Just a few Mays ago, my mom spent her 40th birthday (on cinco de Mayo) traveling around the southern part of the Baja Peninsula with my dad. She says that they had a super fun time, while I distinctly remember being left at my Grandma's house for the week, feeling left out and watching cartoons. Although I think it is the only trip that they took without me since I was born, so I can't really complain! One place that my parents didn't see during that trip was the town of Loreto, located north of La Paz on the east side of the peninsula. After a five hour bus ride through some impressive forests of cactus and the Sierra La Giganta mountain range, we arrived in this small, dusty town lit by blazing sun. Upon arriving at the Iguanna Inn, the host/owner Julie told us that the best thing to do was "just get out and walk arond town." So that is exactly what we did, and we were impressed by the malecon and old plaza. Loreto was the original capitol of Baja California and also the site of the first Camino Real mission in 1697. We could tell form the beginning that we were really going to dig this quaint town, but unfortunately the beaches near the malecon were filled with tree debris and the water was a little murky. I usually don't turn down a chance to swim in the ocean, but this afternoon I did because the beach had been kind of trashed by a bad storm that had rolled through town last October, setting back the tourist and vacation homes industries. But a semi-deserted place was okay with us! Once again, where we expected to find hoards of spring breakers, all we got was helpful service and lots of peaceful time together!
Pedestrian walkway with the church in the background
Main plaza in old town Loreto
Loreto's church was built in the 1600s
As usual, boys FAIL! It literally looked like a hurricane took off the roof of this building--yikes!
Mom and I soon learned that there was plenty to see around Loreto despite the storm damage, and most of it centers around sports fishing, scuba diving and touring the nearby islands. My mom was skeptical about committing to a day trip at first, but we were so glad when Julie contacted her friend Francisco, who owns a panga boat and was willing to take us out on Palm Sunday. We spent most of the day on his boat, and saw blue whales, a sea lion colony, blue footed boobie birds and a huge pod of dolphins!! Francisco was very experienced and knew Isla Coronado well. We were able to ride on his boat all the way around the island and then stop for snorkeling and lunch at a pristine white sand beach. He even told us about another cove across the island, and we ended up being the only ones who hiked there. For my mom, the best part of the whole day trip was that the boat ride wasn't as bumpy as the trip to Yelapa! I think she also enjoyed seeing wildlife so close to the boat and having our own tour guide though! I finished off the afternoon with a bike ride around Loreto's dirt roads-- March 24th was my first time on a bike since leaving the states--I've missed biking so much!
Rocky volcanic formations on Isla Coronado
Bunches of sea lions catching some rays
My reflection in the water over the pod of dolphins
Oh hello there!
The perfect beach on Isla Coronado!
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