San ignacio lagoon and sea of cortez oceanic society. Your hotel is situated in the heart of the city, beside one of baja californias most picturesque squares. Mar 26, 2017 gray whale encounters in san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico, 2017. Feb 21, 2016 exciting interaction with whales see them swimming under water approach boat and allow us to touch them gopro hd video. Gray whales can grow to a very large size with males averaging 40 ft. Friendly gray whales in baja california, mexico hd youtube. We also visit the beautiful sea of cortez for whale watching on this weeklong adventure on mexicos baja california peninsula. Home page of jones adventure travel and the gray whale advocate. Whale watching tours with gray whales in bajas magdalena bay gray whale watching guaranteed. Whale watching half moon bay, ca riptide sportfishing. Playing with whales in guerrero negro, baja, mexico baja. Humpback whale megaptera novaeangliae, baja california sur, san jose del cabo, cabo san. Observe one of the most miraculous natural phenomena on the planet. When the gray whales arrive in baja to have their babies, it is a magical time.
If you have always dreamed of seeing the california gray whales up close and personal, but didnt want to sign up for a package tour in the process, then this hot tip is for you. Mar 28, 2016 whale watching in baja california in january, we took a whale watching excursion around the southern end of the santa monica bay. Oceanic society farallon islands whale watching san. Our 3 and 4day magdalena bay whale watching tours include camping at our exclusive safaristyle basecamp set on a secluded beach. Field guide to the gray whale by oceanic society 2002 0122 oceanic society on. A baleen whale which grows up to 50 feet 14 m long and weighs up to 40 tons. Field guide to the gray whale by oceanic society 200201.
Oceanic society is a californiabased 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving. Baja whale shark home snorkeling with whale sharks,whale. The gray whale migrates along our coastline each year between baja california and the arctic. Whale watching skiffs in the baja lagoons are highly regulated by the local people. Their presence gives baja californians a sense of pride because the gray whale is internationally known as a mexican whale. Join us on a whale watching trip from san francisco or half moon bay. Tiny creatures in underwater forest might hold promise for future medicines. Oceanic society is a nonprofit marine conservation organization founded in san francisco in 1969. We had a fantastic time full of blows, flukes and even one breach. Baja california is fast becoming the premier location to watch whales in the world. There are so many whales here at this time, that you can just drop anchor and wait for them to swim up. In addition to these whales, whale sharks frequent baja s waters. Baja airventures has three oneofkind soft, ecoadventure baja whale watching tours youll love. On our whales of baja tour you will be accompanied by a full time guide,travel in your own car and stay in comfortable first class hotels.
Sometimes we have two separate groups that are in the same location at the same time. The best time to visit baja is undoubtedly between mid january and mid march, when the grey whales migrate to the lagoons to give birth. 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. Friendly gray whales approach our whale watching boat in san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico during our march 2016 expedition. He is an experienced guide with a diverse background in marine mammal, seabird, and marine debris research. More than 20 species of whales are encountered around baja most yearround, making this area an important center for whale observation. Wayne sentman is our director of conservation travel programs and an oceanic society naturalist since 1998. As over 97% of the gray whale population migrates to a small coastline and small bays in the baja every winter this makes an excellent opportunity for gray whale watching tours, research and conservation. The gray whale is generally dark gray in color with mottling patterns of white patches that are used by scientists to identify individual animals. Oceanic society ran its first whale watching trip to the farallon islands in.
To go for our gray whale watching tours in baja you can call us at the above given number or even emails us at the above mentioned email. Only a limited number of boats are allowed in the whale watching areas and they must have a maximum of 68 passengers, a guide and a boat handler. This migration places the gray whale in our area usually between december through march. Witness the gray whale migration, one of natures most phenomenal events, and see these gentle giants upclose in the heart of their breeding grounds.
