Getting to Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Loreto, B.C.S. Mexico; getting here
By Land | By Sea | By Air | Locator Map

Loreto is still a remote and sleepy village on the Sea of Cortez that just happens to have some of the best fishing to be found in the world. We are 700 miles south of the border on the only highway that passes through here, Mex 1, the transpeninsular highway. We are about two hours by jet from Los Angeles, CA. and two and a half from Houston, TX. in the U.S.A. You can fly here, drive here or you can even come here by boat.

Flying to Loreto:

The following airlines serve Loreto currently (please refer to the locator map for direct air routes):

Delta Air Lines
1-800-221-1212
www.delta.com
Delta Air Lines flight 4223 departs Los Angeles, CA. USA (LAX) at 11:10 a.m. and arrives in Loreto at 1:05 p.m. seven days a week. Delta Air Lines flight 4224 departs Loreto at 2:40 p.m. daily and lands in Los Angeles (LAX) at 4:46 p.m.

Aeromexico Connect
(Aero Littoral)
1-800-237-6639
www.aeromexico.com
Aeromexico Connect (formerly Aero Littoral) are the smaller planes owned by Aero Mexico. This is a daily flight! AM 2290 from Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico (HMO) arrives at 18:30 and departs to Hermosillo at 09:10.
Direct, connecting flights to Hermosillo can be made from Los Angeles (LAX) or from smaller more convienient airports in Ontario, CA (ONT), Phoenix, AZ (PHX), Tucson, AZ (TUS), Las Vegas, NV (LAS), El Paso, TX (ELP), and Salt Lake City, UT (SLC).

Alaska Air Lines
1-800-252-7522
www.alaskaair.com
Alaska Airlines 216 departs Los Angeles (LAX) at 11:55 a.m. and arrives in Loreto at 2:49 p.m. local time (MT) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The return flight 217 departs Loreto at 3:50 p.m. and arrives in Los Angeles (LAX) at 4:15 p.m.

Contenental Air Lines
1-800-231-0856
www.continental.com
Contenental Air Lines flight (CO 3113) departs Houston, Texas (IAH) at 10:15 a.m. and arrives in Loreto at 12:14 p.m. local time on Service is typically on Thursdays and Sundays but changes to Saturday only during low seasons.. The return flight (CO 3117) departs Loreto at 1:00 p.m. and arrives in Houston at 4:57 p.m.

Regional Air Lines

There are a few regional airline with service to various destinationa within Mexico. Generally service is daily and they fly small prop planes. Service varies as to direct flights and exact schedules but current local airlines are: Aereo Calafia to Cabo San Lucas,BCS and Los Mochis,SIN, and Aero Guerrero to Los Mochis,SIN, Ciudad Obregon,SON and La Paz, BCS, and Aeromexico Connect to La Paz, Ciudad Obregon and Hermosillo.

Driving to Loreto:

Many people make the road trip down here. Mex 1, the transpeninsular highway, is the only road that spans the magnificent peninsula and the road trip is a trip in itself. Mex 1 is 1,060 miles long, crosses the border at Tijuana and goes all the way to lands end, Cabo San Lucas. "La carretera" as it is called by locals, goes over spectacular mountain terrain, passes oceanfront vistas and towns, harsh desert, dunes, lava flows, and farmland. As the terrain changes the indigenous plants of the area become more specialized and bizarre. These plants dominate and characterize the landscape and are worth a few roadside detours along whe way. The road will take you past every major town in the baja as it zig zags east and west three times. It was built for commercial purposes not tourism, but it is very tourist friendly. Roadside restaurants and taco stands serve up fresh local fare. Aside from Tijuana, Ensenada, La Paz, and the Los Cabos area, the towns are small.

From the US border US 5 and 805 in San Diego, CA. merge just north of the San Ysidro border crossing. This is the busiest border crossing in the world and it looks like it. It can also be a frustrating and long wait in haphazard "free for all" traffic during peak times. There's another less congested crossing at Otay Mesa to the east. US 905 takes you from the 5 and 805. Both of these crossings will bring you into Tijuana where you will continue south on Mex 1. Although the Otay crossing is easier, you will have to brave through Tijuana traffic to get to Mex 1. Be ready for some advensuresome driving!

Tecate is yet another option further east. At Tecate, the crossing will take you to Mex 3 which meets up with Mex 1 at Ensenada. This route will take you through one of the famous wine growing valleys in Baja California (Norte).

