Last week I had the amazing opportunity to travel to La Paz, Mexico with some sweet friends and fellow bloggers for a relaxing weekend getaway courtesy of the Mexico Tourism Board.
Located near the tip of the Baja Peninsula, the peaceful coastal town of La Paz is tucked away on the gorgeous, clear waters of the Sea of Cortez. We went snorkeling. We swam with sea lions. We dined on a private island. We walked along the beach as the sun set over the ocean.
I never dreamed that my blog — my home on the web where I’ve shared photos since high school — the one about my husband, my dogs, my love for photography and also traveling would send me to places like Los Angeles, New York, and certainly not Mexico!
With Lori @ RecipeGirl, Jenny @ Picky Palate, and Katie @ Good Life Eats
Is it safe to travel to Mexico? That is what I kept asking myself every day last week! Should I take my camera? My laptop? Ipad? Will they be safe in the room? What about my passport? Will I feel safe in the airport? Am I going to get sick from the water??
In the end, I decided to take a chance. I packed it all. Everything I’d normally take with me in the states, I brought to Mexico. Laptop. IPad. Canon 7D. My favorite lens. My wide angle lens. All into the backpack it went.
And I’m so glad I did. I would’ve been heartbroken to be in this beautiful city without my camera. I felt 100% completely safe the entire time I was in Mexico. The airports were safe, easy to navigate, and they even had free Wifi. (Just buy something at Starbucks in the airport and the username and password is on the receipt — the same login worked for all three airports we traveled through, coming and going.) Most travelers had iPads and iPhones themselves.
The resort, Costa Baja, had a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The in-room safe was large enough for my laptop, iPad, passport, and even my big camera with the even bigger lens. Plus the wide angle lens. Although most days I left my iPad and laptop charging out in the room, without worry.
And everyone, everyone spoke English.
The open-air lobby at the Costa Baja Resort had an unlimited supply of chilled bottled water for the taking, along with in-room mini fridges to keep them icy cold. We were assured that all the water at the resort was purified, and after the first day of skepticism and strictly adhering to bottled-water only, the second day of La Paz’s warm temperatures persuaded me to give the ice a chance. I lived! Although I still insisted on brushing my teeth with bottled water.
Here was my room at the Costa Baja.
My view from the balcony.
And check out the large, crystal clear glass shower…
Oh my!
This is where I wanted to live.
Here’s a photo I snapped with my phone from one of the leaf-shaped loungers. They would get all nice and toasty and perfectly warm from the sun. I would dip my toes in the pool and take in the view. They were completely enveloping.
This is the view I’m talking about.
I’m still in a totally mellow and completely dreamy state from our short stay here. I’ll be back next week with some photos of our trip to Isla Espiritu Santo, snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez, sunset at the Malecón, and even lunch at the famed Hotel California. Have a beautiful Friday!
I enjoyed your trip, amazing pictures. Kevin and Amanda you are a very beautiful pair by the way. I would like to visit these places. Thanks for sharing!
La Paz is one of the Magical Cities and you’ve captured the beauty perfectly!
Beautiful pictures as always. I’m a follower of yours, though I’ve been away from blogland for a while (personal issues…still dealing with them!), still, it was a delight to go through your website and see oh so many wonderful places and pictures. Your trip to Mexico was no exception. Oh the colors!!! Mexico, and I dare say all of the Latin American region, is filled with strong and powerful colors.
I’m glad you enjoyed your trip, and everything fulfilled your expectations. I have to confess, though, that it’s rather…how should I say it…sad? annoying? that everyone thinks Mexico or other Latin American countries are not up to American or European standards. I am from and live in Guatemala, and while we have our issues (every-single-country-in-the-world does!!, including the USA) there is plenty wonderful around. Specially so the touristic sites and destinations. I’m glad Mexico proved it!, and you were able to share it with others around :o) Have a lovely day!!!
wow im so jealous. i wish i could go there right now. so beautiful, and the water at Isla Espiritu Santo looks so clear. bet the trip was amazing!
How amazing to have that opportunity! Such a beautiful, beautiful place… and gorgeous accomodations!
I am literally blow away by your photography, blog etc, thank you for sharing it with me and others, looking forward to your new stuff :)
Amanda, there is just one thing missing….. your husband. I just couldn’t have left mine behind. That`s a paradise for a couple! If its your job to promote this location, you did a great job!
