Baja Ultimate Whales

SJD.

At least one day early. Of course, this is Cabo in peak winter season and we encourage you to fly in well before that and enjoy Los Cabos and La Paz and the Sea of Cortez. There is so much to do and our concierges are on standby to help you with questions, recommendations and arrangements. Please note that there is a complimentary photo workshop at 9:30 AM in the morning the day before being transferred to La Paz as well as a 11 AM ocean safari with humpback whale watching.

Because the shortest flight to the Lagoon is from SJD which is super easy to get to with service from 15 different US cities, most of Mexico and even direct flights from overseas. Because Cabo San Lucas in the winter and spring is a really fun place to visit!! Because you won’t have any border crossing hassles. And because we offer all sorts of other activities from our Cabo San Lucas base including swimming with whale sharks and other adventures in the Sea of Cortez, scuba diving including our Socorro giant manta liveaboard trips, photography workshops and much more.

Late model Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. These are 13 passenger airplanes with a jetprop engines, air con, leather seats, good soundproofing and a large cargo pod.

Yes, 22 pounds (10kg) per person. We ask that you please use soft-sided bags. We understand that you’ll likely be travelling with more luggage on this trip. Our recommendation is to pack a smaller kit to take with you to the lagoon and leave your larger luggage with us for safekeeping in La Paz. We will move your luggage back to Cabo San Lucas to meet your return flight.

Normally 12:30 pm. It’s easy to fly home that same afternoon but we recommend booking your flight for 2:45 pm or later. It’s our pleasure to transfer guests from the FBO private terminal directly over to terminal one or two at the airport when the flight gets in.

Sealine Cabo Transfers is our recommended provider of airport transfers to and from Cabo San Lucas. For booking, please email Martin at mmoreno@sealinecabotransfers.com We also recommend Miguel from Fara Nuevo as an alternative option. Email: mfc949@gmail.com Phone: +52 (624) 141 6254

We only operate in peak season when there are good numbers of interactive and friendly whales. January to April.

Yes, you have a number of options\n We recommend the Casa Bella boutique hotel conveniently located next door to SeeCreatures Cabo. The property is beautiful. It’s like an old Spanish hacienda that opens up to a beautiful interior courtyard. Please note that it is located in downtown Cabo which means that it’s not perfectly quiet at night.\n To book Casa Bella Hotel \n https://www.casabellahotel.com/ \n info@casabellahotel.com \n +52 624-143-6400 \n We have a constantly evolving list of other approved hotels ranging from 3 to 5-star that we can recommend or book on your behalf. Sometimes it’s cheaper to book directly online, but sometimes our contract rates are a better deal. It’s always your choice. Please contact our concierges for more info.

We request that you meet us at SeeCreatures Cabo San Lucas for the optional and complementary 9:30 AM photo seminar, or for the 11:00 AM departure for the humpback whale watching adventure.

It will likely be nice hot weather in Cabo San Lucas with temperatures in the low 80s°F (27°C) during the day and generally sunny. La Paz and the Sea of Cortez will be a little bit cooler and there’s often a gentle breeze. Rain is very unlikely. San Ignacio Lagoon is in the desert, which means it can be cold at night, dropping to low 40s°F (4°C). Low temperatures in the morning and then the clouds burn off by early afternoon, making it warmer. Some days are calm, while some days can be quite windy. We are very lucky to have our camp on the north side of the lagoon, where there’s more protection from the elements than the camps on the south shore.

Yes, with at least 30 days advance notice, we will be happy to accommodate your dietary needs, whether vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, gluten-free or halal/kosher quasi-vegetarian.

Transportation from our recommended hotels or SeeCreatures to the private terminal, whale watching, accommodation, all activities, all meals and snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Park and airport landing fees totalling $35 USD per person, alcoholic beverages, single occupancy (if available, surcharge applicable), internet access ($50 USD per device), and if you think the service is deserving, crew gratuities – typically between USD$350-450 per person. Please note that the panga captains are independent service providers from the local village and it would be appropriate to tip them directly if the service is deserving.

