The Study Area
The study area covers an area of approximately 4,525 square kilometers
within the municipality of Loreto. Of this, 2,625 square kilometers is
covered by ocean and islands. The terrestrial areas make an area of
approximately 1,900 square kilometers. The landscape is oriented north
to south following the coastline. The study area spans a distance of
85 kilometers north to south, as the crow flies.
The coastal strip that might be developed is quite narrow in most
areas and is traversed by many small arroyos that carry significant
amounts of water during storms. This leaves relatively little land
that might be appropriate for development. The town of Loreto lies in
the northern half of the study area with the source of drinking, the
San Juan Bautista Londó aquifer, 30 kilometers to the northwest. In
addition to the area surrounding the town of Loreto, the region is
usually divided into four other areas south of Loreto: Nopoló, Notrí,
Puerto Escondido, and Ensenada Blanca- Ligϋi.
FONATUR owns approximately 30 square kilometers of land in the Loreto
region designated for tourism development. Most of this landholding is
within two parcels, one in Nopoló and the other in the Puerto
Escondido-Ligϋi area. The Nopoló area is the site of two major hotels,
a golf course, a tennis center, and the Loreto Bay Company
development. The FONATUR land in the Puerto Escondido area covers an
area of more than 35 square kilometers.
A marine protected area covers most of the ocean included in the study
area. The Loreto National Marine Park covers an area of approximately
2,065 square kilometers.
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