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The Road Less Traveled: Discover Loreto, Mexico

April 13, 2015 By Lena

Earlier this year, I was offered a wonderful, unique opportunity to spend a week in luxury at The Islands of Loreto, Mexico. Located on the eastern side of the Baja Peninsula, the region boasts 155 miles of pristine coastline, 465 square miles of sea and the “Sierra de La Giganta” mountain range. Translation: Paradise on Earth.
16523314548_661468dfe5_z (2)Alas, an entire week away from my school-aged children is rarely in the cards, and this media trip was no exception. However, I couldn’t let this opportunity go to waste, so I enlisted my friend Elaine Atkins to take the trip and report back, and gratefully accepted photos from the talented Sheri McDonald, who I’m seriously considering hiring as photographer for all my upcoming vacations. Breathtaking! 

When most people think of Mexico, they either think Cancun or Cabo, and often associate Mexico with partying and crowds in their early 20’s.

While that may be appealing in our younger days, I think it’s safe to say that once you’ve reached full blown adulthood you want your vacation to be about the experience and the memories that will stay with you forever – not so much about the ones you’d rather forget!

When planning your next vacation, you’ll want to put Loreto, Mexico on your list. Water, mountains and beautiful scenery surround you wherever you go, and while tourism is growing in the area, it is very much a place looking to preserve its small town culture and the natural beauty of Loreto Bay.
16520335440_729fbf8671_zHow to Get There: Direct flights are available through the Calgary International Airport via WestJet. A connecting flight from Toronto or Vancouver to Calgary is easy enough to find, and if you’re looking to leave through the US, there are flights leaving directly out of LAX. 

What to Expect: If you’ve travelled to Cancun before, you’ll be used to seeing lush greenery and ocean; the scenery in Loreto is just as breathtaking, but mountains are an integral part of the landscape. Loreto is also a much more laid back place than other places in Mexico, and the residents describe the area as having a “sleepy town” feel to it. There is no hustle and bustle in the city – in fact, the streets will be very quiet once dinner time hits with perhaps a few young couples walking around on the weekends. Cars are present but traffic is a non-issue; there is only one set of traffic lights in the entire town!
16525010249_8226965399_z16523596999_37e69fdcc3_z (2)What to Do: Although the city is quiet, there is plenty to do with your time. Take a boat tour of the Coronado Island, where, at the right time of year, you’ll be treated to close encounters with blue whales, and may be lucky enough to see sea lions lounging on the island rocks. You’ll never want to leave the islands after having a picnic lunch on one of the many secluded beaches.
16681580736_1bd11506d2_z16518915498_f1ff550edd_z16523598768_dcd14256e8_zA walk through the city of Loreto is also an absolute must. A far cry from the hustle and bustle of a typical city, you’ll feel the old world charm of the city with buildings dating back to the late 1600’s. Local restaurants serve fresh seafood, meats, and vegetables, all from local farmers and fishermen. While you’re touring the city, the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto is a must see. The tower has been restored due to a fire that occurred in the past, but most of the rest of the building – including doors, windows and bricks – are still original.

If you’d rather not do full day activities, you can try your hand at kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling or even hiking through the beautiful mountains. Of course, the most obvious daytime activity is to lounge on the serene beach or pool chair with a cold drink in hand!
16685014246_1019f1ae11_zIn the early evening, the Danzante Tours Wine and Cheese Sunset Cruise is a wonderful way to end the day. Cuddle up with your loved ones and enjoy cruising along the peaceful waters while watching the sun set behind the mountains.
16091160733_c97e78d536_z (2)If you’re planning to book your next vacation and are looking for a place that offers adventure, culture and relaxation, The Islands of Loreto are the perfect destination. Lucky for us Canadians, WestJet will be offering direct flights weekly out of Calgary through to May 31st, making it very convenient to experience a slice of paradise.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Islands of Loreto, Mexico, Villa Del Palmar Loreto

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Guppy

    April 13, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    How gorgeous! And I love how it seems like the laid back, less commercial Mexico of decades ago. I can just picture Elvis giving us a show by the pool. :D

  2. jan

    April 13, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Now you have just put another place on my list to get to! Love the quieter Mexican location like this one sounds to (still) be.

  3. Lynda Cook

    April 13, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    Looks like an awesome place to travel to, my kind of place peaceful, quiet and beautiful

  4. Judy Cowan

    April 13, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    Looks really nice! Would love to visit Mexico one day.

  5. BobbiJo Pentney

    April 13, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    Mexico is so beautiful, looks like a fantastic vacation.

  6. Soozle

    April 14, 2015 at 8:21 am

    Wow! How gorgeous! Loreto looks like a really wonderful and relaxing vacation destination! I have fallen in love with Mexico – and realize there are so many different places there I need to add to my bucket list :)

  7. nicolthepickle

    April 14, 2015 at 10:02 am

    This looks wonderful, and that pool is stunning.

  8. Tara Elias

    April 14, 2015 at 11:26 am

    gorgeous! now to find a sitter for 3 kids!! :)

  9. Athena

    April 14, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    I would love to visit there!

  10. Yuen C

    April 14, 2015 at 11:46 pm

    Wish I can go there someday!

  11. Treen Goodwin

    April 15, 2015 at 11:18 am

    wow looks like an amazing place , love all the great pics , thanks for sharing :)

  12. angie in my 30s

    April 15, 2015 at 11:22 am

    your pictures are beautiful!!! and yet i have no doubt they dont even do it justice. looks amazing

  13. Susan T.

    April 15, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    This is gorgeous! Sometimes it is nice to get away from the big tourist centers and find a gem like this!

  14. Margaret Imecs

    April 19, 2015 at 11:20 am

    Wow! This place is amazing! Thanks for sharing!

  15. loucheryl

    April 21, 2015 at 2:52 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous! I would love to visit Loreto with my husband for a much needed vacation.

  16. Stephanie LaPlante

    April 22, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Absolutely beautiful! Looks like a little piece of paradise!

  17. Andrea Christine

    April 22, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    I just got back from a lovely vacation in Punta Cana but I’m already planning my next trip. Can we say Loreto is on the list now? I think I’ve caught a bit of wanderlust!

  18. Melinda L.

    May 1, 2015 at 11:16 am

    So much beauty and culture. Looks amazing!

  19. janice Cournoyer

    May 9, 2015 at 9:46 am

    We are looking for a new place for next winter. this looks amazing!!

  20. Doris Calvert

    May 17, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    Wow, how gorgeous, I could just relax and let the world fall off my shoulders!

  21. Victoria Ess

    June 10, 2015 at 9:03 am

    Beautiful! I would love to stay here!

  22. Cheryl P

    June 12, 2015 at 11:28 am

    Would love to go to Mexico, but truthfully I am a bit nervous to do so. The stories you hear about things happening there and such scare me. How was your experience?

  23. kathy downey

    June 24, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    Would love to visit Mexico one day,it sure looks beautiful

  24. Debbie White Beattie

    May 4, 2017 at 11:27 pm

    This looks like a fabulous place for a vacation. I especially like the whale watching

  25. kathy downey

    September 15, 2017 at 9:14 am

    My daughter is always after us to go with them when they travel to Mexico,they love it !

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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