes. The calm, crystal-clear waters are shallow and perfect for beginner swimmers and families. Hike up the neighboring mountain to truly soak in the beauty of Balandra Beach. As part of a protected area, there are restrictions on the number of daily visitors permitted and limited parking available—walking in from the nearby Tecelote Beach is a viable option. You can also visit as part of a boat tour that takes you to various attractions along the coast, like San Rafaelito where you can spot sea lions. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Alberto VTres Rios, Costa Rica9 contributionsPlease HELP the stray dogsBalandra is amazing. But it is located in the middle of nowhere and there are 4 or 5 stray dogs that were abandoned there . The people who take care of the place feed them (as much as they can) but it’s not enough and they do look malnourished so if you can, please take some food and fresh water for them. This place is just magical, as shown on the pictures. The view from the top is amazing. The beach itself might get a little crowded but if you walk a little further down (take an umbrella with you) you can probably get a nice stretch of beach to yourself.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 19, 2023
- TravelingFool88005Las Cruces, New Mexico1,548 contributionsBeautiful! Do the view point hike for sure.This beach is open 8-12 and 1-5. We got there about 10 and went to the beach and the overlook. We left at 1130 and there was already a line for the afternoon time. Bring water sandals. The rocks are sharp. You may want sneakers for the overlook. There is a dry toilet. And they sell water and umbrellas at the front entrance.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 28, 2023
- kingthosSan Francisco, California242 contributionsBeach time at Balandra!Go in the morning shift to avoid long lines! The beach is pristine! The agency (state/gov?) that runs the beach does a great job! To keep it clean and enjoyable they allow access in two shifts, 8-12 and 1-close. The long crescent beach allows for spreading out to enjoy the sun. The water is shallow and clear. You can rent Kayaks and/or SUP to paddle around. There is a trail to a view point above the beach which is easy to moderate depending on your age and physical fitness.Visited January 2024Traveled with familyWritten January 3, 2024
- Pete NPortland, Oregon177 contributionsAMAZING!Worth the visit! As has been stated, plan to arrive early prior to your entry time. Amazing sandy beach and wading in the water is special. Rented a 2 person kayak for 400 pesos(cash only) and was worth it. Recommend doing the short hike to viewpoint for excellent photo ops.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 31, 2024
- absolutetravelSydney, Australia34 contributionsStunning beachPart of a swimming with whale sharks tour we did. We stopped at Balandra for lunch. Stunning, stunning beach with fine white sand and clear, clean waters. The part we were on could really only be accessed by boat so it was completely deserted. The beach is protected and they are rightfully careful about how many people can visit each day. Try and go, it’s so worth it!Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 9, 2024
- Emily W9 contributionsClear water and beautiful viewsBalandra beach is beautiful and not to be missed! We arrived early and secured a palapa--this or an umbrella is really necessary. The sun is hot! As the tide went out, you could walk across the bay and the water was clear. So beautiful! We also hiked the path to Tecolote beach, which had amazing views.Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten February 21, 2024
- Ashleigh MTweed Heads, Australia225 contributionsPristineThis little piece of paradise is exquisite to look at. However, very touristy with time slots for your visit so be careful to check these out. Water is fresh , really cold in the morning before the sun really heats you up. Other than kayaking not a lot to do so take a good book to relax. Very shallow waters all the way across. First on the beach will grab the free huts otherwise grab/take an umbrella because it does get very hot. Worth the 30 min drive out of town and does have plenty of hiking trails where you can view the entire area from above. It really was picturesque.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 26, 2024
- Jena S2 contributionsIncredibly unique beach spotOtherworldly! So thankful for the tip we were given about this beach. Words and photos can’t really do it justice. So beautiful and though it can get crowded, we went on a Saturday and there were several spots that felt like you were on a secluded, completely private beach. Do the short hike up for the 360 views then enjoy the beach and walking far out into the shallow, crystal clear water. Beautiful experience we will cherish forever!Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 26, 2024
- Scott HBirmingham, Alabama197 contributionsDon't miss this while in La PazBeautiful shallow water cove. The pictures don't do it justice. Limited amount of visitors in each time slot from 8-12 and 1-5 so get there early. This was our first visit and we enjoyed it immensely. Next time we plan on renting one of the kayaks and going to one of the several secluded beaches across the bay.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 10, 2024
