Loreto, Baja California Sur#Government

File:Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto. Siglo XVIII.jpg was founded in 1697 by Juan María de Salvatierra.]]

File:Loreto by Night - Loreto - Baja California Sur - Mexico - 03 (23818029481).jpg

Loreto was the first Spanish colonial settlement of the Viceroyalty of New Spain on the Baja California Peninsula.

The town was founded in 1697 by Jesuit missionaries, who found a steady spring of fresh water on this site, as the Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto. The Jesuits were expelled in 1767, and control of the Baja California missions was given to the Franciscans.

In 1769, the Franciscans were ordered to turn over the Baja missions to the Dominican Order and accompany the expedition of Gaspar de Portolá to establish new missions in the unexplored northern frontier that became Alta California. The expedition departed from Loreto on March 24, 1769.{{cite book |last=Bolton |first=Herbert E. |author-link=Herbert Eugene Bolton |pages=62–63 |date=1927 |title=Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774 |url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000288788 |publisher=University of California Press |via=HathiTrust Digital Library |access-date=2016-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322103835/http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000288788 |archive-date=2014-03-22 |url-status=live }}

The town served as the capital of the province of Las Californias from its founding until the capital was moved to Monterey on February 3, 1777. In 1768, the province had been split into Alta California (today's U.S. state of California) and Baja California. At first, the two provinces continued with a single governor. Later, the town became the headquarters for the Lieutenant Governor of California Viejo (the province of Baja California).

The Municipality was created in 1992 and Loreto citizens elected their first Mayor (Municipal President) in 1993. The Federal Electoral Institute, as of February 3, 2008, recorded 9,073 registered voters for the Municipality of Loreto.

File:Faro Y Pilón, Puerto de Loreto.jpg from the Gulf of California.]]

Loreto is located on the east coast of the Baja California Peninsula, at 26º00'46" N 111º20'36" W. It is bordered on the east by the Gulf of California, on the west by the Transpeninsular Highway, and on the south by the Arroyo Loreto, a dry creek bed that only fills with water after a heavy rainfall. The city is built on relatively flat land with an average elevation of {{convert|10|m|sp=us}} above sea level. "La Giganta" Mountain Range ("Sierra de la Giganta") lies to the west, extending along the center of the state of Baja California Sur, parallel to the gulf coast.

The geology and topography of the Loreto region, extending from Bahía Concepción to Agua Verde, is a coastal belt consisting "mainly of a narrow belt of ridges, valleys, and pediments adjacent to the escarpment, low- to moderate-elevation ranges transverse to the coast, and narrow coastal plains".{{cite journal

| author = Paul J. Umhoefer

| date = July 2002

| title = Evolution of the margin of the Gulf of California near Loreto, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

| journal = Geological Society of America Bulletin

| volume = 114

| issue = 7

| pages = 849–868

| doi = 10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0849:eotmot>2.0.co;2

| bibcode = 2002GSAB..114..849U

| url = http://www.uoregon.edu/~rdorsey/Downloads/UmhoeferEtal2002.pdf

| access-date = 2007-01-23

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070621023048/http://www.uoregon.edu/~rdorsey/Downloads/UmhoeferEtal2002.pdf

| archive-date = 2007-06-21

| url-status = dead

}}

The city is a tourist resort, catering mostly to American travelers, with daily flights from California to Loreto International Airport. Many American tourists enjoy fishing in "pangas" for "dorado" (Mahi-mahi or Dolphin Fish). Local restaurants willingly prepare the daily catch of the tourists. Loreto has a museum that coexists alongside the historic, but still active, parish. Loreto has active sister city relationships with the California cities of Hermosa Beach, Cerritos, and Ventura.

File:Along the Malecon - Loreto - Baja California Sur - Mexico - 01 (23527246699).jpg from the Malecón de Loreto.]]

