La Paz, Mexico

Everyone ends up in LA PAZ eventually, if only to get the ferry out, and it seems that most of the population of Baja California Sur is gravitating here, too. The outskirts are an ugly sprawl, their development outpacing the spread of paved roads and facilities. But the town centre, modernized as it is, has managed to preserve something of its quiet colonial atmosphere. You can stroll along the waterfront malecón, and, for a change, the beach in town looks inviting enough for a swim – though there are no guarantees on the cleanliness of the water.