Shopping in the Loreto Area
Along the main Paseo in Loreto Bay you will enjoy finding quality clothing, boot, home décor and art and gift shops that may remind you of a trendy section of Los Angeles or Phoenix. For a true Mexican shopping experience be sure to go into Loreto itself. A good destination is the historical district around the main town square near the tall mission spire.
Take the Loreto exit off Hwy 1 and you will be driving east on Salvatierra St toward the beach and the malecon road. Keep your eye out for Loreto’s sole traffic light which is mounted unusually high above the street. Park somewhere near the second stop sign past the light, which will be Madero St, and you will be closest to the square. At the square you will find several of the restaurants mentioned below and see some unique Ficus tree arches over a pedestrian promenade that will lead you to the Loreto Mission and museum.
This lane will be lined with several interesting shops including the Silver Desert that has a great collection of Mexican jewelry, an Art Gallery with a souvenir shop with artistic t-shirts and The Blanket Factory where jovial Francisco has displays of local pottery and handmade blankets. Keep your eyes open for a corner gift shop (the name escapes me) that has a good collection of Latin American team logo soccer shirts that your kids will love.
One notable gift shop is on the main drag and within site of the stoplight and called Gecko’s Gifts. The owner is a gringo and dispenses valuable advice for tourists and she has cool stuff. The largest and most interesting shop is Conchita’s and is worth the effort to locate even though it is just two or three blocks away from the square. She has original art, glassware, jewelry, and most of all, great Mexican handcrafted furniture items.
Feel free to find other shops by wandering the streets of Loreto, serendipity shopping, as there is no fear of accidentally walking into a dangerous neighborhood.
