This post offers details about two RV parks you can stay at in Loreto, Baja California Sur. These RV parks are Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park and Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park. Our post also has ideas on things to do in the lovely tourist town of Loreto.
Maggie and I recently did an exciting and adventurous RV trip through Baja California, Mexico, led by a travel company called Baja Winters Travel Club. After five days of traveling, and 630 rough miles, Maggie and I chose to stay at Santispac Beach. Most of the rest of our group went further south, to stay at the Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park and Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park in the town of Loreto. This report on Loreto and its RV parks was written with the input and help of fellow travelers Nancy Bacciarini and Donna Braun. Thanks to them both for contributing to this post!
First, here is a very short video that shows a little of one of the RV parks, and one of the local attractions:
Getting to Loreto from Santispac Beach
This requires traveling 71 miles south down the narrow, winding, and mountainous Highway 1. With the caravan it was about a four-hour drive. You must have your wits about you and do it in the daytime (think cows and horses on the road)! It is an absolutely beautiful road, passing above beaches that are similar to what you would see in the Bahamas.
Once you are in Loreto, there are a few choices for RV Camping in Loreto. We have covered two of them here: Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park and Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park.
Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park in Loreto
This was the first RV park we stayed at in Loreto. This map shows where this RV park is. You can zoom in and out on this map, and also change to satellite view if you want.
Most people know this RV park as Yolanda’s. Yolanda is the woman who owns and runs this park.
Access to the Park
The Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park offers fairly easy access from Highway 1, so that you do not have to drive too far through a busy, narrow town. It is close to the northern end of Loreto. This is the GPS location: GPS: N26*01.064 W111*20.736
Sites and Facilities
All of the sites are tight and back-in. Both the bathrooms and the campground are clean. The Wi-Fi access is only OK.
There is a little covered pavilion where campers ate, sat, read, and got out of the rain. There was also a place where you could do your dishes.
The park does have an on-site laundry, but … one of the best things about this park is there is a little laundry right across the street where you can drop your clothes off and for a VERY small amount of money they are nicely clean and folded and ready for you at around five … heaven!
We met people from all over, short-term and long-term, and all were friendly and helpful. We made several friends.
Location of the Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park
This RV park is located in a safe neighborhood. The security was good and they had a gate they closed at night. The Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park is within easy walking of the Zócalo (town square) in Loreto and the sea of Cortez (3/4 of a mile or less). There is a bit of city noise with barking dogs, chickens, roosters, plus noise from cars, music, and announcements. These are the typical noises of a Mexican town, and it was not the worst we have ever heard.
Although it is not on the Sea of Cortez, it is an acceptable if tight RV park in a safe neighborhood with an on-site owner. Find out more about the Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park here.
Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park in Loreto
We had to leave Rivera Del Mar Trailer RV Park after four days as Yolanda was expecting a caravan. So we moved to Loreto Shores RV park, where we stayed longer. This park offers a 10% discount for Good Sams and Vagabundos.
Access to Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park
To get to this park, we had to drive through town (along a wide enough but busy street). Then we had to drive down a local neighborhood street, including a bumpy and dusty, dry river bed. This map shows where this RV park is. You can zoom in and out on this map, and also change to satellite view if you want.
Sites
The RV sites were oddly arranged and tight, but acceptable. Many were pull-through. However, it was a little challenging to get into our sites. This is where fellow-traveler Juli had her incident with a fifth wheel and broke her awning.
There is a manager on-site. The park provided all the services you need. The showers were wonderful (hot and great pressure). Loreto Shores has a laundry, a swimming pool (but it was too cold to swim), and an indoor community area/club house, including a kitchen and tables to eat or play cards, bingo, etc. The Wi-Fi was pretty good.
Again, there was a very nice group of people at this park. Some had been there for months.
The Beach near Loreto Shores Villas
The park is on the waterfront, but the view is mostly blocked by town homes and villas. There is a break between buildings to get to the beach, where it’s fun to watch the pelicans dive into the water to feed.
We were out there every morning watching the pelicans dive, and looking for porpoises.
There are great views from the beach area. The beach is not a swimming beach as it is pretty rocky and not sandy. Many people put in their little boats there to go out fishing, and people also put in their kayaks there.
It is a longer walk to town from this park, but doable. It is just over a mile, but on sidewalks and through a safe neighborhood. Walking through the dry river bed is dusty. There were quite a few dogs just outside the park, so when walking to town it is a good idea to carry a stick. Most Mexican dogs are friendly, but it is wise to be careful.
