Reactions between lactic acid and alcohols or carboxylic acids catalyzed by lipase from Candida antarctica were evaluated with hexane as solvent. Lactic acid was a good acyl donor and esters of both primary and secondary alcohols were effectively synthesized. No interfering dimer formation due to lactic acid acting as both nucleophile and acyl donor was observed. In agreement with this, no esterification occurred between lactic acid and carboxylic acids.