The entry rules at Balandra change often — we keep this page current.
The essentials
- Entry bracelet required, bought in advance at descubreanp.conanp.gob.mx — there are no ticket sales at the gate
- 125 pesos; free for La Paz residents, under-12s, INAPAM seniors, and visitors with disabilities
- Two shifts, 8 AM–12 PM and 1–5 PM, capped at 450 people each
- No cell signal at the beach — download your QR code before leaving La Paz
Balandra is the beach from the postcards: a shallow, protected bay where the water stays turquoise and rarely gets above your waist, with the mushroom rock that's become the symbol of La Paz. It's about 25 minutes north of the center, and the coast road out there is half the fun.
It also takes some planning these days. Balandra is a federal protected area with a mandatory entry pass, a cap on daily visitors, and no cell signal at the gate. Every week people ride out unprepared and get turned back. Don't be one of them.
The entry bracelet
Everyone who isn't a local resident needs a digital "bracelet," bought in advance from CONANP, the federal agency that runs Mexico's protected areas: descubreanp.conanp.gob.mx. Pick your date, pay online, download the QR code. That QR is your entry.
The bracelet costs 125 pesos (about $7 USD). La Paz residents, kids under 12, seniors with an INAPAM card, and visitors with disabilities enter free with valid ID, and students and teachers pay half with a valid credential. Parking is included, and the lot sits inside the protected area, so the scooter is safe while you swim.
Two things matter more than anything else on this page:
There's no internet at Balandra. Screenshot or download your QR code before you leave La Paz. You can't pull it up at the gate and you can't buy a bracelet there. No QR, no entry, no way to fix it on the spot.
Buy from the official site only. Plenty of resellers advertise Balandra bracelets at a markup, and some are plain scams. If the portal won't take your payment — it can be temperamental — the SEMARNAT office in downtown La Paz (Ocampo and Lic. Verdad, second floor) sells the same bracelet in person. Those are the only two legitimate sources.
Time slots and the daily cap
Balandra runs on two shifts:
- Morning: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Afternoon: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Each shift lets in 450 people, first come first served — the bracelet reserves your day, not your spot in line. Once a shift fills, the gate closes until the next one, even as people leave the beach. Everyone is cleared out completely at the end of each shift, so you can't stay through the midday gap. A morning bracelet does let you re-enter in the afternoon, though, if you want the whole day.
Get there 45 to 60 minutes before your shift starts. In high season, cars start lining up for the morning shift around 6:30. On weekends and holidays, the queue at the gate alone can take an hour.
You may see older guides mention a residents-only first Sunday of the month. The current published access rules don't include it — La Paz residents enter free with local ID on any day — but if a first Sunday is the only day you can go, ask us when you pick up the scooter and we'll tell you how it's being handled at the gate that month.
The best months are October through March: calm water, cooler air, fewer people. Summer is hot, but it's also when the beach is emptiest.
The ride out
From the Malecón, follow the coast road north past Playa El Tesoro. It's paved the whole way, hugs the water for most of the ride, and takes about 25 minutes. A full tank covers the round trip with plenty to spare. Leave the scooter in the parking area at the beach entrance.
Fair warning: it's open sun and highway wind both ways. The morning shift is the better ride — cooler and calmer — and the better beach anyway. Wear something over your shoulders for the road.
Stop at Tecolote on the way back
Balandra sells nothing. No food, no water, barely any shade — and when your shift ends, everyone leaves at once. So plan on Playa El Tecolote, a few minutes further up the road, where palapa restaurants sit right on the sand. Swim at Balandra, then ride over for fresh fish and a michelada with your feet in the water.
That mass exit is also why the scooter beats a taxi here. Getting a ride to Balandra is easy. Getting one back from a remote beach at 5 PM, along with 450 other people, is not. On a scooter you leave when you want.
What to bring
- Your downloaded QR code — no signal at the beach
- Water — nothing is sold at Balandra
- Cash — for the dry toilets by the parking lot and kayak or umbrella rentals on the sand
- Reef-safe sunscreen — it's a protected marine area
- A bag for your trash — there are no bins, pack it out
- Swimsuit and sun cover — the few palapas go fast
Shuffle your feet when you wade in; stingrays rest in the sandy shallows. And leave the beers at Tecolote — alcohol is prohibited at Balandra and they do check.
Other ways to get there
Car works fine, especially for families — same 25–30 minute drive, plus rental paperwork and a deposit.
Taxi, Uber, or DiDi will get you there without trouble. The return is the weak point; arrange your pickup in advance or expect to wait.
The PlayaBus leaves from the bus station on the Malecón and stops at the beaches along the route, Balandra and Tecolote included. It's the cheapest option — well under 100 pesos each way, cash only — but it's slow and departures get skipped, so check the current timetable and fare at the terminal.
Tours handle the bracelet for you, and boat tours skip the shift system entirely — the cap only applies to land entry. You give up all flexibility in exchange, and prices vary a lot between operators.
FAQ
Is there an entrance fee at Balandra?
Yes — every non-resident needs a digital bracelet from CONANP, bought in advance, 125 pesos. There's no way to pay at the gate.
Can I buy the bracelet when I arrive?
No. There's no internet at Balandra. Buy it and download the QR code before leaving La Paz.
Are there toilets?
Dry toilets near the parking area, for a small cash fee.
Is there food or water for sale?
No. Bring water, and eat at Tecolote a few minutes up the road.
Can I rent kayaks or paddleboards?
Usually, on the beach itself. Bring cash.
When is the best time to go?
The morning shift, October through March, arriving 45–60 minutes early.
Pick up your scooter from us in central La Paz and you're on the coast road within minutes. We ride out to Balandra all the time — ask us about road conditions and any bracelet changes when you collect it, and see rates on our pricing page.
Photos: Matthew T Rader (CC BY-SA 4.0), ProtoplasmaKid (CC BY-SA 4.0), Nathan Dugal (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
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