El Ciprés Airstrip

The closure was due to economic reasons directly linked to the fate of the real estate project it was built to serve. The airstrip was a private facility, owned by 'Desarrollo Turistico El Cipres', and served as a key amenity for the 'Paraíso del Mar' luxury resort and residential community. This development faced significant financial challenges and stalled, particularly in the years following the 2008 global financial crisis. As the development faltered, the funding and justification for maintaining a private, operational airstrip disappeared. Its proximity to La Paz's main Manuel Márquez de León International Airport (MMLP), which is only a short drive away, made it economically redundant once the development's initial vision did not fully materialize.

The site is currently abandoned but remains physically intact. The asphalt runway, taxiway, and apron are still clearly visible from satellite view but are in a state of significant disrepair. The markings are severely faded, and vegetation is encroaching on the pavement. The facility is non-operational and closed to all air traffic. The land is part of the larger Paraíso del Mar development, which has seen renewed activity with its golf course and residential properties, but the airstrip itself remains a dormant and unused piece of infrastructure within the community.

El Ciprés Airstrip had no major national or military historical significance. Its importance was entirely local and commercial, serving as a private general aviation airport for a specific high-end market. Its primary function was to provide direct, convenient access for property owners and affluent tourists flying private aircraft to the Paraíso del Mar golf resort and residential community. It handled small-to-medium private jets and propeller aircraft. The airstrip, with its approximately 1,500-meter (4,900-foot) paved runway, was a significant selling point, embodying the concept of a 'fly-in' community popular in resort areas like Baja California.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening El Ciprés Airstrip. The cost to resurface the runway, update markings, and bring the facility up to modern safety and regulatory standards would be substantial. Given that the nearby international airport in La Paz (MMLP) adequately serves the region's commercial and general aviation needs, there is little economic incentive for the resort's current developers to invest in reactivating the airstrip. It is widely considered a defunct feature of the original master plan.