Loreto has a tropical desert climate which is hot and humid, with abundant sunshine (desert with some rainfall in summer). The median temperature is {{convert|24.4|°C|°F|0}}.[http://mapserver.inegi.gob.mx/geografia/espanol/estados/bcs/tem_med_an2.cfm?c=449&e=03&CFID=1593839&CFTOKEN=76654049 Aspectos geográficos de BCS. Temperatura media anual] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610023938/http://mapserver.inegi.gob.mx/geografia/espanol/estados/bcs/tem_med_an2.cfm?c=449&e=03&CFID=1973967&CFTOKEN=43072380 |date=2007-06-10 }}, INEGI The temperatures are hot from June through October. Summer days have highs around {{convert|34|°C|°F|0}} and high humidity. According to the National Meteorological Service, Loreto's highest official temperature reading of {{convert|44.2|°C|°F|0}} was recorded on July 2, 2006; the lowest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|0.0|°C|°F|0}} on December 15, 1987. In spring season, the temperatures are moderate and temperate. Autumn and winter months are usually windy.

From January to March, winds blow from the NW (night hours) and the North (day hours), the rest of the year, the winds blow usually from the West.{{cite journal

| title =Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

| publisher =Secretaría de Gobernación

| url =http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/bajasur/municipios/03009a.htm

| access-date =2007-01-10

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070110134429/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/bajasur/municipios/03009a.htm

| archive-date =2007-01-10

| url-status =dead

}}{{cite journal

| author =Pam Bolles

| title =What's the weather going to be like tomorrow?

| publisher =The Baja Big Fish Company Loreto

| url =http://www.bajabigfish.com/nortes.html

| access-date =2007-01-23

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070202101229/http://www.bajabigfish.com/nortes.html

| archive-date =2007-02-02

| url-status =live

}} Loreto's yearly precipitation is low; averaging about {{convert|160|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The wettest months are August and September, when there are occasional short-lived rainfalls. One concern for Loreto is the Pacific hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, and some times causes heavy rainfall and floods in the area. The last time the town area was hit by a hurricane was on September 2 and 3, 2006, when the hurricane John hit the Baja California Peninsula.{{cite journal

|author=Alberto Hernández Unzón.

|title=Resumen del huracán "John" del Océano Pacífico

|publisher=Comisión Nacional del Agua

|date=September 2006

|url=http://smn.cna.gob.mx/ciclones/tempo2006/pacifico/john/john.pdf

|access-date=2007-01-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004090840/http://smn.cna.gob.mx/ciclones/tempo2006/pacifico/john/john.pdf

|archive-date=2006-10-04

|url-status=dead

}}{{cite journal

| title = Hurricane John hits Loreto

| publisher = The Baja Big Fish Company Loreto

| year = 2006

| url = http://www.bajabigfish.com/johnlto.html

| access-date = 2007-01-23

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070216155145/http://www.bajabigfish.com/johnlto.html

| archive-date = 2007-02-16

| url-status = live

}}

{{Weather box

|location = Loreto, Baja California Sur (1991–2020)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = yes

