I’ve never been one for the desert. Creepy animals that sting; absurd heat; a serious lack of greenery; sharp, pointy plants. When you think of it that way, what IS there to love?
But Loreto got under my skin. I’ve thought a lot about that sleepy town since I returned and there is a slow-but-steady pull that I continue to swish around in my brain. Maybe it’s the survivalist nature of the environment and its people? Or maybe it’s the beyond-remote location in the middle of Baja. Regardless, I loved it.
More stories to come–of course!–but first, I wanted to share nine reasons I know I’ll return to Loreto.
1. Desert Sunsets
Since Loreto is located on the eastern coast of Baja, I assumed the sunrises would be the main event. Surprisingly, the sunsets took my breath away instead! We attended a BBQ on the beach during our first evening, and the sunset was absurdly surreal. Vibrant colors painted the sky and reflected back from the glossy ocean waves. I couldn’t imagine a better welcoming to Loreto.
2. Villa del Palmar: Islands at Loreto
Just like deserts, I tend to avoid resorts. So frequently, they are void of personality or charm and you feel like you’re sitting by a pool in Las Vegas rather than a foreign country. But Villa del Palmar was different.
Yes, it’s a resort– and a beautiful one at that. But the grounds are full of character! Housekeeping entertained me by folding my towel in different animal shapes every day, and the staff was incredibly friendly. More importantly, I appreciate how well Villa del Palmar treats their employees. We toured “the underground” of the hotel where all of the training and employee areas exist. Not only does Villa del Palmar pay their employees more than other hotels in town, but they also provide meals and transportation to get everyone to-and-from work. Final clincher: they offer a continuing education program for employees who wish to get their high school diploma!
3. Charming Downtown
Villa del Palmar is located 15-ish minutes from Loreto proper, so our gaggle of women hopped in a shuttle bus one day and took in the sights in Loreto. Y’all, this town is adorable!
The catch phrase in Loreto is this: “We’re like Cabo was 25 years ago.” And you know, I could see that. A beautiful strip of little stores and restaurants lines the road aside the ocean, and a historic plaza sits at the city center. Loreto was the first Spanish settlement in Baja and served as the capital of Las Californias until 1777. As such, the downtown area is dotted with beautiful historical buildings. My favorite was The Mission of Our Lady of Loreto. It sits on a cobblestone street, marking the beginning of El Camino Real {a historic trek that ends in Sonoma, California.} Such a neat old building!
4. Remote Location
Let’s face it: it’s not easy to get to Loreto! Alaska Airlines offers direct flights from LAX, but of course, you have to get to LAX first! It’s a small propeller plane that sits four across, offering minimal overhead space. But you know what all of that means? You have some serious peace and quiet!
Loreto isn’t a place to go if you’re looking for the loudest night club or the next bar hopping-hot spot. Villa del Palmar gets quiet around 10pm and small groups of people sit in clumps around the grounds, enjoying drinks while swinging in the hammocks. I wandered down to the ocean one evening and had the chilly sand all to myself.
It was perfection!
5. Survivalist Mentality
On our last morning there, I woke up early to go on an easy solo hike on the hillside behind the resort. The air was crisp and the sun had yet to scorch the earth for the day. I was soaking up all the sights and examining the various cacti and yucca plants when I realized I was seeing a fair bit of wildlife too. Nothing crazy; some rabbits, a snake and some big ol’ spiders. Those combined with the razor-edged plants led to a realization: you have to be tough to survive in the heart of Baja. The sun is searing hot and the city averages six inches of rain per year. It’s not for the faint of heart, but I admire that. The people, the plants and the animals are fighters, and I respect that grit in any living thing.
7. Tequila
I mean, need I say more?!
We spent an hour at a tequila tasting hosted by Villa del Palmar. Now, I’m a big fan of margaritas but tequila straight up? Not so much! That said, it was fascinating and I learned a lot about tequila tasting and quality. I could go on and on with the details, but let me leave it at this: Don’t buy Jose Cuervo!
8. Adventure Sports
You know I couldn’t leave this category out, right?! Not-so-shockingly, Loreto is a quickly becoming a hot spot for adventure sports. I tried out deep sea fishing and sea kayaking and hiking, and all of them were fantastic. Again, because of Loreto’s remote location, crowds don’t really exist, making the outdoor exploration all the more fun. Plus, the water is so clear and blue; why would you NOT want to snorkel in it?!
9. The Sea of Cortez
Jacques Cousteau referred to The Sea of Cortez as the “world’s aquarium” and I saw why!
Photo Credit: Alexa Meisler from 52 Perfect Days
The aqua water is teeming with wildlife ranging from colorful fish to sharks and other big critters. {More on my deep sea fishing adventure in a future post!} The Bay of Loreto National Marine Park was created back in 1996, and was then added to the list of protected World Heritage Sites in 2005. Large commercial fishing boats aren’t allowed in this area, serving two purposes: protecting the aquatic life and ensuring there is plenty of product for local fishermen to earn a living. We spent a day at sea and in those eight hours we saw dozens of fish, a dozen more sharks and quite a few schools of dolphins!
10. Secret Paradise
When locals refer to Loreto as the Cabo of years past, I am emotionally torn. In reality, I think they are right. Once Loreto lands “on the map” for mainstream tourism, it’s going to blow up just like Cabo did. And that makes me happy for the locals there who survive on the tourism industry. That said, I really enjoyed the sleepy paradise that is quiet Loreto. My word of advice? Get there before everyone else does!
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Villa del Palmar at Loreto paid for my trip to Mexico, but all adventure stories are my own! Bonus: they’re offering my readers a huge discount on reservations in their Deluxe Studio Suites. Rather than the usual price of $184 per night, y’all can get the suites for $119! If interested, book through this website using the code FAMJUL15. The code is good for stays booked before December 11, 2015 and travel before December 17, 2015. {And no, it’s not an affiliate link; it just hooks you up if you want to go on vacation!}