Loreto Mexico on the Baja Peninsula January 25, 2026

 

I just had to go again, whale watching that is! It was forecasted to be perfect today so there was no doubt the pangas could head out.  Here comes my panga with Carlos the Captain.  There were five of us this time plus Carlos. Instead of walking to the marina this morning, the tour company picked me up, Jesus was the driver.  He picked up the four others after me.

In no time at all, we were on the panga, life jackets on and ready for the adventure. 

We’re off! 

That little white tower in the background to the right of the motor is the Loreto Airport.

We headed south just like we did on Wednesday.  

As I was admiring Nopolo Rock, a whale appeared!  It was a Humpback Whale! 

As it turned out, there were four Humpbacks.  They were frolicking about in the vicinity, not staying under water for very long and were not as far away. Carlos moved the panga every now and then so we had various views of the whales around us.  I was not able to get the four Humpbacks together in the sane photo.

Carlos got word a Blue Whale was sighted near the northern end of Isla del Carmen. As the panga was turning to head north, we spotted a sea lion. We admired it for only a few seconds.  As we began to speed away…..

…..the Humpback Whales popped up again so we stayed and watched!

eventually we sped away!

This was our view as we approached Isla del Carmen. A few pangas were already there.  Supposedly the Blue Whale was hanging out here.  Then…..

…..this popped up!  It was the Blue Whale!  It looked more blue than the ones I saw on Wednesday. The lighting makes a big difference.  

It looks like the panga is sitting on top of the Blue Whale but it is no where near the whale.

Another Blue Whale was sighted even more north and a bit west so once again, off we went. 

No sooner did we get to the general area, a Blue Whale surfaced. 

After watching it come up twice, we watched it go down one last time.

Four hours of whale watching flys by so quickly. It was time to motor back to the marina.  It was a twenty minute trip at a great clip.  All the while, this Brown Pelican stayed with us.

coming in for a landing as we slowed down to enter the dock 

When I got back to my home away from home, I had a local beer to celebrate. 

 Later I went out for dinner and celebrated again yet this time with a glass of wine.

I brought my painting supplies with me on this trip.  

I painted this from one of my photos.  

It’s a Blue Whale in front of Isla del Coronado. 

Loreto Mexico on the Baja Peninsula January 24, 2026

Just going with the flow of this Loreto lifestyle means just going with the flow! As the winds picked up last evening , along came heavy rain all night. The rain stopped before sunrise but the wind did not. Because of that, the Marina was closed for the day. There would be no being out on the sea for me today so along with all other tourists who planned to be out there, we just went with the flow and found other ways to enjoy this piece of paradise.

If I could not be in or on the water, then I would be near it. That’s easy to do here.  Before leaving my home away from home this morning, I checked the live webcam for the sights and sounds by the sea. It was time to go down to the sea again. This was the view as I arrived!

It was windy! Weather was happening all around me but not over top of me. I will let the photographs tell the weather story.  The shore birds were plentiful and I spent tons of time snapping shots of them.  I met another birder from Ottawa who also had a tour cancelled for today.  He too was just going with the flow.

After birding and collecting seaglass, I headed to the Marina to see, that yes, it was closed.  The pangas were tied up when typically at this time of day they would all be out cruising.  These are a few of the dozens of pangas. The second one from the left was the one I was out on Wednesday for whale watching. 

Just going with the flow found me back at Plaza Juarez!  Being a Saturday it was bustling and probably more so with many more tourists just having to go with the flow today. There is so much to see along this stretch, I see new sights each time I am there.  

a shop at the right

golf tours promoted at the left door

a hotel in the heart of the plaza

note the portion of the vehicle at the left

police and military are plentiful

they are a noticeable strong presence 

a restaurant 

in its yard near the centre of the plaza

AI says:  The Camino Real de las Californias(or King's Highway) in Loreto is the historic 17th-century, 1,600-mile Spanish colonial missionary trail that began at the Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto, the "mother mission". It served as the primary supply, communication, and religious route connecting Baja California missions up to Alta California.

along the walkway through the plaza 

 

ice cream shop

I walked this eight kilometre route twice today.  I returned to walk it late afternoon but did not take photos that time. The winds remained strong. The forecast calls for calmer conditions tomorrow.  This is today’s seaglass collection.  I hope to have enough to create something once I return home.  

Loreto Mexico on the Baja Peninsula January 23, 2026

 

🎶 “As I walked out on the streets of Loreto I spied a …..” 🎶 most amazing sunrise!

Catching a sunrise in Loreto is a must do so I did it!  This morning was the first morning I was able to fit it into my schedule.  I left in the dark for the 20 minute walk to the water.  I was surprised to get caught up with all the school kids who were racing to get to school on time.  7:00 am is an early start for them. This was my view as I crossed the street to the walkway along the Sea of Cortez.

a panorama shot

you can see the people out on the sand bar

that’s where I am headed

view behind me of the walkway where I just walked

on the sandbar 

I sat for a little time while the day fully dawned, breathing in the sea breeze. There was much to love about this day and yet it was still early morning.  I found this stone which measured about an inch in height and width.  

After watching the sunrise then walking to the marina, I was in need of some beach time.  It’s still off season here so it is quite quiet.  That is perfect for me as was settling down on my towel under a palm shade and stretching out my legs.  I watched kayakers, paddle boarders, pangas heading out for tours and enjoyed the antics of the Brown Pelicans.

Eventually it was time to get on with the day so I aimed for the wetlands for shore birding.  

I spent more time here this time than I did on Tuesday.  

Snowy Egret

Marbled Godwit

Little Blue Heron

Snowy Egret and White Ibis

Willet

Reddish Heron

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Least Sandpiper

Osprey

Next on my agenda was to head to the market area, browse the stores and just enjoy the surroundings.  This is the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto, construction was completed in 1703. 

view inside

a cafe

a spa

one of many stores 

I shopped at this one,

a restaurant 

This is my collection of Sea of Cortez seaglass from today.  

I didn’t spend much time looking for Seaglass 

but every now and then a treasure caught my eye.

I really needed to put my feet up when I got back to my home away from home.  

Doing so paired nicely with a local cerveza!