Municipal authorities in La Paz removed unauthorized signs, fences, and logs blocking the road to Turquoise Bay in San Juan de Los Planes after residents and visitors flagged the obstruction on social media. Photos posted online showed “Detour” and “Road Closed” signs placed along the route to the free-access beach, preventing vehicles from reaching the shore.
City crews acted quickly once the complaints surfaced, clearing all barriers and reopening the road. This marks the second time someone has attempted to block public access to Turquoise Bay, a popular beach destination located about 45 minutes southeast of downtown La Paz.
City Council Member Opens Investigation
La Paz City Council member José Ibarra confirmed his office will open a dialogue with those allegedly responsible for placing the barriers. Ibarra said authorities will also investigate whether the blockade constitutes a violation of federal law. Under Mexico’s constitution, all beaches are federal property, and public access to the coastline cannot be legally restricted by private parties.
The identity of whoever placed the signs and barriers has not been publicly disclosed. However, the repeat nature of the obstruction has raised concern that private interests may be trying to claim control over access to the beach, a pattern that has played out at other coastal sites across Baja California Sur.
A Broader Pattern in La Paz
Turquoise Bay is not an isolated case. In May 2025, La Paz Municipal Comptroller Pavel Castro reported that authorities removed obstructions from three separate beaches in the municipality. Those actions, coordinated with ZOFEMAT (the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone office) and other city departments, included removing rocks blocking access in El Pescadero and dismantling an unauthorized toll booth at Cerritos beach that had been charging visitors for entry.
Castro described the effort as part of an ongoing municipal policy to keep beaches free and open. A second phase of that program includes inspection, notification, and possible demolition of illegal structures that block beach access.
San Juan de Los Planes sits along the road between La Paz and the East Cape region. Turquoise Bay, known for its clear blue-green water and sandy bottom, draws day-trippers from La Paz as well as tourists staying in the Los Cabos corridor. The beach remains open and accessible as of this week.
This story was first reported by the Gringo Gazette.