Leg 127 MMSD - San Jose del Cabo (Mexico) to MMLT - Loreto (Mexico)
MMSD - Airport Info
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ICAO code: MMSD
Airport name: Los Cabos Airport
Location: San Jose del Cabos
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
San Jose del Cabos Info
Los Cabos is one of Mexico's largest destinations in terms of its layout. Basically there are three areas included in the resort. Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo anchor the area's resort strip. The two towns are separated by the Corridor, a 29 km. stretch of lovely beaches sprinkled with much of the area's new resort development.
Once used as a frequent provision stop for pirates awaiting passage of the Manila Galleons, today Cabo San Lucas is one of Mexico's top resorts, with some of Mexico's finest hotels. In the last 20 years, it has evolved from a sleepy hideaway for fisherman and yacht owners into one of Mexico's most popular resort destinations, with exclusive homes and mansions, wide selection of hotels, and world class dining.
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of the Baja peninsula, is a boom town which has emerged in the last few years. Some dusty streets still prevail, but don't let that fool you. This is the town most people think of when they think of Los Cabos or "Cabo".
Cabo boast some fine restaurants, sophisticated shopping, a large marina, and a very active nightlife. Cabo is tops with fisherman, divers, and those wanting to enjoy the resort life. Nearby Medano Beach is a heavenly stretch of calm, crystal clear water, and white sand beach. Just off shore is Los Arcos - the area's signature landmark, and one of the world's most awesome natural wonders.
San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo is a pleasant city of meandering streets and lush palm groves, with the languid pace of a Mexican colonial village. The area was first visited by Cortes himself in 1535 and served as a mission stop for centuries.
Today it is a town of 30,000 people and is the seat of the municipal government. The town has charming courtyard restaurants, small shops and boutiques, small hotels and a lovely tropical estuary, Estero San Jose. The atmosphere here is subdued compared to the more rowdy and nightlife-orientated town of Cabo San Lucas.
The Corridor
Between these two towns is The Corridor, the site of most new resort development and most of the golf courses, not to mention some of Baja's most beautiful beaches and coves. Most of the hotels here offer a more "exclusive" feeling than in the towns at either end of Los Cabos.
Today, Los Cabos attracts a broader range of visitors than ever before, and has gone to great lengths to diversify its offering of activities and attractions. Los Cabos, including the East Cape and Todos Santos areas, continues to attract sportsmen who flock here for world-famous fishing, outstanding diving & surfing, world class wind surfing, and game bird hunting.
The area also draws beach lovers, golfers, honeymooners, families, and "eco-tourists". Of course, most visitors ultimately come here for Cabo's famous sun and sea.
MMLT - Airport Info
ICAO code: MMLT
Airport name: Loreto Airport
Location: Loreto
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
Loreto Info
Located 84 miles south of Mulege and 217 miles north of La Paz is the historic town of Loreto or "Conchó" in the indigenous language which means "red mangrove". Not only is it the oldest town in Baja California, founded in 1697 by the Jesuits, but its surrounding scenery is incomparable; the magnificent Sierra de la Giganta mountain range, the awesome desert and the azure Sea of Cortez.
Facing Loreto (pop. 10,000) are the wonderful islands such as the Coronados with its turquoise waters and sea lion colonies; Isla Carmen with its beautiful beaches and coves; the Danzantes with its rocky edges and small coves, a paradise for scuba diving; and Catalina, a favorite of the ecologist with its unique flora and fauna.
The surroundings of islands offer the great sportfishing with an abundance of fish like yellowtail, sailfish, dorado, marlin, wahoo and roosterfish. Sportfishing has made Loreto famous and is one of its main tourist activities. Likewise, great schools of frolicking dolphins can be observed and with any luck, one might see the blue whale, the biggest animal on the planet. Recently a wide area of the Sea of Cortez in front of Loreto was declared a Nation Marine Park by the Mexican government thus preserving the pristine waters here.
Crystal-clear waters at Isla Coronado
As the oldest permanent settlement and first capital of Baja, Loreto is steeped in history. The mission of Nuestro Señora de Loreto, built in 1752, has been rebuilt due to earthquakes and floods many times, but serves as the lead mission in colonialization of the Baja peninsula. A museum filled with religious art and colonial artifacts is found next door. One of Baja's most magnificent missions, San Javier, can be found 23 miles to the west in the Sierras. A must see!
The tourist corridor of "Loreto-Nopolo-Puerto Loreto" offers many tourist amenities and is developing into a popular getaway for the sailing crowd. There is an 18 hole golf course and a magnificent tennis center with 9 courts and a stadium, considered among the best in Baja.
Loreto has an international airport which is served daily from California, a bus depot, and excellent tourism services; hotels up to five stars, bed & breakfast inns, restaurants, R.V. parks and campgrounds, car rentals, recreational services and much more.