Loreto Favorites

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Favorite thing: The Loreto Food and Wine (fund raising) Festival grew from an idea one of our residents had after attending a similar event in the US. Upon returning to Loreto and learning that the hospital did ot have much in the way of equipment, a group of residents started planning for a Mid March event.

Mid March is one of the peak times when there are many people "vacationing" in Loreto and seemed like the perfect time.

in 2012 the festival brought in enough money to provide much needed equipement and supplies to the local hospital and the ambulance company. A 12-lead EKG machine was donated as well as training to the hospital employees that would use it. In addition, resusitation "dummies" were donated as well.

The festival was well atteneded by vacationing gringos and local Loreto residents as well and a great time was had by all

Favorite thing: "Manny" is a hidden treasure of Loreto. Run by Rita Marroquin Calderon the small shop is only easy to find if you know where it is located. Prices are incredibly low.

A quick "tune up," general cleaning and fixing a flat tire cost the incredible sum of 230 Pesos which at todays rate is about $19.75. I'm not certain I've ever gotten out of the cycle shop back in California for 10 times that amount for less work.

The shop is located at #9 Isla Del Carmen street between Ayuntamiento and Marquez de Leon.

Telephone: 613-135-1474

Favorite thing: Loreto now has a great bakery. PanOli opened in late 2010 in a small shop on Benito Juarez. They make fresh breads and pasteries daily. The Chef, Fabian Lopez Bonzi turns out excellent products.

I've tried their regular bread, focaccio so far and it was excellent.

Address: Calle Benito Juarez #80
Phone: 613-135-0282
Email: panoli.loreto@hotmail.com

Favorite thing: COFFEE....

There are now (Dec 2009) four true coffee shops in Loreto that I've found. Coffee Star, Latte Cafe, one on the Malecon and the newest on Salvatierra, Cafe Lolita.

Coffee Star is on Salvatierra as you drive into town. The insignia, white coffee cup on a green background will remind you of Starbucks but Cafe Americano and Cafe Latte are about as exhotic as it gets. The coffee is good moderately strong and extra shots sometimes don't even cost more.

Favorite thing: This useful information can help you call your friends or family throughout the world. There are different codes for calling from a mobile phone.

Instructions:
Within Mexico:
01+ (Area Code) + number

If dialing the States or Canada:
001+ (Area Code) + number

If dialing to the rest of the world:
00+ Country Code + City Area Code + number

Within Loreto or (613) Area Code:
Just dial the seven digit number

Dialing a Loreto Cellular Number:
044+ (613) + number

Dialing a Canadian or American 800 number with international service from Mexico:
001+ (800) + number

Dialing a Canadian or American 800 number with no International Service-from-Mexico:
001+ (Change the 800 for 880) + number (This will not be a free call from Mexico. A 5 Pesos per minute + tax apply; and not all 800 numbers have access).
For 888 = Dial 881
For 877 = Dial 882
For 866 = Dial 883

National Operator Assistance:
Dial 020

National Information Operator:
Dial 040

International Operator Assistance:
Dial 090

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Favorite thing: The things you hope you never need to know when traveling as well as some useful phone numbers that you might need.

Federal Police - Nopolo (Loreto Bay) - 613-133-0794
Municipal Police - Paseo Tamaral - 613-135-0035
Ambulance - Paseo Tamaral - 613-135-1566
Taxi - 613-135-0047
Taxi - 613-135-0424

Airport - 613-135-0499
Tourist Office - 613-135-0411
City Hall - 613-135-0936
Post Office - 613-135-0647
Bank - 613-135-0014

La Mision of Loreto - 613-135-0005
Mision Museum - 613-135-0441

Fondest memory: In general the people of Loreto are the most friendly you will find anywhere. Everyone is always says hello and stops to chat. Time really means nothing. If someone needs help, there seems to always be someone that is around to help.

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Favorite thing: This shop carries aluminum and glass. The install windows and doors or make picture frames and cut the glass for all to the size you need.

I needed a replacement pane of custom glass for an exterior light. I brought in the chipped piece and in my broken Spanish and his broken English we figured that he could have the two panes cut to size in about 2 minutes. It took even less. Juan Manuel Medina's shop is great. Excellent service, excellent product and very reasonably priced. Email: vdrieramedina@hotmail.com

My three panes of custom cut glass cost me 15 pesos.. About $1.20 or so US. I'll be back to have some pictures framed.

The shop is located on Benito Juarez at the corner of Vicente Guerrero.
Telephone 613-135-1633

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Favorite thing: Loreto has a great history that is changing with the times. Construction of tourist villas and hotels has finally arrived. The area of Nopolo, 9 KM south of Loreto was targeted by the Mexican tourism board Fonatur, 20+ years ago for the building of resorts. Fonatur put in roads and some infrastructure but the area never really "took off" the way Cabo San Lucas, Ixtapa, Cancun did.

In the early 2000's Loreto Bay was "rediscovered" and construction of "village homes" and relatively low condo complexes (none more than 5-6 stories) began to appear.

For people that are constructing in Loreto Bay (Nopolo) and can not be on site to supervise personally, I'd suggest doing what I did. Hire The Construction Coach. TCC has experienced construction engineers that are in Loreto full time and have programs in place to monitor and report on the construction progress.

They perform excellent monitoring of your property and send not only a written report but photos as well to back up their findings.

Fondest memory: Snorkeling in clear water to see the amazing diverse marine life that is within 20 feet of the beach. Move out to 100 yards and it just gets better.

Off shore near the islands in Loreto Bay and you get treated to sea lions, whales (in season) and even Whale Sharks. A fantastic voyage.

Favorite thing: Found an excellent local mechanic. Filiberto Diaz, owner of ‘Fili’s Shop,’ speaks very good English and provides great service. His shop has all necessary vehicular tune-up electronics and also provides welding services.

Autopartes Y Servicio Diaz (Fili’s Shop) is located north of town on Hwy 1 in Colonia Miramar on the left (west) across from the Hotel Duve Coral. Highly recommended.

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Favorite thing: Located on a small side street next to the university gym, is a small house that his half hidden by a fence. It is the customs location in Loreto and if you are trying to get an FM3 visa, you will become familiar with this location.