For more information on whales and whale watching in baja, please contact. There are only 3 places in the world that grey whales give birthall on the baja. The sea of cortez is exceptionally nutrientrich, especially around islands. Usually, well over whales are here during each season and, on some exceptional seasons, baja whale watching experts counted over. But the highlight of your journey to loreto is undoubtedly your grey whale watching tour in magdalena bay, followed by a journey through las dunas to see the variety of bird species that inhabit the area. Whale watching in baja california in january, we took a whale watching excursion around the southern end of the santa monica bay. Although we can organise half and fullday experiences from cabo, this signature eightday expedition delves deeper into the islandlike peninsula of baja sur for incredible wildlife encounters, breathtaking desert scenery, crumbling spanish missions, culinary exploration and. Whale watching tours with gray whales in bajas magdalena bay. The whaleplanner february a whale watching infographic. The best time to visit baja is undoubtedly between mid january and mid march, when the grey whales migrate to the lagoons to give birth. Todos santos whale watching baja california, mexico.
Our baja kayaking and whale watching trips combine two of the very best natural experiences in baja kayaking the beautiful loreto bay national marine park in the sea of cortez and whale watching in magdalena bay, an ecological reserve and the gray whale calving lagoon on bajas pacific coast. Whales and dolphins you may see on our 12day searcher natural history tour. Whale watching season begins in baja california travel agent. The opportunities for whale encounters here are truly exceptional. During our stay in mexico we went to magdalena bay, which is frequented by grey whales. Like the gray whale, the humpback is a baleen filter feeder whale that grows to about 12 to 16 meters 39 to 52 feet.
We also have grays, humpback, fin, minke and pilots, bryan jauregui tells travel agent. Many whalewatching tours off boston or maui, for exampletake place on large commercial boats where. Whale watching season comes to a close april 30 dont miss out. The combo trips offers three days of whale watching during peak season. Come watch the whales and, even if you get here out of season, take a boat ride on the bay. Its whalewatching season on mexicos pacific coast, from baja to. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save the graphic on the next page. Combo trips gray and blue whale watching season tours in. We have the blue whale, the largest mammal on earth.
In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet up. Mar 28, 2016 whale watching in baja california in january, we took a whale watching excursion around the southern end of the santa monica bay. Our annual baja california whale adventure, a collaboration between. Explore the best of both baja, mexico coasts on an oars baja sea kayaking and whale watching adventure. Feb 21, 2016 gopro footage shot on an 11 day whale watching trip with mark carwardine. We are very excited today to announce the official start to the cabo san lucas whale watching season with whale watch cabo. Whale watching skiffs in the baja lagoons are highly regulated by the local people. Whale season is getting underway in the mexican pacific, and baja california sur bcs is the place to be. There are so many whales here at this time, that you can just drop anchor and wait for them to swim up. Mothers nudge their daysold babies up to the boats, they rub against the hulls, and in some cases even come close enough to be patted on the nose. One guest described it as, its handsdown one of the most incredible wildlife encounters ive ever had. Close encounters with bajas gray whales by kathi koontz it was dark when i left my house, but the sun was shining brightly upon our groups arrival in beautiful loreto baja california sur, mexico, the starting point for our baja. In the weeks in the whales will venture as far south as cabo pulmo and cabo san lucas to winter, before turning around and heading north again to summer in arctic waters some of the pacific bays and lagoons of baja california sur are. Close encounters with bajas gray whales oceanic society.
Come and enjoy an exciting, educational ride aboard one of our pangas on san ignacio lagoon, the premier destination for whalewatching in baja. We do our utmost to provide the best possible whale watching experience. Study area around the baja california peninsula where blue whales. The east coast of baja is bordered by the sea of cortez, supporting the largest and most varied population of whales in the world, as well as one of the last sanctuaries for the endangered finback and blue whales, the largest of the cetaceans twice the size of gray whale. This trip provides the experience of a lifetime for recreational kayakers, wildlife lovers, whale watchers and outdoor enthusiasts. This is our focus and our reason for being in business. Check out these cool new baja whale watching videos. Cabo san lucas whale watching season begins baja mexico. Each year gray whales travel over 10,000 miles round trip between their nursery lagoons in baja california sur, mexico, to their feeding grounds in the arctic. Whale watching season begins in baja california travel. Discover whalw watching tours in mexico and get ready for a great getaway. Of the whale watching tours we offer in baja mexico, this one is best for seeing whales at very close range, and plenty of them. In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet. The first official day of the season is december 15.
