Experience gray whales as they end their 12,000mile migration from the artic circle in baja s pacific lagoons. Many whale watching toursoff boston or maui, for exampletake place on large commercial boats where you have to strain to see around guests crowding the rail, and if you do spot a whale, its likely youll glimpse only a tail or a spout of spray on the horizon. The rugged desert peninsula of baja california is more than 1,250 kilometres long and its west coast is bathed by the cool, nutrientrich waters of the pacific ocean. The second gray whale, who was captured in 1972 from the same lagoon, was named gigi ii and was released a year later after becoming too large for the facilities. Limited to 18 travelers a very important feature of our whale watching tours is the limited group size, as whale encounters are best experienced with fewer travelers for a more intimate nature experience.
Established since 1995, the cortez club has become the premier scuba diving, sport fishing and water. A baby gray whale swims in front of her spy hopping mother in san ignacio lagoon in baja california, mexico baby hampback whale. Despite mostly consisting of sand and cacti, the baja california is one of the best locations for whale watching in the whole world. California shark stock photos download 584 royalty free. The gray whale makes the longest migration of any mammal on earth traveling 10,00012,000 miles each year. Baja whale watching top things to know about bajas gray.
Baja california, on the wild pacific coast of mexico, is the best place in the. Rhincodon typus, a whale shark feeding of baja california a presenter teaches visitors about the brown banded bamboo sharks at sea world san diego california. Marchaprilmay they then swim north, hugging the west coast of north america. Humpback whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo tours. Baby humpback whale breaching in lahaina, maui, hawaii, taken 02.
Add your business today to reach the outbounds audience of adventurous travelers. The baby humpbacks in cabo san lucas are born a very light gray color and quickly darken up from exposure to the sun. And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree stock images that features animal photos available for quick and easy download. Because most scuba divers are restricted to a certain time for their vacation, this article intends to introduce a few options for your whale shark adventures. Whaletrips mexico the best tips for whale watching in. Januaryfebruary whales spend the winter in the warm waters off baja california, mexico. If you make it all the way south to chile, you have pretty good chances to meet the mighty blue whales around the. The whaleplanner february a whale watching infographic. In isla it is juneseptember so we try to be there in september.
Top 10 things you need to know about bajas gray whale season. Baby humpback whales typically weigh 500600kg and are 34 meters in length. The midriff island region of the sea of cortez in baja california, mexico is one of these four spots and closest to the united states. Get the monthly weather forecast for loreto, baja california sur, mexico, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. The best time to swim with whale sharks in mexico depends on what part of the country you intend to visit. Gray whale migration winterspring 2020 the official.
The crew is led by mike keating, the owner and operator with over 25 years of experience in the waters of baja california, his first mate, 3 licensed skiff operators, the chef and assistant. There are many destinations around the world to swim and dive with whale sharks, so we wanted to provide you with a handy guide with the best places for every month of the year. By elizabeth argyle, birch aquarium naturalist whale watching is a very tricky business because were at the mercy of what nature has to offer us. Whale watching season begins in baja california travel. Unfortunately, we needed to amend this article a little, after the passage of hurricane odile. Wide open cabo day tours cabo san lucas sportfishing charters cabo madness.
Great whales of mexicos pacific coast mexico wildlife. Well swim and snorkel with whale sharksthe largest fish in the world. Our annual baja california whale adventure, a collaboration between. Off the coast of kaikoura lives a stable population of sperm whales. Tours mexico, is a naturalistguided adventure to the lagoons of baja california.
Exceptionally rare conjoined whale calves discovered in. However, grey whale food small crustaceans and tube worms live in cold, nutrientrich waters, so the whales must swim north to cooler waters to feed. Whale watch weekend and intertidal life festival the. We were there right at the beginning of the season so sightings were intermittent but the whales seem to have become more frequent since our trip. Whale watching season comes to a close april 30 dont miss out. As another bonanza fishing month fades, it is difficult to accept that we have reached the final chapter of one of the most memorable fishing seasons baja has experienced in many years. Especially gray whales, humpbacks, finbacks and blue whales. Most births occur in early january, the later weeks of the whale watching season are dominated by mother and baby pairs. Inland it can be scorching during the summer months. Whale watching with pros at point vicente on the palos verdes peninsula for free.
Whale breaching stock photo download image now istock. 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. Near the yucatan peninsula, whale shark season ranges from june to september, whereas whale shark season in mexicos baja peninsula occurs from winter to early spring. The average temperature heats up to the mid 80s with lower humidity at 60%. North pacific right whale eubalaena glacialis aquatic mammal. Folks skip the arch tour and get 2 tours for the price of one by going whale watching. Hi, i have been swimming with the whale sharks around isla mujeres, where we regularly vacation. There are no dedicated tours for these creatures, but if youre lucky youll spot one of them as well. Cabo san lucas, mexico january 25 2018 pacific coast mexican baja california small town is crowded of tourist for the humpback whale season. Mhn2m6 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree stock images that features 2015 photos available for quick and easy download. Cabo san lucas, mexico january 25 2018 pacific coast. Whale watching mexico mexico ecotourism natural habitat.