|temperature colour =

|Jan record high C = 31.0

|Feb record high C = 34.6

|Mar record high C = 37.0

|Apr record high C = 39.5

|May record high C = 45.0

|Jun record high C = 44.2

|Jul record high C = 44.0

|Aug record high C = 44.0

|Sep record high C = 46.0

|Oct record high C = 41.0

|Nov record high C = 39.0

|Dec record high C = 36.5

|year record high C = 45.0

|Jan high C = 24.4

|Feb high C = 25.4

|Mar high C = 27.7

|Apr high C = 30.0

|May high C = 32.9

|Jun high C = 35.7

|Jul high C = 36.6

|Aug high C = 36.8

|Sep high C = 35.7

|Oct high C = 33.4

|Nov high C = 28.9

|Dec high C = 24.6

|year high C = 31.0

|Jan mean C = 18.2

|Feb mean C = 18.9

|Mar mean C = 20.7

|Apr mean C = 23.0

|May mean C = 25.8

|Jun mean C = 29.5

|Jul mean C = 31.6

|Aug mean C = 32.0

|Sep mean C = 30.7

|Oct mean C = 27.4

|Nov mean C = 22.8

|Dec mean C = 18.7

|year mean C = 24.9

|Jan low C = 11.9

|Feb low C = 12.3

|Mar low C = 13.7

|Apr low C = 16.0

|May low C = 18.7

|Jun low C = 23.2

|Jul low C = 26.7

|Aug low C = 27.3

|Sep low C = 25.8

|Oct low C = 21.5

|Nov low C = 16.7

|Dec low C = 12.8

|year low C = 18.9

|Jan record low C = 2.0

|Feb record low C = 3.0

|Mar record low C = 4.5

|Apr record low C = 6.5

|May record low C = 10.0

|Jun record low C = 11.0

|Jul record low C = 14.5

|Aug record low C = 16.0

|Sep record low C = 16.0

|Oct record low C = 11.5

|Nov record low C = 7.0

|Dec record low C = 0.0

|year record low C = 0.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 9.0

|Feb precipitation mm = 5.4

|Mar precipitation mm = 0.4

|Apr precipitation mm = 0.5

|May precipitation mm = 0.2

|Jun precipitation mm = 2.2

|Jul precipitation mm = 6.7

|Aug precipitation mm = 40.8

|Sep precipitation mm = 91.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 23.9

|Nov precipitation mm = 5.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 9.2

|year precipitation mm = 195.8

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 1.3

|Feb precipitation days = 0.7

|Mar precipitation days = 0.2

|Apr precipitation days = 0.1

|May precipitation days = 0.1

|Jun precipitation days = 0.1

|Jul precipitation days = 1.1

|Aug precipitation days = 2.3

|Sep precipitation days = 2.1

|Oct precipitation days = 1.0

|Nov precipitation days = 0.7

|Dec precipitation days = 1.2

|year precipitation days = 10.9

|Jan humidity = 68

|Feb humidity = 67

|Mar humidity = 66

|Apr humidity = 65

|May humidity = 66

|Jun humidity = 65

|Jul humidity = 64

|Aug humidity = 64

|Sep humidity = 69

|Oct humidity = 66

|Nov humidity = 66

|Dec humidity = 68

|year humidity = 66

|Jan sun = 238

|Feb sun = 254

|Mar sun = 286

|Apr sun = 276

|May sun = 303

|Jun sun = 324

|Jul sun = 348

|Aug sun = 352

|Sep sun = 313

|Oct sun = 291

|Nov sun = 237

|Dec sun = 250

|year sun =

|source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (precipitation days 1951-2010, humidity 1981–2000){{cite web

| url = https://smn.conagua.gob.mx/tools/RESOURCES/Normales_Climatologicas/Normales9120/bc/nor9120_03035.txt

| title = Estado de Bajo California Sur-Estacion: LORETO (DGE)

| work = Normales Climatologicas 1991–2020

| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

| language = es

| access-date = 15 February 2025}}{{cite web

| url = http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL03035.TXT

| title = Estacion Loreto (DGE)

| work = Normales climatológicas 1951-2010

| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

| language = es

| access-date = January 17, 2013

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202358/http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL03035.TXT

| archive-date = March 3, 2016

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web

| url = http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Max-Extr/00003/00003035.TXT

| title = Extreme Temperatures and Precipitation for Loreto (DGE) 1940-2010

| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

| language = es

| access-date = February 13, 2016

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160216061830/http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Max-Extr/00003/00003035.TXT

| archive-date = February 16, 2016

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web

| url = http://smn.cna.gob.mx/observatorios/historica/loreto.pdf

| title = NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1981–2000

| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

| language = es

| access-date = February 13, 2016

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160130060140/http://www.smn.cna.gob.mx/observatorios/historica/loreto.pdf

| archive-date = January 30, 2016

| url-status = live

}}

|source 2 = Ogimet (sun 1991–2020){{cite web

| url = https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gclimat?mode=0&state=Viet&ind=76305&ord=REV&verb=no&year=2024&mes=12&months=12

| title = CLIMAT summary for 76305: Loreto, B.C.S (Mexico) – Section 2: Monthly Normals

| work = CLIMAT monthly weather summaries

| publisher = Ogimet

| access-date = April 6, 2025}}

|date=April 2025

}}

{{Historical populations|type=USA

|2005 | 10283

|2010 | 14724

|2015 | 18535

|2019 | 20385

|footnote=sources:{{cite web|url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/TabuladosBasicos/LeerArchivo.aspx?ct%3D993%26c%3D16762%26s%3Dest%26f%3D1 |title=Tabulados básicos - descarga |access-date=2014-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915231021/http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/TabuladosBasicos/LeerArchivo.aspx?ct=993&c=16762&s=est&f=1 |archive-date=2014-09-15 }}