It has a bulky head with bumpy knots tubercles and long pectoral fins. Limited to 18 travelers a very important feature of our whalewatching tours is the limited group size, as whale encounters are best experienced with fewer travelers for a more intimate nature experience. Baja airventures has three oneofkind soft, ecoadventure baja whale watching tours youll love. Baja discovery is a leading ecotourism company providing natural history trips and tours in baja california mexico, including gray whale watching at san ignacio lagoon, sea kayaking, pack trips to visit cave paintings, and custom tours and treks for birding and botany.
The name whale shark comes from its size, being as large as some species of whales. The baja california is known as biggest cactigarden of. Whale watching san diego style we love whales and have driven deep into mexico twice to the unesco world heritage site of the whale diy baja california road trip. From our tented camp,we went out twice a day to the whale watching zone of san ignacio lagoon most of the lagoon is protected for the whales and therefore offlimits to boats.
Baja discovery san ignacio 2020 all you need to know. We had a fantastic time full of blows, flukes and even one breach. The great gray whales of baja natural habitat adventures. Best of baja through mar y aventuras we got to watch gray whales in magdalena bay and fish from the beach, behold the amazing power of tidal action on the sandy barrier islands, snorkel with sea lions, swim with whale sharks, go on a nature hike and kayak tours on espiritu santo isle.
In the weeks in the whales will venture as far south as cabo pulmo and cabo san lucas to winter, before turning around and heading north again to summer in arctic waters some of the pacific bays and lagoons of baja. Gray whales migrate every year from the cold waters around alaska where they spend the summer to the warmer waters of baja california in winter once in the mexican peninsula, around the last week of december, the gray whales begin to be in sight between todos santos islands and the ensenada bay on their way south. Download scientific diagram study area around the baja california. Gray whales are 52 feet long and weigh 36 tons, yet are gentle enough to touch and baja californias pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the thrill. If youre here just for the sea kayaking, the best time to visit baja is the end of octearly dec, as well as marapr, as the wind drops and the sea of cortez is clear and calm. The blue whale portion takes place in the sea of cortez, offshore of loreto on the east coast of the peninsula. The whaleplanner december a whale watching infographic. Baja california whale watching, mexico ultimate travel co. Video illustrates typical 5day whale watching tour with baja discovery at san ignacio lagoon. Sometimes we have two separate groups that are in the same location at the same time. Our 9day midwinter kayaking adventure in the sea of cortez with whale watching in magdalena bay, offers the experience of a lifetime for kayakers, bird and wildlife lovers, whale watching enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. North pacific right whale eubalaena glacialis aquatic mammal. Here you will find the operators and licensed boats to take you live that wonderful encounter with the colossus of the sea, an extraordinary experience.
Gray whale season in baja was a huge success wildcoast. On 20 february 1996, during an aerial survey along the baja california peninsula, we observed a single right whale eubalaena glacialis at 2302n. Especially at the end of the breeding season march and april the whales in the baja. The trip set out from san diego and travelling down the baja california peninsular and into the sea of cortez. Baja california is fast becoming the premier location to watch whales in the world. Gray whales migrate every year from the cold waters around alaska where they spend the summer to the warmer waters of baja california in winter once in the mexican peninsula, around the last week of december, the gray whales begin to be in sight between todos santos islands and the ensenada bay on their way south the whale migration season runs. Whale shark season in the sea of cortez is early winter until late spring so you wont see them in july. For those who dont have time for a full day of whale watching, we offer a 3 hour whale watching tour. Can you still book a tour to swim with the whale sharks or is that not in season in july.
