Inside out breaking news from the gray whale lagoons oceano. The western shore of baja is dominated by the pacific ocean and this surf pounded coast is normally restricted to only the most skilled sea kayakers. This is a guide for those who arent whale enthusiasts but whore interested in interacting with the grey whales up close. How to go whale watching in baja california sur, mexico. It is unknown how long pacific gray whales have visited the warm, shallow lagoons of bajas pacific. Whale watching mexico mexico ecotourism natural habitat. 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. Oct 19, 2017 in the marine lagoons and on the coast of the reserve, 66 percent of the species of marine mammals of the country, including three of seals, eight of dolphins and 15 of whales, including gray, are included. Guests witness gray whales playing, resting, and investigating their curious visitors before heading north to their arctic feeding grounds.
All reservations must be made through andiamo travel and cannot be made through the birch aquarium ticketing office. 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. Up to nine species of whales visit baja on a regular basis. Inside out breaking news from the gray whale lagoons. Read about camping on a gray whale lagoon, an incredible adventure. 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. Close encounters with bajas gray whales oceanic society. In the marine lagoons and on the coast of the reserve, 66 percent of the species of marine mammals of the country, including three of seals, eight of dolphins and 15 of whales, including gray, are included. Day boats are for hire in san ignacio lagoon, at two villages by magdalena bay, and at other lagoons in baja california. We had a fantastic time full of blows, flukes and even one breach. Our group was stoked to be the first ever people to stay in the camp. 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. Lindblad expeditionsnational geographic naturalist pete pederson talks about the changes in encounters between humans and whales in baja california. Gazing into the eye of a whale is a humbling, life changing encounter you will never forget.
San ignacio lagoon was originally discovered by whaling captain jared poole, brotherinlaw to captain charles melville scammon. In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet. Small mexico cruise ships may provide access to whalewatching in these sites as well. Mexico the best tips for whale watching in mexico whaletrips. Every october, the gray whales of the pacific begin a twotothreemonth migration from the cold alaskan seas to the warm waters of baja california. Gray whale breeding and calving grounds in the west coast of the. Baja airventures has three oneofkind soft, ecoadventure baja whale watching tours youll love. 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. Our baja whale experience couldnt be more different. Whale watching skiffs in the baja lagoons are highly regulated by the local people.
With all that, we do get close to the whales on every whale watching tour. Baby california gray whales in the lagoons of baja youtube. A gray whale spyhops in the waters of san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico. I heard a program on npr about a friendly whale lagoon where the whales started to befriend a local fisherman about 30 years ago. Small mexico cruise ships may provide access to whale watching in these sites as well. Explore baja california, mexico with birch aquarium and andiamo travel experts on two different membersonly trips. These are scammons lagoon, san ignacio lagoon, and.
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. If you have always dreamed of seeing the california gray whales up close and personal, but didnt want to sign up for a package tour in the process, then this hot tip is for you. But national geographic reports that gray whales in baja actually. The lagoon is one of three places in baja mexico where one can actually interact pet grey whales in the wild along with magdalena bay and scammons lagoon. Mar 09, 2015 by lisa gilfillan, education specialist our annual baja california whale adventure, a collaboration between birch aquarium at scripps and andiamo tours mexico, is a naturalistguided adventure to the lagoons of baja california. Whale watching in baja california contrasts markedly on the different sides of the peninsula. One of the most incredible natural wonders on the baja peninsula is visiting with the gray whales that come to the warm lagoons of baja california sur to breed and give birth every winter. Whale watching tours, scamoons lagoon guerrero negro baja. America to the shallow coastal lagoons of the baja california peninsula. Spyhopping, where the animal vertically pokes its head out of the water, is a behavior exhibited by cetacean s some sharks. Of the three main viewing lagoons for baja whale watching, bahia magdalena is the closest to an international airport. Every year in december thru april, the eastern pacific, or california, gray whale starts a 2 3 migration route beginning in the bering and chukchi seas and ending in the warmwater lagoons of mexicos baja peninsula, their round trip journey moves them through 12,500 miles of coastline. Gray whales have come for centuries to mate, calve, and relax before heading north to their arctic feeding grounds. Aug 25, 2017 a gray whale spyhops in the waters of san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico.
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. 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. Baja whale watching gray whales in baja california. Baja whale watching, san ignacio lagoon baja discovery. In most circumstances, its always best to simply watch wildlife and to disturb them as little as possible. San ignacio lagoon laguna san ignacio is a lagoon located in mulege municipality of the mexican state of baja california sur, 59 kilometres 37 mi from san ignacio, mexico and highway 1. If you are taking a trip to mexico, or living in mexico you cannot miss gray whale watching. To see the whales blowing, sounding, mating, and calving in their. Grey whale watching in baja is one of the worlds most intimate wildlife encounters. Whales, the largest known mammal, can grow up to 50 feet in. Experience magical, close encounters with the friendly gray whale mothers and calves of san ignacio lagoon, a unesco world heritage site. Of the three locations in baja california where the gray whales make an appearance each year, laguna san ignacio is regarded as the best. We also visit the beautiful sea of cortez for whale watching on this weeklong adventure on mexicos baja california peninsula.
