Architecture
There are at the village of Santa Rosalía a church designed by the
architect Eiffel that was shipped in pieces to this village.
Beaches
Loreto has beautiful beaches with soft sand ideal for relaxation and water
sports; the nearby beaches of Nopoló, Puerto Escondido and Juncalito are
also worth visiting.
| |
Bahía Concepción
This long, protected bay with blue-green waters and several little
coves can be visited from the highway linking this town with Mulegé.
Santispac beach is surrounded by mangrove swamps bordered by rugged
hills, and at El Requesón there is an attractive white sand dune
adjoining some rocks. At high tide, these cks are surrounded by water,
forming a little island.
Nopoló
27 km south of Loreto, Nopoló is a tourist center developed by Fonatur.
It has several medium and small sized beaches with transparent water
and a marvelous view of El Carmen Island. This forms a kind of wide
sea canal between it and the coastline.
Puerto Escondido
Adjoining Nopoló, Puerto Escondido is a small bay almost completely
closed off by Danzante Island, which is quite small compared with the
enormous El Carmen Island, just next to it. The Sierra Gorda stretches
down to create coves with small beaches. |
Camping
Walking through the old missionary town of Loreto is extremely pleasant,
but the best beaches are to be found in Nopoló, 9 km away, the North Beach
17 km and Puerto Escondido 28 km away, the last of which provides a number
of caravan services.
Ecotourism
Loreto is located midway between the two most highly recommended places
for spotting the gray whales that annually make the long, eight-thousand
mile journey from the waters of the Sea of Behring to the coasts of the
peninsula. It is also the largest town in the region, and the one with the
best services, including the only international airport. Towards the
northwest lies the Laguna Ojo de Liebre in San Ignacio and to the south,
the Bahía de Magdalena. The best excursion for spotting the gray whales
lasts a minimum of three or four days, which will give you time for
several boat trips to have a closer look at the mammals and their
offspring, which weigh two tons at birth. If you have a little more time,
you could take in a visit to the famous cave paintings.
| |
San Ignacio lagoon
Seeing the gray whales.
NOTE: The San Ignacio lagoon in Southern Baja California is
located about 350 km northwest of Loreto. Gray whales come here from
Nordic latitudes at the end of December and stay there until the
beginning of April. In order to see the whales, a stay of a minimum of
three days is recommended. In this time, the chances are that you will
have an opportunity to see the whales up close without having to sail
out to the open sea. |
Fishing
Fishing tackle is available for hire in Loreto so that fishing enthusiasts
can catch marlin, yellowtail, rooster fish, sail fish, dorado, sea bass
and giant squid in the waters of the Gulf of California or the Sea of
Cortés.
Golf
The city’s foundation is celebrated between October 19 and 25, when
various cultural, sports and artistic events are held including its famous
golf and tennis tournaments.
| |
Campo de Golf Loreto
Located on Boulevard Misión de San Ignacio, it has 18 holes par 72,
with a 6,800 yard course. |
Hiking & Climbing
Thirty km outside Loreto stands the Sierra la Giganta an eroded mountain
chain with spectacular ravines and crags. Some of its walls are vertical
and you can walk along the edge of the ravines.
Horseback Riding
You can go horseback riding on the beaches in Loreto; or if you prefer,
you can ride a horse along the paths leading to the Sierra de la Giganta
escarpment.
Sailing
Loreto has a small marina and the waters of the Sea of Cortés are ideal
for sailing and visiting the many islands off the coast.
Snorkel & Scuba
The enormous island of del Carmen lies just opposite Loreto, and, a little
further out to sea, one can see some smaller islands, including Coronados,
Danzante, Montserrat and Santa Catalina. Together, these form a natural
habitat for some fantastic terrestrial and marine fauna. Underwater,
divers can swim among seals, dolphins, and colorful tropical fish; on
land, you will find birds and reptiles.
Water Sports
Built on the shore, Loreto has all the amenities and traditional
attractions of the finest beach resorts, such as a magnificent climate,
sand, sky and clean waters, water sports, gastronomy, and the finest hotel
services. It is also the biggest Marine Park in México consisting of the
islands of Coronado, Del Carmen, Danzante, Montserrat and Santa Catalina
opposite the bay that are perfect for photographers, divers and
environmentalists since they provide refuge for several marine species
such as seals, and various migratory birds as well as dolphins, corals,
starfish and numerous varieties of small reptiles. |
