Study area around the baja california peninsula where blue whales. The blue whales of the loreto marine reserve, baja. Dont miss out on a upclose encounter opportunity with these. Download scientific diagram study area around the baja california peninsula where blue whales were photographed. For thousands of years the gray whale has been a faithful visitor of the baja california peninsula, looking for warmer waters to pass the winter season. We were staying right on the shore in an ecocamp but would be going out into the designated whalewatching area of the lagoon twice daily in small boats. In this baja, the gray whales come to you photography. Its time for your wonderful whale watching experience at magdalena bay.
Whale season is getting underway in the mexican pacific, and baja california sur bcs is the place to be. Grey whale young surfacing baja california mexico stock photo. The gray whale migration the first months of the year gray whales and humpback whales come close to shore on their annual migration from the cold alaska waters to the warm lagoons at the center of the. They are on their way to baja to spend a few months enjoying the pacific lagoons along the baja coast. Mexicobaja california sursea of cortez destination 2009. Located off of baja californias west coast, it is the wintering grounds of the magnificent gray whale.
Whale watching tours with gray whales in bajas magdalena bay. North pacific right whale eubalaena glacialis aquatic mammal. Whale numbers down in baja california mexico news daily. Us tourists travelled from san diego on selfcontained 7 to 10day cruises down to the lagoons of the baja california coast. Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo.
One such unexplored destination that i always wanted to travel to was baja. The sea of cortez was aptly coined the worlds aquarium by jacques cousteau. Whales world wide is the overseas whale and dolphin watching arm of whale watch west cork. Every year gray whales migrate more than 10,000 miles between their summer feeding grounds in the arctic and the coastal lagoons of the southern baja peninsula.
Whale watching is one of the most popular activities in baja. Gray whale watching season begins in early december and moves along the pacific coast of the baja peninsula and ends in early april as the whale return north. On our first evening mark filled us in on what to expect. Baja california whale watching season attracts a lot of wildlife amateurs and experts who come here just to see the whales for days. Baja california whale watching, mexico ultimate travel co.
The gray whale lagoons of baja california offer the best possibility for this opportunity of anywhere in the world. Limited to 18 travelers a very important feature of our whalewatching tours is the limited group size, as whale encounters are best experienced with fewer travelers for a more intimate nature experience. Baja california has protected lagoons calm waters, protected from killer whales, so it is a relatively. Despite rescue efforts by federal and local officials, the army, navy, fishermen and residents, 24 pilot whales died on the weekend after beaching themselves in baja california. Baja whale watching gray whales in baja california. The blue whales of the loreto marine reserve the aquarium of the world is how the great jacques cousteau referred to the sea of cortez. Mothers nudge their daysold babies up to the boats, they rub against the hulls, and in some cases even come close enough to be patted on the nose. In the shallow lagoons of the baja california and the california sur, every year thousands of gray whales gather to give birth to their calves. We specialise in taking small parties of dedicated whale and dolphin watchers to different parts of the world to experience first hand the special behaviour of whales and dolphins in their natural. Whale lovin is in the air from the mating to nursing of the calfs.
A worldclass whalewatching destination, baja california is home to over a dozen different whales, including curious gray whales of laguna san ignacio and earths largest inhabitants, blue whales. The trip set out from san diego and travelling down the baja california peninsular and into the sea of cortez. Up to nine species of whales visit baja on a regular basis. The 115room hotel is the most luxurious in baja california surs capital and part of a larger resort community that includes a marina, an 18hole gary player golf course, and a beach club.
Whale watching season begins in baja california travel. This article originally appeared in the autumn of 2006. Besides the annual visitation of gray whales, baja is also called on by blue whales, sperm whales, humpback whales, fin whales, orcas, and minke whale. Although many people think gray whales when they think baja due to the gray whales friendly natures and summer birthing schedules in shallow lagoons, many whales actually frequent the waters of baja california. Baja california sur is one of the best world destinations to see whales. Go on a whale watching cruise right here in san diego with birch aquarium and flagship cruises and events. The first months of the year gray whales and humpback whales come close to shore on their annual migration from the cold alaska waters to the warm lagoons at the center of. San ignacio lagoon is one of the best places to camp and spends days just watching whales and stay connected with mother nature. Gray whales have come for centuries to mate, calve, and relax before heading north to their arctic feeding grounds. Every year, the california gray whales set off on the longest migration made by any mammal.
And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree stock images. Their presence gives baja californians a sense of pride because the gray whale is internationally known as a mexican whale. Download scientific diagram example of a blue whale identification photograph included in the baja california blue whale catalogue. Called friendlies by whale watching tourists, many whales now seek human contact in the baja lagoons.