}}

File:Hotel Posada de Las Flores (8776454456) (cropped).jpg

According to INEGI, the 2015 city population was 18,535 people{{Cite web |url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/ |title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) |access-date=2011-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528181141/http://www.inegi.org.mx/ |archive-date=2012-05-28 |url-status=dead }} with 2565 households, with 77.67% male and 22.32% female householders. The population is young: 29.75% are from 0 to 14 years of age, 19.19% from 15 to 24, and only 6.42% are 60 years of age or older. For every 100 females there are 102.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 100.5 males. The Municipality of Loreto (which includes Nopoló, Puerto Escondido, San Javier and the rest of the little villages from the coast and mountains) has a population of 21,071 people.

Due to Loreto's small population and low immigration, large families are characteristic, and residents often have the same last name, a phenomenon also found in other state localities. The two largest families are the "Davis", predominating in the east of the city, along the beach ("Calle Davis" is a street with this last name), and the "Murillo", predominating in the south along the Arroyo Loreto, in the neighborhood known as "barrio del Muro", named after the retaining wall built to hold flood waters from the creek. Other large families are the Amador, the Arce, the Cota, the Higuera, the Romero and the Villalejo.Vid. Francisco Davis Murillo [http://www.paginasprodigy.com/fdavism/ Genealogía Familia Loretana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525222812/http://www.paginasprodigy.com/fdavism/ |date=2007-05-25 }}

File:Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó (8776614998).jpg.]]

There are seven buildings in Loreto from the 18th to 20th century that are considered historical monuments by the federal government; the most important is the Mission of our Lady of Loreto at the start of El Camino Real ("The Royal Road"), an historic corridor that follows north along the ancient route of the Spanish missions, to its ending in Sonoma, California, USA.{{cite journal

| author = Harry Crosby

| year = 1977

| title = El Camino Real in Baja California: Loreto to San Diego

| journal = The Journal of San Diego History

| volume = 23

| url = http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/77winter/baja.htm

| access-date = 2007-01-18

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061230023544/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/77winter/baja.htm

| archive-date = 2006-12-30

| url-status = live

}}{{cite press release

| title =Inauguration of the Binational Historic Corridor "El Camino Real Misionero de las Californias"

| publisher =California State Parks

| date =April 27, 1996

| url =http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=23289

| access-date =2007-01-18

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061001045648/http://parks.ca.gov//default.asp?page_id=23289

| archive-date =October 1, 2006

| url-status =live

}}{{cite press release

|title = Camino Real Misionero de las Californias. Proyecto de Recuperación Patrimonial

|publisher = Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes

|date = July 27, 2001

|url = http://www.cnca.gob.mx/cnca/nuevo/2001/diarias/jul/300701/camirea.html

|access-date = 2007-01-18

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061012212303/http://www.cnca.gob.mx/cnca/nuevo/2001/diarias/jul/300701/camirea.html

|archive-date = October 12, 2006

}}

In the neighboring town of San Javier are five historical buildings, most importantly the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier (Misión de San Francisco Javier), the best preserved mission in the peninsula. The ruins of Mission of San Bruno, the first mission of Baja California, founded in 1683 by Jesuit missionary explorer Padre Eusebio Kino. It was ordered abandoned by the Spanish Crown two years later. It is located 20 kilometers north of Loreto.

The Jesuit Missions Museum (Museo de las Misiones Jesuíticas) is located beside the Mission of our Lady of Loreto. It has a collection of religious art, weapons and tools from the 17th and 18th centuries that were used in the Spanish missions in Baja California.{{cite journal

|author=David Rojas

|title=Loreto, Baja California Sur, Museo de las Misiones

|publisher=Instituto Cultural "Raices Mexicanas"

|url=http://www.folklorico.com/lugares/museo-misiones.html

|access-date=2007-06-19

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606210855/http://www.folklorico.com/lugares/museo-misiones.html

|archive-date=2007-06-06

|url-status=dead

}}

In the "La Giganta" mountains ("Sierra de la Giganta"), there are cave paintings in canyons and rock shelters. The nearest sites to Loreto are "Cuevas Pintas" (15 km to the west) and "La Pingüica" (60 km to the north).{{cite journal

|title = Zonas arqueológicas.

|publisher = Dirección de Turismo Municipal de Loreto.

|url = http://www.turismoloreto.com/zonas%20arqueologicas.htm

|access-date = 2007-06-19

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928123627/http://www.turismoloreto.com/zonas%20arqueologicas.htm

|archive-date = 2007-09-28

}} Some of the cave paintings from the indigenous groups of Baja California have been added to UNESCO's list of world heritage sites.

