Loreto Bay gives you many recreational and options. Of course, there is the Sea of Cortez, which Jacque Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium” and for good reason. The variety of sea life seems endless and so accessible. As a guest of Casa Jane’ you will have free access to the amenities of the Loreto Bay Resort. From the manicured beach at the resort you can snorkel next to a huge rock jutting out into the sea that provides quite an underwater cliff home for colorful tropical fish and small octopus. As a snorkeling alternative you might take a glass bottom boat, https://wantosea.rezdy.com, which can pick you up at our beach for a view from the top. Water clarity maxes out at times at over 100 feet.
Loreto and Loreto Bay Activities
Diving and whale watching excursions are available in town. Whale watching trips are very popular since the sea is home to every species of whale including the mammoth blue whale. In the winter you can easily drive across the Baja peninsula in just over an hour to the bay at Puerto Lopez-Mateo where mama whales nurse their babies until they are mature enough to migrate to Alaska. Some are so friendly that they will approach your boat for you to pet!
The adjacent sea around Loreto has been designated as a marine park, closed to commercial, but not sport fishing. A four-hour guided fishing trip in a Loreto panga with lunch included will cost approximately $100 to $150 USD. There are seasonal catches of Yellow tail, Dorado, Red Snapper, bill fish, and various rock fish. Know that Alaska Air allows you to take a sealed cooler of frozen fish home as luggage.
The Dolphin Dive Center in Loreto gets a 5-star rating for their snorkeling and diving excursions and their friendly staff, http://dolphindivebaja. Captain Juve (Hoo-vay) with Tours Loreto, http://toursloreto.com, has a nice cabin cruiser. He has a great knowledge of the botanicals and fauna of the islands and can take you out to white sand island beaches, to take hikes there, to whale and dolphin watch and/or to snorkel and dive near the sea lion rookery.
Since the Sea of Cortez is often as calm as Puget Sound with typically glassy morning conditions, it is perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking. Later, the afternoon breezes are a boon to sail boating and sailboarding. Rentals are super reasonable on the beach at the nearby Loreto Bay Resort. Noisy wave runners are rare because frankly, the consensus is that they are not encouraged here.
The desert is home to a variety of unusual cactus, flora and fauna. There are trails to Tabor Canyon and at Premier Agua in the nearby mountains for those who like the rugged outdoor scene. You can also book guided excursions to trek in and see cave paintings by the ancient Primativos. Baja is known for off-roading in the desert with world famous Baja 500 and 1000 competitions that pass by a few miles from here. For a safer thrill, you may rent an ATV nearby and ride their rugged, challenging trails.
Not so adventurous? You can rent a golf cart at the golf course and putt around within the Loreto Bay community for scenic rides or just trips to the store.Speaking of golf, we have a beautiful 18-hole world-class golf course with several water features including two signature holes having you drive from a hilltop to a seaside hole, and then next over an inlet canal! Green fees are at this writing are a reasonable $70 to $100 for cart and 18 holes, http://loretogolf.net/.
Swimming options abound. The sandy beach in front of the resort hotel as well as their swimming pools are open to renters, like you. The calm, clear sea is relatively shallow and usually warm. However, in the winter thin neoprene jackets are often seen on snorkelers who stay in the waters for long periods swimming around the big rock. Enjoy the buoyancy and the brightly colored fish. Aqua sox are recommended as there is sharp coral on the rocks.
The resort hotel has two large pools, one with a fun swim-up bar and adjoining restaurant. The community has three other pools; the sweet Agua Viva pool in very close vicinity, the new lap pool for serious swimmers and finally the popular and gorgeous Founders pool. Bring your sunscreen! The concierge at the Loreto Bay Resort is very gracious and helpful with a catalog of activities and excursions for you: ATV rentals, horseback rides, boat rides, excursions to see ancient cave paintings or the old mountain mission in San Javier, etc. You can find out about golf and tennis reservations by contacting her at the hotel or online.