Her schedule includes not only the pacific region of the baja peninsula, but the gulf of california sea of cortez as well. Gray whale watching on the sea of cortez in mexico. Since 2000, icf has worked with the local community to successfully secure the permanent protection of over 340,000 acres of critical habitat which has been named a unesco. Whalewatching with pros at point vicente on the palos. Junejulyaugustseptemberoctober in the bering and chukchi seas, the whales spend the summer feeding. However, occasional high winds, rolling seas, and rainy storms do not damper the spirits of birch aquarium at scripps naturalists aboard the marietta every day in search of gray whales. The whale watching season begins on the 1st of january and ends in late march.
How to go whale watching in baja california sur, mexico tripsavvy. While you are on the whale trail download the free mobile application, whale. Odile was a category 4 hurricane just 40 miles to the west of the citys center. Your days on this adventure will be filled with snorkeling with whale sharks, cruising isolated islands and coves looking for the up to ten species of whales that frequent these waters including fin and blue. From the moment we stepped foot on the newly opened riu palace baja california property, it was clear there would be peace and there would be quiet. Many animals can be seen including jumping rays, sunning sea lions, dolphins and even the occasional killer whale. The whale overlook and old point loma lighthouse within the monument provide the best views for spotting the whales. This has been an unusual season for whale watching, and. Since 1991, we have arranged whale watching trips utilizing the best dive and land adventure specialists. Cabrillo national monument, just west of san diego on the point loma peninsula which extends into the pacific ocean, is the perfect location to witness gray whales as they migrate from the arctic to the bays of baja california, mexico.
This season is also the breeding season for the euphausiids, producing more than 80% of the calyptopis larval phase in the midsouthern goc at carmen island off loreto, san jose island, and the baja california peninsula 69,71,72. The sea of cortez was named by the famous jacques cousteau as the the aquarium of the world and its entrance is in loreto. The trip set out from san diego and travelling down the baja california peninsular and into the sea of cortez. In san ignacio lagoon, mexico, the whales are so close you. The 9day itinerary is timed for decemberjanuary, at the end of the rainy season, when longdormant plants flush bright green and migratory birds arrive to feast during this brief period of abundance. Whale watching has also developed as a tourist draw in the city due to the gray whale s annual migration from alaska to the lagoons of baja california sur.
After whale shark season in the caribbean wraps up in september. Gray whales spend the summer months in the bering and chukchi seas, and then leave for the breeding lagoons off the coast of baja california. From the famous hotel california to humpback whales. The baja california is one of the most important regions for whale watching in the whole world, as various kinds of whales use the subtropical waters of the mexican peninsula as winter quarters. Study area around the baja california peninsula where blue whales. Where to swim with whale sharks in mexico travel agent. In contrast, during the warm season, this area is mainly where the food concentrations fall due to temperature. Gopro footage shot on an 11 day whale watching trip with mark carwardine. Between the months of december and march, and back in the months of april and may, whales can be seen from the coast of ensenada. Whale watch cabo cabo san lucas aktuelle 2020 lohnt es. Get the monthly weather forecast for san ignacio, baja california sur, mexico, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. 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 when the whales travel to baja california, where they enter lagoons to give birth and mate.
Baby gray whale flops in the ocean, splashing and playing in the. Established since 1995, the cortez club has become the premier scuba diving, sport fishing and water sports center in baja california. Gray whales can be seen passing by california in december and january during their southern migration, and again in march and april on their northern journey. Gray whale migration winterspring 2020 20,000 gray whales take part over 20,000 gray whales migrate annually from the summer feeding grounds in the bering sea, to the winter grounds of the baja california lagoons, and back again, along the southern california coast. Laguna san ignacio, baja california sur, mexico join icf on an exclusive, insider tour of laguna san ignacio, and get up close with the majestic gray whales and their calves. Humpback whale breaching in sea of cortez mexico stock. The most powerful quadrant, the northeast sector, passed directly through the city and most destruction. Download this humpback whale breaching in sea of cortez mexico photo now.
Fin whale movements in the gulf of california, mexico. Whale watch weekend and intertidal life festival the official travel resource for the san diego region. Nothing seems to entice and terrify rvers from the united states more than the thought of traveling by rv in. Download scientific diagram study area around the baja california. Fellow truck campers share their favorite beach boondocking spots, snowbird friendly campgrounds, unprecedented whale watching experiences and real life stories of traveling and camping throughout mexicos baja california peninsula. By traveling south to baja california, gray whales can look forward to. Loreto, baja california sur, mexico monthly weather. 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. With 206,000 hectares of sea, the loreto bay national marine park has been a protected area for more than 20 years now, and more than 50 dive sites to discover. Their presence gives baja californians a sense of pride because the gray whale is internationally known as a mexican whale. These locations are prime for whale watching during their peak seasons.
The first captive gray whale, who was captured in scammons lagoon, baja california in 1965, was named gigi and died two months later from an infection. Fisherman have found two conjoined gray whale calves in a northwestern mexican lagoon, a discovery that a government marine biologist described as exceptionally rare. 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 baja california peninsula, where they will mate and give birth to their young. Baby whale stock photos download 1,019 royalty free photos. Find the best rates to fish cabo san lucas here fishing in cabo san lucas in april. The incredible diversity of marine life that exists here includes whales, dolphins, turtles, seals, birds and over 900 species of fish.
575 101 1559 1431 674 821 1161 1024 728 109 1624 434 1411 393 332 574 1032 1491 536 1000 364 1375 764 271 1506 1162 230 728 27 1247 18 1078 804 503 1041 40 633 474 865 1419 1304 236 1451 901 1402 1337 919 1040 325 927