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.
Sayid 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.
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.”
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!
You need to get down to the West Coast, the water is gorgeous.
Looks wonderful! I could use that beach right now!
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.
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!
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!
meets the sierra?
STUNNING! Those sea lions must have been a sight too… x
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!
You should really come down, the weather is perfect.