Thirty-two kilometers north of Loreto, Bahía San Bruno served as a launch pad for the first Spanish land expedition that sought to evaluate the Baja Peninsula for colonization.

Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino and Admiral Isidro de Atondo y Antillón arrived in 1683 with a group of 50 soldiers and 100 loyal indigenous people from mainland Mexico and set up camp along this bay. Although they never established a permanent mission, they used the site as a base from which to explore the interior of the peninsula. And through these early efforts, they identified the future sites of the Comondú and La Purísima missions.

Modern-day San Bruno is a quaint fishing community with seemingly more pangas than residents. A new harbor and paved boat ramp were completed in 2006 with state government funding. This town also makes a good starting point for a trip to dive or fish around Isla San Marcos. Head to the harbor to charter a boat.

San Bruno celebrates its town festival in early October.

Services include gas from a drum, a bus stop, and a couple of abarrotes stores.

Hotels

With prior experience at the Hotel Serenidad in Mulegé and Punta Chivato, Alberto Carrillo runs the first and only hotel in town. The new Hotel Costa Serena (tel. 615/153-9022, US$35) has a half dozen air-conditioned rooms in a single-story building facing the sandy beach. Each room is individually appointed with antique furnishings and named for one of Alberto’s uncles. White bathrobes are a plus. Alberto has added a restaurant and spa, and his nephew offers panga tours to Isla San Marcos.

Getting to San Bruno

To get to San Bruno, look for a turnoff on Highway 1 at Km. 173, north of the turnoff to San José de Magdalena.