Indulging yourself on vacation at the Islands of Loreto, you’ll find that there are hundreds of things to do in Loreto and the surrounding region. The area is the perfect destination for nature lovers and active individuals who want to experience the beauty of natural Mexico in all its glory.
If the sea and marine wildlife are what inspires you, then Loreto has a bounty of activities for you to indulge in! The sea and islets around Loreto are teeming with a variety of fish including tuna, billfish, dorado and other fish to attract sports fishermen. You can book sport fishing trips through a number of licensed tour companies. Between the end of November and mid March you can enjoy whale watching tours that leave from Loreto – the perfect chance to see these marvelous creatures in their natural surroundings.
Of course, if you’d rather get your blood circulating and your body in motion, you can go snorkeling and diving in Loreto’s crystalline waters full of any number of fascinating marine life. Kayaking is also one of the most popular things to do in Loreto, especially around the Islands, and you may be lucky to find a glass bottom kayaks too. The principal sites for diving and kayaking are in the Parque Marino Nacional Bahía de Loreto, which is a nationally and protected marine wildlife reserve. Visiting the park is one of the best things to do in Loreto if you love being close to nature. Likewise, the beaches in and around Loreto are also worth a day trip. The Sea of Cortez offers stunning beaches all around Conception Bay to the north.
If history and culture more your style then you could visit one of the 18 Jesuit missions that are scattered around the area. The Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto is particularly noteworthy and convenient if you are staying at the Islands of Loreto. The Mission was constructed at the end of the 16th century and gives Loreto its particularly colonial atmosphere. There is also an interesting Jesuit museum that you can explore at your leisure too which opens Tuesday to Sunday. For a little further back in history, why not explore see the cave paintings near Loreto which are dated almost as far back as 500 AD. Under UNESCO protection, they are claim to be more detailed and prolific than any seen in Europe.
For a relaxing day out with a difference, though, one recommendation for things to do in Loreto is to take a turn of the Farmers Market which is actually more like a souvenir market with some organic local produce. It is now located in just north of Loreto in Mimar.