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Platinum beach · La Paz
The Platinum Beach Certification is the highest recognition a Mexican beach can earn. Balandra, the crown of the Bay of La Paz, now holds it.
The recognition
Balandra Beach, in the tranquil Bay of La Paz, Baja California Sur, has been awarded the Platinum Beach Certification: the highest recognition granted to beaches in Mexico for meeting the most rigorous standards of cleanliness, safety, environmental education, infrastructure and sustainability.
The honor, awarded by the Mexican Institute for Standardization and Certification (IMNC), places Balandra among the best-kept and most ecologically respected beaches in the nation. For travelers who want natural beauty without compromising sustainability, Balandra just became a must.
The standard
Issued under Mexican regulation EPPR13-00, the Platinum tier goes far beyond visual beauty. A beach must comply across 8 key categories and pass inspection by environmental professionals and engineers.
The place
Balandra is not just a beach, it is an ecosystem. Soft white dunes, shallow aquamarine water and protected mangrove forests shelter marine life and migratory birds. Its famous mushroom rock, el hongo, makes it one of the most photographed beaches in Mexico.
Here nature is not only preserved, it is celebrated. Access is deliberately disciplined, and that discipline is part of what earned the Platinum standard.
The people
The certification was formally awarded on April 7, 2024, in a ceremony led by Milena Quiroga Romero, mayor of La Paz, joined by Mexico's top environmental institutions and tourism officials. Four more beaches in the region earned the same recognition:
The award also honored the 27 ZOFEMAT workers who keep the beach alive every single day: collecting trash under the sun, maintaining walkways and educating visitors. The certification is theirs too.
With YACHTSMX
For our guests, Balandra is more than a beach day. Anchor in the bay, arrive by tender, kayak through the mangroves, and swim in one of the cleanest, most sustainable beaches in Mexico.
Half-day or full-day yacht charters from La Paz Marina, minutes from the bay.
See La Paz yachtsOvernight itineraries pairing Balandra with Espiritu Santo Island and the Sea of Cortez.
See the routesKayaks, paddle boards and local guides, always under the conservation rules of the bay.
Ask our teamGood to know
It is the highest certification a beach can earn in Mexico, issued under regulation EPPR13-00 by the IMNC after compliance across 8 audited categories: cleanliness, safety, infrastructure, environmental education and sustainability.
On April 7, 2024, in a ceremony led by La Paz mayor Milena Quiroga Romero. Four more beaches in the region received the same recognition: El Coromuel, Balandra II, El Saltito and El Saltito Original.
Yes. Yachts anchor in the bay and guests arrive by tender. We arrange half-day and full-day charters from La Paz Marina, plus multi-day routes that pair Balandra with Espiritu Santo Island.
A daily visitor cap, limited parking, and no alcohol or loud music. Mangroves, marine life and migratory birds are protected, which is part of why Balandra met the Platinum standard.
Platinum proves that conservation and tourism can coexist. We are proud to help our guests experience Balandra the right way.