Baja Expeditions - Plan your adventure to Baja California: Whale watching camps and cruises

San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Watching Camp

This picturesque lagoon is the perfect place to enjoy friendly encounters with the gray whales in comfort and safety.

A charter flight delivers you to this remote and pristine desert world—the perfect place from which to observe these majestic animals in their winter breeding grounds. It's just a short skiff ride into the Lagoon, where you'll experience the thrill of a friendly whale surfacing just a few feet away. In between whale watching excursions, you can kayak through the labyrinth mangrove estuaries to bird watch in this natural aviary, or comb the peaceful shoreline to discover remnants of the sea. Our experienced guides are always ready to lend a hand and share their knowledge.

Our catered camp is situated at water's edge with safari-style tents, cots, and solar-heated showers to make your days and nights comfortable and carefree. You’ll dine on delicious Mexican food and enjoy happy hour each evening as you watch the crimson sun set behind the Lagoon. Capture a lifetime of memories as you grow to love and respect the gray whales as much as we do.

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Trip Map

Itinerary:

Day 1 ~ San Diego to San Ignacio Lagoon

Today we will transfer by comfortable motor coach from the Hacienda Hotel in San Diego to a nearby air field. After a quick baggage inspection our airplane will take us to the Lagoon’s landing strip. Flight time is approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, an orientation to camp procedures and assignment of tents will leave you fully prepared to begin your adventure.

You have time to relax and explore the surroundings or comb the beach before happy hour, followed by a delicious welcome dinner. (Breakfast snack/L/D)

Day 2 - 4 ~ San Ignacio Lagoon Base Camp

Whale watching excursions begin with a short 10 minute skiff ride into the whale viewing area of San Ignacio Lagoon. There, for approximately 90 minutes, you will observe the gray whales spy hopping, breaching and nurturing their young. Your experienced guide and skiff driver will point out the many behaviors you will see. The morning excursion will be followed by lunch, and time to enjoy a short walk along the beach, kayaking excursion or just some relaxing time with a book from our camp library. A return to the whale viewing area in the early afternoon will give you another opportunity to spot more gray whales and their calves.

Following the two whale watching excursions it will be time to relax before our daily happy hour and a buffet-style dinner. After dinner, one of our experienced guides will present a natural history talk about the Baja Peninsula, its local people and the marine wildlife in the Lagoon. Be sure to take advantage of the amazing star gazing while you are here.

On your last evening, join our Mexican fiesta farewell dinner, where you can dance to Baja folk songs played by local musicians as you create another fond memory. (B/L/D daily)

Day 5~ San Ignacio Lagoon to San Diego

After breakfast, we pack and say our last good-byes to San Ignacio Lagoon. In mid-morning, our Baja Expeditions bus will transfer you to the landing strip where you will board the airplane to return to the border. Once we land, our chartered bus will be waiting to deliver us back to the hotel. Our arrival at the Hacienda Hotel in San Diego is planned for early evening. We recommend that you schedule your return flight for the following morning in case of any delay. (B/L)

This is a general itinerary and is subject to change without previous notice.

Hotel nights in San Diego before the trip and on the evening of Day 5 are not included in the trip fee.

Trip Fee:

$2,295 pp dbl occ

Discounts of 30% for kids 8 - 15 years old and 50% for 2 - 7 years old. Kids will be staying in a kelty tent beside their parents' or guardians' safari-style tent.

Includes:

Comfortable, catered camping on nights 1-4; snack/L/D on day 1, B/L/D on Days 2-4 and B/L on Day 5; walk-in tent and cot; sleep kit (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, liner and pillow), 2 whale watching expeditions on days 2-4; kayaks available in camp; ground transfer from hotel in San Diego to air field on day 1 and return on day 5, air transportation to San Ignacio camp on day 1 and return on day 5; services of knowledgeable guides and caring crew members; detailed pre-departure information to help you plan your trip.

The Conservation Fee of $30 is not included in our trip fee. This covers the use of Mexico's new conservation passport and the support of the Fund for the Protected Areas in Southern Baja California (FOSANP). The Passport was designed by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) to raise funds for the continued protection of the shorlines, inlets, beaches and covers that make this area so extraordinary to visit. The passport allows you to visit Mexico's Protected Areas as many times as you wish for an entire year.