- Jose Manuel VUnited States35 contributionsFar drive, short stay, small nibbles and unforgettable experienceSince we were here in March 2019, it has become a protected conservation area. There are no fees to park or enter at the time of this review. The only cost is the restroom. We came on a Monday morning. There are two time slots. We came at 8am. We left at 5 am from Cabo and 2.5 hours later we arrived to get in line at 750am. Prior to entering we were greeted by a conservationist and shared: 1. Please take care of this land for us, don’t rip anything or take anything from the area. 2. There are no fees to pay. Anything you pay is not related to us (them). 3. Keep music down to a reasonable sound level. 4. Please leave it as you left it. 5. Please exit beginning at 1145am. 6. Follow the parking attendant instructions when you arrive. (A short distance from the entrance). It was an amazing experience and yes you will get nibbled by small fish. The feeling can be described as a little more than a mosquito bite.Visited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Inesanto
San Diego, CA74 contributions
Dec 2020 • Family
Balandra is a beautiful bay that is composed of several beaches. It’s a 15 minute drive from La Paz and more than 2 hours from Cabo San Lucas. The beaches are amazing and with very little people. To go to the main one you need to arrive very early in the morning (no later than 6) to be allowed to enter and drive to it (as of December 2020, they were only allowing 120 people per day). In case you don’t make it, you can still drive to Pichilingue and take a boat from there. Depending on what you want to do, they can charge you from 30-35 per person to 60-70 (in case you want to snorkel) for an hour or 2. I recommend you bring snacks and drinks, as the boat is allowed to drop you off at all beaches except the main one, which is the only one where food and drinks are sold. I spent time at The Hongo beach and thought it was simply amazing. The pictures I took don’t make it any justice.
Written January 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelBug_Shar
33 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
This place is magical! Great for kids as water is very shallow.
We drove from cabo for the day, it's probably not worth it if you intend to just do this beach. We also stopped at La Paz and spent time there which made the whole trip worth the drive and money. (I liked the vibe of La Paz than cabo) :P
Best getaway for anyone staying around La Paz or Loretto area.
Few things to know before going -
Beach has very few spots with shade, get early to grab them.
Nothing is sold in the area so bring food and water with you.
If you search on Google maps as Playa Balandra it shows a different spot in the downtown area.
They allow people only between 8 am to 11am and at 12pm to 3pm.
We drove from cabo for the day, it's probably not worth it if you intend to just do this beach. We also stopped at La Paz and spent time there which made the whole trip worth the drive and money. (I liked the vibe of La Paz than cabo) :P
Best getaway for anyone staying around La Paz or Loretto area.
Few things to know before going -
Beach has very few spots with shade, get early to grab them.
Nothing is sold in the area so bring food and water with you.
If you search on Google maps as Playa Balandra it shows a different spot in the downtown area.
They allow people only between 8 am to 11am and at 12pm to 3pm.
Written May 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alice C
Ottawa, Canada21 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Beautiful beach! At the time of writing (January 2020) you can take the bus from the tourist bus station at the Malecon for about 150 pesos return. The bus leaves the Malecon every hour on the hour and departs the beach every hour on the :20. Beautiful spot and well worth a day. There are some small vendors selling fruit, water, etc.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Uri V
2 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
We went to Balandra Beach on Sep 14. At the entrance there is a line of cars in front of a road block. They allow a car enter once amother car leaves the area. Once you enter you can't drive to the Balandra Beach, you can only go to Playa Escondido. The beach there is ok. The local tour agency told us that the Balandra isn't closed but they only allow 120 people to drive in and it fills our pretty quickly in the morning. You can also take a water taxi from Escondido to Balandra Beach and it costa you 2000 pesos for 4 people (price tag at a restaurant at farest left side of Escondido. Hopefully this is helpful to whomever decides to go there.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diegoxmoreno
Quito, Ecuador16 contributions
Mar 2021
Bad experience. 40 minutes away from La Paz, it was closed. They open at 5am, and allow only 120 visitors per day. At least the road to Balandra is nice. There is a lack of information available online about the restrictions, so I hope this post can help you and save you the trip there.
Written March 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernardo B
6 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
We woke up today early and decided to take our chances to get in.
At 8:00 AM sharp we were at OXO buying our snacks and drinks.
We arrive at 8:34AM at balandra after a complicated way considering the construction at the road.
We were lucky, they told us that only five more persons will be allowed considering the 220 MAX persons occupancy allowed.
The occupancy is only once counted, meaning that even 10 persons get out they will not allow any one else inside. Is only 220 total a day.
Our beach neighbor told us that they arrived at 5:00AM to be allowed to enter at 8:00
So my recomendación: Arribe at most 8:00AM. We were very lucky, but a lot of persons were left out.
It sounds too early buy you won’t regret.
At 8:00 AM sharp we were at OXO buying our snacks and drinks.
