Official Language:
Spanish
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Currency:
Peso
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Population:
Approximately 10,000 people call Loreto home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Loreto Mexico: The weather of Loreto is generally warm with more than 300 sunny days and a year round temperature averaging Summer highs are in the 80 & 90's°F (27-32°C) with winter highs in the 70's & 80's°F( 21-32°C). July through September can be slightly humid.
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Your cruise ship will dock near Loreto. Loreto is virtually unknown, unspoiled, but yet unforgettable.
Interestingly, it was Baja's first settlement. It was founded by Jesuit missionaries and it is home to the Mission de Nuestro Senora de Loreto. Thus making it is one of the oldest "California" missions. Today the mission building, dating from 1752, is still standing. The mission (with its original mission bells intact) has been made into a museum with documents that trace the city's 300-plus years of history. It is located next door is the Museum of the Missions of California where you'll find religious art and colonial artifacts that reflect the conquest of the Baja Peninsula.
Dating back nearly 12,000 years, Loreto is considered the oldest human settlement on the Peninsula of Baja California. To this day, you can view some extraordinary cave paintings and petroglyphs. These paintings are spectacular murals done on rocks, representing larger-than-life animal and human-like forms in scenes that could be ritual ceremonies, pilgrimages, hunting or battles. These are truly fascinating displays of early man's communication style.
Early in its history, Loreto (facing almost directly on the Sea of Cortez) suffered so much wind damage that in 1829, following a particularly strong hurricane, the state capital of Baja California Sur was moved further south to La Paz, a town located within the protection of a sheltered bay. That move changed the town forever, and today, little Loreto has only about 10,000 inhabitants (La Paz has over 180,000). As the government offices, officers, and municipal workers headed south, Loreto turned back to its roots as a small fishing village, a role it capitalizes on today.
Focused as tourism is on Loreto's seaside front door, its back door - facing the mighty Sierra de la Giganta mountain range - presents some serious
competition for space in local tourist brochures. There are limited (but refreshingly interesting) arts and crafts available at local shops. Biking and hiking are popular shoreside activities, nearby resorts offer tennis and golf, and an inland run of about 40 minutes puts you at the door of the Mission of San Francisco Javier, probably the best-preserved and most beautiful church in Baja California Sur. Bring your camera, the views of the palm filled valley, the rugged, empty hills and mountains, and the contrasting, deep-blue water of the Sea of Cortez will keep your camera flashing!
Loreto is also the nearest city to Bahía de Magdalena (Magdalena Bay), the southernmost of the major gray whale calving lagoons on the Pacific coast of Baja. The first European settlement in the Californias, Loreto was founded in 1697 by Jesuit priest and explorer Juan María Salvatierra with the establishment of La Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto. The town served as the Californias’ secular and religious capital for 132 years, until it was nearly destroyed by a hurricane in 1829.
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Attractions |
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For many cruising and non-cruising tourists alike, you will find that Loreto is all about sport fishing. Yellowtail, sailfish, marlin, wahoo, roosterfish, and dorado are abundant in the blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. The offshore islands of Coronado, Isla Carmen, Danzantes, and Catalina all offer their ownl attractions ranging from stunningly beautiful beaches, to busy sea lion populations, to SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Bottlenose dolphins and whales (sometimes even a blue whale - the planet's largest animal) are visible in the warm waters. Mexico recently created a National Marine Park in the Sea of Cortez just off the coast from Loreto in an effort to preserve the safety and variety of local marine life.
You'll be fascinated with Loreto's tranquility, friendly people, beautiful scenary, historic flavor and abundance of water sport and land recreational opportunities. First time visitors to Loreto marvel at this destination of discovery. You will be fascinated with the multitude of curio shops and boutiques in and around the quaint streets of downtown Loreto - near Our Lady Of Loreto Mission. Discover the creativity of the Mexican people - their hand-made arts and crafts.
Loreto, an authentic Mexican village, is located on east coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Old Town Loreto is now a quaint showplace but the main reasons to come to Loreto are centered around the Sea of Cortez and the National Marine Park Bay. This is comprised of five islands - Islas Coronados, Isla del Carmen, Isla Danzante, Isla Monserrat, and Isla Catalana - and is a paradise of marine life and scenery.
Mision Nuestra Señora de Loreto
Started in 1699 it was the first in the Californias, with its carved stone walls, wood-beam ceiling, gilded altar, and primitive portraits of the priests who have served here.
The Museo de las Misiones
which chronicles the conquest of Baja California and contains many interesting artifacts, including a mission bell, religious art, and antique weapons.
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More Information |
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Web: www.loreto.com/destination/history.htm
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