Getting to San Ignacio Lagoon
Getting to San Ignacio Lagoon is almost as much fun as being there! Whether you drive, fly, or sail to La Laguna, your trip down the Baja California Peninsula will present you with a treasure trove of sights, sounds, vistas and memories. It is never the same trip twice.
Flying
Many of Pachico's guests choose to fly into different cities in Baja California Sur then rent a vehicle to get to San Ignacio Lagoon. There are three commercial airports in Baja California Sur. Loreto (LTO), La Paz (LAP), and San Jose del Cabo (SJD). Loreto is the closest commercial/international airport to San Ignacio Lagoon.
Driving
If you are driving down to see us from the United States, or visiting us from elsewhere in Baja, you will want to check our recently updated driving directions.
Fly to Loreto
Loreto (LTO) is the closest international airport to San Ignacio Lagoon. Many of Pachico's travelers fly to Loreto, then drive to the Lagoon.
For information on flights to Loreto, please check with the following airlines:
- Alaska Airlines - Flights from Los Angeles (LAX)
Flights usually on *Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - Aeromexico
Fly to La Paz
La Paz (LAP) is the next closest airport to San Ignacio Lagoon. The airline tickets tend to be less expensive than flying to Loreto, but you will be adding more driving time to the lagoon.
For information on flights to La Paz, please check with the following airlines:
- Alaska - Flights from multiple cities
- Aeromexico - Flights from multiple cities
- Delta Airlines - Flights from multiple cities
- Volaris - Flights from multiple cities
Fly to San Jose del Cabo
Cabo (SJD) offers the best airline ticket prices, as well as the largest selection of flights to choose from. However, it is also located on the southern tip of Baja. That will add a lot more driving to get to the lagoon - Perfect if you want to see a lot more of Baja!
For information on flights to Cabo, please check with the following airlines:
- Alaska - Flights from multiple cities
- Delta Airlines - Flights from multiple cities
- Aeromexico - Flights from multiple cities
- United - Flights from multiple cities
- Continental - Flights from multiple cities
- Frontier Airlines - Flights from multiple cities
- USAir - Flights from multiple cities
- American - Flights from multiple cities
- Air Canada - Flights from multiple cities
Driving from the US to the
Town of San Ignacio
From the U.S. - San Diego / San Isidro, CA - Tijuana, Mexico Border Crossing
- Border - San Ignacio Town (600 miles/965 km - aprox. 12 - 14 hours)
Follow signs for Ensenada and Rosarito when traveling through Tijuana you want to follow the signs that say "Cuota Ensenada". This is the "scenic route," or Toll Road, which requires you to get into the RIGHT lane just a few hundred yards from the border crossing and then make a quick RIGHT onto the on-ramp for the Scenic Route or Toll Road. The Toll Road (Route 1) leads directly to Ensenada. Once in Ensenada keep following signs for San Quintin and Highway 1 to get through the city.
After leaving Ensenada, all you have to do is stay on the main road (Highway 1) until you reach the desert oasis town of San Ignacio 600 miles/965 km, from the border.
Enter the town of San Ignacio by making a right (southern) turn off Highway 1. There is a whale skeleton located just off the highway, marking the turn to San Ignacio. Turn "right" just before you come to the whale skeleton. Follow the road over the oasis, then through a thick stand of Palm Trees to reach the town square and plaza.
The town square will be on your left. The mission San Ignacio de Loyola will be on your right. Take a left just after the town square. Follow this narrow road until you come to the second right turn (there is a sign clearly marking this road will lead you to the whale and bird sanctuary). Keep going forward and you will be going up a slight hill that turns to dirt road (you will have a large brick building on your right). Turn left at the top of this hill (again, signs mark the way). Now you are on the San Ignacio Lagoon road.
Driving from the town of San Ignacio to San Ignacio Lagoon
The road from the town of San Ignacio to the Lagoon is approximately 53 kilometers (33 miles). The road to the lagoon used to be difficult and daunting. However, as of last whale watching season, they had paved the first 43.7 kilometers (27.2 miles) to our camp. The remaining 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles) to our camp is a dirt road, and is manageable in a compact car.
Once you are on the road from town to the lagoon follow it along through beautiful cactus gardens and it takes you right to the shore of the lagoon. Pachico's Eco Tours is the first camp you'll find when you are arriving to the Lagoon. Just before our camp, you will come to a "Y" in the road. There will be a sign for other whale camps, directing you to take a left. Do not take this turn - Remain going straight on the road that you have been traveling. You will soon see a sign for Pachico's Eco Tours, turn right at that sign and you will find yourself at Pachico's Eco Tours whale watching camp. WELCOME!!!
Driving from Loreto to the
Town of San Ignacio
The drive from Loreto to the town of San Ignacio is approximately 171 miles/275 km and 4-4.5 hours of driving.
- You can rent a vehicle in Loreto (or from the airport) through Budget, Hertz, Alamo, or Enterprise.
- Drive North on Highway 1. From Loreto you will pass through the towns of Mulege and Santa Rosalia on the way to the town of San Ignacio.
- Loreto - Mulege (86 miles/138 km)
- Mulege - Santa Rosalia (39 miles/62 km)
- Santa Rosalia - San Ignacio (46 miles/74 km)
Enter the town of San Ignacio by making a left turn off Highway 1, toward San Ignacio. There is a whale skeleton located just off the highway, marking the turn to San Ignacio. Turn left just before the whale skeleton. Follow the road over the oasis, then through a thick stand of Palm Trees to reach the town square and plaza.
The town square will be on your left. The mission San Ignacio de Loyola will be on your right. Take a left just after the town square. Follow this narrow road until you come to the second right turn (there is a sign clearly marking this road will lead you to the whale and bird sanctuary). Keep going forward and you will be going up a slight hill that turns to dirt road (you will have a large brick building on your right). Turn left at the top of this hill (again, signs mark the way). Now you are on the San Ignacio Lagoon road.
Driving from La Paz to Loreto
The drive from La Paz to the town of Loreto is approximately 225 miles/362 km and 4.5 - 5.5 hours of driving. Total mileage from La Paz to San Ignacio is approximately 396 miles/637 km and 8.5 - 9.5 hours of driving. Timing varies.
- You can rent a vehicle in La Paz (or from the airport) through Budget, Hertz, Alamo, or Enterprise.
- Drive North on Highway 1. From La Paz you will pass through the towns of Ciudad Constitucion and Ciudad Insurgentes on the way to the town of Loreto.
- La paz - Ciudad Constitucion (133 miles/214 km)
- Ciudad Constitucion - Ciudad Insurgentes (28 miles/45 km)
- Ciudad Insurgentes - Loreto (64 miles/102 km)
For further details please see driving directions from Loreto to San Ignacio.
Driving from San Jose del Cabo airport to La Paz
The drive from San Jose del Cabo airport to the town of La Paz is approximately 100 miles/160 km and 2-3 hours of driving. Total mileage from San Jose del Cabo Airport to the town of San Ignacio is approximately 496 miles/798 km and 11 - 13 hours of driving. Timing varies.
- You can rent a vehicle in Cabo (or from the San Jose del Cabo airport) through Budget, National, Alamo, Fiesta, Fox, or Payless Car Rentals.
- Drive North on Highway 1. From the San Jose del Cabo airport you will pass through the town of Lose Barilles on the way to the town of La Paz.
- San Jose del Cabo airport - Los Barilles (36miles/57 km)
- Los Barilles - La Paz (65 miles/104 km)
For further details please see driving directions from La Paz to San Ignacio.
