Departing from san ignacio, youll journey deep into the jungles of belize to the chiquibul forest reserve home to one of the largest mayan sites in the country. Experience magical, close encounters with the friendly gray whale mothers and calves of san ignacio lagoon, a unesco world heritage site. This is a guide for those who arent whale enthusiasts but whore interested in interacting with the grey whales up close. 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. We were very impressed with how the local communities operate and regulate the whale watching ecotourism in san ignacio lagoon, and feel it is an incredible model for sustainable whale watching and tourism in a remote and pristine area. If you are wondering what type of whales that you will see. Its where the whales are friendlier and encounters more likely. Reservations are open for the 2020 whale watching season esta pagina en espanol antonios ecotours whale watching at laguna san ignacio, baja california sur. We have used ecoturismo kuyima in san ignacio for whale watching tours in laguna san ignacio and also trips to. San ignacio is on the western coast, the pacific ocean side of baja. The remaining majority of the pods reach bajas calving lagoons by february to midmarch.
There is no place on earth where you are more likely to have this experience than on the san ignacio lagoon, located on the central pacific coast of baja. 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. Gray whale, zimmerman, baja california, whale watching, framed artwork, find art, mexico, san, grey. Occasionally wed see a whale spyhop, pop its head out vertically to look around. Whale watching season whale watching tours puerto vallarta gulf of california the great. That includes the whale tours by kayak, day kayak tours and overnight kayakcamping tours. Whales, whales, whales san ignacio lagoon darkling plain.
Whale watching in laguna san ignacio baja california. For this reason, some boats at san ignacio stay out longer 3 hrs and may incorporate birdwatching at the mangroves too. Video illustrates typical 5day whale watching tour with baja discovery at san ignacio lagoon. Laguna san ignacio part of mexicos vizcaino biosphere reserve and is a unesco world heritage site, which provides international attention, concern, and protection to. Getting to the lagoon from san ignacio town dec 28, 2018. Baja whale watching may be a yearround activity, but gray whale season peaks in the winter months of januarymarch.
Our destination for the day was the whale watch zone in laguna san ignacio. Campo cortez is known for its secluded, private, and pristine wildlife location. The pacific gray whales of san ignacio lagoon is a whale watching holiday like no other. For 72yearold pachico mayoral, gray whales were devil fish. Summary report of acoustic measurements in san ignacio. Theres a church from the mid1700s, a zocalo, some basic shops and restaurants, and the whalewatching office of ecoturismo kuyima, which was running our trip. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around the corner. By january 2020, pregnant gray whale mothers and single females looking to mate have arrived in magdalena bay. Of all the activities to enjoy here in the san juan islands, whale. Your expert guide will illuminate the fascinating history of caracol, which was once a mighty city and a rival of neighboring tikal in. We also visit the beautiful sea of cortez for whale watching on this weeklong adventure on mexicos baja california peninsula.
Baja ecotours san ignacio 2020 all you need to know. You can combine a 5day sea kayak tour of the islands of loreto with a 3day whale watching tour in san ignacio lagoon. 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. From kuyimita, guided whale watching tours departon 2325foot boats pangasfor 410 passengers, sailing from 8 am to 3. Road from san ignacio to laguna san ignacio sep 04, 2019. 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. Fortunately, due to the good recon of the other camps, we were at a camp that was in very close proximity to the area. After four years 20072010 of declining counts of eastern north pacific gray whales within laguna san ignacio, baja california, sur, mexico, the number of whales utilizing this lagoon during their 2011 winter breeding season was significantly higher than. Laguna san ignacio is known for its friendly whales.
We cannot guarantee you will touch whales that is completely up to the whales. About us cedros outdoor adventures whale watching tours. With all that, we do get close to the whales on every whale watching tour. San ignacio lagoon and sea of cortez oceanic society.
Our first whale watching tour from friday harbor is scheduled for saturday, march 4th and we cant wait to get back on the water. Baja unbounds san ignacio whale watching excursion situates you right in the heart of gray whale territory, with our. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just. Whale watching in baja california is one of the most magical experiences on earth. Licensed to youtube by wmg on behalf of east west records uk ltd. It is one of the winter sanctuaries of the eastern pacific gray whales eschrichtius robustus. San ignacio lagoon has earned, quite rightly, the accolade of being one of the finest whale watching destinations for experiencing the full repertoire of pacific gray whale behaviour.
