janekeeler - 10-19-2003 at 05:19 PM
hi - i'm planning a trip of probably about 10-14 days to Baja in either April or May 2004. I'm looking for somewhere nice and relaxing with not too
many tourists where I can stay for the majority of the trip, and after doing some reading on Baja, I've begun to think that Loreto might be a good
destination. (oh yeah - i'll be flying in, so i won't have a car...) So here are my questions:
1. what are your thoughts on Loreto as a destination?
2. how are the beaches (clean/dirty, cowded/empty, accessible/inaccessible, etc)?
3. what should one *definitely* do while in Loreto?
4. does anyone know anything about arranging a day trip to Mission San Francisco Javier from Loreto?
5. what about trips to Isla Coronado?
6. any other good day trip ideas?
7. are there any good areas for hiking?
8. what about any *cheap* places to stay? i'd rather not camp, but i'm ok with staying in *very* budget hotels.
please help! and let me know if you can think of anything else i should know for this trip. thanks!
[Edited on 10-20-2003 by janekeeler]
[Edited on 10-20-2003 by janekeeler]
Igunna Inn
LaTijereta - 10-19-2003 at 06:05 PM
I would check withthe Igunna Inn, or the San Franscian Hotel run by Gail. They both run about $40 a night. They are located within walking distance
around town. Gail's daughter, Linda, can take you out to the islands or San Javier.
Lodging
Capt. George - 10-20-2003 at 04:14 AM
Try E-mailing Barrett at:
barrett@syntheticstream.com
Believe they get $50.00 per night or $250.00 per week...new units. Nice people. Good Luck..Capt. George
Anonymous - 10-20-2003 at 08:44 AM
The beaches at Loreto are not as pretty as some areas. While you're there, you could take a taxi to Juncalito a bit south to spend the day. There is
day-tour company in town who can take you to the Mission - that would be a "don't miss" destination. The scenery en route is Baja at its best. On
this tour you might stop at the fruit ranch and pictographs too. You can ask around at the sea wall where the docks are for a boat to Isla Coronado.
Good snorkeling here and very relaxing. There is great hiking in the cerros after you get on the road to the mission. You can rent a car in town and
drive part way and hike all day. There are a lot of car rental companies in town - all the big ones - Budget, Alamo, etc. Don't tell them you're
driving to the mission though - some don't want you to drive off-road. I drove a VW beetle though and no problems - the condition of the road depends
on when they graded. There still may be whales at Magdalena Bay in April. The same tour company who offers the trip to the Mission also does trips to
Mag Bay for whale watching.
Loreto Questions
Juan - 10-20-2003 at 09:04 AM
Hola JaneKeeler, There are several low budget motels in Loreto. Most, if not all, will offer 25 or 30% discounts on their room rates if you tell
them you will stay a week, 10 days or longer. Don't take the first place you find, look around and let people know you might come back later. If
necessary get a room for the night and start your search for more suitable lodging the following day. Loreto is a wonderful little town and there are
lots of things to see and do in that amount of time. However, don't expect to enjoy the night life, the town goes to bed early.
Best wishes, enjoy yourself, Juan
richard nauman - 10-20-2003 at 04:02 PM
In Loreto I recently stayed at the Palmas Altas hotel for $20/night - nice and clean with a small pool. You can email Pam at the Baja Big Fish Company
(www.bajabigfish.com) to find out about boat trips. She also has a lot of other good Loreto information on her page. The beaches in town aren't the
greatest but are uncrowded. Trips south of town by road (Juncalito Cove is nice) or to the islands by boat are always fun. Rent a car or go with a
guide to San Javier it's worth the trip. Be sure to visit the Mission and Museum in Loreto and don't miss the small museum run by GEA (a local
non-profit group) that focuses on the biology of the National Park. Don't miss El Rey de Taco or the Michocana ice cream place.
RN
[Edited on 10-20-2003 by richard nauman]
[Edited on 10-20-2003 by richard nauman]
Stuff to do in Loreto
flyfishinPam - 10-24-2003 at 08:22 AM
I would say to definately FISH. Cuz that's my business. No seriously, tourism in Loreto got its start with sportfishing, there is history and great
fish to be had here.
Don't miss the museum of the mission and the mission itself.
Also don't miss tacos at El Rey del Taco. My favorite is fish in corn tortilla, I can only eat two they're really huge, and tasty!!
As far as tours to San Javier, I could arrange but I usually tell my clients that renting a car and venturing there on your own is much more rewarding
and cheaper! There is only ONE rental car company in Loreto. Budget. If you reserve your car online, you'll get a much better price!!
Loreto as a destination?? Better love the great outdoors, history, amall town atmosphere, quaintness, frendly people, unique shops, lots of great
restaurants, the ocean and the mountains. Don't come here if night clubs and commercialism is important to you because those are not here.
Trips to Isla Coronado are easily arranged. Its about a 15 minute boat ride to the island. The white sand beach is spectacular and the snorkeling is
so, so. There is a sea lion colony on the northeasternmost point to see which is cool, and you'll often come onto pods of dolphins.
Other side trip?? Snorkeling at point Nopolo, drive up to Bahia Concepcion, drive to the high mountains south of Ligui and take a hike (I often do
that myself). Horse-back riding (also something I can arrange for ya), beach camping on one of the islands.....
Cheap places to stay?? Iguana Inn $40/nt very nice, Motel Junipero $35/night clean and simple but can be noisy, CoCo Cabanas $50/night with
kitchenette, Quinta San Francisco $40/nt clean and on the water, Plaza Loreto $45/nt clean and in town but can also be noisy, Las Trojes $50/nt
recently remodeled and very nice now on beach. My first choice would be Iguana Inn folowed by Las Trojes...
thank you!
janekeeler - 12-16-2003 at 04:28 PM
thank you all for your replies and ideas 
(sorry it took me so long to reply in
return, but i've been terribly busy!) i'm definitely going to start planning a trip to loreto... although due to my schedule i may not be able to go
for a while (sigh...) thanks so much!!