San Ignacio Lagoon Gray Whales

San Ignacio Lagoon

Gray Whales

SEASONS

Mid-January โ€“ Early-April

Adventures from 4 – 12 days

TYPES OF ADVENTURES

Glamping & Luxury Camps

PRICING (Pp. dbl occ.)

From US$2,645

San Ignacio Lagoon Luxury Glamping

The most extraordinary whale encounters on the planet.

Every winter, Eastern Pacific gray whales make an incredible 3,000 mile (4,800 km) journey from the icy Arctic waters of Alaska to the warm lagoons of Baja California Sur, Mexico. These lagoons become a nursery and breeding ground, where whales gather to mate, give birth, and nurture their young.

San Ignacio Lagoon, often called โ€œwhale central,โ€ is at the heart of this experience. More than 1,000 individual gray whales pass through the lagoon over the course of the season, making it the ultimate destination for rare and up-close encounters with these friendly giants.

Choose your adventure from 4 to 12 days. Whether itโ€™s a 4-day / 3-night private fly-in trip from Cabo San Lucas, a self-arrival by car or your own airplane, or the โ€œfull-onโ€ 12-day Baja Blast full of adventure, your experience will be unforgettable.

San Ignacio lagoon baja gray whales

Every year something truly magical happens here.

In San Ignacio Lagoon, gray whales, guided by trust and curiosity, approach humans to seek out interactions.

This remarkable behavior, unique to this lagoon, began in 1972 when a gray whale initiated contact with a fisherman, forging an extraordinary bond between whales and humans.

Since then, gray whales have continued to swim up to boats, offering unforgettable close-up encounters. These experiences are nothing short of phenomenal, extraordinary, and utterly mind-blowing!

Will I really see gray whales on โ€จthis trip?

Yes! Each season, San Ignacio Lagoon is visited by large numbers of gray whales, many of which are known for being friendly and interactive with humans. In other places, you might wait all day just to catch a glimpse of one, but during peak days last season, over 200 whales were counted in the lagoon in a single day.

Pregnant whales are among the first to arrive, and at the start of the season, you might see newborn calves. As the weeks go on, these little ones begin mingling more. By the end of the season, theyโ€™re often playful and social. Single whales come and go from the lagoon in search of mates, so the numbers are always shifting.

We operate exclusively during the peak whale season, from mid-January to mid-April, when the largest number of whales are present.

Baja California whale watching
San Ignacio El Vizcaino UNESCO reserve

San Ignacio lagoon is a protected whale sanctuary.

Laguna San Ignacio is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected whale sanctuary. We adhere to strict guidelines that ensure non-intrusive, ethical whale watching in their natural habitat. Our tours take place in a designated whale-watching zone, with a limited number of boats allowed at any time to maintain a respectful distance. Outside of this area, interacting with the whales is illegal. We never chase, feed, or coerce the whales into approaching.

Our trained guides ensure that all interactions occur only on the whales’ terms, allowing close encounters only if the whales choose to initiate them. This approach ensures that our whale-watching experience is both safe and respectful.

San Ignacio camp at night - Baja California

Desert glamping and luxury on the edge of the ocean.

Imagine starting your day with the sun rising over the Baja mountains, followed by multiple whale-watching excursions to meet the friendly whales. You choose how much time you want to spend with these gentle giants, setting the pace that feels right for you.

The lagoon and surrounding desert are beautiful, and these trips are done in style. Perfect if you enjoy nature and the great outdoors but love the extra comfort. All our glamping and luxury camps are located in the peaceful El Vizcaรญno desert, with tents positioned near the water, offering stunning views and endless starry skies at night.

You can join kayaking or paddleboarding tours across the lagoon (weather permitting), take scenic walks, or explore the area by mountain bike. Evenings are for unwinding โ€“ enjoy presentations by our naturalists, watch the sun set over the salt flats, and gather around the fire pit.

Our team of naturalists, scientists, and local experts will be on hand to guide you through your entire experience, whether itโ€™s joining you on a panga with the gray whales, guiding you on a kayak expedition through the mangroves, leading a birdwatching or nature walk, or accompanying you to a local village to witness their turtle conservation efforts.

San Ignacio lagoon luxury camp BCS

Our accommodations range from glamping tents to more spacious luxury tents. Each tent includes an ensuite bathroom, a hot shower, and a โ€œreal bedโ€ with high-quality linens for a restful nightโ€™s sleep. Families can opt for our spacious family tents with bunk beds for kids, while solo travelers can enjoy the privacy of their own tent or choose a shared option for a more budget-friendly stay.

Each village features a large dining tent and kitchen, as well as an outdoor palapa fire pit and a large bar tent complete with craft beer, single malts, and an excellent wine list. Our guests enjoy daily all-inclusive fine dining with freshly prepared dishes, paired with the warmth and authenticity of our Baja staff. Guests in our luxury villages enjoy larger tents with ocean views, private sitting areas, and even a pool table in their bar tent.

Glamping

From US$2,645

We say โ€œNOโ€ to tiny tents with cots, sleeping bags and read more…

a couple of shared toilets and showers for the whole camp! Our tents are windproof, insulated and heated for maximum comfort, with ensuite bathrooms and showers, hot and cold running water with good pressure, and 24-hour power. Not to mention “real beds” with fine linen.

Enormous thought has gone into every detail, from a fire pit to a fine selection of wine, craft beer, single malt scotches and fine dining. We even have a bar and lounge tent and Wi-Fi-access throughout the camp.

Luxury

From US$3,195

Our luxury camp features all the amenities of the glamping camp, but with read more…

but with 14 large and luxurious tents, ensuring the utmost privacy. Each tent features an ensuite bathroom, a dresser in the bedroom as well as a separate sitting area with a couch and easy chairs – perfect for relaxing after a day of adventure.