File:Malecon Statue with Skyline - Loreto - Baja California Sur - Mexico (23853764801).jpg

File:Detail of Boat and Building - Loreto - Baja California Sur - Mexico (23895409845) (cropped).jpg

• Fiestas de la Virgen de Loreto. The Our Lady of Loreto Festivities are celebrated on September 8. It's a series of religious, civic and cultural events.
• Fiestas de la Fundación de Loreto. The foundation of the city is celebrated from October 19 to 25. It's one of the most important cultural events in the state.
• Fiestas de San Javier. The festivities from December 1 to 3 are in honor of Saint Francis Xavier, patron saint from the neighbor town of San Javier. These festivities attract a lot of pilgrims from the peninsula.
• Loreto 400. An off-road racing event that takes place in September. The course is a classic desert offroad race which route includes Comondú, San Javier and the old towns of La Giganta mountain range.
• Loreto 300 milles. Off-road racing event. December.{{cite news

| title = Última llamada para pilotos.

| publisher = Esto.

| date = 10 December 2006

| url = http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n95946.htm

| access-date = 2007-06-20

| archive-date = September 27, 2007

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230713/http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n95946.htm

| url-status = dead

}}{{cite news

|last=Pato Rojo

|title=Resultados oficiales Loreto 300 millas.

|publisher=Desert Baja

|date=10 December 2006

|url=http://www.desertbaja.com/LORETO.htm

|access-date=2007-06-20

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907025745/http://www.desertbaja.com/LORETO.htm

|archive-date=7 September 2007

|url-status=dead

}}

• [http://www.fishingforthemission.com Torneo de las Mision] Fishing Charity Tournament that started in 1993. The 2007 edition will be July 12–14.{{cite news

| last =Pallesen

| first =Kristian

| title =Mexico 14th Annual Fishin for the Mission Tournament Report

| publisher =Mexico Fishing News

| date =July 18, 2005

| url =http://www.mexfish.com/lort/lort2005/lort050725d/lort050725d.htm

| access-date =2007-01-23

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061017220013/http://www.mexfish.com/lort/lort2005/lort050725d/lort050725d.htm

| archive-date =October 17, 2006

| url-status =live

}}

• Loreto Dorado International Fishing Tournament. Takes place in July.
• Copa Dorado Tournament. State tournament in September.
• Governor's Cup Fishing Tournament. May.

File:Loreto B.C.S Mexico (9336878712).jpg

;Fishing

Loreto has a reputation as an excellent sport fishing location.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} This is its main tourist attraction, as well as the main source of employment in the area, thus linking Loreto's economy closely to fishing. There are two well-defined fishing seasons: summer features "dorado" and species like marlin (black marlin, Atlantic blue marlin, striped marlin) and sailfish, which are ideal for fly fishing; winter fishing features "yellow tail" (jurel) and other species that usually are deep in the sea rocks. In addition to these seasonal species, Loreto's waters are home to other species like snapper and seabass, which are found all year long.{{cite journal

| author = Gene Kira

| title = Loreto Fishing Vacation & Travel Information

| publisher = Mexico Fishing News

| url = http://www.mexfish.com/lort/lort.htm

| access-date = 2007-01-18

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061017212959/http://www.mexfish.com/lort/lort.htm

| archive-date = 2006-10-17

| url-status = live

}}{{cite journal

|author=Pam Bolles

|title=Loreto: Alive and Well

|publisher=The Baja Big Fish Company Loreto, reedited from Pacific Fisherman Magazine

|date=July 1998

|url=http://www.bajabigfish.com/pf-anw.html

|access-date=2007-01-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206045953/http://www.bajabigfish.com/pf-anw.html

