Have you heard of Loreto Baja California? This hidden gem is a less touristy alternative to Cabo San Lucas! In this guide, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about visiting, including all the best things to do in Loreto.
When you think of the Baja region of Mexico, Cabo probably comes to mind. But Baja is so much more than that. It’s home to a number of lesser known yet stunningly beautiful destinations… including Loreto!
Originally a small fishing town, Loreto has become known for its natural beauty, abundant wildlife and multitude of outdoor activities.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Loreto, Mexico!
About Loreto
Loreto has been designated a Pueblo Magico (which means magical town) by Mexico’s tourism board. Pueblo Magicos are recognized for their “magical” qualities like rich history, original architecture, natural beauty and unique culture.
Founded in 1697, Loreto is known for its beautiful and historic missions. The town was the first Spanish colonial city on the Baja peninsula and is home to Franciscan missionary buildings and colonial architecture.
Along with its fascinating history, Loreto Bay has its own nationally protected marine park in the Sea of Cortez. This area was once called “the world’s aquarium” by marine explorer Jacques Cousteau because of its rich marine biodiversity.
Dolphins, whales, sea turtles and hundreds of species of fish and birds call the area home. And, it’s one of the few places in the world to to see whale sharks up close!
On top of all the incredible wildlife you can spot in Loreto Bay, the beaches and islands are filled with spectacular natural beauty. Think crystal clear waters that look more like the Maldives than Mexico!
Where is Loreto + How to Get There
Located on the Gulf of California in Baja California Sur, Loreto is about a 6 hour drive north of Cabo. The drive is safe to do and could be a great idea if you plan to do a larger road trip through Baja (you could also visit Todos Santos and La Paz!).
If you’d rather fly (I don’t blame you!), there are some great direct flight options from the US. Direct flights to Loreto Mexico are available from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Dallas and Tijuana (convenient if you live in San Diego!).
Plus, Calafia Airlines (a Mexican regional airline) offers flights from La Paz so you could visit both beautiful coastal towns on the Sea of Cortez in one trip.
We flew direct from Los Angeles and the flight was just 2 hours. And, the Loreto Mexico airport is small and conveniently located close to downtown making it a quick travel day.
The Best Time to Visit Loreto
The best time to visit Loreto depends on what you’re interested in doing. From beach hopping to whale watching to fishing, there are tons of things to do in Loreto at different times of the year. Let’s break it down!
Best Time for Whale Watching
Whale watching season is the beginning of each year from January through March when blue, grey and and humpback whales migrate south to breed. Whale sharks can be seen in the area from October through February so if swimming with a whale shark is on your bucket list, this is when you’ll want to visit!
Best Time for the Beach, Swimming & Fishing
With summer temperatures reaching into the 90s, June through September is the perfect time to hit the beach and take a dip in the sea. Also, these are some of the best fishing months in Loreto Mexico for catching dorado, marlin and tuna.
Best Time for Hiking & Golfing
During the winter months, Loreto Mexico weather sees temperatures in the mid 70s making it an ideal time to enjoy activities on land like hiking or golfing.
How Many Days Do You Need in Loreto?
Coming from southern California, Loreto was an easy long weekend destination!
I spent 3 full days in Loreto and felt like it was a great introduction to the town. One day was spent enjoying the beach, one day was spent golfing and exploring the town and the last day was spent on a boat! It was the perfect amount of time for my first trip and I’m already excited to go back and check out a few other places in the area.
If you’re traveling with a family or group and want to rent a house for a relaxing beach vacation then of course you may want to stay longer! There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, especially if you have avid golfers, fishermen or nature lovers in your group.
What Kinds of Travelers Does Loreto Get?
Loreto sees a lot of travelers from the US and Canada to visit for nature watching, golfing and fishing.
Loreto is home to a renowned golf course, TPC Danzante Bay. TPC — which stands for Tournament Players Club — means that a golf course is part of a prestigious network of golf courses around the world… so this is definitely a bucket list course!
As for fishing, the Sea of Cortez is a renowned fishing spot so many sport-fishing lovers travel to this region to hire a fishing charter off the coast.
Are you a nature lover? If so, you may be interested to learn that National Geographic offers expeditions in the area to observe the marine life and diverse landscapes!
I was surprised to learn this when we were boarding our flight to Loreto in LA — an entire tour group for National Geographic was on our flight!
