Baja Behemoths
Go Whale watching to see the giant creatures in the wild
The nutrient-rich waters off Los Cabos harbor numerous varieties of whales and dolphins, but one species in particular makes Baja a terrific place for up-close whale watching.
Every autumn, California gray whales embark on a 6,000-mile swim from the Bering Sea between Alaska and Siberia to Baja’s Pacific coast. Like human visitors from the north, these majestic beasts come in search of a warm place to spend the winter months, and the rugged coastline offers several protected lagoons that serve as nurseries for newborn calves.
From January to March, local sightseeing boats operate short excursions from Cabo San Lucas in search of California grays, which may be seen cruising close to shore as they round the cape. Or you can book a trip to one of the calving lagoons, where visitors are taken out in smaller open skiffs to see the whales up close. In some cases, the creatures swim close enough to touch.
From Los Cabos, the lagoons are far enough north that you’ll have to make it a multi-day excursion unless you’re willing to pay Aero Calafia some serious dinero for a fly-in day trip to Magdalena Bay. Prices begin at $420 per person, including air transportation and a three-hour panga excursion on the bay.
At other times of year when gray whales are not present, keep a pair of binoculars handy any time you’re out on a sightseeing cruise, fishing charter or dive boat. There’s a good chance you’ll spot some of the other cetaceans that frequent these waters, including blue whales, humpbacks, finbacks, minkes and large schools of dolphins.
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