|archive-date=2006-12-06

|url-status=dead

}}{{cite journal

| author =Mark Malkin

| title =Head to Baja's Loreto for Hot Summer Fishing Action

| publisher =BoatersWorld.com

| url =http://www.boatersworld.com/static/bwarticles/general/baja-loreto.html

| access-date =2007-01-18

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070203075945/http://www.boatersworld.com/static/bwarticles/general/baja-loreto.html

| archive-date =2007-02-03

| url-status =dead

}} Thanks to this abundance, Loreto has been home of several IGFA records.{{cite journal

|author=Pam Bolles

|title=IGFA World Record Game Fish taken off Loreto

|publisher=The Baja Big Fish Company Loreto

|url=http://www.bajabigfish.com/igfarecords.html

|access-date=2007-01-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206022805/http://www.bajabigfish.com/igfarecords.html

|archive-date=2006-12-06

|url-status=dead

}} The two "foundations" of Loreto's sport fishing are the "dorado" and the "yellow tail" (Seriola lalandi dorsalis). The dorado is the emblematic species of Loreto's warm waters, its season beginning in late May, peaking from July to September, and ending in November, with two important tournaments, in July and September. The yellow tail is one of the strongest species; its season begins in November, peaks from March to April, and comes to an end in late May.

File:Loreto, BCS, City Hall.jpg.]]

File:Loreto BCS - panoramio (2).jpg

The city of Loreto is the seat of the Municipality of Loreto, which is governed by a City Council (Ayuntamiento), consisting of a Mayor or Municipal President (Presidente Municipal), a Syndic (Síndico), and six City Councilors (Regidores), all eight elected by direct popular vote for a mandatory single term limit of three years. The Mayor is a voting member of the council, and as head of the public municipal administration is directly responsible for actual implementation of the City Council's decisions, somewhat analogous to a City Manager. The Mayor of Loreto is Darryn Murphy, whose term runs until April 2021.

The Syndic (or Trustee), also a voting member, is responsible for the legal representation of both the council itself and of the municipal government more generally, and monitors municipal assets and supervises public servants conduct, similar to a US Inspector General.

The other six City Councilors are voting members whose principal function is analysis and overall direction, rather than direct implementation of the council's decisions.[http://www.loreto.gob.mx/work/resources/LocalContent/15197/1/r_interno.pdf Reglamento Interior de Cabildo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621023048/http://www.loreto.gob.mx/work/resources/LocalContent/15197/1/r_interno.pdf |date=2007-06-21 }} Ayuntamiento de Loreto

[http://www.loreto.gob.mx/work/resources/LocalContent/15197/1/REG_INT_ADMON_PUB.pdf Reglamento Interior de la Administración Pública Municipal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621023059/http://www.loreto.gob.mx/work/resources/LocalContent/15197/1/REG_INT_ADMON_PUB.pdf |date=2007-06-21 }} Ayuntamiento de Loreto The Mayor is represented at the community action level by seven subdelegates (Subdelegados Municipales), who are appointed by the City Council to perform certain functions: presently serving are Agua Verde, San Javier, Ligüi, Colonia Zaragoza, San Nicolás, Tembabiche, and San Juan.

File:Shaded Walkway to Sea - Loreto - Baja California Sur - Mexico (23869114156).jpg

The city has two public schools of superior studies:

• The [https://web.archive.org/web/20060702102607/http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/cren/ Regional Center of Normal Education "Marcelo Rubio Ruiz"] (CREN) is an undergraduate school of education that offers two bachelor's degree programs in education and in special education.
• The Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS) Loreto campus offers two bachelor's degree programs in [https://web.archive.org/web/20070522222246/http://www.uabcs.mx/oferta/aicsh.lta.html alternative tourism] and in [http://www.uabcs.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=73 political science and public administration].

File:Street Scene - Loreto - Baja California Sur - Mexico - 02 (23894782265) (cropped).jpg from Loreto.]]

The Catholic private school Colegio Calafia offers one associate degree in commerce

High school students (10th to 12th grade) are served by two public schools:

• Centro de Estudios de Bachillerato
• Colegio de Bachilleres (former Preparatoria Federal por Cooperación "Manuel Davis Ramírez")

Middle school students (7th to 9th grade) are served by two public schools:

• Escuela Secundaria Estatal "Benito Juárez"
• Escuela Secundaria Estatal "Modesto Sánchez Mayón"

Elementary school students (1st to 6th grade) are served by six public schools and one catholic private school. There are five kindergarten schools. Boarding School Number 8 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20070928164542/http://www.sepbcs.gob.mx/Albergues/Albergues_numero_8.htm Albergue Escolar Número 8 "General Venustiano Carranza"]) serves children from the mountain villages who attend school, away from their homes and families. It serves approximately sixty five students.

