Loreto, Mexico
What has impressed me most about Loreto Baja California is the vastness of the land. Villa del Palmar is out in the middle of nowhere, you can be at a resort and yet have nothing around you.
Wild Loreto took the group out on a snorkeling tour where I saw more of the nothingness. Just uninhibited, pristine land and very few boats. The snorkeling wasn’t great with a few fish and limited visibility but it was nice to spend the afternoon in the ocean.
I was most taken with the area when we went out to Cornado, an island popular with locals, trying to balance tourism with its state park status.
This time it was only Rease and I and we were able to dictate the day. Said our guide wanted to show the landscape before jumping in the water, promising it wouldn’t be too much of a hike – as Rease shares my disdain for hiking.
Despite being in adequately dressed with flimsy flip flops we were treated to a view that perfectly explains the area.
Where the desert meets the ocean.
Snapping the obligatory photos we moved onto snorkeling as this water was so blue and clear. This was only Rease’s second time snorkeling (she’s from landlocked St.Louis) and Said was like an encyclopedia for fish.
But the best was yet to come as we moved around the island to meet up with sea lions.
These gigantic animals were just hanging out in the rocks and playing in the water. People in the area see them all the time but I haven’t seen anything like this since the beluga whales in Churchill. I’m starting to feel the same way about Loreto as I did about Churchill, there is a sense of raw nature here that is really incredible.
Maybe I am a nature person because it doesn’t really get any better than this.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Villa del Palmar and Wild Loreto Tours, they did not request that I write a positive review or squeal like a 12-year old girl when I saw the sea lions.
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I'm Ayngelina and in my mid-thirties. I left an amazing job, boyfriend, apartment and friends to find inspiration in Latin America. I'm creating a new life choosing what I want instead of what other people think I should do.
Totally worth the awkward flip flop hike. I saw a photo of the sea lions from the St. Louis zoo the other day and I just thought “thats sad. That sea lion is half the size of the ones near Isla Coronado.”
Rease recently posted..Hotel Activities Worth Hanging Around For
Zoos always make me sad, I don’t care how big the tank is, it’s not as big as the ocean.
Oh my that water!!!!! I want to go swimming in that now!
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures recently posted..Hong Kong: Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Part 2)
You need to get down to the West Coast, the water is gorgeous.
Looks wonderful! I could use that beach right now!
Jarmo @ Arctic Nomad recently posted..Pamplona – a City Getting Ready to Party
So incredible that you can have such diversity in one place with mountains, desert and fantastic beaches.
I love baja! Clearly I need to see more of it. This part looks beautiful and untouched as compared to Cabo.
Ava Apollo recently posted..How to Spend a Day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
I don’t have plans to go down to Cabo but I have heard it’s quite developed whereas Loreto isn’t at all, it’s really beautiful.
I love sealions! I saw them in Islas Ballistas in Peru and stared in wonder at them! Beautiful place this Western Mexico is!
Ooh I didn’t go there, where is it?
It looks amazing. Sadly I will be leaving Mexico before I get to see that side of it. BUT, it does give me a great excuse to return!
Jonathan Look, Jr. recently posted..Nine Things I Ask Myself Before I Buy More Stuff
I didn’t see it my first time either, perhaps that’s part of the reason I assumed the West Coast would look like the South East. I’m rather stupid that way at times.
Baja is beautiful but you described it perfectly. . . where the desert meets the ocean!
Debbie @ European Travelista recently posted..Europe’s Natural Monuments
meets the sierra?
STUNNING! Those sea lions must have been a sight too… x
Frankie recently posted..Loving you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful…
Nothing compares except maybe seeing the beluga whales in Churchill, Manitoba.
Looks gorgeous! And I never thought of Mexico as a place that had sea lions!
Ali recently posted..The Time I Thought Our Plane Might Crash
I had no idea but I guess it’s a perfect place for them, so warm and all.
I would love to go swimming there and escape the cold weather here.
Christine recently posted..Things To Do Around Lake Achensee in Austria
There’s always room for one more!
I’ve been to Cabo for the typical college spring break week and spent family time in Mazatlan, but I didn’t know anything about Loreto until your posts. It actually is reminding me of Aruba’s desert-like north coast.
Emily in Chile recently posted..Casa Felix: clandestine dining in Buenos Aires
I had never heard of it either, but I don’t think most people have, which is why it’s not crawling with tourists – which is perfect for me.
Reminds me of a drive from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos where the desert meets the ocean. Love that. Loreto looks beautiful.
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..Featured Museum: The Forgotten Fire
I’m heading to Todos Santos next but not as far as Cabo – unfortunately I’ll run out of time.
Gorgeous picture of the sea lions, but I generally equate sea lions with really cold water. Was it bad, or do I just have my facts all mixed up…again.
Steve recently posted..The Suspense of the SunPass
Oh no not at all, I went snorkeling in the water and it wasn’t bad at all. In fact I made fun of Said for wanting to put a rash guard on.
That said, I am Canadian…
I hope you get back loreto and i could show you more about the magic of loreto.
It is such a beautiful place, I’d love to come back.
The water looks amazing. I feel like jumping in at this moment!!
Ruth (Tanama Tales) recently posted..Most Insane Moments I Have Experienced in my Travels (Part 3)
You should really come down, the weather is perfect.