A handful of shops line the streets surrounding the plaza, with handicrafts, silver jewelry, home furnishings, and Mexican-style apparel for sale. In some of these stores, prices for crafts are about two or three times higher than for the same items elsewhere in Baja. In general, shop hours can vary by season and sometimes at the owner’s whim.

In front of the mission, La Casa de la Abuela (no tel.) sells an assortment of handicrafts in a building as old as the mission itself (1744). Artesanias Colibrí (Salvatierra at Independencia, no tel.) carries a nice selection of ceramics, jewelry, maps, and handicrafts.

A retired schoolteacher from New Mexico, Jeannine Perez, opened El Caballo Blanco (Hidalgo 19 at Madero, no tel., jeannine1220 [at] yahoo [dot] com, 9 A.M.–7 P.M. Mon.–Sat.) in 2005 with thousands of used books, plus new Baja titles and art supplies, for sale. Jeannine has published a personal account of Loreto history, sights, and attractions, including her own sketches.

The Baja Big Fish Company (tel. 613/135-1603, www.bajabigfish.com, 9 A.M.–5 P.M. Mon.–Sat.) on Juárez, two blocks from the waterfront, carries a wide selection of flies, plus leaders and lines. Credit cards are accepted.

One block west of the mission, El Alacrán (Salvatierra at Misioneros, tel. 613/135-0029, 9 A.M.–7 P.M. Mon.–Sat.) is a fine-art gallery and upscale gift shop with unique ironworks, silver jewelry made in Taxco, and colorful scarves and wraps from Chiapas.

Next to Café Lolita, La Biznaga (Salvatierra 10, tel. 613/135-0961, Tues.–Sun.) has reasonably priced gifts and clothes as well as inexpensive bike rentals.