Based on decades of respectful wildlife ecotourism. February is peak month for both grey whales and visitors, and whale watching trips take place in magdalena bay and san ignacio lagoon. Lodging for the popular best of bajas whales, dolphins and sea lions includes a bed and breakfast stay on the pacific ocean, as well as time spent at our famous las animas ecolodge, where you can experience sea lions, dolphins, and more whales. Its flanked on the west by the mighty pacific ocean and on the east by the nutrientrich waters of the sea of cortez, so its no surprise that the mexican state of baja california sur bcs is one of the best destinations in the world for whale watching.
To see the whales blowing, sounding, mating, and calving in their. A tale of extraordinary interaction with gray whale in baja. Whalewatching in baja california orange county register. The large concentration of gray whales that reside here each winter are extremely friendly, and regularly approach our small whale watching. Example of a blue whale identification photograph included in the. San ignacio lagoon baja california 2020 all you need. Gray whale watching at san ignacio lagoon, baja california. Your hotel is situated in the heart of the city, beside one of baja californias most picturesque squares. The ultimate guide to baja california whale watching i. Whale watching holidays whale watching holidays around the. Click below for expert advice on animal welfare in tourism. Usually, well over whales are here during each season and, on some exceptional seasons, baja whale watching experts counted over. If youre here just for the sea kayaking, the best time to visit baja is the end of octearly dec, as well as marapr, as the wind drops and the sea of cortez is clear and calm.
I had joined a festival of whales trip, led by renowned whale expert and friend of wanderlust, mark carwardine. We drove halfway down the baja california peninsula to the city of. During friendly encounters, a gray whale approaches a whale watching skiff, eyes the passengers, and may come alongside and surface so that the tourists can touch or sometimes even kiss the. Enormous magdalena bay is home to thousands of breeding gray whales. Dolphins and more than 100 species of marine birds spend the winter in the sheltered lagoons, including huge white pelicans, brant geese, and many. Immerse yourself in endless wildlife experiences on searcher natural history tours signature 12day itinerary to baja california, mexico. Whales, the largest known mammal, can grow up to 50 feet in. When the gray whales arrive in baja to have their babies, it is a magical time.
This behavior was first reported in 1976 from san ignacio lagoon and has grown each year. Spyhopping, where the animal vertically pokes its head out of the water, is a. How to go whale watching in baja california sur, mexico. This is some video of my amazing whale watching trip we went with the green tortoise, camping in mexico on fantastic beaches where its warm and sunny in the winter now thats travel. Gopro footage shot on an 11 day whale watching trip with mark carwardine. Mark is addicted to baja california s whales, visiting every year. Of the whale watching tours we offer in baja mexico, this one is best for seeing whales at very close range, and plenty of them. In the weeks in the whales will venture as far south as cabo pulmo and cabo san lucas to winter, before turning around and heading north again to summer in arctic waters some of the pacific bays and lagoons of baja california sur are. Laguna san ignacio in baja california sur, mexico is one of 3 lagoons on the southwest coast of baja that are the winter home of the gray whale. Gray whales on the move teacher handout 1 answers to gray whale migration questions 1. The alaskan arctic has large amounts of food amphipods for gray whales. Mexico the best tips for whale watching in mexico whaletrips. Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas wwc 20200228t21.
The opportunities for whale encounters here are truly exceptional. The beautiful pristine untouched magdalena bay must not be missed during a holiday to baja california sur. Mark is addicted to baja californias whales, visiting every year. On 20 february 1996, during an aerial survey along the baja california peninsula, we observed a single right whale eubalaena glacialis at 2302n. This is hb maverick and we are going are south of the mexico border to south baja california to get up close to the gray whales. The sea of cortez the worlds aquarium, as it was referred to by the famous french explorer jacques cousteau and the pacific coast of the peninsula have 80% of all marine mammals found in mexican waters. In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet. A female gray whale greets visitors to its baja california breeding lagoon. Download this grey whale young surfacing baja california mexico photo now. San ignacio lagoon and sea of cortez oceanic society. But the highlight of your journey to loreto is undoubtedly your grey whale watching tour in magdalena bay, followed by a journey through las dunas to see the variety of bird species that inhabit the area. A gray whale spyhops in the waters of san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico.
Between december and april one of the most spectacular natural shows takes place. Heres how to see humpbacks, gray whales, blue whales and whale sharks in the region. See more ideas about whale watching, whale and baja california. Don a mask and snorkel for a swim around the rocks and inlets of the islands and you will see why. The blue whales of the loreto marine reserve, baja california sur. Mexicos baja california sur is a whale watching paradise.
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