Think of our luxury camp as one of the world’s best pop-up hotels.

Your Trip Options

More days. More adventure. Options from 8 to 12 days in Baja.

San Ignacio + Whale Sharks
8 Days / 7 Nt:
$4,000

Humpback whale watching in Cabo, 4 nights in La Paz, and 2 full days of panga swim with whale sharks, sea lions, beach lunch, and UNESCO Isla Espรญritu Santo. More info…

San Ignacio + Sailing Adventure
8 Days / 7 Nt:
$4,000

4 nights onboard a crewed sailing yacht with captain, chef, and naturalist. Includes sea lion swims, kayaking, beach walks, and whale watching with observation airplane support. More info…

San Ignacio + Expedition Yacht
8 Days / 7 Nt:
$5,095

3 nights onboard our 116 ft expedition yacht. Searching for blue and humpback whales + 1 nt boutique hotel La Paz + UNESCO Isla Espรญritu Santo & more! More info…

Baja Blast: The San Ignacio+ Adventure
8 Days / 7 Nt:
$4,000

Humpback whale watching in Cabo, then enjoy 4 nights in La Paz with daily adventures. Isla Espรญritu Santo and snorkelling with sea lions. Panga supported kayaking. Balandra Beach. More info…

Baja Blast: The San Ignacio+ Adventure
10 Days / 9 Nt:
$4,925

Everything in our 8-day Baja Blast. PLUS 2 ocean safari days searching blue, fin, and humpback whales with observation airplane support. Based in Loreto or La Paz, wherever whales lead. More info…

Baja Blast: The San Ignacio+ Adventure
12 Days / 11 Nt:
$5,825

All the adventure of our 10-day trip. PLUS your choice of 2 nights at a surf camp near Todos Santos or a beach camp on UNESCO Isla Espรญritu Santo. More info…

Typical Itinerary

We recommend SJD Cabo San Lucas as your gateway airport with transfers to local hotels in Los Cabos, the jumping off point for additional pre-trip adventure and relaxation before flying out to San Ignacio Lagoon. Our concierge team is on standby to assist with arrangements, special requests, and answer any questions you may have.

Day Before Boarding

Sign up ahead of time for a complimentary afternoon humpback whale watching adventure with SeeCreatures Cabo.

San Ignacio lagoon Baja California map

Pre-trip adventure; Complimentary!

Ocean safari from Cabo San Lucas. Our concierge team has full details.

Day 1: Meet the Gray Whales!

Your adventure begins meeting at SeeCreatures Cabo between 6:30 and 7 am for a private 1 hour 50 minute flight to our airstrip at the Lagoon.

Our staff will be waiting to meet you at the airstrip with welcoming smiles, glasses of champagne, and hot apple cider, followed by a 5 minute ride to camp. Once there, enjoy brunch, a welcome briefing, and a naturalist introduction to the whales and what you might see and experience this afternoon. We recommend heading out for two afternoon whale-watching encounters, but of course, itโ€™s always your option to stay and relax at camp or try some of our other activities. In the evening, enjoy cocktail hour and watch the sunset around one of our fire pits, followed by dinner and a presentation by one of our naturalists.

Days 2 โ€“ 3: San Ignacio Lagoon

All operators in the lagoon work together to maximize guest experience while ensuring no negative impact on the whales. For this reason, all whale encounters are in a small defined area of the lagoon with pangas taking turns entering the restricted area for a maximum of 90 minutes. The timing on this is worked out between the operators which means that we abide by scheduled departure times. For this reason, unfortunately, we are not able to send pangas out โ€œon demandโ€. The departure times are defined.

Option 1: 7 am breakfast after watching the sunrise over the sierras and then head out at 7:45 am for several whale watching encounters.

Option 2: Sleep in and relax. Breakfast when you are ready. With a fixed departure time of 9:45 am, if you want to join the second whale watching session of the day. The second round is around 10 to 10:30 am, depending on the availability in the area for whale watching, and then back to camp for lunch.

After lunch, enjoy another whale-watching encounter in the afternoon. Or as long as the weather cooperates, enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding in the mangroves on the other side of the lagoon, or a leisurely walk, visit a local village to experience and learn about their turtle conservation efforts, mountain biking, hiking, and bird watching with one of our naturalists or just kicking back, and relax at camp. In the evening, enjoying cocktail hour, sunset viewing, making new friends around one of our fire pits, a game of billiards, or an evening presentation by a naturalist are all fine ways to finish off your day in camp.

Day 4: Return to Cabo

Breakfast at 7 am. One more whale watching encounter (always weather dependent), and then the beautiful flight back to SJD Los Cabos, arriving by 1:30 pm. If you are flying home this day, we recommend booking a return flight after 3:30 pm. Otherwise transfer back to SeeCreatures Cabo for more adventure!

What Guests Have to Say About San Ignacio

Life Changing Experience

This has been a most incredible life changing experience. We will cherish these memories. Read full review

Charles & Deb W โ€“ Tucson USA

Everything was Perfect!

Everything has been perfect!! the staff knowledge, kind, patient and helpful. Read full review

Jane B โ€“ USA

Picture Prefect Dream

The entire experience lived up to the dream of being here. Read full review

Anthony M โ€“ Atlanta USA

Awe-inspiring Creatures

Words cannot adequately describe how awe-inspiring these magnificent and playful creatures are. Read full review

Randy S โ€“ USA

Experience That Changed My Life

Today was our second date. What an amazing experience!! I am so grateful to be here. Read full review

Anahi โ€“ Cabo San Lucas