Can't find the dates that you want? Please check our San Ignacio Lagoon Cabanas page for more options!

Trip Dates:

Dates	Availability
March 12 - March 16, 2010	Sold Out
March 16 - March 20, 2010	Almost Sold Out
March 20 - March 24, 2010	Almost Sold Out
March 24 - March 28, 2010	Sold Out
February 7 - February 11, 2011	Available
February 11 - February 15, 2011	Available
February 15 - February 19, 2011	Sold Out
February 19 - February 23, 2011	Available
February 23 - February 27, 2011	Available
February 27 - March 3, 2011	Available
March 3 - March 7, 2011	Available
March 7 - March 11, 2011	Available
March 11 - March 15, 2011	Sold Out
March 15 - March 19, 2011	Available
March 19 - March 23, 2011	Available
March 23 - March 27, 2011	Available
March 27 - March 31, 2011	Available

Sorry! No guide reports are available for this trip.

The best advice comes from real people. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to learn from travelers who’ve gone before you. In this section, you can read reviews from past Baja Expeditions participants, and see what they have to say about their experiences at our San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Watching Camp.

"Baja Expeditions was an excellent experience. All of the guides at camp were friendly and knowledgeable and their enjoyment of their work was evident. Thank you, Baja Expeditions."
—Debra Houston, Aptos, California, USA, 2009

"Thank you for going out of your way to accommodate our dietary needs. Your staff, especially the folks at camp, are invariably courteous, informative, and kind. Jose has endless patience with the most difficult of patrons. He also very patiently answered all my scientific questions, explaining concepts I had difficulty understanding from books. Lupita and Ranulfo are treasures! It's important to me that folks from La Laguna and Baja natives are leaders on these trips. Overall an excellent job by all. Bravo to Baja Expeditions."
—Marcy Alancraig, Aptos, California, USA, 2009

"This trip will be one to remember for my lifetime. It had no lows. One of the best times ever."
—Jonathan Nass, Coronado, California, USA, 2009

"The guides were incredible in terms of their doing anything to make the trip comfortable. Ranulfo made each friendly encounter a sacred experience. Together, the team made every minute worthwhile and a gift.""This trip will be one to remember for my lifetime. It had no lows. One of the best times ever."
—Karen Garman, San Diego, California, USA, 2008

"My compliments go to all the staff at the camp. They were extremely accommodating and the food was absolutely delicious. This was one of my best trips."

—Gloria Eckert, Ashland, Oregon, 2008

"The staff made the trip great. Their love for what they do shows and spreads."

—Dawn Schneider, Shingle Springs, California, 2008

"I really enjoyed the value they provided for the trip and the experience. The whale watching would have been terrific regardless but everyone at camp was extra nice and really made a great experience even better."

—Phebe Jones, Escondido, California, 2008

“My son and I felt it one of the best experiences of our lives. I plan to come back next year! The whole crew was fantastic. Even though it was camping, the service was five- star. I still dream of Baja at night.”

—Janet Goodman, California, 2007

“I cannot say enough good things about the camp and on-the-water experience. The camp was welcoming, clean, inviting and impeccably maintained and organized. The best part was going out into the lagoon twice each day with knowledgeable drivers and guides and experiencing first-hand the closeness of the whales. It’s a totally transformative experience—actually life-changing.”

—Sheila McMahon, California, 2007

“The trip was a rich and meaningful experience. It satisfied some deep need in me to be related to the whole of life.”

—Mary Makaus, Arizona, 2007

“We were delighted and thrilled. The whales, of course, stole the show but the expertise of the boat captains in locating whales—moms and babies, mating groups, etc., was invaluable. The naturalist guides were extremely well-informed and their passion for their work and love for the lagoon was infectious."

—Bonita Baumgartner, California, 2007

“It was a wonderful experience. The entire staff was outstanding and we saw so many whales and birds—plus the shore life. I cannot think of anything negative. It certainly did live up to my expectations."

—Janice F. Ludwig, Washington, 2007

“As one of the most exciting experiences in nature that I have ever had it is difficult to say more than absolutely amazing! We had close encounters with whales and were fortunate to have lovely weather. Our guides and hosts are very special people.

Although we were camping it was more comfortable than a five-star hotel! The food— prepared so lovingly for us—was always great, the education extremely valuable. Every aspect was incredible!”

—Renee Rawski, California, 2007