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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | APRIL 2025 11 By Karen Range, Resident My husband Rick and I have visited Mexico multiple times. Our destinations have included Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, La Paz, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. One of our favorite destinations, though, is Loreto. Loreto is a city on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, on the Gulf of California. Loreto is a major tourist destination in that region with a population estimated at 25,800 in 2024. We traveled to Loreto on the 10-Day Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez cruise on Princess Cruises out of San Pedro. (e Sea of Cortez and the Gulf of California are the same body of water.) e ports of call included Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto and Puerto Vallarta. Holland America also has a cruise that includes Loreto in the itinerary. Loreto is a beautiful coastal town on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur (the southern end of Mexico's Baja Peninsula). e main shopping and eating areas for tourists are the blocks surrounding the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto. e mission / Catholic church was founded in 1697 by a Jesuit Missionary, Father Juan María de Salvatierra. e building is Baroque-style with a bell tower (the building is shown in the background of the picture with Rick). e mission is well-kept and maintained and still serves as a community church for Catholic functions. On our cruise we had to take a tender to shore, but once we reached shore, Loreto was very walkable. ere is a main path through the town which is lined with restaurants and vendor stalls. e style of some of the outdoor eating spots and the stucco buildings reminded me of Santa Fe, New Mexico. e vendors sell a variety of goods, including clothing, jewelry and Mexican pottery. e vendors are friendly but not aggressive, unlike vendors in other areas of Mexico (for example, the vendors along the path on the way to La Bufadora in Ensenada, Mexico, who will call out and chase aer you). Princess offers the 10-Day Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez cruise this year in December. One of the excursions listed for Loreto includes a visit to the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto. Information about the excursion on the Princess website states: "ere are several 18th-20th century buildings in Loreto of historical note, the most important being the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto. Inside, look for the Retablo, a small oil painting behind the altar, and a cross erected in 1997 to commemorate Loreto's 300th anniversary." For those looking for more action, other excursions listed for Loreto include horseback riding, hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking. Loreto is more low-key and quieter than a town like Cabo San Lucas, which was the first stop on our cruise. I really enjoyed the more peaceful environment, the various items for sale, and the colorful restaurants. I recommend visiting Loreto for a change-of-pace experience in Mexico. A Visit to Loreto, Mexico

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