2008-11-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

This site provides information to our family and friends about our spiritual home in Loreto Bay - Baja Mexico. We hope to encourage you to visit Loreto and discover a unique vacation spot where you will enjoy traditional Mexican culture in a landscape that is so visually stunning - you won't want to leave. If you're looking for night life, crowds, traffic and sea-dos, this is not the place for you. If you're looking for quiet secluded beaches surrounded by majestic mountains and sleepy Mexican fishing villages - this is your place!

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Note: Click on any picture for a larger image !

About Loreto Bay and the Baja

Loreto Bay is located 750 miles south of San Diego on the Mexican Baja peninsula (map) between the majestic Sierra de la Giganta mountains and the secluded shores of the Sea of Cortés. The clear blue waters and surrounding islands around Loreto Bay have been designated a World Heritage Site and National Marine Park due to the diversity of sea life (880 species of fish) and calving grounds for the Grey Whales. The area is also rich in history. The nearby historic town of Loreto was established in 1697 as Baja California's first settlement and is home to one of North Americas oldest Spanish missions.

Loreto is also known for its record number of sunny days and pleasant temperatures. In the winter (December-February) the average daily air temperature is 75 degrees. Between March-June and September-November, the average temperature is 85 degrees. The sea temperature ranges from a whopping 85 degrees during the summer to the low 70s during the winter.

For more information about Loreto and the Baja area visit http://www.loreto.com/ as well as the links provided in the sidebar.

About Our Villa

Our villa is located in the Villages of Loreto Bay as shown in the picture to the left. Loreto Bay is a seaside community of courtyard homes located approximately 10 minutes from the airport and the Town of Loreto. It is a fully furnished 1500 sq. ft adobe home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, full kitchen, living room, dining room, outdoor garden courtyard and second floor patio. (see attached slide show). Appliances in the home include fridge, stove, washer, dryer, water cooler, king bed and two double beds, roll-out couch, three flat screen TVs, DVD player, telephone, wireless internet, in-house safe, barbecue and of course air conditioning. It is fully stocked with kitchen wares, linens, towels etc. Also at your disposal are sea kayaks, bikes, tennis rackets, boogie boards and snorkelling equipment.

Casa 166 Loreto Bay in the foreground

Our villa is conveniently located; 1 minute walk from the beach; 2 minute walk from the golf clubhouse and in the same court yard as the proposed Beach Club, shops, grocery store, restaurants and entertainment. We are also located next door to the medical centre and pharmacy. Click here for a map showing the location of our Villa (#166) in the Villages of Loreto Bay.

Click on the above map to see where our villa is located in relationship to the Town and Airport.

Top 10 Things To Do

Whether you want to sit on the beach and drink a margarita or go deep sea fishing, you will always have many choices for activities. My top 10 things to do are:

Whale watching at Magdalena Bay (January - March). An absolute must see !

Deep sea fishing for Dorado, sail fish, and other species in what Jacques Cousteau coined the "Worlds Aquarium"

Snorkeling and swimming at the secluded white sand beaches of Coronado Island. Rent a "Panga" boat and have a fish fry on the beach.

Sunset and wildlife cruise around the secluded islands on the "El Don"

Exploring the historic Town of Loreto and its mission. A must see is the Saturday market.

Exploring San Janvier Mission and the high dessert, cave paintings and fresh water oasis on-route.

Sea kayaking the shores of Loreto Bay. Sea kayaks are available at the beach.

Golfing at the David Duvall designed golf course. A must for avid golfers!

Hiking and biking the 5,000 acres of land set aside as a natural preserve, with trails for hiking and cycling.

Dining: Loreto has some of the best Mexican and seafood restaurants in the Baja.

If you are planning an extended trip, you can drive or bus to La Paz and the resort communty of Cabo San Lucas (within 3 and 6 hrs drive of Loreto respectively) . You can also take the ferry from La Paz to the mainland where you can access many other Mexican travel destinations including the famous Copper Canyon, Mazatlan, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

Services and Amenties
Our villa is part of a resort complex where the services and amenities are comparable to many high end resorts. This includes housekeeping, room service, concierge (to book trips), and car rental to name a few. What you can't find at the Loreto Bay resort you will find in the Town of Loreto -10 minutes by car. There are several groceries stores in Town as well as the Saturday market where fresh seafood, meat and produce can be purchased.

Getting There
The best way to get to Loreto is to fly to Los Angeles then direct (on Alaska Airlines) to Loreto International Airport. You can rent a car at the airport or take a 10 minute cab ride to the Villages of Loreto Bay where our villa is. In addition, there are flights to Loreto from Phoenix via Hermosillo and Cabo San Lucas. By Land you can get there along the Scenic Trans peninsular Highway which runs from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas. The 750-mile drive from the U.S. border to Loreto takes approximately 15 hours.

What You Should Bring
Everything you need should fit into a carry-on bag. Dress is very casual, swimwear, shorts sandals etc. You should bring a light jacket and a long pair of pants for the mid-winter season as it can cool down at night.

Travel Documents Required in Mexico
In order to enter Mexico you will need photo ID (such as a driver’s license, birth certificate or a passport), a tourist card and a valid proof of citizenship. The tourist card is usually given to you on the plane or at Mexican Immigration upon arrival. If you plan to enter Mexico through the United States you must have a passport.

Other Travel Tips

The currency in Mexico is pesos or US dollars. Either will do.

Make sure you consult your Doctor regarding the necessary shots you need.

Make sure you have appropriate medical and travel insurance.

In Loreto you can drink the water however we do have a fresh water cooler.

Availability and Use
Please check the Availability Calender in the side link for times when our Villa is available for use. If you email us, we will arrange for you to use our unit through the Loreto Bay Rental program. For more information email us at: potolick@green-plan.com

Loreto Bay Casa 166 - Baja Mexico