We arrive at 8:34AM at balandra after a complicated way considering the construction at the road.
We were lucky, they told us that only five more persons will be allowed considering the 220 MAX persons occupancy allowed.
The occupancy is only once counted, meaning that even 10 persons get out they will not allow any one else inside. Is only 220 total a day.
Our beach neighbor told us that they arrived at 5:00AM to be allowed to enter at 8:00
So my recomendación: Arribe at most 8:00AM. We were very lucky, but a lot of persons were left out.
It sounds too early buy you won’t regret.
Written October 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt S
Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico18 contributions
May 2021 • Family
We took a boat in (700 pesos per person) for a two hour tour. This is the way to go if you ask me. They only allow 200 people in per day, so people line up at 5:30am to get in. Screw that. Our boat left from a nearby beach, then we went to one of the seven beaches in Balandra Bay. We had a 700 foot-long stretch if fine white sand and clear shallow water completely to ourselves (8 people total) for an hour and a half. No, you don't get to spend all day there, but since it got insanely hot in the afternoons, that was fine with us.
Written May 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
triptime
10 contributions
Nov 2021
Stars are based on visits from previous years. I wanted to let folks know that due to covid, they are restricting the number of people allowed to park at Balandra Beach. We went last week and sat in a line of about 6 cars (on a Tuesday around noon). They would let one car in for every car that came out. This is probably good for the beach and makes it a better experience, but planning to go early isa good idea. We decided not to wait and left.
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David S
Sunbury, OH50 contributions
Nov 2020
We arrived a day early to La Paz for our tours with Whale Sharks and Sea Lions, so we decided to venture out to some of the local beaches to sightsee and enjoy the warm weather. Fortunately for us we awoke early in the morning and got to the beach around 8:00 AM. Little did we know at the time that they were counting cars and was not allowing many more after we got there. The beach is so nice and the water is crystal clear all across the bay. You can easily walk to the Mushroom Rock from the beach and we even walked across the bay to the other side ( it's a lot farther than it looks BTY). Sand is soft and easy on your feet, but we highly recommend aqua shoes or sandals if you want to get pics around the Mushroom Rock because the rocks in the water are painful if you happen to step on one or you want to get close for a photo. Could easily spend quite a bit of a whole day there, but we moved on to other beaches after about 3-4 hours there.
Written December 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paradise813936
19 contributions
Jan 2020
This was a very interesting beach! The water was very shallow, even at high tide, so you could walk around the point to get to the next point with the mushroom rock. However, we chose to hike over the ridge - not difficult, and on to the next ridge. We were rewarded with beautiful views, lots of flowers and cacti, and even a roadrunner (bird). Back on the beach, there was an impromtu band playing (pretty poorly, but a LOT of fun) and vendors selling enormous donuts, empanadas, fresh fruit, and beverages.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cecilia
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Como se hace la fila si vas en coche? Es decir te formas con el coche o te estaciones y te bajas?
Written July 2, 2024
can I get from downtown La Paz to Balandra beach without a car (local bus or collectivo). will be going early morning. thanks !
Written June 5, 2024
Yes there’s a bus tha can take you there but the route gets there lime once an hour or every 2 hrs
Written June 25, 2024
Can you reserve a spot at balandra beach to ensure you will get in, is it pretty sure you would get in, by taking a taxi, and not doing a carnival excursion?
Written May 24, 2024
Nope - it’s get in line first come first serveirst get in
Written June 25, 2024
I’m heading to Balandra tomm Mon (3/19). Any recommendations on a good arrival time since there’s now a limit of people allowed. I am going in the early am by car.
Written March 19, 2023
They have an AM allotment and a PM allotment and literally clear everyone out around noon, it is am amazing place to swim, bring some pesos to use the restrooms which are very makeshift huts. Morning you will be fine getting in. there are guards at a entrance gate but they do not charge for entry or parking.
Written March 20, 2023
If I go in to Balandra at 8am can I go back in at 1 on the same park pass or do you have to pay a second time?
Written January 15, 2023
Hola voy a pasar fin de año en Loreto , qué tipo de ropa me recomiendan llevar para mi hija y para mi ? Gracias :)
Written December 26, 2022
Can you visit Balandra Beach by boat from Cabo?
Written October 19, 2022
At the end of September the beach was off limits due to a oil spill. Yes you would have to bring a lunch it would be a long boat ride.
Written October 20, 2022
Is Balandra Beach open? There was an oil spill 3 weeks ago.
Written September 15, 2022
Si podemos viajar a balandras en carro americano me dijeron q no porq es federal
Written May 16, 2022
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