Going abroad? We at Gulliver recommend taking that road less traveled. If you’re planning to study or take a trip to say, Mexico- which you should- skip the parties in Tijuana, the hustle and bustle of Mexico City, or spring break in Puerto Vallarta. After a significant hiatus from traveling overseas, my best friend invited me to meet her in Mexico. Next stop? Not Los Cabos or Acapulco, but the small, sport fishing town of Loreto.
A Beautiful Start to the Day
Loreto? That’s exactly what I thought. A New York Times article said travelers visit this area of Baja California Sur for the “beach and the charming village.” Others describe Loreto as “paradise.” The town sits 700 miles south of the US/Mexico border, on the Sea of Cortez. It’s surrounded by mountains and the ocean and is known for fishing, whale watching, dolphins, and kayaking. The Islands and Protected Areas of the Sea of Cortez have also been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The people of Loreto are extremely outgoing. From restaurant chefs, to multimillionaires, local tour guides, and hotel owners, they all know each other. The town is pretty quiet right now, due to the economic recession and the off-season. Even our outdoor adventures were pretty secluded. It was a welcomed change.
Our travel guide, Antonio, turned into a good friend. Antonio, a Loreto native, works with Paddling South a Baja Adventures Tour Company. Our first adventure found us hiking through canyons en route to Misión San Javier– the second oldest mission in the Californias. The oldest mission, Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó, built in 1697, sits in the historic center of Loreto. Our next trip, sea kayaking and snorkeling on Isla Danzante, introduced us to dozens of starfish, exotic fish, an octopus, and a turtle. Both locales lie just south of Loreto.
Sea of Cortez, Baja Coast
Our fascination with the sea… and hunger for seafood enticed us to go clam diving. Antonio voluntarily took my friend and me to Los Conditos and taught us how to dive. I don’t know what proved more rewarding, catching the clams… or eating them! Antonio couldn’t join us for lunch, but his boss, Trudi, took us to Loreto Islas, where the head chef Francisco (Antonio’s Uncle) served up our clams. Simply stated, the cuisine in Loreto is delicious!
In less than one week I went from knowing nothing about this coastal town of Loreto to befriending many of the locals and expats. My friend works for the United Nations Foundation and visited Los Cabos, La Paz, and Loreto as part of the World Heritage Alliance conference. The mission: to protect historical sites, marine preserves, and promote sustainable tourism around the world. If you are looking for a unique experience overseas, Loreto is the perfect place to watch the sunrise, meet the locals, walk along the Malecon (boardwalk), swim with the dolphins, or people-watch while sipping a strawberry margarita.
14 Comments
Mollie, Loreto was Paradise! The food, fun, and folks of that little sea town, made me a local for a week and my friends and I enjoyed every minute. Hope you had a pleasant trip home. Dena
Hi Molly,
Great write up. Wish I was back in Loreto again.
Rohini
Mollie, loved your pics. You did a great job in the write-up of capturing the “flavor” of Loreto and why it beats Cabo for a place to truly get away from it all. I can’t wait to go back. Enjoyed getting to meet you and Andrea.
Karen
Hey you guys! It was great meeting you in Loreto! Thanks for checking out the website- feel free to come back as often as you like! I too am ready to return. Enjoy your upcoming trips!
Hi
I like Your website. It is very interesting. Do You have RSS I would add to my favorites.
Let me know when it will be ready. Kee it UP.
See You O Szczecin Hotele
Thanks for great information. It’s wonderful.
Thanks for the note! Have you been to Loreto? Any recommendations for travelers?
I am pleased with your blog. I think we have a lot in common. I’ll visit more often.
Wow… Loreto sounds awesome! Always wanted to try eating clams…did you enjoy them? Would love to visit if ever on that side of the world…thanks for the word picture!
Thanks for the note! The clams were delicious! A must for anyone visiting Mexico. Where are you from?
Loreto sounds wonderful. I’ve never been to Mexico but really want to and this has decided me.
It sounds like you really have a great time at Loreto. My family loves to go there. When is the best time to visit the place? Do they have a nice spots for canoeing, kayaking or fishing?
Manny
Really a great experience you had at Loreto. Have you tried fishing out there? How was it?
Ron the fisher
Mollie, loved your pics. You did a great job in the write-up of capturing the “flavor” of Loreto and why it beats Cabo for a place to truly get away from it all. I can’t wait to go back. Enjoyed getting to meet you and Andrea. Yes, yes!
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[...] Heritage Sites have you visited? Check out this list. Some might surprise you. On a recent trip to Loreto, Mexico in Baja California Sur I went kayaking, clam diving, and snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez. [...]