Loreto, The Destination

Dating back nearly 12,000 years, Loreto is considered the oldest human settlement on the Peninsula of Baja California . To this day, you can view some extraordinary cave paintings and petroglyphs. These paintings are spectacular murals done on rocks, representing larger-than-life animal and human-like forms in scenes that could be ritual ceremonies, pilgrimages, hunting or battles. These are truly fascinating displays of early men communications style.

Loreto was the capital of the California for more than 133 years, until the capital was moved to La Paz . And today, over 300 years after its founding, Loreto remains rich in history and full of undiscovered natural wonders. Today Loreto is the seat of government for the municipality bearing its name and an exciting tourist destination with state-of-the-art touristic infrastructure, and its prestigious past gives Loreto another, deeper dimension - the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto and adjacent museum are a testament to this legacy. As an oasis on the shore of the Sea of Cortez , near to Nopoló, Puerto Escondido, the Carmen and Coronado Islands , modern Loreto is a mini-Shangri La. Both those who live in and visit Loreto can appreciate how, 300 years after its founding, its unique blend of history, culture and nature continue to make life there interesting and pleasurable.