Its flanked on the west by the mighty pacific ocean and on the east by the nutrientrich waters of the sea of cortez, so its no surprise that the mexican state of baja california sur bcs is one of the best destinations in the world for whale watching. Every year, the california gray whales set off on the longest migration made by any mammal. A female gray whale greets visitors to its baja california breeding lagoon during a. Youve spent nearly two months swimming from the frigid waters of the bering sea toward your calving grounds in san ignacio lagoon, halfway down the coast of baja california on the pacific side of the peninsula. It is amazing that the whales are so trusting and friendly. 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. In 1857, american whaling captain charles melville scammon found the baja nursery lagoons and must have felt like hed won the jackpot. In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet up. Following the whale trail by ann hazard imagine this. Mar 06, 20 every february blue water ventures travels to the lagoons of baja to spend time with california gray whales and their offspring. Whale update finally after 2 years of dreaming and planning the lamar ecotours team has opened its remote whale camp.
Whales and dolphins you may see on our 12day searcher natural history tour. Baja discovery san ignacio 2020 all you need to know. San ignacio lagoon and sea of cortez oceanic society. Every february blue water ventures travels to the lagoons of baja to spend time with california gray whales and their offspring. Spyhopping, where the animal vertically pokes its head out of the water, is a. Perhaps the most extraordinary wildlife encounter on the planet is a visit to san ignacio lagoon to meet up close 40 ton grey whales and their newborn calves. Every winter, grey whales migrate to the protection of shallow lagoons of bajas pacific coast to mate and give birth.
Gray whales baja california whales lindblad expeditions. It is one of the winter sanctuaries of the eastern pacific gray whales eschrichtius robustus. The gray whale, that had been nicknamed the devilfish by the whalers due to its ferocious attacks on the whaling boats then, is now a friendly whale that seems to seek some connection with the humans. The first months of the year gray whales and humpback whales come close to shore on their annual migration from the cold alaska waters to the warm lagoons at the center of the baja california peninsula, where they will mate and give. They still come to the same lagoons in baja california for mating and giving birth. We also visit the beautiful sea of cortez for whale watching on this weeklong.
To our astonishment it worked, with most of us achieving our first whale touch and even kiss. Many whalewatching toursoff boston or maui, for exampletake place on large commercial boats where you have to strain to see around guests crowding the rail, and if you do spot a whale, its likely youll glimpse only a tail or a spout of spray on the horizon. Download scientific diagram gray whale breeding and calving grounds in the west. 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. Check out these cool new baja whale watching videos. Download a screensaver for free, win a whale watching trip. The great gray whales of baja natural habitat adventures. 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. For most people, being close to a massive friendly whale with a gentle disposition is one of the greatest thrills in the animal world. Youre a 49 foot, 73,000 pound, very pregnant gray whale. Laguna san ignacio in baja california sur, mexico is one of 3 lagoons on the southwest coast of baja that are the winter home of the gray whale. Every year gray whales migrate more than 10,000 miles between their summer feeding grounds in the arctic and the coastal lagoons of the southern baja peninsula.
When an enormous whale glides over to your small panga. Three major lagoons in baja california are the primary destination of the southbound gray whales. The gray whale lagoons of baja california offer the best possibility for this opportunity of anywhere in the world. Go ahead and pet them witnessing these majestic animals along the pacific coast of baja california sur is far different from a typical new england excursion. In the shallow lagoons of the baja california and the california sur, every year thousands of gray whales gather to give birth to their calves. By lisa gilfillan, education specialist our annual baja california whale adventure, a collaboration between birch aquarium at scripps and andiamo tours mexico, is a naturalistguided adventure to the lagoons of baja california. When tourists come to see gray whales that migrate to baja lagoons at calving season, it often seems the curiosity might be mutual. Its where the whales are friendlier and encounters more likely. These lagoons were not only the perfect place for whales, but were even better for whalers. 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 whalewatching takes place in three major lagoons all the coastline of the baja peninsula.
Whalers killed the babies, knowing the mothers would stay around and could be taken next. There are so many whales here at this time, that you can just drop anchor and wait for them to swim up. The lagoon is one of three places in baja mexico where one can actually interact pet grey whales in the wild along with magdalena bay and scammons. Most mating activity of the gray whale occurs on the way to, or near, the lagoons of baja california. The whale watching in san ignacio lagoon is unlike any other whale watching. In this baja, the gray whales come to you photography. 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. San ignacio lagoon baja california 2020 all you need. Whale watching in baja california in january, we took a whale watching excursion around the southern end of the santa monica bay. May 24, 2016 lindblad expeditionsnational geographic naturalist pete pederson talks about the changes in encounters between humans and whales in baja california. Only motor boats pangas with trained guides may be used for whale watching.
Ensenada whale watching, whale watching tours ensenada. Not without a fight, however, which earned them the name devil fish. Sea kayaking in the lagoons is prohibited during the whale migration. When the gray whales arrive in baja to have their babies, it is a magical time. Prime season for gray whale watching is late january through early april. The art of gray whale watching baja bound mexico insurance. Usually, mating occurs in groups of three whales, a female and two males. Gray whale watching in baja discover baja travel club. Whale watching is one of the most popular activities in baja. Boat surveys of gray whales in the bm lagoon complex in 2019 duplicated. Not only do we enjoy exceptional proximity to san ignacio lagoon, but.
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