This town was slated to become a major resort in the 1970s, and if developers have their say, that will soon become a reality. Working with an Arizona conglomerate, the Mexican government is planning to construct a series of seaside villages on 8,000 acres/3,240 hectares in Loreto, including an estimated 6,000 homes and a couple of golf courses. But for the time being, Loreto remains a pleasant, small town, popular with anglers (for dorado, tuna, marlin and other game fish) and divers. Tennis fans will appreciate the Loreto Tennis Center, and golfers can tee off at the Loreto Golf Course beside the Sea of Cortez. The beaches in Loreto generally range from salt-and-pepper to gray in color. While you are in town, visit the marina, the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto and its adjacent Museum of California Missions.
Possible side trips include visits to San Javier, the best-preserved mission in Baja California (hidden in the Sierra de la Giganta to the southwest) and Islas Coronado, an island 5 mi/8 km from shore, where sea lions bask in the sun. 220 mi/360 km north of La Paz.