And lastly, there is a growing US and Canadian expat community living in Loreto Mexico. There are a couple of communities mostly filled with retirees. Being a warm, beautiful and inexpensive place to live makes this region of Baja a great retirement spot!
Is Loreto Safe?
You may be wondering… is Loreto Mexico safe? This is often one of the first questions people ask when they hear about an unknown place in Mexico.
After reading up on this, I found there isn’t much crime in Loreto as it’s mostly a sleepy fishing town and hasn’t become a major tourist destination yet.. Plus, you won’t find a nightlife or party scene like you’d see in Cabo San Lucas.
While visiting, I felt very safe everywhere I went including walking around downtown Loreto at night. All of the locals we met were incredibly friendly and happy to give us recommendations on things to do in the area.
That being said, always use common sense and practice basic safety rules when traveling!
How to Get Around Loreto
The best way to get around Loreto is to rent a car. This will ensure you will be able explore all the different beaches, missions and sights the area has to see.
I didn’t rent a car and ended up regretting it as our hotel was quite a ways outside of town and the taxis definitely started to add up! I typically get nervous driving in foreign destinations but I feel it would have been very easy to navigate as it’s a small town and the roads aren’t too crowded.
The downtown area is small and can easily be explored on foot. If you stay in the downtown area, I would check with your hotel about their parking situation.
Where to Stay in Loreto
Wondering what the best hotels in Loreto Mexico are? While Loreto does have a range in lodging for different budgets, don’t expect tons of large luxury resort chains like in you see in Cabo! Most of the hotels in this region are small bed and breakfast style hotels or budget inns. No matter what your preference is, there are definitely a few standout places to stay in Loreto Mexico!
- Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto: This is where I stayed as my boyfriend was interested in playing at their golf course, TPC Danzante Bay. It’s a large resort with an all-inclusive option and is a great choice for golfers, families and groups. They also had their own private beach and beach bar which we loved. Just note that it’s about a 30 minute drive into town so a bit tricky if you don’t have a rental car (like us!)
- Posada de las Flores Loreto: Beautiful hotel that features gorgeous colonial Mexican decor, a charming courtyard and a rooftop swimming pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez. It’s very centrally located right in downtown. This is where I’d love to stay on my next trip!
- La Mision Loreto: Another great hotel option that is centrally located in Loreto with views of the Sea of Cortez and a swimming pool.
- Hotel Rosarito: Located minutes from downtown, Hotel Rosarito features a swimming pool, air conditioning and friendly staff — all at a great price point.
Where to Dine in Loreto
The dining scene is casual yet delicious with a focus on fresh seafood (don’t miss trying Baja’s renowned chocolate clams!). Here are some of the best restaurants in Loreto to try on your trip!
- Mi Loreto: This charming restaurant serves upscale fare in a romantic setting beneath the town’s mission. We loved the margaritas, friendly service and live guitarist taking song requests. It felt like a nice restaurant you’d find in Cabo but at half of the price!
- Taqueria Don Pedro: This casual taqueria is popular with locals and tourists alike. I have a street taco obsession and these totally hit the spot! They are also known for their stuffed baked potato (“papa rellena”).
- Orlando’s: Another popular dinner spot in town is the lively Orlando’s. With traditional dishes from all over Mexico, colorful outdoor setting and attentive service, you won’t want to miss dining here for dinner one night.
- Danzante: If you’re staying at the Villa del Palmar resort, this fine dining restaurant is definitely worth checking out. I was very impressed with the quality of food, romantic ambience and fantastic staff!
- Asadero Super Burro: In the mood for tacos, burritos or quesadillas? This is your spot! They are known for their oversized steak burritos… yum!
- El Zopilote: If you’re looking for a break from Mexican food, this restaurant in the main plaza serves pub food (think pizzas, burgers, etc.) and craft beers on tap. It’s a popular spot with the ex-pat community in the area!
- Mare Lindo Marquesitas: Marquesitas are a tasty Mexican street snack and this mobile street cart can be found on the streets of downtown around dinner time. A treat typically found in the Yucatan area, marquesitas are an interesting mix of savory and sweet!
Things to do in Loreto
With its beautiful natural landscapes, marine life and outdoor activities, there are so many things to do in Loreto!
Whale Watching
Given that the Sea of Cortez is famed for its marine wildlife, going whale watching should be high on your list of things to do in Loreto! Each year, a number of whale species (including blue, grey, sperm, and humpback!) migrate here.
