A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Paz vs. Hope for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit La Paz or Hope?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Hope can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

La Paz

La Paz is a cultural, beautiful, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums. See La Paz travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a friendly, local, and small town. And you can't forget about the hiking. See Hope travel costs.

La Paz and Hope: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Popular for food and cuisine
  • Active nightlife
  • Nice resorts
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Popular beach
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Good public transit
  • Very walkable
Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less museums and historical sights
  • Less popular for food
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular for shopping
  • Public transit not as usable
  • Less walkable


Is there more to do in La Paz or Hope?

Travelers will usually find more to do in La Paz. Although La Paz and Hope are popular destinations, La Paz has more sights and attractions for tourists. La Paz is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Hope attracts visitors for its hiking. La Paz is more touristy than Hope and is popular for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. It is also well known for Balandra Beach. Hope is famous for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo."

How is La Paz different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hope and La Paz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in La Paz or Hope?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is a great city for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to La Paz specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Sights and landmarks around town include La Paz Cathedral, the Museo de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur, the the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur, and Teatro Juarez.

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.


Is the Food Better in La Paz or Hope? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Hope is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in La Paz. As the capital of Baja California Sur, you'll find many local restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The recipes include seafood and local produce. You'll find everything from food stalls to high end restaurants around town.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hope. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is La Paz or Hope Better for Nightlife?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is very good for nightlife. However, Hope is not known for nightlife and partying.

If you're looking for night time activities La Paz has a few options to choose from. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

Most people don't head to Hope specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Is La Paz or Hope Better for Resorts?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Hope is not a resort destination.

La Paz has a handful of resorts to choose from. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Hope is not a resort destination.


Is La Paz or Hope Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is a great city for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Hope is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in La Paz. There are organized diving and snorkeling excursions available around town. It's location by the Sea of Cortez makes diving a world class experience.

Hope is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is La Paz or Hope Better for Beaches?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Hope is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, La Paz is a very popular vacation destination. The beaches in the area are the main draw, and you'll find beaches that are family-friendly, romantic, or full of amenities. Some consider the beaches in the area among the best in Mexico.

Hope is not a beach destination.

Is La Paz or Hope Better for Hiking?

La Paz
Hope

Hope is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, La Paz is not a hiking destination.

Hope is a popular spot for hiking. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

La Paz is not a hiking destination.


Is the Shopping Better in La Paz or Hope?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is a great city for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting La Paz. Local boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries all make for interesting shopping opportunities.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is La Paz or Hope Better for Families?

La Paz
Hope

Both La Paz and Hope are superb to visit with kids.

La Paz is a very kid-friendly city. Older kids will enjoy swimming with whale sharks, whale watching, and experiencing the region's wildlife. There are also many beaches in the area where kids can play.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Hope. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Is La Paz or Hope Better for Couples?

La Paz
Hope

Hope is notable for its romantic activities. Also, La Paz is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Hope is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

La Paz is a good city for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy walking along the beach promenade known as Malecon. There are also beaches and amazing animal experiences such as whale watching or dolphin viewing.


Is La Paz or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Paz
Hope

Both La Paz and Hope are superb destinations for backpackers.

La Paz is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Hope. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

Is La Paz or Hope Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Hope is not known for its public transit.

While La Paz offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is La Paz or Hope a more walkable city?

La Paz
Hope

La Paz is a great city for its walkability. However, Hope is not known for its high level of walkability.

La Paz is very walkable. The city is very walkable.

Hope is generally not very walkable. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.


For even more information, also check out Is La Paz Worth Visiting? and Is Hope Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hope or La Paz?

How long in La Paz or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both La Paz and Hope. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in La Paz than in Hope. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Paz, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hope.

Families should spend more time in La Paz than Hope. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Paz, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in La Paz than Hope. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Paz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Paz than Hope if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in La Paz.


  • How many days in La Paz or Hope? Ideal Length of Stay
    La Paz 2-4 
    Hope 2-3

One day in La Paz or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of La Paz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the when visiting the destination of Hope. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in La Paz or Hope?

La Paz is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Hope is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in La Paz or Hope?

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the cultural destination of La Paz. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hope. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.


A week in La Paz or Hope?

