In some components of the world, the whales and the people aren’t round on the identical time. Fortunately for you, the Cabo San Lucas whale watching season can also be excessive season for us people. The perfect time to see whales within the Los Cabos area and Baja Sur basically is January via April, simply when the northerners are coming down to flee the chilly and heat up. It is sensible that we warm-blooded creatures observe the identical route.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is understood for its whale watching, and is without doubt one of the finest locations on the earth to see these large sea creatures. The whale watching season gives guests the chance to witness the migration of whales from the colder waters of Alaska right down to the hotter climates of Mexico in winter.
Throughout this time, guests can take boat excursions or take part on kayaking and stand-up paddleboard excursions for the potential to get an up-close have a look at these wonderful creatures. Whale-watching excursions are supplied from a number of ports within the area, together with Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, Todos Santos, and La Paz, all reached from the worldwide airport.
When is Cabo San Lucas Whale Watching Season?
Whale watching season runs from December to April, however the very best possibilities of seeing loads of whales is between January and March. I as soon as went out in December on the very first day of the season. The information informed us to not count on a lot, then a couple of minutes later an enormous humpback whale got here taking pictures out of the water and created an enormous splash 100 meters away.
Solely one in all us had a digital camera prepared because it was such a shock. The perfect I might do was get a tail shot later:
On that very same journey I performed golf at Quivira and noticed a few whales within the distance whereas strolling to the inexperienced to make my putt. Then one other journey after I stayed on the JW Marriott Los Cabos, we noticed whales off the shore frequently from our room and whereas sitting on the pool.
For those who go to any a part of Los Cabos in January and February, you’ll most likely have an identical expertise. You could be staying at one of many accommodations in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, or wherever alongside the hall and likelihood is fairly good that you just’ll see a number of whales swimming by. Deliver some binoculars or ask to borrow some at your resort. A few of the most luxurious resorts, like Las Ventanas al Paraiso, have a pair in every room—or perhaps a telescope when you’re in the suitable suite.
If you wish to exit on a tour, the waters are recognized to be calmer within the mornings, however afternoons and evenings can are inclined to have extra exercise due to the tides. One distinctive expertise is to get out on the water within the early morning hours previous to dawn, while you’ll have calm waters and dramatic lighting while you see whales breaking the floor or breaching.
See our detailed Los Cabos luxurious resort evaluations.
What Form of Whales Are in Cabo San Lucas?
Through the prime Cabo San Lucas whale watching season, guests can count on to see migrating whales within the waters surrounding the realm. The Los Cabos area is most recognized for its humpback whales, that are essentially the most generally seen within the space. Different species of whales, similar to blue whales, grey whales, and sperm whales, can typically be noticed as properly, though they are often tougher to identify as they have a tendency to remain additional out to sea or will nurture their younger in protected bays additional north.
Cabo San Lucas is a favourite vacation spot for humpback whales, as they migrate across the backside of the Baja Peninsula and thru the Sea of Cortez throughout winter months. The Sea of Cortez is a breeding floor for a lot of sea mammals, together with the humpback whale.
Through the later months of the season, grey whales can typically be seen within the waters close to the Los Cabos space. This species tends to remain near the shore, making sightings simpler.
The place Do the Whales Come From?
Unsplash photograph by Mike Doherty
The waters of Baja California host extra marine life than virtually wherever else on the earth, over an unlimited area, and the whales take into account Cabo San Lucas on the backside of the Baja Peninsula to be the right atmosphere for nurturing newborns. The whales that go to Cabo San Lucas come from the jap North Pacific, together with Oregon and Washington, or within the case of some breeds, all the best way from the Arctic waters of northern Alaska and Russia.
Throughout this time, the whales migrate south to the realm to breed and feed, they usually can usually be seen in giant pods, making for a spectacular sight.
Tour Choices for Recognizing Whales in Baja
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a peaceable tour to watch the majestic humpback, grey, and blue whales, or an exciting journey with up-close encounters with these majestic creatures, there’s a whale watching tour for you in Cabo San Lucas. Whether or not you select a guided tour or plan your personal tour, whale watching in Cabo is an unforgettable expertise.
The very first thing to notice is that there are totally different boat choices, from inflatable zodiacs to extra conventional catamarans, so noting your desire will assist slim down the abundance of choices when looking to e book. One other factor is your group desire, whether or not you don’t thoughts being grouped with different visitors, otherwise you’d moderately have a non-public expertise to your touring group or pair.
After all, the variation in boat sort and privateness will drastically change the worth vary. Greater boats with extra facilities and personal excursions will lead to pricier choices, however the recognition of this exercise permits prime customization choices, permitting you to select from all types of gives. There are a great deal of totally different excursions and firms obtainable, however we’ve compiled 4 common choices of various value factors.
Cabo Non-public Whale Recognizing Tour
For those who’re on the lookout for a non-public, intimate choice, at 500$ you may e book a 2-and-a-half-hour private tour. Marine biologist-led and full with a scenic stroll by a few of Cabo’s finest sights, this whale watching expertise is high of the road. See extra data right here.
