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Sierra de la Giganta: Mexico 1, Sierra de la Giganta, Baja California Sur
Photo: Kirt Edblom · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped

Drives Baja California Sur, Mexico Central Baja: Guerrero Negro, Mulegé and Loreto

Sierra de la Giganta: Mexico 1

MEX 1 · Giganta plateau → Loreto

Leisurely46 mi1 hr 5 min2,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,400 ftOne way
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The drive

Mexico 1 drops from the Sierra de la Giganta toward the Sea of Cortez and runs into Loreto. The drive is 73.5 km (46 mi) and takes about 1 hr 5 min northbound, with roughly 2,600 feet of total climbing and a high point near 1,400 feet. The curves are mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch where the road works down through the mountains.

The Sierra de la Giganta runs parallel and close to the Gulf coast, from Loreto south toward La Paz. Its highest point, Cerro de la Giganta, rises 1,176 m (3,858 ft) near Loreto. It's dry shrubland, with palm oases in stream valleys where water runs year-round.

Loreto at the end was the Jesuits' first mission on the peninsula, founded in 1697.

Along the way

  1. Giganta plateau (Mexico 1)
  2. Loreto (Mexico 1)
Elevation
2,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,400 ft
Giganta plateauLoreto
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
Giganta plateauLoreto
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The surface between Ciudad Insurgentes and Loreto is rough in places, with potholes.
  • Slow trucks climb and descend the grade, and livestock are a hazard on the peninsula's highways, so avoid driving after dark.
  • Loreto, at the end, has fuel stations.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check SICT (Mexico's federal roads agency).

Questions about this drive

How long does the Sierra de la Giganta drive on Mexico 1 take?

The Mexico 1 drive from the Giganta plateau to Loreto is 73.5 km (46 mi) and takes about 1 hr 5 min.

Is Mexico 1 to Loreto rough?

It can be. Mexico 1 between Ciudad Insurgentes and Loreto is rough in places, with potholes.

Which way is this drive best done?

This drive is set northbound, from the plateau down to Loreto and the Sea of Cortez, the way most visitors arrive from La Paz.

Is there a toll on Mexico 1 into Loreto?

No. Mexico 1 between the Sierra de la Giganta and Loreto is a free federal highway.

What you get in the app

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More drives near here

All 7 drives in Baja California Sur, Mexico ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Sierra de la Giganta: Mexico 1, from Giganta plateau to Loreto