Not as famous as Cabo and could be mistaken for a made-up Riviera town in an old movie, Loreto, Mexico is a tranquil, yet colorful fishing village in Baja California. Home to many an American and Canadian retiree, this small town has all the makings of a city lost in time with the added convenience of an international airport. With daily flights to LAX, Loreto is a great destination for a weekend getaway.
Loreto sits peacefully on the Sea of Cortez and is surrounded by majestic desert cliffs reminiscent of the Grand Canyon (if it were filled with water). Surrounded by biological diversity, the town is a great base camp for an unforgettable grey whale encounter. The main areas of the town are: the Mission, Main Plaza, Waterfront, Marina, and Beach (see the map below and click it for a Google Maps version).
Loreto Mission
Loreto is home to the first mission in the Californias (= Baja + the state of California). Despite the sad history of the missions, the church is still operational and filled to the brim on Sundays. It also acts as a central point in the town and connects to quaint pedestrian streets that flow into a quintessential main city plaza. The Richard Jackson Gallery has stunning photos that will make you envious when you look at your own failed wildlife photos. On this plaza you will find many good eats, including authentic tacos – oh, the tacos! At nighttime, you may also find a local band of boys serenading their female classmates while Snapchatting it. I sense a margarita moment!
Half-built homes and abandoned buildings stand as a reminder of the impact that flighty tourist dollars can have on a less advantageous community.
Loreto Waterfront
Along the waterfront, you can see the famed Sea of Cortez and nearby islands that are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site for their unique ecological resources. From here you can see jumping dolphins, spouting blue whales, and (if you’re really lucky) breaching humpback whales. The waterfront also has a nice walking path that turns into the local teen meet-up spot at night. It’s a fun spot to grab a margarita and people watch.
Loreto Marina
A small marina with only pagans (small motorboats) that local fisherman take out to bring you back some of the freshest seafood (think: ceviche and fish tacos). You can also hire a pagan driver to take you to the nearby islands of Coronado and Carmen for about 360 pesos ($20) for 3-4 hours. Near these islands you can see dolphins, birds, and maybe a whale! You can also pull up on the shore and go snorkeling, although you may want to spring for an organized tour with an instructor and proper equipment if you’re less confident in your swimming abilities.
Loreto Beach
The beach at Loreto is small and an unattractive brown color. It was actually mostly filled with locals playing volleyball and hanging out. The off-shore drop-off is quite steep with few waves. Though lackluster, still a good place to catch some rays if you’re not staying at a hotel with a pool. But don’t count on this being a beach-centric vacation!
And I leave you with a Marine guarding the Navy base by eating ice cream – now that’s relaxation!