Mexico's hidden beach town

Mexico's tranquil coastal town of Loreto is situated on the Baja California peninsula. Cabo San Lucas might have looked like this more than 20 years ago! Southern California residents can conveniently and quickly reach it.

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Getting to Loreto, Mexico

Driving down past San Diego to the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is a good option if you live in Southern California and wish to avoid the hustle and bustle of LAX airport. You literally walk across the border and you end up directly inside the Tijuana international airport (TIJ). It is the most convenient method of getting from California to Mexico. Before you go, pre-purchase CBX and parking tickets online. We chose to valet park which is closest to the terminal at CBX. You pay a little bit more, but it is so worth it!  Once you arrive back at Tijuana international airport from your trip, you can text them with the number provided and they will have your car up front by the time you make it back.

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Upon entering CBX, you will check in and go through Mexican Customs and Immigration. You cross the border via the enclosed bridge to reach the terminal of the Tijuana Airport and go through security checkpoint. They have plenty of food options such as Shake Shack, Panda Express, Starbucks etc. You will walk out to the airplane with your carry on luggage (if you have any). If you have a Priority Pass airport lounge membership you can grab food and drinks at the VIP Lounge Tijuana. It was morning when we went so they served eggs, beans and rice or Chilaquiles. We chose to fly with Volaris on this trip. The small, peaceful town of Loreto, Mexico, is just a 1.5-hour flight away!

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Where to stay in Loreto

We stayed at the beautiful oceanfront resort Villa Del Palmar at the islands of Loreto. The experience of the entire stay was 5 stars! Compared to other beach resorts in Mexico, this one is incredibly peaceful and not crowded at all. You can unwind and rest without being distracted by loud music or people screaming. Search for hotel reservations here.

The organized hotel shuttle bus was waiting for us at the Loreto Airport when we landed. We chose the all-inclusive plan which included food and drinks from all the restaurants and bars at the Villa Del Palmar.

There are 5 pools, one of them being exclusive to adults and another to elite members and one huge hot tub. The kids enjoyed playing in the pools, but we also made use of the resort's Kids Club when the adults needed a break. There they made their own pizza, bracelets, learned how to fish, ate ice cream, etc. The fun was endless!

At the resort's Sabila Spa and Wellness Center, my friend got a massage and I had a facial. This was absolutely amazing! We soaked in a jetted Himalayan salt tub with freshly cut Aloe Vera. We took a dip in the hot tubs with various temperatures and finished off in the herbaly minty hot steam room all before we received our service. The facial itself was simply incredible. After all that, I felt so renewed and refreshed.

It felt like home away from home in the large, light-filled rooms. Everything was there, including a washer and dryer and a fully equipped kitchen. The enormous balconies are perfect for getting some fresh air. Large bathtubs, comfortable beds, and a spacious living room make this place ideal for unwinding.

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What to do in Loreto

This list has no end. A must-do activity for visitors to this resort is to take a short walk past the pools and down the stairs to the private beach. There is a long sandy beach where you take a stroll, explore the rocks and discover tide pools and marine life, or go kayaking and try stand up paddle boarding. Going on a boat excursion was the true highlight of this trip. It was an experience of a lifetime. You can get on a boat from the city or directly from the resorts private beach. Don't forget to order some ceviche and tacos ahead of time for lunch on the beach at one of the many islands Loreto has to offer.

During our excursion, we went fishing and caught Rooster fish and Yellow Fin Tuna, which our captain (interestingly his name is also Loreto) immediately cut and cleaned for us to eat. We watched dolphins, whales and sea lions. We also saw a sea turtle deep below in the sea. All this was amazing, but what was more astonishing was that we were blessed to be at the right time and at the right place because we were in the midst of a very rare sighting! Directly in front of us was a school of about 1000 dolphins! It was extremely difficult to take photos of the dolphins, but check out the videos on my instagram page. Our captain Loreto, who has been spending most of his life on the waters, has only seen this twice now in his lifetime. It was truly like watching National Geographic live, and we were so in awe of these marine animals. We also went snorkeling where you can discover more marine animals. Check out the resort for swimming, hiking, spa, golf, kid's club, painting activities, shows and musicals.

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Food in Loreto

The seafood in Loreto is fresh and excellent! I think we had some kind of fish, shrimp and octopus daily while we were there. Dining options include buffets, poolside dining and fine dining. For spectacular views, take the trolley to the Clubhouse which is on the hill at the golf course overlooking the resort with a stunning ocean view or dining at the beach bar on the Villa Del Palmar's private beach with the sand between your toes and mouthwatering food and drinks on the table. We tried almost all of the restaurants and all were delicious. The only meal we didn't quite enjoy was dinner at the buffet one evening when they offered asian themed food. Breakfast was mostly at the buffet because it was quick and easy.

In town we had the best ceviche ever which we took on our boating excursion. We also tried fish tacos which were small but so tasty. We went to the oceanfront restaurant Mita which is also in town. This was more upscale dining but very good. I would definitely return there.

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