The authentic city of La Paz offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Travelers enjoy the when visiting the friendly destination of Hope. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Hope or La Paz?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in La Paz is $132, while the average daily cost in Hope is $47. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for La Paz and Hope in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Paz $47
    Hope $8.89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Paz $94
    Hope $18
Compare Hotels in La Paz and Hope

Looking for a hotel in La Paz or Hope? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in La Paz


Hotels in Hope


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: La Paz Hotel Prices and Hope Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Paz $20
    Hope -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:

  • La Paz International Airport (LAP) to La Paz hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
  • La Paz hotels to La Paz International Airport (LAP) - Departure Private Transfer: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into La Paz or Hope?

Prices for flights to both Hope and La Paz change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    La Paz $60
    Hope $38

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.

  • 3 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $77
  • 3 hrs SEAFOOD Tour in La Paz: $103

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Paz $11
    Hope -

Tours and Activities in La Paz

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:

  • 1 Day Espiritu Santo Island Wonders, Sea Lions and Paddleboard Adventure : $249
  • 3 Hours La Paz Whale Shark First Class Snorkeling Tour: $167
  • Adventure to Espiritu Santo Island: Snorkel with Sea Lions and Beach: $127
  • Birding La Paz Mexico 4hrs.Tour : $160
  • Birding Tour in La Paz Mexico: $177
  • City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $95
  • Cultural and Culinary Tour of El Triunfo, Baja California Sur: $250
  • Desert Off Road Adventure Tour in La Paz: $261
  • Desert and Dunes ATV Adventure in La Paz BCS Mexico: $195
  • Espíritu Santo and Balandra Beach Combo Tour: Sea Lion Snorkeling: $250
  • Espiritu Santo Island Day Tour: $170
  • Espiritu Santo Island Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure: $145

Tours and Activities in Hope

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hope.

  • From Vancouver: 2-Day Kelowna Wine, Lake, and Farm Tour: $296
  • From Vancouver: 3-Day Tour to Manning Park, Nelson & Osoyoos: $379

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Paz $11
    Hope $10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Paz and Hope, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Hope much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hope would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hope and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Hope.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Paz Expensive? and Is Hope Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, La Paz or Hope?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Hope, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit La Paz or Hope?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit La Paz or Hope in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to La Paz as well as Hope. Many visitors come to La Paz in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Hope for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, La Paz is generally much warmer than Hope. Daily temperatures in La Paz average around 30°C (86°F), and Hope fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

La Paz usually gets less rain in July than Hope. La Paz gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Hope receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    La Paz 30°C (86°F) 
    Hope 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit La Paz or Hope in the Autumn?

Both Hope and La Paz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to La Paz for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Hope because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

La Paz is much warmer than Hope in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Hope fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hope. In October, La Paz usually receives less rain than Hope. La Paz gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Hope receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    La Paz 27°C (80°F) 
    Hope 10°C (51°F)

Should I visit La Paz or Hope in the Winter?

Both Hope and La Paz during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to La Paz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hope this time of year.

It's quite cold in Hope in the winter. In the winter, La Paz is much warmer than Hope. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Paz in January average around 18°C (65°F), and Hope averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Hope gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Paz usually gets less rain in January than Hope. La Paz gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Hope receives 201 mm (7.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    La Paz 18°C (65°F) 
    Hope 3°C (37°F)

Should I visit La Paz or Hope in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Paz and Hope. The beaches are the main draw to La Paz this time of year.

In April, La Paz is generally much warmer than Hope. Daily temperatures in La Paz average around 23°C (73°F), and Hope fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Hope receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, La Paz usually receives less rain than Hope. La Paz gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Hope receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    La Paz 23°C (73°F) 
    Hope 9°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Hope and La Paz

La Paz Hope
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (65°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 3°C (37°F) 201 mm (7.9 in)
Feb 19°C (66°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 5°C (41°F) 164 mm (6.4 in)
Mar 20°C (69°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 7°C (44°F) 145 mm (5.7 in)
Apr 23°C (73°F) 1 mm (0 in) 9°C (49°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 1 mm (0 in) 12°C (54°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 1 mm (0 in) 15°C (60°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Aug 30°C (87°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Sep 30°C (85°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 85 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 13 mm (0.5 in) 10°C (51°F) 156 mm (6.1 in)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 6°C (43°F) 222 mm (8.7 in)
Dec 20°C (67°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 3°C (37°F) 217 mm (8.5 in)