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 Arrivals and Departures as of February 2019 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.
Flight Arrivals
Los Angeles (LAX) via Alaska Air
Flight 268 — Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
1:00pm – 4:05pm
Calgary (YYC) via WestJet (Oct–May)
Flight 2252 — Saturday
10:15am – 2:17pm
Tijuana (TIJ) via Volaris
Flight Y4 268 – Tuesday and Saturday
10:10am – 11:58am
Tijuana (TIJ) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 791 — Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
2:40pm – 4:25pm
La Paz (LAP) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 712 — Friday and Saturday
11:20am – 12:05pm
Hermosillo (HMO) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 745b — Thursday and Sunday
7:00am – 8:40am
Guadalajara (GDL) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 460 — Tuesday and Saturday
1:35pm – 3:40pm
Guaymas (GYM) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 732b — Thursday and Sunday
9:00am – 9:50am
San Jose del Cabo (SJD) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 741 — Tuesday and Saturday
2:30pm – 3:40pm
Flight Departures
Los Angeles (LAX) via Alaska Air
Flight 253 — Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
5:05pm – 6:10pm
Calgary (YYC) via WestJet (Oct–May)
Flight 2253 — Saturday
2:10pm – 7:22pm
Tijuana (TIJ) via Volaris
Flight Y4 269 – Tuesday and Saturday
12:28pm – 2:16pm
Tijuana (TIJ) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 792 — Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
12:25pm – 2:10pm
La Paz (LAP) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 711 — Friday and Saturday
4:45pm – 5:30pm
Hermosillo (HMO) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 744b — Thursday and Sunday
10:10am – 11:50am
Guadalajara (GDL) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 461 — Tuesday and Saturday
4:00pm – 7:45pm
Guaymas (GYM) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 731b — Thursday and Sunday
10:10am – 11:00am
San Jose del Cabo (SJD) via Aereo Calafia
Flight 740 — Tuesday and Saturday
4:00pm – 5:00pm
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!
2018 Cruise Ship Schedule
Date | Ship | Time in Port |
| Monday 12/4/2017 | Ruby Princess | 7am–6pm |
| Thursday 2/15/2018 | Azamara Quest | 7am–overnight |
| Friday 2/16/2018 | Azamara Quest | Overnight–2:30pm |
| Thursday 4/19/2018 | Ruby Princess | 7am–6pm |
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.
