GRAY WHALES - MEXICO

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The Baja California peninsula is a world apart, another univers.

Inside this bewitch world, MagBay is a stretch of Pacific coastline measuring about 50 km. It is the largest coastal wetland of the BCS and is created by the uninhabited sandy barrier islands of Isla Magdalena and Isla Santa Margarita. They protect MagBay from harsher Pacific winds, giving it a calm environment that is a perfect playground for Gray whales, which can grow to 35 tons and about 12m long.

Gray whales are known for their “friendship”, nicknamed “las amistosas” by the locals. This species is limited to the North Pacific and is unique in that almost the entire population follows a seasonal migration along the coastline of western North America. Gray whales spend the summer months (June, July, and August) in the Bering Sea area, between Alaska and Russia. In the fall they migrate south, along the west coast of Canada and the United States, ending up in their traditional breeding and birthing grounds in sheltered lagoons of BCS during the winter months (January, February, and March).

The lagoons of the BCS are ideal nursery : whales give birth in a handful metres of water and the newborns can easily breathe their first mouthful fresh air. They don’t care at the small boats (panga) outing to the bay every morning. Friendly and engaging, they are often intrigued with humans, swimming right up to the boats and coming within arm’s reach, allowing people to gently touch their long nose. Mostly the juveniles breach above the surface, make playful splash and spy-hopping, while the calves swim side by side the mothers. The adults often show flukes and pectoral fins.
Gray whales of MagBay look for visual contacts, since if we observe the whales, it is clear that they also investigate us.

They emerge every 5 – 8 minutes to exhale and inhale through their double blowholes and when we hear the sound is like to hear the breath of the ocean.

The group size is limited to max 5 participants plus the guides.

Classic tour 2025

February, on request
four spaces

Magdalena Bay

ins  and  outs

Your journey

We operate with one of the more experienced captain and fisherman of Puerto San Carlos, specialized in offering unique whale watching.
He is very skilled and will position the panga for a water-level perspective and for heartwarming encounters with the whales.
We will discover the varied ecosystems of MagBay, enjoying boat excursions to the Isla de Patos, the sandy dunes and the mangrove’s system rich with birdlife, including frigatebirds, pelicans, cormorants and other wildlife.

In details

Classic tour. 8 days, 7 nights :
  6 full days at sea, from morning to evening, depending on the actions and our souls ;
  half day excursion to the dune, the intricate mangrove’s system and to the Isla de Patos, a sanctuary for waterbirds;
  7 nights’ accommodation in hotel or country hotel , services in full board, drinks excluded ;
  private use of the panga (with covering, no bathroom) .
The group size is limited to max 5 participants plus the guides.

Is this trip right for you ?

You need to be a whale’s and wildlife lover, patient and resolute.
Be conscious that might be days without any good situations since the whales might be engaged in courtship and don’t be interested in tourists.
You will observe fishing eagles, pelicans and many other sea birds looking for their first catch of the day.
For fellows who are not addicted on schedules, as the programme might change without prior warning in order to grasp the better opportu-nities.