Our gray whale watching ecotour packages in baja california include transfer by air from the u. Enjoy three full days of intimate encounters with the friendly gray whales and learn from local experts about the history of the region, all from the. We timed our trip to maui a while back specifically so that we would be at the height of whale season. 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. Pachicos encounter with a friendly gray whale, and his tours to. It was february, the peak season for grey whales in laguna san ignacio. Kuyima offers you the thrill of knowing this majestic yet gentle giants in the natural beauty frame of san ignacio lagoon. San ignacio lagoon pachicos eco tours baja gray whale. San juan outfitters is known for its low guide to guest ratio kayak tours. San ignacio lagoon is one of our sheltered lagoons that are connected to the migratory path of the gray whales as they travel the pacific coast of north america from alaska to mexico, where they arrive every december and january to calve. They only mate and give birth in four lagoons, the san ignacio lagoon is the most intimate of the lagoons in baja. 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. Prime season for gray whale watching is late january through early april. Our kuyimita dinning palapa offers reasonablypricedhighquality prepared meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but you can also bring your own cooking gear and use it at your campsite.
The san ignacio whale watching with kayaking combination tours run from midmarch to midapril. Whale watching in san ignacio november 25, 2016 by nate we found out about an awesome side trip to see whales up close from. Traditionally, whale watching season runs from december through april. San ignacio whale watching by row sea kayak adventures. The gray whales travel all the way to the pacific lagoons in baja each year to mate and to give birth. Its during this time that the mothers who have swum down from alaska arrive to give birth to their calves. Our usbased pilotguides will assist you every step of the way and get you to the whales faster. Grey whales, san ignacio lagoon, baja 2017 youtube. Our whale watching season begins december 15th and ends april 15th.
Summary report of acoustic measurements in san ignacio lagoon winter season, 2008 melania guerra graduate student. In our official whalewatching season from december 16 april 30 we offer. You would have to stay in a hotel in san ignacio and make arrangements to go to the lagoon the next day. The total boat ride was only 10 minutes or so before we were in the thick of the pod. Each winter, hundreds of gray whales eschrichtius robustus migrate about 6,000 miles 10,000 km from their alaskan feeding grounds to the warm, shallow water of san ignacio lagoon, to give birth and mate between january and april. 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.
The laguna san ignacio ecosystem science program has published its findings in annual reports and publications since the early 1980s. Whale watching at laguna san ignacio, with baja discovery. The whale watching in san ignacio lagoon is unlike any other whale watching. Mexico, baja california, gray whale spyhopping in the san ignacio lagoon, sea of cortez by judith zimmerman. The first two lagoons are part of the vizcaino biosphere reserve which is a unesco world heritage site. The gulf of the farallons national marine sanctuary, california coastal waters off san francisco have annual migration patterns for whales. Cedros outdoor adventures coa was founded by husband and wife team melanie lamaga and jose angel sanchez in 2008 to provide a secure, enjoyable travel experience to sport fishermen, ecotourists, and researchers visiting baja california mexico. The name came from whaling days, when the animals often rammed and sank the whaling boats that pursued them in the baja california lagoon where the whales came each winter to calve and breed. We were in the middle of the emerald green san ignacio. Pachicos eco tours is internationally known for being the whale watching pioneers of san ignacio lagoon and baja.
Pachico mayoral was the first person to have an encounter with a friendly gray whale. Their knowledge of the whales and the lagoon is vast. While you can get close to the whales, do not expect the same kind of personal interaction that is experienced in the pacific lagoons. San ignacio lagoon whale watching trip march 2731, 2017 a private chartered flight from san diegotijuana delivers you to the remote and pristine laguna san ignacio in baja california sur.
The giants of san ignacio lagoon close encounters with the pacific gray whale author. However, because blue whales and gray whales migrate at. San ignacio lagoon baja california 2020 all you need. San ignacio whale watching, mexico whale tours dive. The giants of san ignacio lagoon turtle expedition.
465 1057 366 487 506 1576 798 1102 388 111 771 1527 1403 1011 333 425 819 1214 93 214 947 1355 825 1444 82 211 1205 292 915 1119 663 365 639 765 937 1115 1494 441 667