Nature reserve 18 km east of Loreto
The bay's largest island, with quiet coves and the ruins of an old salt works at Bahía Salinas.
Isla del Carmen is the largest island in the Bay of Loreto National Park, a long ridge of desert rock lying east of Loreto across a channel of open water. It has no permanent residents, and its shores alternate between steep cliffs and quiet coves of white sand and clear water, good for swimming and snorkeling.
On its northeast side lies Bahía Salinas, where salt was harvested from shallow ponds for well over a century. Ships came from far up and down the Pacific coast to load salt here until the works closed in 1983. The ruins remain along the shore: an old pier, the hull of a ship, a stone lighthouse, buildings of the company town and a small chapel. The salt ponds tint the water a striking pink, and the spot is known as Playa Rosa.
The island's cliffs and arroyos are also home to desert bighorn sheep, and boat trips often pass sea lions, dolphins and, in winter and spring, whales.
What to see and do
Walk among the ruins of the salt works and company town at Bahía Salinas.
See the pink water of the salt ponds at Playa Rosa.
Swim and snorkel in the island's sheltered coves.
Watch for bighorn sheep on the cliffs and sea lions along the shore.
Getting there
Only by boat. Tour operators in Loreto run day trips with a guide, snorkel gear and lunch; Bahía Salinas, on the far side of the island, is roughly a two-hour ride, while the nearer coves take less. Multi-day kayak and camping trips also visit the island. The park fee is usually included, and winter north winds can cancel crossings.
18 km east of Loreto
Directions from Loreto on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Isla del Carmen
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Tours & activities
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Photos
Weather warm
Isla del Carmen shares the climate of Loreto, 18 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Apr, May, Nov.
Make Loreto your base
Isla del Carmen is an easy trip from Loreto, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Loreto
-
Isla Coronado
· Beach · 14 km away
The closest island to Loreto: a volcanic cone with a white-sand beach, turquoise water and a colony of sea lions. -
Puerto Escondido
· Town · 23 km away
A nearly enclosed natural harbor and marina south of Loreto, set below the cliffs of the Sierra de la Giganta. -
Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto
· Nature reserve · 24 km away
The marine national park right off Loreto's malecón: five desert islands, whales in winter and clear water for snorkeling and kayaking. -
Misión San Javier
· Landmark · 26 km away
A remote Jesuit mission in the Sierra de la Giganta, with a fine 18th-century stone church and a centuries-old olive tree. -
Isla Danzante
· Nature reserve · 27 km away
A small, rugged island off Puerto Escondido, loved by kayakers for its sheltered coves and good snorkeling. -
Agua Verde
· Town · 62 km away
A remote fishing village with turquoise coves at the end of a rough mountain dirt road; best with a high-clearance vehicle.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.