The Great Gray Whales of Baja

A very important feature of our whale-watching tours is the limited group size, as whale encounters are best experienced with fewer travelers for a more intimate nature experience. On this eco-travel adventure, we have exclusive use of our private waterfront camp. We divide our group into smaller numbers for whale-watching excursions, with each boat generally accommodating eight to nine guests.

Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s) and local staff, a local San Ignacio Lagoon guide on all excursions, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, some alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, some alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel protection insurance.

This rare adventure offers the closest possible whale encounters and is a must for lovers of marine wildlife! Here are some important aspects of the trip you should be aware of.

Early Booking Advised for Flights to and from Loreto, Mexico
Please be aware that flights to and from Loreto, our start and finish point, are often very limited. We strongly advise signing up for this trip as early as possible to avoid problems with flight availability and expensive fares. Additionally, airlines tend to alter flight schedules on this route fairly often, so please be aware that we may need to address a schedule change after flights have been booked.

Seasonality of Whale Behavior
Our current whale-watching season runs from early February to early March. With climate-related changes, we are observing the whales’ migration timing and seasonal behavior patterns slowly shifting. Visitors in the first part of February will be more likely to see active whales engaging in playful behavior, courtship and mating, with plenty of spy-hopping and dramatic breaches. Earlier in our season, mothers and calves are less visible as they remain in the upper protected areas of the lagoon where whale watching is not allowed, so as not to disturb the calves as they gain strength and weight. Later in February and into March, we are more likely to see mothers with calves, and “friendly” whale behavior, approaching our pangas at close range and sometimes coming directly alongside our boats.  

San Ignacio Lagoon Permitting
Part of what makes San Ignacio Lagoon such a pristine whale-watching environment is the unique permitting structure formed and managed by the local community. In addition to regulations set by the Mexican government, the lagoon camp operators and fishermen developed a permitting system to fairly manage the demand for whale-watching tourism while maintaining protection of the lagoon and the whales. The system involves a limited set number of permit-holders allowed to operate in the lagoon, and an even smaller number of permitted pangas that can enter the lagoon at a given time. Once a panga has entered the whale-watching area, it is allowed to remain up to 90 minutes before it must exit and allow other pangas to enter. Each panga must wait a minimum of 20 minutes between scheduled times in the whale-watching area, meaning no operator can have a panga in the whale-watching area for more than 90 minutes at a time. This can mean that at times, we must wait for a short period at the entrance to the whale-watching area until the sheriff permits our panga to enter. During this time, distant whale behavior can still be spotted in the viewing area.

Plan to arrive in Loreto no later than 4 pm on Day 1 of the adventure, as there is a group orientation and welcome dinner at 5 pm. You are free to depart anytime on the final day.

We can best serve you if our Natural Habitat Adventures Travel Desk makes your reservations, as we are intimately familiar with the special requirements of this program and can arrange the most efficient travel. Please call us at 800-543-8917. Note that while we offer you the best possible rates available to us on airfare and additional nights' accommodations, you may find special web rates or better fares online.