Baja whale watching starts in january and continues until mid april, during which the gray whales inhabit the three main lagoons on the pacific coast of baja california sur the south state of baja, mexico, to give birth, nurse, and prepare their calves for the journey back to alaska. San ignacio lagoon and sea of cortez oceanic society. San ignacio lagoon is the place with the highest percentage of friendly encounters and it is up to all of us to make sure we do everything we can to continue the tradition. Due to its ecological importance, laguna san ignacio is a designated unesco world heritage site, biosphere reserve and whale sanctuary. San ignacio lagoon baja california 2020 all you need. At san ignacio, local families carefully regulate whalewatching and limit the area where boats may go to 5 square miles in a 25square. Laughing pacific grey whale near san ignacio, mexico. Baja whale watching in the san ignacio lagoon with air charter from the us to the lagoon. They are here, like us snowbirds, for the warmer water, but also possibly unlike many snowbirds for birthing and breeding. The ultimate guide to whale watching in san diego go san. Our destination for the day was the whale watch zone in laguna san ignacio. After a failed attempt the because of car trouble the day before, we headed out to laguna san ignacio to see the famous whales washboarded road. Whale watching holiday to mexico san ignacio lagoon.
In 1972, after his first friendly encounter with a gray whale, pachico began running whale watching trips in the san ignacio lagoon. In our official whalewatching season from december 16 april 30 we offer. My friend colleen and i moved in quiet anticipation, as we packed up her jeep for the long trek out to the san ignacio lagoon. Meet 40 foot long and 40 ton gray whales and their newborn calves up close based from our allinclusive solar and wind powered ecolodge on the remote desert shores of san ignacio lagoon. Article and photos by james michael dorsey 12172015. In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet. Government regulations permit only two boats around one friendly whale, so we might see other boats with a friendly whale, but we might not necessarily have access to it. Today pachicos eco tours is the only fully locally managed whale watching outfitter in the lagoon. Its still waters are a stark contrast to the burnt shades of the surrounding desert, and at its edges the land is a barren division between the lagoon and the vast, curved expanse of the mexican sky.
Every season, hundreds of people from all over the. Browse our publications to learn how the lagoon ecosystem and the local community have evolved and changed. Air transportation to san ignacio camp on day 1 and return on day 5. A coa host will be at the lagoon to help ensure your comfort and enjoyment throughout your. San ignacio lagoon is a sheltered lagoon that is connected to the migratory path of the gray whales as they travel the pacific coast of. The hotel was very affordable, extremely clean, and petfriendly.
Prime season for gray whale watching is late january through early april. This years trip was in late february, to san ignacio. However, because blue whales and gray whales migrate at different times of the year, whale watching season in san diego is open year round. Our catered camp is situated at waters edge with safaristyle tents, cots, and solarheated showers to make your days and nights comfortable and carefree. San ignacio lagoon pachicos eco tours baja gray whale. San ignacio is a whale watchers dream, where visitors have a good chance of having an upclose encounter with a friendly whale. Nic slocum phd frgs the pacific gray whales of san ignacio lagoon is a whale watching holiday like no other.
Whale watching in laguna san ignacio of the three locations in baja california where the gray whales make an appearance each year, laguna san ignacio is regarded as the best. However, these amazing animals deserve space and respect, and although it is legal here to touch the whales, strict regulations ensure that interactions only happen on the whales terms. San ignacio lagoon has earned, quite rightly, the accolade of being one. Friends of the san ignacio site up to date info on environmental issues on the area. The gray whales travel all the way to the pacific lagoons in baja each year to mate and to give birth. According to the story of creation, it is written, and god created the great whales.
It was a fantastic place to stay and we were thankful to have found it. Getting to the lagoon from san ignacio town dec 28, 2018. Chilly darkness and chips of stars greeted me as i opened the door onto the predawn sky. The san ignacio whale watching with kayaking combination tours run from midmarch to midapril.
We also visit the beautiful sea of cortez for whale watching on this weeklong. The lagoon forms part of the vizcaino reserve, the. Laguna san ignacio is a wellknown nursing area for the california gray whale, and is famous among nursing grounds for its friendly encounters. The whale watching in san ignacio lagoon is unlike any other whale watching. The pacific gray whales of san ignacio lagoon tour destination. Legendary san ignacio lagoon in baja is one of our two locations for one of lifes most soulstirring experiences.
Road from san ignacio to laguna san ignacio sep 04, 2019. Our whale watching season begins december 15th and ends april 15th. The gray whales arrive in san ignacio lagoon every december and january to bear and raise their young before heading back north. Its where the whales are friendlier and encounters more likely. Watching, touching and kissing whales in laguna san. With all that, we do get close to the whales on every whale watching tour. Our usbased pilotguides will assist you every step of the way and get you to the whales faster. The laguna san ignacio ecosystem science program has been publishing reports of its findings in baja california sur, mexico since the early 1980s. Click below for expert advice on animal welfare in tourism. In this baja, the gray whales come to you photography.