The city is served by Loreto International Airport, offering domestic flights on carriers Volaris and Calafia. It is also one of the few places to get aviation fuel in the Baja area.Hoddenbach, Jim (9 April 2015) "[https://disciplesofflight.com/flying-to-baja-mexico/ Baja Bound, a Video]" Reference contained in video. Disciples of Flight. Retrieved 21 August 2015) International service is currently provided by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air to Los Angeles. Beginning in 2015, WestJet has also offered seasonal weekly direct flights to Calgary. American Airlines has announced seasonal service to both Phoenix PHX and Dallas Ft. Worth DFW starting in 2021{{cite web |url=http://www.yyc.com/News/tabid/91/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/204/WestJet-launches-service-to-Loreto.aspx |title=WestJet launches service to Loreto |publisher=Calgary International Airport |date=14 February 2015 |access-date=31 October 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502000000/http://mapserver.inegi.org.mx/mgn2k/?s=geo&c=1223 2010 census tables: INEGI]: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
• Morales Polo, Sergio, THE MISSION OF SAN JAVIER. A beautiful link of Jesuit Missions chain in the Royal Road of the Californias. Edit. Londó, México 2007

• Ann O'Neil and Don O'Neil (2001), [https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0970854102 Loreto, Baja California: First Mission and Capital of Spanish California], Tio Press, {{ISBN|0-9708541-0-2}}.
• Alan Axelrod, David Axelrod and Aaron Bodansky (2007), [https://books.google.com/books?id=3GjVJgAACAAJ Best Guide: Loreto], Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico; {{ISBN|978-0-9700455-8-4}}.
• Brett Alan Wyatt (2005), [https://web.archive.org/web/20060507134335/http://www.rileybooks.com/html/loreto_travel_guide.html You Decide Travel Guide:Loreto], Riley Books, {{ISBN|0-9708898-5-2}}.
• [http://www.isla.org.mx/ Conservación del Territorio Insular Mexicano, A.C.], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070621023048/http://www.isla.org.mx/documentos/estudio%20de%20agua%20verde.doc Estudio socioeconómico de las comunidades costeras El Juncalito, Ligui, Ensenada Blanca y Agua Verde, Municipio de Loreto, B.C.S.]
• Hiking Loreto,Hikes, Walks and Explorations in Loreto and the Sierra Giganta (2019) Fourth Edition; DeeDee Kelly, Dave Kelly and Ed Nugent.
• Miguel León-Portilla (1997), Loreto's key role in the early history of the Californias (1697–1773), California Mission Studies Association, OCLC 37842990.
• Paul Gangster, Oscar Arizpe and Antonina Ivanova (2007), Loreto - The future of the first capital of the Californias, {{ISBN|978-0-925613-52-3}}
• Sergio Morales Polo (1993), Loreto : some relevant facts about the history of the keystone of California culture, Editorial Londó, OCLC 39034134.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070609102845/http://anthro.ucsd.edu/~npeterso/ Nicole Dyan Peterson] (2005), [https://web.archive.org/web/20070617162910/http://anthro.ucsd.edu/~npeterso/PhDAbstract.htm Casting a wide net decision-making in a Mexican marine park], Ph.D. dissertation, UCSD, OCLC: 64507505.
• Loreto: Baja California, Mexico fishing chart and guide (1999), [http://www.bajadirections.com/ Baja "Directions", Inc.], {{ISBN|1-929394-05-5}}, {{ISBN|978-1-929394-05-0}}.

{{commons category|Loreto, Baja California Sur}}

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{{Baja California Sur}}

Category:Populated places in Baja California Sur

Category:Loreto Municipality (Baja California Sur)

Category:Port cities and towns on the Mexican Pacific coast

Category:Pueblos Mágicos

Category:Populated places established in 1697

Category:1697 establishments in New Spain

Category:Gulf of California

Category:Municipality seats in Baja California Sur