About Loreto, Mexico

Loreto is a place that encourages you to commune with nature, play water sports and take the Baja 1000 route in search of whales, cave paintings and colonial missions. Because of its climate, infrastructure and relative isolation, it is also ideal for resting and forgetting about the pressures of everyday life.



And it is precisely this long isolation that preserved Loreto¡¯s unusual attractions such as its beaches, clean sea and sky, fragile environmental marine and semi-desert niches that have subsisted and provide refuge for endangered species. From an urban point of view, Loreto is remarkable for the contrasts between its colonial heritage, the advance of modernization and the fact that it has managed to preserve the simple, friendly, cheerful atmosphere of small communities.



Loreto was once the capital of a piece of territory stretching from California to Texas that included Sonora, Sinaloa and Coahuila. Nowadays it is the heart of a natural paradise known as the Sea of Cortés.



Accidentally discovered in late 1533, Baja California has a history that blends ambition, scientific curiosity, evangelizing zeal and the challenges of nature. For over 150 years, it was considered an island, and several expeditions landed here in search of the pearls that originally made it famous. They all failed because of the difficulties of obtaining supplies, the resistance of the Indians and attacks by pirates, until October 25 1697 when Juan María Salvatierra created the first permanent settlement when he established the mission of Nuestra Señora de Loreto. The mission constituted an initial attempt at colonization, and served as the capital of the territory until 1829 when an earthquake destroyed the city and the capital was relocated to La Paz. It would be another 150 years, however, before Loreto was fully integrated into the country¡¯s development, its international airport was built and its trans-peninsular highway was built.



Located between the sea and the Sierra de la Giganta, the city is approximately 400 km from the far south of the peninsula and has a warm climate that fluctuates around 28ºC. Loreto Bay, which includes Coronado, Del Carmen, Danzante, Montserrate and Santa Catalina islands has been protected as a National Maritime Park since June 7 2000. It provides refuge for mother-of-pearl, starfish, sea urchins, fan coral, killer whales, blue whales, dolphins and sea lions.