We stayed in the town of san ignacio, baja for 3 nights. Our gray whale watching ecotour packages in baja california include transfer by air from the u. Spyhopping, where the animal vertically pokes its head out of the water, is a. This day was to be my first encounter with baja californias gray whale. Your day is filled with whale watching, hiking along. A gray whale spyhops in the waters of san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico. Arrive in loreto, headquarters for row sea kayak adventures operations in baja. February and march are the height of the season for whales in baja california. There is no place on earth where you are more likely to have this experience than on the san ignacio lagoon, located on. Campo cortez is known for its secluded, private, and pristine wildlife location. Whale watching in laguna san ignacio baja california.
Gray whales and calves in san ignacio lagoon, baja california, one of the 3 lagoons they migrate to in winter to give birth and breed for the next season. Whale watching at laguna san ignacio, with baja discovery. For reasons that no one understands, a select number of pacific gray whales enjoy contact with people, and on these whalewatching tours you will. Baja unbounds san ignacio whale watching excursion situates you right in the heart of gray whale territory, with our basecamp set up right off the shore where the pass. Whale watching at san ignacio lagoon 5 day air trip itinerary welcome maldo, johnny and the entire staff of baja ecotours welcome you to the journey of a lifetime. You would have to stay in a hotel in san ignacio and make arrangements to go to the lagoon the next day. Whales, whales, whales san ignacio lagoon darkling plain. Pachicos eco tours is a unique whale and wildlife watching organization that is run by jesus, son of the.
San ignacio lagoon is a sheltered lagoon that is connected to the migratory path of the gray whales as they travel the pacific coast of north america from alaska to mexico. Fortunately, due to the good recon of the other camps, we were at a camp that was in very close proximity to the area. The friendly whales of san ignacio lagoon galivants travels. San ignacio whale watching by row sea kayak adventures. The san ignacio lagoon gray whales located in baja california sur, san ignacio lagoon reflects mirrored shades of jade green and cobalt blue. If you have a preference for one species of whale over the other, gray whales migrate from middecember through april while blue whales. Youll soon be joining us at our remote ecolodge campo cortez at san ignacio lagoon where man and leviathan thats a whale have formed a unique, and peaceful relationship. Snackld on day 1, bld on days 2 to 4 and bl on day 5. Family whale watching in magdalena bay sea kayak adventures. The gray whales of san ignacio the baja storyteller. Includes whale watching statistics for the 2000 season. San ignacios whale lagoon once a 30ton gray whale has held you in its gaze while allowing you to rest your hand on its head, your perspective of life will never be the same. Baja whale watching gray whales san ignacio lagoon baja mexico.
They only mate and give birth in four lagoons, the san ignacio lagoon is the most intimate of the lagoons in baja. They offer upcloseandpersonal experiences with these beautiful creatures, many of which can last up to 3. San ignacio lagoon, baja california sur where gray whales roam gray whale nursery cradled, safe in the lagoon surface glimpses only twenty of us flew out of ensenada at the end of february on two 10 person planes to san ignacio lagoon, on the pacific coast of baja california. Traditionally, whale watching season runs from december through april. We cannot guarantee you will touch whales that is completely up to the whales. Posted by sherrie on thursday, june 7, 2012 2 comments those of us who live here in the san juans know that the opportunity to see whales exists pretty much all year round, but there are definite seasons when the whales are more likely to be about. In 1983 people in a skiff went whalewatching in scammons lagoon, another whale sanctuary north of san ignacio. Videos from baja discovery whale watching trips at san ignacio lagoon, baja mexico. An encyclopaedic site dedicated to the grey whale species and the protection of its environment. The total boat ride was only 10 minutes or so before we were in the thick of the pod.
We have been based in this lovely town since 1993 and consider ourselves part of the fabric of the community. Tea and coffee greet you with the morning sun, and youre welcome to stroll along the beach and watch the whales wake up while your guides prepare a hot breakfast. Migration whale watching at laguna san ignacio, baja. The road to laguna san ignacio starts at the southwest corner of the town of san ignacio. Antonios ecotours whale watching at laguna san ignacio. Whale watching videos, san ignacio lagoon baja discovery. I am guessing that the biggest group was between punta piedra and.
Video illustrates typical 5day whale watching tour with baja discovery at san ignacio lagoon. Whale watching baja san ignacio baja california sur. Pacific gray whales flyin with our private plane san ignacio lagoon is a whale watchers paradise, as the pacific grey whales make their annual migration south from the arctic to these protected waters to mate and calve. The first written reference to whales is in genesis, chapter one, verse 21, of the king james bible. The san ignacio lagoon gray whales scuba diver life. For this reason, some boats at san ignacio stay out longer 3 hrs and may incorporate birdwatching at the mangroves too. The gray whale eschrichtius robustus, also known as the grey whale, gray.
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