Our baja kayaking and whale watching trips combine two of the very best natural experiences in baja kayaking the beautiful loreto bay national marine park in the sea of cortez and whale watching in magdalena bay, an ecological reserve and. In addition, whale watching is becoming more common in the sea of cortez. It was around 3pm on friday 28 february 2014, in san ignacio lagoon, baja california. Magdalena bay whale watching baja adventure travel baja tours. Combination gray whale and blue whale trips each combination trip is unique with specific start and end points that vary with the itinerary date. Please scroll down for available trips and to book your trip.
In the weeks in the whales will venture as far south as cabo pulmo and cabo san lucas to winter, before turning around and heading north again to summer in arctic waters. In the us and canada there are very strict laws about how close to whales you can get. Private luxury whale watching cabo san lucas cruise. Seven of us, plus our guide, were in a small panga motorboat, bobbing around on a sunny afternoon. When tourists come to see gray whales that migrate to baja lagoons at calving season, it often seems the curiosity might be mutual. Set sail for a day to remember on the cabo san lucas luxury whale watching and private sailing charters excursion. And, two days whale watching in san ignacio lagoon also called, laguna san ignacio, both on the pacific side of baja, mexico. If you come out of whale season you can still take a relaxing boat ride on the bay.
February is peak month for both grey whales and visitors, and whale watching trips take place in magdalena bay and san ignacio lagoon. Only a limited number of boats are allowed in the whale watching areas and they must have a maximum of 68 passengers, a guide and a boat handler. As you encounter the magnificent gray whale and the wonders of the sea of cortez, youll combine the best of both coasts of baja. There are some good snorkel tours where youll likely have young sea lions swim around you.
Two unique baja whale watching trips on the pacific ocean and sea of cortez and one baja whale shark ecotour on the sea of cortez that world travelers rave about. This baja coastal sailing excursion offers incomparable privacy, whale watching, coastal sailing, optional snorkeling and comfort. Jan 31, 2018 sleepy west coast towns suddenly come to life when its the season for whale watching on baja. Grey whale watching in baja is one of the worlds most intimate wildlife encounters. Gopro footage shot on an 11 day whale watching trip with mark carwardine. Wed watched jealously as a mother and baby grey whale approached a boat 100m away. Scammons is also the largest of the three whale watching lagoon. For thousands of years the gray whale has been a faithful visitor of the baja california peninsula, looking for warmer waters to pass the winter season.
With the highest concentration of baja gray whales right offshore, theres no better place to witness the gray whales as they play. Our 3 and 4day magdalena bay whale watching tours include camping at our exclusive safaristyle basecamp set on a secluded beach. Whales can be seen all around the middle peninsula of baja california sur. Where to watch although a small percentage of whales, particularly those that are not giving birth, make it as far south as cabo san lucas and the east cape on the southern tip of the baja, most whale watching takes place in three major lagoons all the coastline of the baja peninsula. Whale shark facts the whale shark is the largest fish on the planet, reaching lengths of arround 18 to 40 feet 5. Baja california sur is one of the best world destinations to see whales. Gray whale watching season begins in early december and moves along the pacific coast of the baja peninsula and ends in early april as the whale return north. Its whalewatching season in mexico as the pacific gray, humpback and blue whales migrate to mexican territorial waters to breed. Whale season starts in january and lasts until april. Your hotel is situated in the heart of the city, beside one of baja californias most picturesque squares. Mexico the best tips for whale watching in mexico whaletrips. Sleepy west coast towns suddenly come to life when its the season for whale watching on baja. The humpback gets its name from its distinctive body shape. Baja whale watching combined with sea of cortez kayaking in loreto makes this tour a guest favorite.
Their presence gives baja californians a sense of pride because the gray whale is internationally known as a mexican whale. Baja whale watching top things to know about bajas gray. But it starts in different days in different places. Our staff is highly experienced in baja whale watching. Know season and schedule for baja whale watching tours and. More than 20 species of whales are encountered around baja most yearround, making this area an important center for whale observation. The first of the gray whales arrive in bajas calving lagoons by late december to early january, beginning the baja gray whale season. Whale watching tours with gray whales in bajas magdalena bay gray whale watching guaranteed. Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo. Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo tours. Whale watching at laguna san ignacio, with baja discovery. Tours mexico, is a naturalistguided adventure to the lagoons of baja california. Perhaps one of the most exciting things is the official dates for this seasons whale watching.