La Cruz De Loreto: Turtles, Wetlands, and Coastal Landscape

La Cruz de Loreto combines a distinctive coastal landscape with the protection of sea turtles and a diverse wetland system. Playa Mismaloya is a protected stretch of coast within the turtle sanctuary and is located in the town of Cruz de Loreto. Travelers who want to focus on nature and a place’s history will find different facets of life along the Jalisco coast here.

Turtles and Protected Coast

Olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) nest and lay eggs at Santuario Playa Mismaloya. Historically, Playa Mismaloya has been considered one of Mexico’s most important sites for solitary egg-laying and mass arrivals of olive ridley turtles. This history shapes nature conservation around the beach. Low-impact tourism and non-extractive activities take place there. Conservation measures, the management of sea turtles and their nesting grounds, as well as surveillance, monitoring, and educational activities, are overseen by CONANP.

Work at the Mismaloya turtle camp is also part of this nature theme. The environmental committee’s duties include beach protection patrols, collecting and relocating nests, nest exhumation, and releasing hatchlings. The participatory committee supports the camp; its members are trained to assist with camp duties and look after visitors.

Coast, Rock Pools, and Wetlands

At Punta Peñitas, the tides form small pools on a rock formation. They provide habitat for various mollusks and numerous marine algae. Punta Las Peñitas de La Cruz is located in La Cruz de Loreto. Its sandy beach is 7.2 kilometers long and borders saline areas and tropical dry forest. This coastal landscape offers a different view of nature from the turtle sanctuary.

Nearby, the Agua Dulce–El Ermitaño wetland system lies beside Playón de Mismaloya. It consists of Laguna Agua Dulce and Estero El Ermitaño, which are connected by a regulated channel. The lagoon’s surroundings include tropical dry forest, mangroves, wetland vegetation, and coastal dunes. The main access routes to the Ramsar site pass through La Cruz de Loreto, and from there along unpaved roads and paths.

Local History and Tradition

The development of La Cruz de Loreto in the 1960s and 1970s was based on the use of sea turtles at Playón de Mismaloya and in the sea. Today, the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera La Cruz de Loreto S.C.L. continues to use the fishery resources of the Agua Dulce–El Ermitaño system; the cooperative has approximately 60 members.

The Templo de San Juan de la Cruz is also located in the town. On November 24, people from the surrounding communities gather there to celebrate their patron saint. Nature and local history thus stand alongside a religious tradition that brings people from the area together.

Getting There and Choosing a Base

When choosing your holiday rental, it can be helpful to consider which parts of the surrounding area you want to experience and how you will get there. A rental car or local taxi services are recommended for getting to Punta Las Peñitas, as public transportation is limited. In general, the rural and expansive area is best explored on foot or in a private vehicle. A 7.83-kilometer state highway passes through Nuevo Santiago and reaches La Cruz de Loreto.

The dry season in La Cruz de Loreto lasts from November to April. During these months, the weather is warmer and there is less rain. Take this seasonal characteristic into account when planning your travel dates. Whether your interests lie in the coast, wetlands, turtle conservation, or local life, these experiences offer different reasons to explore the area around La Cruz de Loreto.

More local pages: Jocotepec, San Nicolás, Mazamitla, Municipio Zapotlanejo, Tlaquepaque, Tomatlán, Tesistan and San Nicolás de Ibarra.

For the main travel overview: Jalisco.