Situated in the heartland of Mexico’s state of Baja California Sur lies the town of Loreto, a designated “Pueblo Mágico,” where the sun rises over the Gulf of California and sets behind the Sierra La Giganta mountain range. Where people are friendly, and the pace of life is relaxed. Where you can feel connected to nature and immerse yourself in activities. Where you can learn about the local culture and taste its culinary treats. Where you might return with friends and family year after year. A place a very few call “home.”
With approximately 20,000 people and only one stoplight in town, Loreto has a small-town feel. You won’t find any big chain hotels or restaurants here. Instead, you’ll find small hotels, such as Posada del Cortes, Casa Mango, or Bugambilias Suites, where welcoming owners will take care of you and happily provide you with their favorite local recommendations. Despite its small size, Loreto has all the modern conveniences and tourist services.
Easy access to Loreto via flights from the USA and Canada provides excellent connectivity.
Whether you’re a first-time or long-time visitor to the Baja Peninsula, we invite you to explore the many authentic experiences of Nature, Culture, and Adventure in Loreto – from its incredible beaches, wonderful hikes, world-class fishing, day trips to uninhabited islands, indigenous culture, kind people, delicious Baja-style cuisine, and more. “Bienvenidos a Loreto!”
A Town Full of History and Culture
Loreto has a fascinating history – it was the site of the first Spanish settlement on the California Peninsula, serving as a center for the transmission of Jesuit and Spanish culture.
Loreto served as the capital of Las Californias until 1771. The Guaycura and Cochimi tribes lived here thousands of years before the Jesuits arrived, and it was their hands that built the Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto, which was founded in 1697 and still stands in the scenic center of town.
Check out the Museo de las Misiones Jesuitas, located in the church’s inner courtyard, where you can view many religious icons dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and learn all about the history of the missions that first started in Loreto and continued all the way up to San Luis Obispo in California, USA. The Loreto Town Hall building in the main plaza is beautiful, and you can go inside and look at the different murals that depict the town’s history.
To get a true feel for the town, walk the length of the malecon along the seaside for a morning view of the sunrise (you can watch the fishermen bring in their catch) or a leisurely post-dinner stroll under the stars.
Drive 40 minutes along winding roads to reach the mission of San Javier, a surviving example of Baroque architecture. Marvel at how the mission was constructed in such a harsh environment over such rugged terrain. Admire the ancient aqueducts and remaining fruit orchards, as well as a 300-year-old olive tree planted by the missionaries. On your way back, visit a local ranch to get a glimpse of the ranchero lifestyle, where you can interact with the goats, mules, horses, and other ranch animals, as well as learn how to make cheese and harvest dates.
Another must-see are the oldest cave paintings in America! Hire a local guide to bring you, or If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a mule trek on an overnight camping trip led by “vaqueros” to see these 7500-year-old rock paintings that depict life as it was on the peninsula at the time.
Once back in town, Immerse yourself in the Baja cuisine scene, and be sure to sample some of Loreto’s regional culinary treats, such as their famous chocolata clams cooked “tatema” style, langoustines cooked in mezcal and the special Talega “cafe con panecito.”
A Natural Gem
A visit to Loreto is an amazing opportunity to see the natural world at its finest. Where else in the world can you catch a glimpse of a blue whale, the largest mammal on the planet? Or be escorted by hundreds of Pacific white-sided or bottle-nose dolphins as you head out to sea? Or witness a squadron of manta rays leaping out of the water and splashing with great aplomb?
Loreto’s natural landscapes include coastal dunes, mangroves, deserts, mountains, rivers, oases, and more. The natural wealth and biodiversity of the region are incredible. The La Giganta mountains and the Sonoran desert host endemic plant species such as the chironolina cactus, while the islands house a large number of permanent and migratory birds including major proportions of Heermann’s Gulls, Blue-footed Boobys, and Black Storm Petrels.
The Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are outstandingly beautiful, set in a dramatic environment formed by rugged islands with imposing cliffs and sandy beaches that contrast with the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. Because the islands and the sea around them are protected, the marine park’s preservation strategy includes endemic vegetation and wildlife, including indigenous insects, arachnids, reptiles, and mammals.
The Bay of Loreto National Park – which includes the islands of Coronados, Danzante, Montserrat, Catalana and del Carmen – is the third largest marine park in Mexico and has the highest diversity of marine mammals than anywhere else in the country, with frequent sightings of blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, and more.
The marine park contains 39% of the world’s marine mammals and is home to nearly 900 fish species, 90 of which are endemic, and includes 695 vascular plant species – more than any other marine and insular property on the World Heritage List. It’s been a National Park since 1996, a Natural Protected Area since 2004, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
Further north, you can enjoy the many small coves and beaches of Bahía Concepción, the lush oasis of Mulegé, and the Santa Rosaía River, all of which are worth a visit.
Where Adventure Awaits
In Loreto, you’re welcomed with year-round adventures, whether you wish to go fishing for dorado, tour the islands, or go on a remote mule trekking trip to see cave paintings that date back 10,000 years. Abundant wildlife, sunny weather, and natural desert, mountain, and sea environments make the Loreto region one of the finest adventure travel destinations in North America.
Swim in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, kayak the desolate coastline in the shadow of the sierras, spot and swim with marine life in Loreto Bay National Park, dive or snorkel alongside pristine reefs full of colorful damselfish and parrotfish, or check out the sea lion colony of Isla Coronados. Away from the beaches, explore the mountains and natural reserves, hike and camp in desert canyons, ride mules alongside local rancheros, or go birdwatching and learn about the local flora and fauna, like the giant cordon cactus.
Loreto is known for its low-impact, responsible, and community-based tourism. Booking a trip with a locally-owned company helps support the local economy and ensures you are guided by someone who is reputable and thoroughly familiar with the landscape, culture, and food of the region.
If slow travel, unspoiled natural beauty, charming towns, and one-of-kind adventures you will never forget appeal to you…you’ll find it all in Loreto. Welcome home!
