The Great Gray Whales of Baja

In times of ecological uncertainty, the gray whale offers a remarkable lesson in resilience and connection. Mexico Expedition Leader Maru Marcias offers an eye-opening look at the gray whales of San Ignacio Lagoon, which we meet on our Great Gray Whales of Baja adventure. Learn about their annual migration (the longest of any mammal), recent population declines, and how ecotourism plays a vital role in their conservation. This experience goes beyond whale watching—it’s an invitation to reflect on our relationship with nature and the future of travel.

Discover the fascinating history of Baja's gray whales, which we meet each winter on our Great Gray Whales of Baja adventure as they migrate from Alaska to Mexico's warm Pacific waters. Expedition Leader Maru Marcias talks about how many species were hunted nearly to extinction during the whale-hunting era and reveals why gray whales are the only species that have recovered to their pre-whaling numbers. Find out why this friendly mammal was once called "devil fish," how they've come to trust humans in recent decades, and why ecotourism is vital to their continued survival.

Each winter, hundreds of gray whales swim thousands of miles from Alaska's Bering Sea to the warm Pacific waters of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, where they mate, give birth and nurture their young. Learn from Expedition Leader Sofia Merino how you can have a front-row seat to the longest mammal migration on Earth. Get the details of our six-day Great Gray Whales of Baja adventure, with close-up viewing on SIX open skiff excursions. Plus, find out what to pack, and get a sneak peek at our private shoreside eco-camp on San Ignacio Lagoon.