Yes! There are lots of whales in the lagoon and typically 300 to 400 are friendly and interactive with humans. Gray whales first arrive in the lagoon in December and are present through May. There is seasonality to the sightings. More mating activity happens at the beginning of the season and this is when we see newborn calves. The mamas and calves stay in the lagoon until the babies are big enough to safely make the 3000-mile northward trek to BC and Alaska. Towards the end of the season, the calves can be especially friendly.

Encounters and interactions with them are entirely on the whales’ terms. We only interact with the whales in a small designated area and are very careful to stay away from them in the rest of the lagoon. The whales who are interested in humans literally swim over to this area and approach the pangas. The encounters are not forced in any way. The local captains are very careful not to approach or harass the gray whales. One of the extraordinary things about this interaction is that the whales only approach humans in Baja lagoons. During the rest of the year they are quite shy and reclusive and maintain the normal distance that you would expect between whales and nearby boats. \n Interesting to note that gray whales were known as “devil fish” because during the terrible days of industrial whaling, harpooned gray whales would turn around and attack the whalers. Sometimes managing to sink the whaling boats and kill the whalers. All of that changed in 1972 when whaling was outlawed virtually everywhere in the world, and a local fisherman named Pachico felt an irresistible urge to reach out and touch a whale that presented itself beside his boat. We suspect that both Pachico and the whale were astonished by the interaction. Within a year, four whales and a handful of fishermen were interacting with each other. The behaviour we are so lucky to enjoy now grew from those first encounters.

A lot! We’ll be spending half a day with humpback whales off Cabo San Lucas. We will spend two full days between La Paz and Loreto for the blue whale mamas and calves. Plus, for the other whales that may be in the area, which may well include humpbacks, large pots of dolphins, finback whales, and if you’re lucky, orcas, sperm whales or false killer whales. \n At the lagoon, you can typically expect three whale watching encounters on each day. There will be the opportunity for two morning sessions and an afternoon session on day 6 and 7, and two sessions on day eight. Not all guests choose to do this much whale watching, It’s entirely your option. It is important to know that it can be windy sometimes in the lagoon, which might limit the number of whale encounters that day. Rest assured that we will always do our very best for you. \n It is important to note that the whale watching takes place entirely in one designated area with a maximum of 16 boats at one time. That means when the lagoon is at its busiest, each panga can stay in the reserve for 90 minutes maximum, and then needs to exit to allow another panga to enter.

Whale watching excursions take plane on “panga” boats typically 24 – 28-ft in length. While these boats can easily accommodate up to 12 guests, we do our best to run with just 6 to 7 guests plus a captain and a naturalist whenever possible. Please note that operational realities in the lagoon may mean that sometimes we have to run with more guests in the pangas. The operation of these boats is a joint venture with the local captains and fishermen which we see as eco-tourism at its finest. Some of our pangas are brand new, purchased by BajaEx, and leased back to local captains for one dollar per year to help them maximize their earnings with the nicest possible boats. \n Pangas are widely used throughout Baja and known for their sea kindliness and efficiency coupled with a good amount of speed. Interestingly, the design dates back to a 1970s project and joint venture between Yamaha outboards and the world bank. The design brief was to build a fast and efficient boat for the local fishermen. The name “panga “evolves from the panga fish that the boats were originally designed to fish for.

No, we have wooden boarding ramps with handrails on both sides of the ramp which make the pangas quite accessible

No. Just please let us know ahead of time. We have a limited number of comfortable special chairs that we can rig up in your panga.

Sealine Cabo Transfers is our recommended provider of airport transfers to and from Cabo San Lucas. For booking, please email Martin at mmoreno@sealinecabotransfers.com We also recommend Miguel from Fara Nuevo as an alternative option. Email: mfc949@gmail.com Phone: +52 (624) 141 6254

Be sure to bring swim wear as you will have opportunities to get in the waters of the Sea of Cortez. We will have wetsuits ready for you onboard the ship. We strongly recommend bringing layered clothing to San Ignacio Lagoon. It’s not uncommon to be wearing a shirt, several sweaters and a windbreaker at 7am and then just a t-shirt by noon. Rain is very uncommon in this area, with the exception of one or two Pacific clouds that pass through every season. Rubber boots are an excellent idea. We have loaner boots and jackets available for everybody. \n Comfortable clothes for camp: cotton T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, warm sweaters, shorts and pants, windbreaker, many people bring waterproof pants, a warm jacket, warm sleepwear, lots of extra warm socks, tennis or hiking shoes, water friendly sandals, dry bag, flashlight, sun hat, sea safe sunblock, personal medications, and a camera with loads of SD cards.