Luxurious Catamaran Whale Watching Expertise
From Cabo Adventures at 119$ per individual is the Luxurious Catamaran Whale Watching Expertise. This expertise takes place on a double-decker catamaran boat, set with drinks and appetizers.
Right here, you may see the whales up shut, be taught extra about them, hear via the on-board hydrophone, and total, take pleasure in a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Reserve your spot right here.
Whale Watching Catamaran Expertise
This different catamaran expertise is priced at 85$ per individual, which incorporates cruising by well-known landmarks in addition to whale watching. This can be a easy, easy choice when you’re simply thinking about seeing the whales of their glory.
Zodiac Journey Tour
Right here’s an instance of what a zodiac expertise is like if you wish to be proper on the water. This 79$-per-person inflatable boat tour sticks to small teams of 10 or much less, full with a marine information, free pictures, and a hydrophone. Though this feature is much less glamorous than the catamarans, the smaller, sooner boat offers the chance for extra vary and nearer contact with the whales.
Reserving Whale Watching Excursions
Unsplash photograph by Jorge Vasconez
It’s positively essential to e book whale watching excursions far prematurely, with corporations which might be in present operation. There was a shocking variety of cuts to boat permits this 12 months, and plenty of corporations have been ready for the inexperienced gentle from the federal ministry.
Since many locals depend on the business to help the financial system and their households, it is a presumably detrimental revelation, and likewise creates a tighter business, due to this fact much less obtainable excursions. For those who undergo Viator or GetYourGuide (see beneath) you’ll at the very least know that the excursions are positively working. In any other case, e book it along with your resort tour desk since they’ll have the ability to examine by telephone.
Different suggestions to remember, deliver a hat, sunscreen, sun shades, and a digital camera, and anything chances are you’ll want to remain snug in your tour. (It’s unlikely you’ll be shut sufficient to seize a superb photograph along with your telephone, so deliver an actual digital camera with a zoom lens or buddy up with somebody who will share pics.) Hearken to your information to maximise security and be respectful of the whales and their habitat whereas on the tour.
After all, at all times be ready for the potential for not recognizing any whales, however some tour corporations supply rescheduling choices upon this end result. Once more although, that is uncommon in January and February. Most significantly, have enjoyable and benefit from the expertise!
See tour choices and costs right here. Or click on on any of those different finest whale watching excursions in Cabo San Lucas:
The place Else to See Whales in Baja
As we famous on this earlier put up on seeing child whales in Baja, when you head north from Los Cabos there are two spots in the identical state which might be like nursery areas for grey whales. The moms and dads migrate south to those calm waters to mate, then to spawn, then to provide the infants a little bit of time to develop up and be taught. When the kid whales are prepared for the lengthy swim again to the Arctic waters, they head north, normally round Might.
Earlier than that, after the males have already left, you may catch the moms and infants being surprisingly social in two spots: Magdalena Bay and San Ignacio Lagoon. The latter is extra distant and more durable to get to, however has the benefit of some semi-permanent camps on the shore.
Magdalena Bay is healthier for many who wish to really feel like actual adventurers and who need the prospect of recognizing whales swimming by within the morning: you camp on a barrier island and might typically watch whales whereas consuming breakfast!
One other good spot to see whales from shore is in Loreto, a well-liked spot for trip house house owners and retirees that has its personal airport. The primary time I visited there on a Baja journey tour, I checked into my room, walked out to the seaside, and watched a humpback whale swimming alongside parallel to my stroll. It was shut sufficient that I might have kayaked out to it. The subsequent day we went out puttering round in a motorboat and I caught this photograph of a whale’s fin with the mountains behind it.
Generally you may see a blue whale in Loreto when you’re fortunate, the most important creatures on the planet. We weren’t so lucky, however when you cling round for some time on the proper time of 12 months, possibly occurring a kayaking tour across the uninhabited islands, or on an Uncruise Baja journey, you’ll higher your probabilities.
In truth, the most effective methods to see whales in numerous habitats within the Sea of Cortez is to affix them away from shore. For those who’re on some type of small-ship tour, you’ll have the ability to get into the hidden coves and shores with no folks on them, much less noisy locations the place the whales usually tend to congregate.
Right here’s a view I received from the deck of an Uncruise ship close to San Jose del Cabo:
The perfect place to swim with whale sharks is La Paz, not far off the shore the place you may join an tour to go snorkel alongside them in a regulated atmosphere. Whale sharks will not be whales although: they’re large fish. In contrast to most sharks although, they don’t chunk: they eat tiny sea creatures and plankton via their large mouths.
Have you ever managed to benefit from the Cabo San Lucas whale watching season in Baja? Inform us the way it went within the feedback!
Textual content by Alina Leffel, pictures by Timothy Scott besides the place indicated. This put up might comprise affiliate hyperlinks, which earn the writer a small fee from bookings. Costs would be the identical as if booked direct.Â
