by Karin Leperi Pezo
photos Courtesy Traveler Publications

Loreto, a sleepy small fishing town located by the sparkling Sea of Cortés, is waking up to the world.  Known as the oldest town in Baja California Sur, it is becoming one of the best sustainable investments on the Baja peninsula.

Accessible Loreto

And now it is easier to fly to Loreto, more than ever before. Direct flights to Loreto, México (LTO) are primarily available from US and Canadian cities via Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Volaris and WestJet. Key routes include direct service from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Phoenix (PHX), Dallas (DFW), San Diego (via TIJ/CBX), and Calgary (seasonal). Driving up north from La Paz, Todos Santos and Los Cabos is also a beautiful road-trip… Not to mention driving down from the International border in San Ysidro – about a thirteen-hour drive. A popular route is also from San Felipe to Loreto – about an eight-hour drive.

Location, location, location…

Located about 220 miles north of the capital of La Paz, Loreto has over 155 miles of incredible coastline and 14 islands, making it a marine paradise.  Whether you come to sport fish, dive, snorkel, kayak, or watch the gentle giants of the deep on their annual migration, there’s plenty to do.  Ecotourism abounds here with an abundance of unique flora, fauna, marine life and culture.

Originally founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1697, when they found a steady spring of fresh water; today, Loreto is a resort town for those who enjoy nature and the outdoors. The Sierra de La Giganta mountain range majestically towers over Loreto to the west as the surrounding Sonoran desert supports a rich array of unique plant and animal life – including the world’s largest cactus – the cardon cactus.  (The cardon cactus can grow to 70 feet and live over 3,000 years.) . Loreto is home to the historic Mission of Our Lady Loreto, one of the first “California” missions. The baroque Mission of San Javier can be found nearby in the Sierra de La Giganta Mountains… and it is truly a breathtaking experience when you see it for the very first time.

National Marine Park of Loreto Bay

One of the major ecotourism draws to Loreto is the National Marine Park of Loreto Bay. The park has approximately 800 square mile of sea, islands, wetlands, lagoons, mangroves, seagrass beds, and marine areas that are essential to preserving many marine species and providing protected breeding habitat.  First established in 1996, the park includes five large islands: Coronado, del Carmen, Danzante, Monzerrat and Santa Catalina. In 2005, these islands and all the other islands in the Sea of Cortés were designated a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site.

This is a great place to whale watch as several kinds of whale frequent these waters.  Known as the “big five” they include: blue, humpback, finback, pilot and gray whales.

Gentle Giants – the Gray Whales

Each year, the gray whale begins an annual migration between their Nordic feeding and Baja breeding grounds that is a round trip from 8,000 to 14,000 miles.  This is considered to be the longest annual migration of any mammal.

 And Loreto is strategically located to see the gray whales as they are midway between the two most highly recommended places: 1) the San Ignacio lagoon to the northwest and, 2) the Bahia de Magdalena to the south.  Prime time is from January through March, when the gentle grays seek warm lagoon waters to birth and mate.

The Murals of Mulege

Though the origins of the cave paintings in Baja California Sur are unknown, they have been dated as far back as 1,500 years ago. Because of this, UNESCO has designated “The Great Murals” – the most significant groupings of prehistoric rock art in the Guadalupe Mountains – for special protection.  The paintings are located outside of Mulege, about 84 miles north of Loreto.  Some paintings are larger-than-life and some of the human forms seem like aliens.  It is unknown what the purposes of these paintings were intended for – symbolism, ritual, fertility or who knows?

Cuisine
Cuisine is incredible in Loreto, with an obvious focus on fresh seafood.  Ceviche, lobster, seafood dishes and fish tacos can be found at just about any restaurant as well as fajitas, fillet steaks and the very famous tatemadas or chocolate clams. From fine-dining to locally-owned family restaurants, the choice is yours.

Why Come to Loreto?

So, the question becomes: Why come to Loreto?  Besides the ecotourism, sport fishing, marine activities, culture, and recent luxury resort accommodations, it’s fairly simple to explain.  As anyone who’s been to Loreto will tell you, “It is the people!” Whether fisherman, businessmen, or service providers, the people of Loreto are noble and friendly and take care of the environment and visitors with gratitude and respect for everyone. In Loreto, one can still feel that authentic culture which put México on the world tourism map decades ago. “It’s a small and safe place with big-hearted people who are committed in a big way,” as a local told us.  BajaTraveler® took actress Gena Lee Nolin (Baywatch) for her cover photoshoot.