Traveling to Loreto BCS, Mexico
Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico and Loreto Bay are both about five miles from Loreto Airport (LTO airport code). Flights are available to/from a number of destinations. The Town of Loreto is about 10 minutes away from Loreto Bay by car and is a beautiful Mexican gem. It was founded in 1697 and was the capital of the Californias.
Driving to Loreto
If you are driving south from San Diego, the total drive time is around 12-16 hours and the distance is 715 miles via Mexico Highway 1. The road is in very good shape, but is only two lanes and typically has little or no shoulder. It is best to drive during daylight hours as there can be large animals (cattle) in the road.
If you are driving north from Cabo San Lucas, the drive is 5-7 hours. Again, the road is in good shape and only two lanes.
Shuttle Service
EcobajaTours offers airport shuttle vans between La Paz, Mexico to Loreto.
Loreto Sea and Land Tours offers transportation from the Loreto airport to Loreto Bay.
Flight Schedule for the Loreto airport (LTO)
Some of the flights listed are not operated year round. Flight schedules change often so you may find flights not listed here. Data last updated in April 2023.
Flight Arrivals
| Origination | Airline | Number | Departure | Arrival | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix (PHX) | American | 4972 | ??? | 11:37 am | Mon, Wed, Th, Fri, Sat, Su |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Alaska | 1374 | ??? | 11:15 am | Mon, Tu, Th, Sat, Sun |
| Dallas (DFW) | American | 3123 | ??? | 12:50 pm | Sat |
| La Paz (LAP) | Aerocalafia | 712 | ??? | 8:45 am | Mon, Th |
| Calgary (YYC) | WestJet | 2252 | ??? | 1:34 pm | Sat |
| Tijuana (TIF) | Volaris | 5268 | ??? | 12:00 pm | Mon, Wed, Th, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| San Francisco (SFO) | Alaska | 1356 | ??? | 9:45 am | Sat |
| Tijuana (TIJ) | Aerocalafia | 791 | ??? | 4:05 pm | Mon, Fri |
Flight Departures
| Destination | Airline | Number | Departure | Arrival | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix (PHX) | American | 4972 | 12:20 pm | ??? | Mon, Wed, Th, Fri, Sat, Su |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Alaska | 1375 | 1:40 pm | ??? | Mon, Tu, Th, Fri, Sat, Su |
| Dallas (DFW) | American | 3123 | 1:58 pm | ??? | Sat |
| Tijuana (TIJ) | Aerocalafia | 792 | 9:05 am | ??? | Mon, Fri |
| Calgary (YYC) | WestJet | 2253 | 2:30 pm | ??? | Sat |
| Tijuana (TIF) | Volaris | 469 | 12:38 pm | ??? | Mon, Tu, Th, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| San Francisco (SFO) | Alaska | 1355 | 12:25 pm | ??? | Sat |
| La Paz (LAP) | Aerocalafia | 711 | 4:25 pm | ??? | Mon, Fri |
Note: You can enter/exit the Tijuana, Mexico airport directly from the United States! Sound strange? Read The Newest Airport in the United States Is Actually in Mexico (And You Really Need to Know About It). This is a great way to pay significantly less to fly to Loreto!
Cruise Ship Schedule
Tourist Form
If you are coming to Loreto from outside of Mexico, you need to obtain an FMM tourist card and provide proof of paying a 500 peso fee (that's under $30 US). Payment can be made online with a debit or credit card. Paying that fee, and the tourist card it buys, can now be carried out online, where the necessary paperwork can also be completed in advance of crossing the border.
Go to the Web site below to fill out the form, pay the fee and print out your FMM.
https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html (in English)
You have 30 days to use the document to cross the border, where it is stamped upon entry. The FMM is good for 180 days and must be kept until exiting Mexico.