They include several big species whose common names contain whale rather than dolphin, such as the killer whale and the pilot whales. Experience magical, close encounters with the friendly gray whale mothers and calves of san ignacio lagoon, a unesco world heritage site. The whale shark is a fish, not a mammal like a whale. Snorkel with whale sharks and sea lions in the sea of cortez and visit fishrich cabo pulmo national marine park on this wildlifefilled expedition to baja. Whales and dolphins you may see on our 12day searcher natural history tour. Oceanic dolphins or delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. Experience magical, close encounters with the friendly gray whale mothers and calves of san ignacio lagoon. Baja expeditions take care of everything once you are picked up at the hotel. Wed watched jealously as a mother and baby grey whale approached a boat 100m away. Aug 25, 2017 the eye of a gray whale swimming in san ignacio lagoon. Roderic mast is oceanic society s president and ceo. Every year, the california gray whales set off on the longest migration made by any mammal.
A magical and close encounter with friendly mom and playful 2 month old. Whale watching tours with gray whales in bajas magdalena bay. Whale watching is one of the most popular activities in baja. In july this year, packs of whale were seen near the golden gate bridge. He is a lifelong conservationist, a marine biologist. Gray whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo tours. In addition to these whales, whale sharks frequent bajas waters. Oceanic societys 20202021 expeditions catalog is here oceanic. We hold the killer whale catalog for california and continue to photoidentify all killer whales we see in monterey bay as well as document their predatory behavior and social structure. Oceanic society established in 1969 and conducts whale watch, participatory research projects and natural history expeditions to protect endangered wildlife and preserve threatened marine habitats worldwide. With the highest concentration of baja gray whales right offshore, theres no better place to witness the gray whales as they play. Each year hundreds of whales congregate in the lagoon to reproduce and. The best source of information on gray whales, the best gray whale and blue whale watching trips in baja mexico. To download a digital copy of the catalog or to receive a printed copy by mail, please.
Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo tours. Keep learning with science activities that kids and families can do at home. On this expedition we will explore the intersecting stories of several endangered speciessea turtles, whales, and whale sharksand the people of baja california who are working to bring them back from extinction. 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 addition, whale watching is becoming more common in the sea of cortez. Wayne also coteaches undergraduate field programs in kenya on human. Two unique baja whale watching trips on the pacific ocean and sea of cortez and one baja whale shark ecotour on the sea of cortez that world travelers rave about. 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. The protected bays and lagoons of the baja provide a safe haven to the gray whales to breed and calve. 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. Seven of us, plus our guide, were in a small panga motorboat, bobbing around on a sunny afternoon. In this baja lagoon, whales seek attention from humans, turning the rules of wildlife photography on their head. But by having the title of largest fish in the world, they get to have.
Whale watching in baja california in january, we took a whale watching excursion around the southern end of the santa monica bay. If you are interested in watching the california gray whales as they make their thousand mile migrations from alaska to baja california, by all means get this. Both of these whale species are endangered and this research is critical to determine population trends and indications of possible recovery. It was dark when i left my house, but the sun was shining brightly upon our groups arrival in beautiful loreto baja california sur, mexi. Close encounters with bajas gray whales oceanic society. Check out these cool new baja whale watching videos. Tents close to the beach means you might see a gray whale breach 4 times almost as soon as you arrive, which we. This is our focus and our reason for being in business. The eye of a gray whale swimming in san ignacio lagoon. Gray whale encounters in san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico, 2017. It was around 3pm on friday 28 february 2014, in san ignacio lagoon, baja california. Of the three main viewing lagoons for baja whale watching, bahia magdalena is the closest to an international airport.
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. Our san francisco whale watch programs began in 1972, and have given thousands of people the opportunity to see and learn about the bay areas spectacular marine wildlife, including several species of whales, dolphins, seabirds, and much more. Baja california whale watching, mexico ultimate travel co. Our staff is highly experienced in baja whale watching. Swimming with the whale sharks was an unbelievable experience. A driver takes you to the airport where a snazzy cesna quickly brings you to the lagoon.
Field guide to the gray whale by oceanic society 20020122. The large concentration of gray whales that reside here each winter are extremely friendly, and regularly approach our small whale watching pangas skiffs in a. In this baja, the gray whales come to you photography. Magdalena bay whale watching baja adventure travel baja tours. Mike bursk will talk about the migration of gray whales headed to baja. Gray whales migrate from alaska to the baja peninsula in winter and are a protected species. Whale watching san diego style we love whales and have driven deep into mexico twice to the unesco world heritage site of the whale diy baja california road trip.
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