From Ensenada continue 640 miles on Mex 1 South to Loreto. Allow yourself at least a day and a half to get to Loreto from the border. This 700 mile drive takes approximately 16-18 hours on busy, two-lane winding mountainous roads. Take it easy and don't ever drive it at night. Enjoy the scenery!

Taking the bus to Loreto:

The bus trip to Loreto from the border is not as exciting as it sounds. One might imagine an old engine-worn bus full of locals carrying livestock and crying babies, but its quite the opposite. New Mercedes class busses with comfortable seats, professional staff and even movies, is what you'll experience. The bus is an easy, inexpensive and very effecient way to get here.

Get yourself to San Diego, CA. USA. The city of San Diego makes it very easy to get across the border as the airport, local trolley, and Amtrack stations are all right near the Greyhound bus terminal. Take a Greyhound to the central bus terminal in Tijuana, it costs $5 and they depart about every hour. Enter the central bus terminal in Tijuana and you'll see folks from all over Mexico. Go to the ABC/Aguila bus company ticket counter and pay about $100 dollars for your ticket to Loreto. The bus leaves every day at 12:00 and 18:00 and gets you to Loreto at about 05:30 and 12:00 the following day respectively. The scenery from the bus is spectacular but there is not much opportunity to enjoy it. The bus is designed to get you here efficiently and is not good for sightseeing. Northbound busses leave Loreto for Tijuana daily at 14:00 and 18:00 and get you to TJ at approximately 06:00 and 10:00 the following day respectively. TIP: if you get motion sickness you will want to take Dramamine at Ensenada on the southbound journey and in Loreto on the northbound journey.

Arrival by ship or ferry from the mainland:

There is scheduled ferry service between Santa Rosalia (3 hours drive on Mex. 1 North) and Topolobampo, Sonora each week on Baja Ferries. The one way trip takes approximately 6 hours. Baja Ferries also has scheduled ferry service between La Paz (5 hours drive on Mex. 1 South) and Los Mochis, Sonora (5 hours) and Mazatlan, Sinaloa (16 hours).

There are a few cruise lines that visit Loreto but only spend a day here. America West Cruise Lines comes from La Paz on Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the weather, and Holland America's ship Ryndam visits in the winter and spring months on their Sea of Cortez cruises out of San Diego, CA. USA.

Locator Map of Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico (LTO), with direct air routes marked

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Delta Air Lines 1-800-221-1212 www.delta.com	Delta Air Lines flight 4223 departs Los Angeles, CA. USA (LAX) at 11:10 a.m. and arrives in Loreto at 1:05 p.m. seven days a week. Delta Air Lines flight 4224 departs Loreto at 2:40 p.m. daily and lands in Los Angeles (LAX) at 4:46 p.m.
Aeromexico Connect (Aero Littoral) 1-800-237-6639 www.aeromexico.com	Aeromexico Connect (formerly Aero Littoral) are the smaller planes owned by Aero Mexico. This is a daily flight! AM 2290 from Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico (HMO) arrives at 18:30 and departs to Hermosillo at 09:10. Direct, connecting flights to Hermosillo can be made from Los Angeles (LAX) or from smaller more convienient airports in Ontario, CA (ONT), Phoenix, AZ (PHX), Tucson, AZ (TUS), Las Vegas, NV (LAS), El Paso, TX (ELP), and Salt Lake City, UT (SLC).
Alaska Air Lines 1-800-252-7522 www.alaskaair.com	Alaska Airlines 216 departs Los Angeles (LAX) at 11:55 a.m. and arrives in Loreto at 2:49 p.m. local time (MT) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The return flight 217 departs Loreto at 3:50 p.m. and arrives in Los Angeles (LAX) at 4:15 p.m.
Contenental Air Lines 1-800-231-0856 www.continental.com	Contenental Air Lines flight (CO 3113) departs Houston, Texas (IAH) at 10:15 a.m. and arrives in Loreto at 12:14 p.m. local time on Service is typically on Thursdays and Sundays but changes to Saturday only during low seasons.. The return flight (CO 3117) departs Loreto at 1:00 p.m. and arrives in Houston at 4:57 p.m.
Regional Air Lines	There are a few regional airline with service to various destinationa within Mexico. Generally service is daily and they fly small prop planes. Service varies as to direct flights and exact schedules but current local airlines are: Aereo Calafia to Cabo San Lucas,BCS and Los Mochis,SIN, and Aero Guerrero to Los Mochis,SIN, Ciudad Obregon,SON and La Paz, BCS, and Aeromexico Connect to La Paz, Ciudad Obregon and Hermosillo.