Why Baja California is One of the Best Places On Earth to Spot Whales
During the months of December to early April, something incredible happens in Baja California: almost the entire world’s population of grey whales, humpbacks and 2-3,000 blue whales migrate to its shallow lagoons to socialise, mate and give birth. Rivaled only by the Galapagos, the world’s second largest peninsula is a paradise for marine mammals – and a must-visit for those in search of one of the most spectacular wildlife-spotting experiences on our planet.
It’s where most whales take their first breath
Baja California’s UNESCO protected bays (meaning whales here are protected from big boats, water pollution and hunting) combined with the naturally calm, warm and nutrient-rich waters, make it the perfect breeding spot for whales. In fact, grey whales give birth in only three locations in the world, all of which are in Baja’s peninsula. A whale watching tour in Baja, then, means getting to the very life source of the ocean’s most majestic animals – and, of course, the chance to see a lot of baby whales. What more could you want?
You can spot up to 9 different species
Small boats, small groups
Forget a huge boat with crowds of people running over to the railings fighting for a snap of a humpback’s fin in the distance. Most tours in Baja, no matter which type of whale you’re going to see, use Mexican pangas, 22 foot (6.7 metre) fibreglass boats capable of holding only 8-10 people. These boats, usually operated by local fishermen turned expert whale guides, allow you to get up really close to the whales and cover more distance in a short space of time, meaning if you spot a mother and her calf playing 200 metres (656 feet) away, you can be there in a flash.
You’ll get super close…
The small, fast panga boats are perfect for those really close encounters. In other words, if you’re spotting grey whales, it’s pretty unheard of to not have the whales pressed up against your boat. For the less playful whales, such as the blue whale and humpback, you may not be touching them, but you’re still likely to get closer than ever before.
And even get to touch them
With most wildlife watching, it’s normally in the best interests of both the animal and the observer to keep a safe distance. However, when it comes to interacting with Grey Californian Whales, this doesn’t apply. Researchers have found – including National Geographic reports – that grey whales are hugely social animals and actually seek human interaction, often pushing their young – and even lifting them up – to the boats to be petted. In fact, you’ll often be told by your captain to stroke and splash the whales with water as much as you can, because if you don’t, they leave for attention from another boat!
The guides really care
In the remaining 7 months of the year where whales are not breeding in the lagoons, most guides earn their living as fishermen. With declining fish numbers in Baja waters, these fishermen rely more and more on whale tourism to survive, meaning they take the protection of these wonderful animals very seriously. In Loreto, whales are so important to the local community that it holds a 3-day Blue Whale Festival every March with talks, presentations and live music performances to honour the giant and raise conservation awareness.
It’s affordable
Being such a unique experience – and as it only offers work to locals for 5 months out of the year – tour operators here could be charging through the nose, but they’re not. The grey whale watching tour in Laguna Ojo de Liebre in Guerrero Negro, for example, costs $50 (€40), which includes transport to the lagoon, guide, 3 hours on the water and a packed lunch. Tip: if you’re wanting to see the blue whales in Loreto, don’t book online (American-owned tours go for $100-150, or €81-121 per person). For the best deals (normally 4,000MXN ($214, or €173) for the whole boat), go to the fishing port at 7.30 am and organise a tour directly with the captains.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.