Nature reserve 24 km southeast of Loreto
The marine national park right off Loreto's malecón: five desert islands, whales in winter and clear water for snorkeling and kayaking.
The Bay of Loreto National Park covers roughly 2,000 square kilometers of the Sea of Cortez in front of Loreto, from Isla Coronado in the north to Isla Santa Catalina in the south. It was created in 1996 after local fishermen and residents pushed to protect the bay from overfishing, and in 2005 it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that protects the islands of the Gulf of California.
Five main islands rise from the park: Coronado, Carmen, Danzante, Montserrat and Santa Catalina. They are bare volcanic and desert rock with cardón cactus, white-sand coves and cliffs where seabirds nest, and the most remote, Santa Catalina, has reptiles found nowhere else, including its own rattlesnake.
The water is the main draw. Sea lions, dolphins and many kinds of reef fish live around the islands, and in winter and early spring the bay is one of the best places in Mexico to see whales, including the blue whale, the largest animal on Earth.
What to see and do
Take a boat trip to the islands, with snorkeling stops in clear coves.
Go whale watching in winter and early spring, when blue whales feed in the bay.
Visit the sea lion colony at Isla Coronado.
Paddle a sea kayak along the coast, or join a multi-day kayak trip between the islands.
Dive or snorkel over rocky reefs full of fish.
Getting there
The park starts at Loreto's shoreline. Tour operators on and near the malecón run boat trips to the islands, whale-watching outings and kayak trips; boats for Isla Danzante and the southern islands often leave from the marina at Puerto Escondido, about 25 minutes south. Visitors pay a park fee, usually handled by the tour. Ask about conditions: strong north winds in winter can cancel trips.
24 km southeast 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 Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto.
Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Photos
Weather warm
Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto shares the climate of Loreto, 24 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Apr, May, Nov.
Make Loreto your base
Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto 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. -
Isla del Carmen
· Nature reserve · 18 km away
The bay's largest island, with quiet coves and the ruins of an old salt works at Bahía Salinas. -
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. -
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.