The rehabilitation of La Puerta de La Paz, the iconic welcome arch on the highway into the Baja California Sur capital, has reached 60% completion, according to municipal comptroller Pavel Castro Ríos. The 2 million peso project (roughly $100,000 USD) is repairing facade damage that followed a theft of the monument’s solar panels and electrical wiring roughly 10 months ago.
Theft Left the Monument Vulnerable to Rain Damage
Thieves stripped the arch’s solar panels and wiring, leaving gaps in the structure. Rain then infiltrated through those openings and damaged the exterior finish. The La Paz municipal government filed a complaint with the FGE (Fiscalía General del Estado, the state attorney general’s office), but no suspects have been identified.
The monument has stood dark since the theft, its lighting system completely inoperable. Crews are now working to repair the water-damaged facade and reinstall the full lighting system as part of the restoration scope.
Municipal Government Funding the Full Project
La Paz’s municipal government is covering the entire cost of the project. Workers expect to finish the remaining 40% of the work soon and then proceed with the formal administrative closure of the contract. Castro Ríos did not provide a specific completion date, but officials have expressed hope the project will wrap up ahead of the second half of 2026.
La Puerta de La Paz sits along the main highway entrance to the city and serves as one of the most recognizable landmarks for anyone driving into La Paz from the north. The arch is a common photo stop and a visual marker that signals arrival in the BCS state capital, which sits about 900 miles south of the U.S. border at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.
Once complete, the restored lighting system should make the arch visible again at night for the first time in nearly a year. The project’s progress was first reported by BCS Noticias.