Amanda, these are gorgeous! What sweet memories, it was great to meet you.
Amanda- were these photos SOOC or did you use Photoshop or some type of app to achieve the beautiful colors?
Thanks.
This pictures are fabulous! This looks like a total blast
What gorgeous pictures of a place that looks like a slice of heaven! You are blessed to have such awesome traveling experiences. Thanks for sharing them with us!
OMG! This place has just been added to my list of ‘I must travel there someday’
Beautiful. Lucky girl.
Your photographs are beautiful and breathtaking….they make me feel like I was there with you. Thank you so much for sharing!
Your blog is an inspiration to a lot of people… dog people (the way I originaly found you a while back ago), food people, photography people… seriously how do you do it?
Amazing photos Amanda! (as usual!) I was wondering if sometime you could talk about coloring in your photos. I seem to struggle with getting such great color in my photos like yours. Is this a camera setting issue or a photo processing issue?? Thanks for any tips or insight you might have!
Beautiful pictures as usual Amanda!!! Too bad Kevin couldn’t go with you!! It looks like a little slice of heaven!
Beautiful pictures! The hubs and I honeymooned in Cabo. We took a day trip up to Todos Santos to check out The Hotel California…. such a cute little place. Did you sample their Tequila? It makes the perfect margarita and the bottle is awesome looking (yes, we still have it).
I really enjoy your blog…. keep up the good work!
Cheers!
Stacey
OK! I seriously want YOUR life! Really, jet setting ALL over the place. NICE! BEAUTIFUL.
Hi Amanda, I’m a law student from La Paz. I would like to thank you for sharing your positive La Paz experience to the world via your blog.
I enjoyed reading how at first you were skeptical about the security aspect of visiting Mexico, but after arriving to La Paz you didn’t feel that and instead fell-in-love with the reality–the beauty and tranquility.
I love these pictures! I’m jealous. Can’t wait to see more from your trip!
Amazing trip..
Amazing snapshots!!
glad that you went and took things with you. turned out great.
Thank for sharing….
Amazing photos!!! I want to be there now. We have enjoyed Rocky Point, Mexico with family twice now – I think we need to go back! TFS
Jealous does not even begin to cover it… Your pictures and stories are always breath-taking, and this is no exception!
That’s it- I want to go there!! And I think the hotel should use your photos for their brochures because they’re amazing!!
My blog has some iphone pics from our Eiffel Tower visit up right now… Isn’t traveling the best?
I would love, love, love to take a trip here. We were in Mexico about and hour and a half south of Cancun, last November and did not feel unsafe at all. My kids loved it!
I think I might have chained myself to one of those leaf loungers and never gone home.
Gorgeous place and gorgeous photos.
I think I could live there … seriously beautiful! Glad you had such a great time in Mexico. It’s my husband and I’s favorite place to vacation and people are always asking us if we feel safe traveling there and I always tell them YES YES YES!!! We’ll definitely need to add Costa Baja in La Paz to the list for future travels as we haven’t been there yet.
Thanks for the shot looking out to the water beyond your toes … made me feel like I was there ;)
HOW is your life so dreamy?! Must be nice! I’m with Ashlee above… HOW!? (:
Amanda,
I’m a fellow photographer, and I’m always impressed by your angles, composition, and bright lighting. I have to know however, how do you get to take all these trips? LOL. I’d kill to for the opportunity to shoot some of the things you have. No seriously, how’d you get into it? ; )
Wow, such a beautiful place!!! I know you are so glad you had that opportunity. And, your pictures are gorgeous!!
What an adventure and so beautiful clicks Amanda! That resort is so scenic and breath-taking. I want to go there. Now. Pronto. :D
Beautiful pictures…thank you for sharing and enjoy!!!
You really take beautiful photos. I hope you could post some photography tips so we can take photos like yours. :) Your blog has been my no.1 since I saw it. It has always been my inspiration to continue blogging. :D Looking forward on your next post! ^_^
Absolutely stunning!
Looks amazing! So jealous!
Wow, beautiful pictures. Jealous doesn’t even begin to describe my feeling. Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful place! Glad you had a nice time.
Don’t your husbands miss you ladies when you are gone traveling so much? ; )
I love your blog!
