Get Ready to Whale Watch in Baja!

>Expeditions service both the Magdalena Bay and San
Ignacio lagoons. It offers charter flights directly from
January through early April peak time to experienceSan Diego to San Ignacio and five-day, all-inclusive
the grandeur of the gray whale in Mexicopackages, including accommodations at the camps. It
Gray whales are 52 feet long and weigh 36 tons, yetalso offers seven-day combined kayaking and
are gentle enough to touchÂ… and Bajawhale-watching programs to Magdalena Bay, meeting
California’s Pacific coast is the perfect place toat the La Paz International Airport. Programs run from
experience the thrill!February to end of March.
Every year in November, more than 10 thousand grayBaja Discovery Tours: Boasting more than 20 years
whales trade the freezing waters of Alaska’sexperience, Baja Discovery Tours it offers all-inclusive
Bering Sea for the warmth of Mexico’s Bajaservice from the San Diego International airport,
California Peninsula. Traveling along the Pacificincluding ground service to Tijuana, charter service to
coastline at top speeds of five mph and with pregnantSan Ignacio and accommodations at the San Ignacio
females in the lead, the whales take about fourcamp. Five-day programs run from February to end of
months to make the 10 thousand miles roundtrip.March.
Once the whales reach the Mexican coast, they mate,Lindblad’s Special Expeditions: This provider
bask in soothing lagoons and give birth, making Januaryoffers nine-day cruises featuring whale-watching at
through early April the peak time to whale watch.Magdalena Bay along with other destinations and
During these months, boat excursions are available allactivities. Groups meet in Los Cabos.
along Baja California, giving tourists the chance toMiramar Adventures: Offers three-day excursions to
observe these magnificent creatures in their naturalthe Ojo de Liebre lagoon. Tourists arrive by car.
environment, see the newborn calves and enjoy theFor those not interested in signing up for a
blowhole water shows.whale-watching package, Puerto Lopez Mateos or
Gray whales are so friendly that on many occasionsPuerto San Carlos at Magdalena Bay are quaint
they swim right up to the boats and even allow humansleepy villages where boats can be rented for US$50
contact. In early spring, the calves and their mothersa day, skipper included, and are located two hours by
are the last to head back up north, and without thecar from the Loreto International Airport.
presence of the males, mothers are less protective,Gray whales aren’t the only species to see
often allowing their young to approach tour boatswhile in Baja. Sea Kayak Adventures: also offers
more freely.kayaking/camping adventures out of Loreto on the
Where to watchSea of Cortez, located on the eastern side of the
Although a small percentage of whales, particularlyBaja Peninsula. Tourists can watch finback and blue
those that are not giving birth, make it as far south aswhales, along with dolphins, sea lions and exotic fish.
Cabo San Lucas and the East Cape on the southernApart from paddling among islands, additional activities
tip of the Baja, most whale-watching takes place ininclude snorkeling and hiking up scenic canyons offering
three major lagoons all the coastline of the Bajabreathtaking panoramas.
Peninsula.More on gray whales
Laguna Ojo de Liebre: Also known asHunted for their oils, blubber and other valuable
Scammon’s Lagoon, this body of water isproducts, gray whales were once victims of massive
located half-way down the peninsula on the Pacificslaughters in the 1800s and early 20th century. The
side in Guerrero Negro, about 440 miles south of thehunting continued until the numbers were reduced to
border. It was the principal hunting lagoon used byonly a few hundred, and the whales were
commercial whale hunters in the 19th century. Todaysubsequently placed on the endangered species list.
tourists arrive to the lagoon by car, but a nationalThanks to an international protection agreement made
airport is also available for tourists flying in from otheramong several countries in the 1940s, the
destinations in Mexico.whales’ numbers have grown at an incredible
Laguna San Ignacio: Located 100 miles south ofrate. Today, more than 20,000 gray whales exist and
Laguna Ojo de Liebre, access to this site is mostlyalthough still protected, they were removed from the
through charter air service from international airportsendangered species list in 1975. Gray whales are
such as San Diego and Tijuana.among the oldest species of mammals, inhabiting the
Bahia Magdalena (Magdalena Bay): This bay inEarth for about 30 million years.
becoming increasingly popular for whale-watching dueAbout the Mexico Tourism Board
to its proximity to the La Paz and Loreto InternationalThe Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the
airports.resources of federal and state governments,
How to get theremunicipalities and private companies to promote
Tourists can arrive by charter plane and/or ground toMexico's tourism attractions and destinations
the lagoons. Loreto’s International airport is theinternationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is
closest international airport to the lagoons, with limitedMexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its
service provided by Aeromexico and Aero California.participants include members of both the private and
Baja California’s capital, La Paz, is locatedpublic sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North
approximately halfway between Loreto and Cabo andAmerica, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
its larger airport offers more flight options.FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a
Whale-watching optionsstory or general travel and tourism information about
Gray whale excursions comprise half-day or day trips,Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North
packages based out of whale-watching camps, andAmerican Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by
cruise programs that allow tourists to sleep onboarde-mail at , or visit our press Web site at To access an
ships. There are various tour operators that specializeonline warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit
in whale-watching, including some major ones below.Erick Laseca
Baja Expeditions: Based in La Paz and one of theMexico Tourism Board
oldest and largest whale-watching outfitters, Baja312-228-0517erick.