Loreto Shopping

Hidden deep in the "neighborhoods" of Loreto, Raygoza is a hidden gem. Thus far, it is the ONLY grocery store with a refrigerated WALK-IN produce section.

Like many of the neighborhood grocery stores, this one is small and tighly packed with three shelves and five isles that are only about 15 feet in length. The meat counter has a little of everything but not a very diverse selection of meat cuts. Still it is all very fresh and typically sells quickly.

In the back of the store the produce section is half the size of the rest of the store. It's located behind heavy transparent plastic "curtains." The best time to come is on Monday and Tuesday as all the fresh produce is brought to the store just before Sunday market (Farmer's market in town) and it takes a day to get everything sorted and placed in the bins.

What to buy: You can find much of what you'd expect of a small grocery, but with the walk-in produce section, typically Reygoza has the best vegetables in town.

What to pay: Depends on what you buy, but for like items, you will pay slightly less than in other Supermercados.

Alas, the ecconmy was not kind to this bakery. It has closed it's doors. Sticky buns can however be found at El Cafe Lolita on Salvatierra if you get their early in the morning.

On the main street leading to the historic district, almost arcross from the local Super Mecardo, is a pastry shop that will keep you coming back.

What to buy: Everything, or most everything.

What to pay: depends on the items but everything is very reasonable.

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El Gavilan is a small family owned spice store. They have a number of stores in Mexico. You can get most any spice you could want in bulk quantities. The proprietor, Gabriel Vazquez speaks perfect english and is quite happy to provide you with a sample and answer any questions you might have about his wares.

Located on Salvatierra almost at the corner of Indepencia right across the street from the large El Pescador Supermercado.

What to buy: Spices, nuts, seeds.

What to pay: Less than in the Supermercado

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Like many decor shops, ADWA is VERY CROWDED with "stuff" to decrorate your house. We found them as one of the better shops to provide window treatments, but once we entered their "shop" we found much more.

We needed mirrors...They had mirrors and as we have found out, at a price much less than some of the more "name brands" in town.

What to buy: Window treatments. Wood shades of every style you could need, custom made to your specifications.

Decorations; pottery art, mirrors...oh yes, MIRRORS... I think we've bought 4 so far.

What to pay: Far less than the "high price spread"...

Galeria is not as crowded as many of the "home furnishing" shops in Loreto. The proprietor, Hector Torres Ybanez spent a number of years with a shop in San Francisco, CA before settling back in his home country of Mexico.

The items carried are all top quality and quite unique. Unlike the typical shops with porcelin artifacts, or wrought iron furniture, Hector has very unique pieces. I just purchased a table for my entry that is made to look like an antique door with a wooden ox yoke for the legs and cross piece to hold the top.

What to buy: If you're looking for high end furniture, this is the place. Beautifully crafted and very well made the dining room furniture is top notch. Expensive, but much better made than much of what you'll see in furniture stores.

What to pay: Prices are fair, but you're purchasing top quality furniture and household items so although less than what might be paid in the US, the prices are higher than what you might first expect. But you get what you pay for.

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2010 - Gustavo is making major expansion plans. Unlike some others, his business has been expanding.

Located just off of Highway 1 north of the Loreto exit, Artesanias del Sol is an evolving shopping mecca for those seeking patio decoration or furniture.

The large shop is open for the most part with a high roof covering over the patio furniture. The decoration pots are located next door in an equally large area, covering about 70 x 90 feet.

What to buy: Gustavo Flores Cardenas, the owner, (artesdelsol@gmail.com) has a collection of patio furniture to fit any budget. If you do not see what you want, browse his numerous catalogs and or describe what you are looking for and he will find it.

Working with a "partner" who owns the plant nursery a few blocks away, you can find pots and plants to decorate any sized patio.

Need irrigation, Gustavo and his partner will arrange for automatic drip irrigation as well as well as ongoing weekly or monthly garden maintenance.

What to pay: Much depends on what is purchased but there are some great deals. On such was a teak and aluminum patio set (table, 4 chairs, side table, chaise lounge for only $1400 US).

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Newly opened in October 2009, Gecko's Curios is located in the heart of Loreto. The small shop is relatively crowded with a wonderful collection of local arts and crafts. Owner Kathy Hill has been around Loreto for some time and continually finds unique crafts that are offered at very reasonable prices.

What to buy: Curios, furniture, gifts, home decor items from Mexican Artesanias. Some very unique "straw art" is one of the more interesing pieces. This creation is a dying art from and very few people practice this art form today. Pieces of colored straw are cut and the drawing is created one small piece at at time, similar to the creation of a stained glass window. They are beautiful.

What to pay: Prices vary for the pieces, but in general are very reasonable.

El Arco is the Mexico equivalent of the US "Home Depot." It's not as large or diverse but it does carry most of what the "handyman" needs to get things done.

There are locations in Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, San Jose, and Loreto.

The staff is friendly, although since you are in Mexico, it helps if you speak Spanish. Still I've made a number of visits and either found what I needed or they have directed me to another local shop that would carry the item I'm looking for.

What to buy: El Arco carries most hardware type items. Think of it as a larger scale "Ace Hardware"

What to pay: This all depends on the item but I've found their prices to be less than other places. In fact I found a surge protector a few pesos cheaper than the Farmer's Market...go figure.