Lovely Loreto in Baja California, Mexico

If you reminisce about the early days of Cabo San Lucas and are looking for a hidden gem in which to relax, enjoy seafood, golf, and soak in a beautiful, laidback Baja California lifestyle, then Loreto is for you.

The small town of about 18,000 people is a 6hr drive from Los Cabos, Mexico. By air, Alaska Airlines offers a few nice nonstop flights out of LAX, PHX, and DFW. Our small group of TravelStore advisors (Dionne Harvey, Christine Chalmers, Blanca Molina, Lucila Castillo Maria, and Margarita Tubalinal) were met by the loveliest people from the Baja California Tourism Board, Ivette and Victor. From the moment we connected with them, it was clear how much they love Baja and Loreto. They were so full of knowledge and passion for the region that they truly made our visit the wonderful experience that it was.

The beautiful town of Loreto is located on the Sea of Cortez.

Two islands, Isla Coronado and Isla Carmen, sit right off the coast. Many visitors flock here for the incredible wildlife, including opportunities to see Humpback, Fin, and Blue whales during migration season.

Our excursions included a catamaran experience, a tour of the city with a walk down the seaside boardwalk, and of course whale watching! We were very successful and saw a Blue whale jump out of the ocean and breach close to our ship. We also got to see a rare hybrid whale: a Blue/Fin whale cross breed – it was very unique. The whale watching tour was an all-day activity and we so happy to have been treated to well-behaved weather (and whales!) the entire time. We could not have asked for a better day on the water.

On another day, Victor drove us out to San Javier, a tiny, historic town in the South West that was quite the experience just to reach!

We drove about an hour out of town through a rugged canyon before finally arriving in San Javier. It was like something out of a storybook and we were surprised to learn only about 150 people live there. The town is home to the Mision de San Fancisco Javier, a beautifully preserved 18^th century mission affectionately referred as the “jewel of the missions.” The town also boasts a 300-year old olive tree that was originally planted by Jesuit missionaries. Local lore claims the tree thrives on human connection, so many visitors are encouraged to pay homage by touching or hugging the tree’s trunk to keep the ritual alive.

We visited several hotels during our trip to better understand the accommodation options in Loreto for a variety of travelers.

There is something for everyone and all of the hotels are boutique and locally-owned. A few that stood out to us were:

• The Oasis: The oldest hotel in Loreto, the Oasis offers just 32 rooms, oceanfront views, and a clambake to die for.
• Paraiso Azul: This tiny hotel has just 13 beautifully appointed rooms. It is owned by the sister of Hotel 1697, another darling property with just 15 rooms.
• Hotel Posada de las Flores: This property is located on the main plaza and has a wonderful swimming pool.
• Aventura Hotel: A stunning property with a 3-bedroom Penthouse Suite for those looking for extra space and luxury.

The hotel and inn owners all know each other and have a very supportive relationship. It was evident to us that the business owners and residents of the town want to keep Loreto’s charm and local way of life preserved; they have no interest in becoming the next Cabo San Lucas, or to build large hotels that result in it being overrun by tourists.

We had a fantastic time getting to know Loreto and highly recommend the location for well-traveled people looking for something off-the-beaten-path and full of local flavor.

This would be a great destination for people who like fishing, water activities (incredible spot for diving and snorkeling, as proclaimed by Jacques Cousteau), and families. We also met many people visiting for golf; come to find out Loreto is home to two gorgeous golf courses.

Lastly, we would be remiss if we did not recommend Loreto to foodies; we were over the moon with the delicious food and drink everywhere we went (Blanca Molina had some of the best traditionally-brewed – and very strong – coffee of her life at the Oasis Hotel). It is also a suitable destination for solo travelers due to its safety and comfort, but runners be warned: if you are like Christine Chalmers and enjoy a morning run, street dogs may decide to give chase. Luckily for her, a few kind locals came out and shooed them away so she could again jog in peace!

Loreto in Baja Cali, Mexico is now solidly on our list of places to recommend for the right travelers. If this sounds like your kind of adventure, reach out to myself or one of my group members and we’ll help you craft the perfect trip to lovely Loreto!

Warmly,

Dionne Harvey, Christine Chalmers, Blanca Molina, Lucila Castillo Maria, and Margarita Tubalinal