Location: Baja California Peninsula, Mexico
Recommended by Daria of Explore Baja California
How do I know it’s ethical?
Whale watching is one of the best ethical experiences as you get to watch these giants from a safe distance in their natural habitat. Remember that you’re never guaranteed to spot a whale on a tour. While the probability is higher during certain months, you can never be sure when this majestic creature shows up.
Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula has an arid dry climate with plenty of sunshine and not a lot of rain. At first, it might seem like there’s not much here, but don’t let the desert fool you: this region boasts plenty of biodiversity.
The peninsula is surrounded by the Sea Of Cortez on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
The renowned naturalist Jacques-Yves Cousteau nicknamed the Sea of Cortez the “Aquarium of the World,” because of the incredible biodiversity that calls this place home. Here you can spot sea lions, turtles, pods of orcas and many types of whales.
Description of the Experience
Cabo San Lucas is the most popular destination in the Baja California Península, with many whale watching tours departing from there.
But it’s not the only place that you can use as a jumping point for whale watching. You can spot gray whales, humpbacks, blue whales, and whale sharks, all around the peninsula. You will need to depart from different destinations depending on what kind of species you want to see.
For example, humpback whales can be spotted off the coast of Cabo San Lucas.
Humpback whales come to BCS between December and April. They often can be spotted in both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. January and February is the best time for spotting humpback whales in the region.
Gray whales are commonly found in the Bay of Magdalena, and are more difficult to find in the Cabo San Lucas area.
The gray watching tours depart from Puerto San Carlos and Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos, two small towns that are five hours away by car from Cabo San Lucas and three hours away from La Paz.
If you are staying in Cabo, but want to see gray whales, you can either rent a car and drive up the coast to Magdalena Bay, or join a tour with Whale Watch Cabo which provides whale watching experiences in Cabo San Lucas, Magdalena Bay, and La Paz.
You can also spot the blue whale off the coast of Loreto in Baja California. This small Pueblo mágico is located about six hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
Company/ Cost:
Most whale watching tours take between 2-3 hours depending on location and the type of tour. You can choose from many boat options, group tours, and private tours. Smaller boats are better for a one-on-one experience, while larger tours typically accommodate bigger groups.
The price of a whale watching tour depends on the type of boat, size of the group, and location. Expect to pay more for a private boat and considerably less for a group tour. The price could range anywhere from $80 to a few hundred dollars.
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This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.
Learn More About Ethical Animal Tourism
10 Questions to Ask to Ensure the Encounter is Ethical?