Security and Noise Levels
The security at this park was acceptable, and they closed the gate at night. We think that someone walked around several times a night to check on security. Again, the nights were typical of a Mexican town with roosters crowing, and dogs barking now and again.
You can find out more about the Loreto Shores Villas and RV Park here.
Things to Do in the Town of Loreto, Baja California Sur
This map shows where Loreto is. You can zoom in and out on this map, and also change to satellite view if you want.
One of the best things about both of these RV parks is that you are in the town of Loreto.
Founded in 1697 by Jesuit missionaries, Loreto is now a thriving coastal town with almost 19,000 inhabitants. It is a major tourist city, with daily flights direct from California to Loreto International Airport.
Loreto offers many services and has great restaurants. It has a Mission Church and a pretty Zócalo (village square). The locals take a lot of pride in their community and are constantly cleaning, painting, and repairing.The streets are narrow except on the malecon (the street running along the sea). So walking is best, or else parking just outside of the main square.
Shopping
The shopping area in Loreto is all around Loreto’s historic and beautiful Mission Church. The shopping offers all the trinkets, t-shirts, and Mexican pottery one could want. There are also many interesting places to eat. It is fun to walk around there and check it all out.
The Malecon and Boat Trips
The malecon also offers many good places to eat. On the malecon we met Omar. We hired him to take us out in his boat so we could see Coronado Island and get out on the water.
This was a wonderful trip. There were dolphins all around us much of the time, jumping and playing. Omar knew just where to go for us to get the best sights. We even saw a whale!
Coronado Island
Coronado Island is not inhabited, but is stunning, and is a great place to spend a day. If the water is warm enough, it’s also a great place for swimming and snorkeling.
Glass Bottom Boat Trips: WANTOSEA
We also went out on a glass bottom boat that left from the harbor. This was a full day trip. We were offered food (fruit, fish, sandwiches, and other goodies) while looking down into the clear water near several islands. We saw turtles and lots of colored fish.
The boat is called the WANTOSEA, and has 42 sq ft of viewing area. It visits the Isla Danzante in the Loreto Bay National Marine Park.
The boat has a swim ladder that almost anyone can climb, so you can swim if you want to. Each trip includes at least one snorkeling/beach stop. You will of course see fish, and you may see dolphins, whales, manta rays, sea turtles, ospreys, blue-footed boobies, and more. It’s ranked no. 1 tourist attraction in Loreto by Tripadvisor. Find out more here.
On our trip we stopped at several beaches and some people went snorkeling, but for us it was too cold. This little excursion was well worth it.
Loreto Bay Golf Resort and Spa
This is a truly beautiful golf course and spa, where some of us did some golfing.
Bay of Loreto National Park
This Marine Park was created by Presidential Decree and approved by the Mexican Federal Congress in 1996. It covers 797 square miles in the Gulf of California, ranging from Isla Coronados in the north to Isla Catalana in the south. It was added to the United Nations’ list of protected World Heritage Sites in July 2005, and over 800 species of marine life, many of them currently endangered. The US-based Nature Conservancy and other concerned individuals help to maintain it.
Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is a large natural harbor in the Loreto Municipality. It is located within the Bay of Loreto National Park. It’s popular with sailors who like to anchor there, especially because it is one of the best hurricane holes in the Sea of Cortez. Although the originally planned development never happened, there is a grocery store, restaurant, and small boatyard in the marina. There are many islands within a few miles of the port, which offer excellent snorkeling and diving.
San Javier, 23 Miles from Loreto
Just 23 miles south-west of Loreto is the tiny but interesting mountain village of San Javier. It’s a good road, although challenging in that you are basically driving up a mountain. This map shows the route from Loreto to San Javier. It is in satellite mode so that you can see how mountainous the route it. When driving, watch out for cattle!
The population of San Javier is less than 150, and most tourists visit it primarily to visit the historic church.
San Javier is home to an historic church called Misión San Javier, and some tourist shops. The mission church dates back to 1758, and has endured so well that it is still used as a church by locals.
With its cobblestone streets and tiny population, visiting San Javier is like taking a time machine into the past. The village has at least two restaurants. We ate at one of them, La Palapa, with our Baja Travels group, and it was very good.
The best time to visit San Javier is during the week leading up to December 3. During this week, the locals celebrate their patron saint. Expect to enjoy games for the kids, carnival rides, and horse races. Also, expect to enjoy local food and delicacies!
All in all, we had a wonderful time staying at RV parks in Loreto, and it was very hard to drag ourselves away. One thing is for sure – we’ll be back!
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