Located 84 miles south of Mulegé and 217 miles north
of La Paz is the historic town of Loreto (loh-REH-toh) or "Conchó" in the
indigenous language which means "red mangrove". Not only is it the oldest town
in Baja California, founded in 1697 by the Jesuits, but its surrounding scenery
is incomparable; the magnificent Sierra de la Giganta mountain range, the
awesome desert and the azure Sea of Cortez.
Facing Loreto (pop. 10,000) are the wonderful
islands such as the Coronados with its turquoise waters and sea lion colonies;
Isla Carmen with its beautiful beaches and coves; the Danzantes with its rocky
edges and small coves, a paradise for scuba diving; and Catalina, a favorite of
the ecologist with its unique flora and fauna.