Sorry, no. For liability reasons, we are not able to allow any outside alcohol into camp. We stock one heck of a bar with a great selection of craft beer, wine, single malt scotch, fine vodkas and much more all at very reasonable prices. We know that you’re on vacation. We want you to have a great time and that includes a great selection of drinks at lowest possible pricing.

Entry into Mexico requires a passport that still has six months of validity

Mexico requires visas from a certain but small number of countries. Please double check your specific requirements online or contact us for assistance.

Yes. Because of the remote location of the camp, medical evacuation insurance is required for all guests. We can assist with a purchase of insurance and it’s very affordable. Click here.

Yes, highly recommended. We have seen too many guests with a cancelled or delayed flight or problems at work or some other reason for a trip being delayed or cancelled.

The short answer is pretty darn luxurious! Our luxury tents are considerably larger with adjustable twin beds or one king bed. As well as a sitting area with couches and chairs, a dresser, and a larger ensuite bathroom and shower even including twin vanities. 24-hour AC power. Lights. Heat. Hot and cold running water. Internet access. And of course, a chandelier over the bed. \n We also have a limited number of family tents which are the same size as the luxury tents, except the sitting area is replaced with extra beds for kids and teens. \n Double-size tents are used for the different dining areas and bar.

WiFi is available for your convenience. Starting in 2025, there will be a charge of $50 per device per trip. We use Starlink Internet and ask everyone to please be considerate of how much data you use so that everyone has reasonable access.

Yes!

Every tent has a full ensuite with hot and cold running water. There is ample water in camp for everyone to take a hot shower every day. But we do ask you to limit it to one shower because water is a very precious commodity in the desert.

Yes! Of course! Our camp is located beachfront right on the lagoon in the Vizcaino desert and biosphere reserve. It’s a gorgeous setting. Watching the sun come up over the Sierras, the mountains, in the morning is stunning. Watching the sunset over the desert at the end of the day is good for the soul and very beautiful. The desert is a quiet and still place but there is lots to do from kayaking, paddle boarding, star gazing under the spectacular Mexican night sky to the billiards table and volleyball court that we set up in camp.

Our eco-experience camp is silent but don’t be fooled! We have 24-hour AC power.

Spiders, black widows, and scorpions can be found in the area. If you are allergic to any of these, please bring your epipen. While they aren’t typically a problem, it’s a good idea to keep your tent zipped up at all times—to keep out both critters and coyotes!

Our camp operates with the same emergency preparedness and protocols as our ocean-going liveaboard ships. You can be sure that our camp will be stocked with an AED, emergency oxygen and extensive first-aid equipment and that we have trained “first responders” on site. In the very unlikely event of a medical emergency, medevac flights are available to an acute care hospital in Cabo.

Plenty!!! Take a day trip to the Sea of Cortez with us and spend a day kayaking around the Unesco World Heritage site, Isla Espirtu Santo, or a day at Balandra Beach or a couple of days in our eco-experience camp. For divers, we have daily departures for 2 and 3 tankers out of cabo, day trips to Cabo Pulmo and for more experienced divers, the sea mounts at Gordo Banks. For non-divers, ask about our Discover Scuba intro. Of course, the ultimate activity is to charter our 45-ft luxury sailing catamaran in the Sea of Cortez or join one of our liveaboard trips.

We have loads of different activities on offer as pre-and post trip extensions. Day trips that might include an Introduction to Scuba, snorkelling with whale sharks, kayaking adventures, lots of different options for certified scuba divers, Mobula and Orca Ocean Safaris, multi-day sailing, or eco-experience camp, and to our extremely popular expeditions to Socorro Island.

12 years old