This looks beautiful! You’re pictures are gorgeous, it looked like such a fun trip!
JEALOUS!! Looks like you ladies had a blast. Mexico can be quite beautiful.
Gorgeous pictures! Thanks for sharing Amanda!!! I never wanted to go to Mexico either, but this place has me thinking I want to go now. GORGEOUS!!!
What beautiful pictures… I have only driven thru La Paz, We always vacation in Cabo San Lucas… Yes Mexico in the Baja is very safe…
Next time you go, I want to be your valet. Purdy please?
I LOVE the bright chairs next to the pool! They are gorgeous!
Your photos look like they came straight from the tourism website! The colors are absolutely gorgeous! Sounds like you had an wonderful trip :) And now I need to get myself a wide angle lens! :)
“last week i had a wonderful opportunity to…”
Amanda, your life is full of wonderful opportunities.
WOW, Beautiful pictures! My husband and I will be traveling to Mexico, Belize, and Honduras in December on a cruise for mission work! I can’t wait to take beautiful pictures too!
WOW amazing photography!!!! so beautiful!
Awesome pics!
WOW! Costa Baja is gorgeous! I need to put this resort on my list of places I’d like to visit. Looks so inviting and relaxing. Can’t wait to see the rest of your pics.
Amanda,
You hit a home x3! The pictures are fabulous. Thank goodness you took all the equipment. I love following you and all your adventures.
Smiles, Alice
Unbelievable! {Swooning} Awesome photos. What an amazing opportunity!
That looks wonderful! I have to admit I have the same concerns you had so I don’t know if we’d make the trip over our usual Hawaii but it looks beautiful. Did the bedroom shut off from the shower? That kind of weirded me out! LOL
Glad you had a great time. Those little relaxation chairs in the pool look really awesome!
Holy cow that place is amazingly gorgeous! What an amazing opportunity to be able to go there
I’m wondering what your favorite wide angle lens is.
Love your blog and your photography!
Hi Mickey! You can click on any photo to see the camera, lens, and settings I used. Most of these were taken with my wide angle. :)
Oh, what a gorgeous place to take a few days of rest and relaxation! Have a great time for all of us! Your photos of this area, the hotel and the grounds should bring them many future guests! Waiting to see more …
Blessings,
Donna
grandma4five
ohhhh my goodness I am so jealous of you right now! This place is beautiful!!
Gorgeous photos – sounds like a glorious vacation.
so envious! ugh I need a vacation
I’m pretty sure I would have fit in your suitcase (you packed a steamer trunk, right??)….please remember that if you ever go back there!!
p.s…I would of course, pay the “checked bag” fee…:)
What a paradise Amanda.
What has you traveling so much to the West Coast and all these places? Is it one company?
Thanks for sharing this little piece of heaven! :)
MY GOSH AMANDA! They were wise to bring you to their resort for promotions sake. I’m ITCHIN to get there! Amazing photos!
You are one lucky lady ,,,Looks like a place from heaven …also to know you were safe .Thats a bonus. Beautiful spot .
Wow, absolutely beautiful!!! :)
oh wow, so jealous! your photography is absolutely beautiful.
Your photography is beyond splendid, Amanda! WOW!!!!!!!!!
I was just in Mexico City with Penny D. on a photography workshop and I brought my Canon 5D. And my 24-70mm lens. And trust me, where I was, was NOTHING LIKE where you were. Where you were was probably safer and more beautiful than about 90% of America! Where I was…well…let’s just say I saw some of the most eye opening things in my life, but still glad I bought my camera and never felt unsafe.
The only time I’ve really felt unsafe traveling was when I was alone in the Amazon (Costa Rica) and on the border of Nicaragua. It was a little dicey there, but I lived. Actually, living in certain parts of Chicago in my early 20s was probably the diciest.
But I digress. You have done the Board of Tourism proud!!!
I followed all of your updates on twitter and instagram and am thrilled to see this post! Thank you for sharing it!!! :)
Hi Amanda! I’m a new follower since Monday. I’m taking portrait photography classes and my freind and teacher brought up your site in class. :) WE ARE ALL VERY IMPRESSED!! These photos are beautiful! I only wish I had my canon 60D when I was in Mexico last year. Anyways, I have your blog at the top of my favorites!! I’ll be looking at daily from now on! Thank you for all that you give!