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Loreto, Baja California
Food and Shelter:If your primary mission is to relax and get a tan, about 10 miles south of the town of Loreto is the "Inn at Loreto Bay", a luxury resort on the beach with kayaks, snorkeling, a wonderful pool, golf course and restaurants. www.InnatLoretoBay.comLoreto Bay Real Estate
If you are interested in owning a second home in warm Baja California, check out the Loreto Bay development. They are using cutting edge environmental practices - visitors can tour the Earth Block facility, modern day adobe fabrication used for all homes, also their nursery where they are experimenting with saline tolerant grasses and bringing back native vegetation and even the mangroves. Very interesting.
Where to stay in the town of LoretoThere are many cute little places to stay right in Loreto, no luxurious beach front resorts (yet), but many small "casitas", B&Bs and inns. The Posada de las Flores is the swankiest lodging in town, with a great location right on the square and a roof top swimming pool!www.PosadadelasFlores.com (nice website, but be aware it is showing 3 different properties, you need to click on Loreto to get to the Posada) Note:* Some rooms can be noisy, depending on whether Mike's Bar down the street has live music or not. If you turn on the AC it will drown out any noise, or use ear plugs. Loreto is a quiet, peaceful little town, with apparently no enforceable noise ordinances, unfortunately, Mike's Bar (they must cater to an extremely hard of hearing clientele) feels the need to play amplified music until 2 or 3 in the am. (There's your nightlife tip - there isn't much else for night owls!) Another nice, larger place to stay is the Oasis - at the south end of town, just off the beach, with a nice swimming pool and a parking lot. Smaller places are the Iguana Inn, and right next door, the best cheapy in town, the San Martin. I heard that the Pinta was nice, a bit of a walk to the center of town, but on the beach.
FOOD & Drink! My favorite...
You are in luck - I spent about 2 weeks in Loreto, so I know all the good spots! I'll start with breakfast, my favorite meal, especially in Mexcio - try "Chilequiles". Cafe Ole is fast, simple, central and good. We only found a few places with real espresso - the Santa Lucia Bakery down at the south end of the malacon - a nice place to watch the sunrise after an early morning walk, or way up towards the hiway, near the Pemex gas station, Star Cafe. There are many new restaurants opening in Loreto, menus tend to be similar - either Mexican fare or seafood, usually both. We never had a bad meal. The "taquerias" (taco stands) along Hidalgo are all good - Tacos Cesar was a favorite of ours, partly because it has a comfortable place to sit and the family is nice. If you want more authentic, local tacos, go to Tacos el Rey over on Benito Juarez. *Note, for some reason I could never determine, unlike the rest of Mexico, in Baja they serve fish tacos with flour tortillas; you need to ask for corn if that is what you prefer. Good spots for dinner are La Palapa, La Terraza, Mita Gourmet, Mexico que Lindo y que Rico, and for cheap - Super Burro (reading the English translations on the menu is a hoot!) For great mole' (a sauce made from cacao), Canipole - all dishes are made to order by Sophia, so service can be a bit slow - get there well before you are starving! For something different, a favorite of the expats is Pancha Mama - owned by a friendly Argentine family - they serve pizzas & terrific beef - my husband said it was one of the best steaks he ever had!
And, saving the best for last, my favorite, for food, atmosphere, cute chef, nice staff, good margaritas ... Loreto Islas, at the end of Salvatierra on the malacon. The only "hip" bar we found was connected to the Posada de las Flores, facing the square. It's owned separately by a nice Italian guy, Alberto and his Mexican wife Patrizia - nice decor and live music out in front some evenings. Watch for a duo called Dos Generaciones - father and son, awesome guitarists! For 2 for 1 happy hour (4-6pm) and a good dose of local color, head to Macaws - the expat crowd will regale you with fish tales (of all kinds) . Food is also good. If Macaws is not your bag, head next door to watch the sunset from their roof - also with 2fers, can't remember the name of the place.
See Get Your Bearings |
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Ready to explore the Sea of Cortez in kayaks!
The Crew! Mark, our guide Trudi, Julie, Elizabeth & Patrick.
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