A day trip to San Javier, a mountainous village located 22 miles southwest of Loreto, provided one of the most memorable meals of the trip. In addition to its stunning 18th-century stone mission and centuries-old olive orchards, San Javier is home to chef Saúl Torres Cárdenas’ farm-to-table restaurant San Javier Farm (23880 San Javier, Baja California Sur, México).
The restaurant’s setting couldn’t be any more tranquil, cradled in the mountain range with the afternoon sun dappling the outdoor dining room.
San Javier Farm is a one-man show. Originally from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Chef Saúl cut his teeth at renowned resorts and hotels across Mexico (Garza Blanca, Marival, Grand Fiesta Americana, Grand Park Royal, Hotelito Mío Playa Las Ánimas, Club Regina Puerto Vallarta, Raintree Club Regina Los Cabos) before settling in Loreto in 2023.
San Javier Farm Restaurant offers a hyper-local dining experience, where the chef builds seasonal menus using only ingredients grown on-site and sourced from local producers.
Our four-course lunch began with a salad comprised of vegetables from the restaurant’s garden, featuring lightly charred baby corn and a tangle of sprouts.
Next up was a Loreto-style sashimi made with locally caught tuna.
Wandering the property in between courses was a real treat.
Chef Saúl plating the third course.
The main protein was a grilled sea bass served simply with vegetables and a lemon wedge.
Dessert featured tender beets and pears poached in red wine with lemon.
Each course was paired with a fantastic wine from Desert Wine 5, a family-owned operation located in Ciudad Constitución, in the heart of the Valle de Santo Domingo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. My favorite pour was the red, comprised of Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Nebbiolo grapes.
Before lunch, our group of food and travel writers visited the area’s most famous site: Misión San Francisco Javier de Viggé-Biaundó, also known as Mission San Javier.
Founded in 1699, the mission is beautifully preserved and widely considered the best-maintained mission in Baja.
My visit to Loreto included not one, but two important Spanish missions. The first-ever mission — Mission Loreto, founded in 1697 — is centrally located in town, just a short walk from the hotel where I stayed (Hotel 1697). Mission San Javier is the second mission that the Spanish erected.
A mishmash of different architectural styles could be found throughout the mission’s facade.
For many of us who grew up learning California history in the public school system, the Spanish missions hold a distinct place in our collective memory — a shout-out to my hometown’s Mission San Diego de Alcalá. For better or worse, these missions are a central pillar of the region’s complicated and violent colonial past, a shared legacy that spans both sides of the border.
Located on the mission’s grounds is the oldest olive garden in Baja and a 300-year-old olive tree.
The five days I spent exploring Loreto this past June were an absolute pleasure. Thank you to Visit Baja California Sur for planning such a thoughtful itinerary that celebrated the region’s gastronomic delights and historical significance. I’ll be back.
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Adventures in Baja:
- 72 Hours in Baja: Rosarito & Valle de Guadelupe
- 80 Hours in Baja: Puerto Nuevo, Valle de Guadelupe and Ensenada
- Fishing for Yellowtail in Loreto, Mexico
- The Real Tradwives of Loreto, Mexico
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Adventures in Mexico City:
- Sud 777 – Mexico City
- El Borrego Viudo – Mexico City
- Mexico City Street Food Tour | Club Tengo Hambre
- La Churrería El Moro – Mexico City
- Pujol – Mexico City
- {swoon} Tuna Tostada at Contramar
- La Esquina del Chilaquil – Mexico City
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Adventures in Tijuana: