Humpback whale megaptera novaeangliae, baja california sur, san jose del cabo, cabo san. To download a digital copy of the catalog or to receive a printed copy by mail, please. Witness the gray whale migration, one of natures most phenomenal events, and see these gentle giants upclose in the heart of their breeding grounds. In addition to these whales, whale sharks frequent bajas waters. It was dark when i left my house, but the sun was shining brightly upon our groups arrival in beautiful loreto baja california sur, mexi. Experience magical, close encounters with the friendly gray whale mothers and calves of san ignacio lagoon.
In addition to these whales, whale sharks frequent baja s waters. Led by expert naturalists, full and half day boat tours are available almost every weekend, with opportunities to see blue, humpback, and gray whales, dolphins and porpoises, seals and sea lions, rare seabirds, and other marine life up close. In this baja, the gray whales come to you photography. 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. Keep learning with science activities that kids and families can do at home. Your hotel is situated in the heart of the city, beside one of baja californias most picturesque squares. A baleen whale which grows up to 50 feet 14 m long and weighs up to 40 tons. Whale watching is one of the most popular activities in baja. Whale watching half moon bay, ca riptide sportfishing. Oceanic dolphins or delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. There are so many whales here at this time, that you can just drop anchor and wait for them to swim up. Friendly gray whales approach our whale watching boat in san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico during our march 2016 expedition.
Seven of us, plus our guide, were in a small panga motorboat, bobbing around on a sunny afternoon. We do our utmost to provide the best possible whale watching experience. Baja california whale watching, mexico ultimate travel co. Pillar point, and bodega bay, california, and eventually to baja california out of san diego. The best source of information on gray whales, the best gray whale and blue whale watching trips in baja mexico.
A driver takes you to the airport where a snazzy cesna quickly brings you to the lagoon. This is our focus and our reason for being in business. Roderic mast is oceanic society s president and ceo. Mike bursk will talk about the migration of gray whales headed to baja. Whale watching tours with gray whales in bajas magdalena bay. In the second episode of our fivepart video series exploring important marine habitats and critical conservation issues, we explore the positive impacts of sustainable tourism on both people and.
It was around 3pm on friday 28 february 2014, in san ignacio lagoon, baja california. They include several big species whose common names contain whale rather than dolphin, such as the killer whale and the pilot whales. Check out these cool new baja whale watching videos. Of the three main viewing lagoons for baja whale watching, bahia magdalena is the closest to an international airport.
Whale watching skiffs in the baja lagoons are highly regulated by the local people. Up to nine species of whales visit baja on a regular basis. Tents close to the beach means you might see a gray whale breach 4 times almost as soon as you arrive, which we. The eye of a gray whale swimming in san ignacio lagoon. Experience magical, close encounters with the friendly gray whale mothers and calves of san ignacio lagoon, a unesco world heritage site. Exciting interaction with whales see them swimming under water approach boat and allow us to touch them gopro hd video.
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. Oceanic society ran its first whale watching trip to the farallon islands in. Wayne also coteaches undergraduate field programs in kenya on human. Our san francisco whale watch programs began in 1972, and have given thousands of people the opportunity to see and learn about the bay areas spectacular marine wildlife, including several species of whales, dolphins, seabirds, and much more. Observe one of the most miraculous natural phenomena on the planet. 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.
Gray whales migrate from alaska to the baja peninsula in winter and are a protected species. A magical and close encounter with friendly mom and playful 2 month old. On this expedition we will explore the intersecting stories of several endangered speciessea turtles, whales, and whale sharksand the people of baja california who are working to bring them back from extinction. Mar 26, 2017 gray whale encounters in san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico, 2017. Baja airventures has three oneofkind soft, ecoadventure baja whale watching tours youll love. The large concentration of gray whales that reside here each winter are extremely friendly, and regularly approach our small whale watching pangas skiffs in a. The whale shark is a fish, not a mammal like a whale. Join us on a whale watching trip from san francisco or half moon bay.
Home page of jones adventure travel and the gray whale advocate. Gray whale encounters in san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico, 2017. Both of these whale species are endangered and this research is critical to determine population trends and indications of possible recovery. We also visit the beautiful sea of cortez for whale watching on this weeklong adventure on mexicos baja california peninsula. 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. Magdalena bay whale watching baja adventure travel baja tours. 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. Friendly gray whales in baja california, mexico hd youtube. Playing with whales in guerrero negro, baja, mexico baja. More than 20 species of whales are encountered around baja most yearround, making this area an important center for whale observation. Their presence gives baja californians a sense of pride because the gray whale is internationally known as a mexican whale. With the highest concentration of baja gray whales right offshore, theres no better place to witness the gray whales as they play. Every year, the california gray whales set off on the longest migration made by any mammal.
Oceanic society is a nonprofit marine conservation organization founded in san francisco in 1969. Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo tours. Sometimes we have two separate groups that are in the same location at the same time. This migration places the gray whale in our area usually between december through march. In july this year, packs of whale were seen near the golden gate bridge. 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. Baja whale shark home snorkeling with whale sharks,whale. When the gray whales arrive in baja to have their babies, it is a magical time. Field guide to the gray whale by oceanic society 2002 0122 oceanic society on.
As over 97% of the gray whale population migrates to a small coastline and small bays in the baja every winter this makes an excellent opportunity for gray whale watching tours, research and conservation. Whale watching in baja california in january, we took a whale watching excursion around the southern end of the santa monica bay. Oceanic society is a californiabased 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving. The protected bays and lagoons of the baja provide a safe haven to the gray whales to breed and calve. Swimming with the whale sharks was an unbelievable experience. Field guide to the gray whale by oceanic society 200201. Oceanic society farallon islands whale watching san.
Aug 25, 2017 the eye of a gray whale swimming in san ignacio lagoon. Field guide to the gray whale by oceanic society 20020122. San ignacio lagoon and sea of cortez oceanic society. In this baja lagoon, whales seek attention from humans, turning the rules of wildlife photography on their head. Snorkel with whale sharks and sea lions in the sea of cortez and visit fishrich cabo pulmo national marine park on this wildlifefilled expedition to baja. Tiny creatures in underwater forest might hold promise for future medicines. The gray whale migrates along our coastline each year between baja california and the arctic. On our whales of baja tour you will be accompanied by a full time guide,travel in your own car and stay in comfortable first class hotels. He is an experienced guide with a diverse background in marine mammal, seabird, and marine debris research. 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. Gray whales can grow to a very large size with males averaging 40 ft. Our 3 and 4day magdalena bay whale watching tours include camping at our exclusive safaristyle basecamp set on a secluded beach.
Oceanic society established in 1969 and conducts whale watch, participatory research projects and natural history expeditions to protect endangered wildlife and preserve threatened marine habitats worldwide. 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. To go for our gray whale watching tours in baja you can call us at the above given number or even emails us at the above mentioned email. Each year hundreds of whales congregate in the lagoon to reproduce and. He is a lifelong conservationist, a marine biologist. We hold the killer whale catalog for california and continue to photoidentify all killer whales we see in monterey bay as well as document their predatory behavior and social structure. Whale watching tours with gray whales in bajas magdalena bay gray whale watching guaranteed. Wayne sentman is our director of conservation travel programs and an oceanic society naturalist since 1998. 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. Our staff is highly experienced in baja whale watching. Oceanic societys 20202021 expeditions catalog is here oceanic. 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. In addition, whale watching is becoming more common in the sea of cortez. California has some of the best marine wildlife viewing in the world.
We had a fantastic time full of blows, flukes and even one breach. Wed watched jealously as a mother and baby grey whale approached a boat 100m away. Whales and dolphins you may see on our 12day searcher natural history tour. Feb 21, 2016 exciting interaction with whales see them swimming under water approach boat and allow us to touch them gopro hd video. Baja california is fast becoming the premier location to watch whales in the world. If you are interested in watching the california gray whales as they make their thousand mile migrations from alaska to baja california, by all means get this. But by having the title of largest fish in the world, they get to have.