From San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico, early on during the Spanish Colonization period, sailed Spanish ships of the line, originally called navior but later came to be called galeón, northward along the Pacific coast of Mexico to Mazatlan and then northwest across the Gulf of California to the bay of Loreto where the Spanish ship would anchor, send the longboat ashore to explore, trade with the natives and then load the good back to the ship. After repeated journeys to the peninsula ensued, land forces soon began to build a roadpath northward so as to colonize more of the new territory. In time, the ships would bring provisions for those stationed in the presidios and missions.

This route on the peninsula and its road construction conformed to much the same criteria as did most all of the Royal Roads, that is, the path would be a cleared trail having to meet several requirement. First and foremost, the trail must pass by areas of the populace where water and food could be obtained for both the travelers and any beasts of burden with them. Next, the route by necessity would be adjusted for seasonal heat or drought conditions. Third, the route should prove to be as direct as possible and not be dangerous or too expensive to travel.

The division of the workforce involved the priest providing the overall planning and route selection, the soldiers acted as foremen and the indigenous population served as the labor force. Much of the route crossed areas of mesas and mountains and resulted in an El Camino Real that endured quite well. Further, the higher elevation route provided a more frequent supply of springs or catchments because the high elevation impervious ground matter tended to keep what water that fell as rain near the surface.

In the new country of Mexico, Loreto was the state capital of Baja California Sur until 1777. Baja California remained an important part of the country, and pirates and sailors explored the wonders of the Sea of Cortez, gaining riches from pearls they found in the water. In 1769, the peninsula was divided into Old and New California, which would become known as Baja California and Alta California. In 1777, the capital moved to Monterrey, Alta California.

The city we now know as Loreto was established on October 25, 1697 by the Spanish Jesuit priest Juan María de Salvatierra, and it was the first permanent Spanish settlement in the Californias. At this location was extablished, El Real de Loreto with the mission of Our Lady of Loreto Concho. Building this church took several years and was completed on September 8, 1703.

The Jesuits were expelled in 1767 and control of the mission continued under the Franciscans. Then on 24 March 1769, leaving the mission to the Dominican Order, the Franciscans were ordered to accompany the Gaspar de Portola expedition to establish new missions in the unexplored northern frontier which would later become Alta California.