During my trip in March, I was able to see a blue whale — the largest animal on earth! Seeing this majestic animal up close was incredibly moving.
Visit the Islands of Loreto
This was my absolute favorite activity I did on this trip!
The Islands of Loreto are made up of five islands: Danzante, Carmen, Coronado, Montserrat, and Santa Catalina. We spent a day exploring Danzante and Carmen islands, both of which were absolutely breathtaking.
Since we were staying at Villa del Palmar, we chose to tour Danzante and Carmen islands on our boat day since they were much closer. But on my next trip, visiting Coronado island is at the top of my list! Our boat captain said that if we were amazed at the incredibly clear waters on Carmen island, we would be absolutely blown away by Coronado Island as well.
We went on a private tour with Captain Luis of Loreto Boat Tours and had an amazing experience visiting the most beautiful spots on the islands. If you plan to visit this stunning area of Baja and want to do a boat tour of the Islands of Loreto (which I’d highly recommend!), you can reach out to Captain Luis at luismanuelfernandezmurillo@gmail.com or +52 613 104 3211.
See the Natural Arch on Danzante Island
This beautiful natural arch on Danzante island reminded me a bit of the natural arches in Cabo. Our boat captain called it “La Ventana” which translates to the window… a name that totally suits it as you get a beautiful view looking through the arch!
Spot the Blue-footed Boobies
I’ve always wanted to visit the Galapagos Islands which is where it’s common to see blue-footed boobies. Well, I had no idea you could spot them in Baja as well… We saw a few on our boat trip around the Islands of Loreto!
Explore Downtown Loreto
It’s easy to spend a couple of hours exploring downtown Loreto Mexico on foot! Don’t miss visiting the historic Loreto Mission or the Malecon for a walk on the waterfront. Even if you aren’t staying downtown, this is where most of the dining is so you’ll likely wind up here during your stay!
San Javier Mission
Speaking of missions, the San Javier Mission Loreto is the most well-known in the area as it’s one of the most charming and well-maintained. About a 50 minute drive through the scenic mountains of Sierra de la Giganta, I didn’t get a chance to visit on my trip but I hear that San Javier Mission is worth the trip and it’s going to be top of the list of things to do in Loreto on my next visit.
Golfing
With a world-class golf course at TPC Danzante Bay and another local favorite, Loreto Bay Golf Course, in the downtown area, there are several opportunities for golfing in area. Most golf travelers opt to stay at Villa del Palmar to play their famous TPC Danzante Bay Course where the cliffside 17th hole is sure to take your breath away!
Mulege
While most of Baja is arid desert, Mulege is a lush, tropical oasis surrounding the Mulege River. While this small town is a few hours’ drive, it’s an interesting alternative landscape to explore in Baja! There are plenty of outdoor activities you can do here like hiking, fishing and kayaking. Plus, the beautiful beaches at Bahía Concepción are just a short drive away!
What to Pack for Loreto
If you plan to do a boat day or hit the beaches, having a dry bag on hand is essential for keeping your phone, wallet and other items safe and dry.
Summers can be very hot! If you plan to do any outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, boating or just lounging at the beach, having a cooler bag can be super helpful for keeping your drinks and food cool.
There are quite a few hiking trails near beaches so having a pair of active sandals can come in handy so you don’t have to worry about getting your sneakers wet and sandy.
Hats
Sun protection is so important for those hot sunny days when there’s little shade… especially if you plan to do any outdoor activities like golfing or hiking. Make sure to pack a few different hat options!
And of course, be sure to protect your skin with lots of sunscreen. I love this one as it has clean ingredients and is reef friendly!
I love these beach blanket towels because they are quick dry and sand shakes right off. Plus, this one folds up very compactly making it perfect for travel.
Not very many places on the west coast of North America have water as clear as the islands in the Sea of Cortez… so it’s a great opportunity to snorkel. Especially given all of the incredible marine life in the area —like the majestic whale sharks!
Wet Suit
Depending on the time of year you visit, the water can be pretty chilly. If you plan to paddle board or might be in the water at all, I’d recommend bringing a wetsuit jacket or rash guard.
Shhh, your spoiling it’s charm
70s loreto veteran
It really is charming!
I love your posts so much !! This one is really great and informative! Makes me want to visit Baja ASAP!
Thank you! Baja is the best… I’d love to check out La Paz on my next trip 😉