| Gray whales are 52 feet long and weigh | | | | to San Ignacio and five-day, |
| 36 tons, yet are gentle enough to | | | | all-inclusive packages, including |
| touch… and Baja California's Pacific | | | | accommodations at the camps. It also |
| coast is the perfect place to experience | | | | offers seven-day combined kayaking and |
| the thrill! | | | | whale-watching programs to Magdalena |
| Every year in November, more than 10 | | | | Bay, meeting at the La Paz International |
| thousand gray whales trade the freezing | | | | Airport. Programs run from February to |
| waters of Alaska's Bering Sea for the | | | | end of March. |
| warmth of Mexico's Baja California | | | | Baja Discovery Tours: Boasting more than |
| Peninsula. Traveling along the Pacific | | | | 20 years experience, Baja Discovery |
| coastline at top speeds of five mph and | | | | Tours it offers all-inclusive service |
| with pregnant females in the lead, the | | | | from the San Diego International |
| whales take about four months to make | | | | airport, including ground service to |
| the 10 thousand miles roundtrip. | | | | Tijuana, charter service to San Ignacio |
| Once the whales reach the Mexican coast, | | | | and accommodations at the San Ignacio |
| they mate, bask in soothing lagoons and | | | | camp. Five-day programs run from |
| give birth, making January through early | | | | February to end of March. |
| April the peak time to whale watch. | | | | Lindblad's Special Expeditions: This |
| During these months, boat excursions are | | | | provider offers nine-day cruises |
| available all along Baja California, | | | | featuring whale-watching at Magdalena |
| giving tourists the chance to observe | | | | Bay along with other destinations and |
| these magnificent creatures in their | | | | activities. Groups meet in Los Cabos. |
| natural environment, see the newborn | | | | Miramar Adventures: Offers three-day |
| calves and enjoy the blowhole water | | | | excursions to the Ojo de Liebre lagoon. |
| shows. | | | | Tourists arrive by car. |
| Gray whales are so friendly that on many | | | | For those not interested in signing up |
| occasions they swim right up to the | | | | for a whale-watching package, Puerto |
| boats and even allow human contact. In | | | | Lopez Mateos or Puerto San Carlos at |
| early spring, the calves and their | | | | Magdalena Bay are quaint sleepy villages |
| mothers are the last to head back up | | | | where boats can be rented for US$50 a |
| north, and without the presence of the | | | | day, skipper included, and are located |
| males, mothers are less protective, | | | | two hours by car from the Loreto |
| often allowing their young to approach | | | | International Airport. |
| tour boats more freely. | | | | Gray whales aren't the only species to |
| Where to watch | | | | see while in Baja. Sea Kayak Adventures: |
| Although a small percentage of whales, | | | | also offers kayaking/camping adventures |
| particularly those that are not giving | | | | out of Loreto on the Sea of Cortez, |
| birth, make it as far south as Cabo San | | | | located on the eastern side of the Baja |
| Lucas and the East Cape on the southern | | | | Peninsula. Tourists can watch finback |
| tip of the Baja, most whale-watching | | | | and blue whales, along with dolphins, |
| takes place in three major lagoons all | | | | sea lions and exotic fish. Apart from |
| the coastline of the Baja Peninsula. | | | | paddling among islands, additional |
| Laguna Ojo de Liebre: Also known as | | | | activities include snorkeling and hiking |
| Scammon's Lagoon, this body of water is | | | | up scenic canyons offering breathtaking |
| located half-way down the peninsula on | | | | panoramas. |
| the Pacific side in Guerrero Negro, | | | | More on gray whales |
| about 440 miles south of the border. It | | | | Hunted for their oils, blubber and other |
| was the principal hunting lagoon used by | | | | valuable products, gray whales were once |
| commercial whale hunters in the 19th | | | | victims of massive slaughters in the |
| century. Today tourists arrive to the | | | | 1800s and early 20th century. The |
| lagoon by car, but a national airport is | | | | hunting continued until the numbers were |
| also available for tourists flying in | | | | reduced to only a few hundred, and the |
| from other destinations in Mexico. | | | | whales were subsequently placed on the |
| Laguna San Ignacio: Located 100 miles | | | | endangered species list. |
| south of Laguna Ojo de Liebre, access to | | | | Thanks to an international protection |
| this site is mostly through charter air | | | | agreement made among several countries |
| service from international airports such | | | | in the 1940s, the whales' numbers have |
| as San Diego and Tijuana. | | | | grown at an incredible rate. Today, more |
| Bahia Magdalena (Magdalena Bay): This | | | | than 20,000 gray whales exist and |
| bay in becoming increasingly popular for | | | | although still protected, they were |
| whale-watching due to its proximity to | | | | removed from the endangered species list |
| the La Paz and Loreto International | | | | in 1975. Gray whales are among the |
| airports. | | | | oldest species of mammals, inhabiting |
| How to get there | | | | the Earth for about 30 million years. |
| Tourists can arrive by charter plane and | | | | About the Mexico Tourism Board |
| or ground to the lagoons. Loreto's | | | | The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings |
| International airport is the closest | | | | together the resources of federal and |
| international airport to the lagoons, | | | | state governments, municipalities and |
| with limited service provided by | | | | private companies to promote Mexico's |
| Aeromexico and Aero California. Baja | | | | tourism attractions and destinations |
| California's capital, La Paz, is located | | | | internationally. Created in 1999, the |
| approximately halfway between Loreto and | | | | MTB is Mexico's tourism promotion |
| Cabo and its larger airport offers more | | | | agency, and its participants include |
| flight options. | | | | members of both the private and public |
| Whale-watching options | | | | sectors. The MTB has offices throughout |
| Gray whale excursions comprise half-day | | | | North America, Europe, Asia and Latin |
| or day trips, packages based out of | | | | America. |
| whale-watching camps, and cruise | | | | FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, |
| programs that allow tourists to sleep | | | | help with a story or general travel and |
| onboard ships. There are various tour | | | | tourism information about Mexico, please |
| operators that specialize in | | | | contact the MTB's North American Press |
| whale-watching, including some major | | | | Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by |
| ones below. | | | | e-mail at , or visit our press Web site |
| Baja Expeditions: Based in La Paz and | | | | at To access an online warehouse of |
| one of the oldest and largest | | | | free, downloadable b-roll, visit |
| whale-watching outfitters, Baja | | | | # # # |
| Expeditions service both the Magdalena | | | | Erick Laseca |
| Bay and San Ignacio lagoons. It offers | | | | Mexico Tourism Board |
| charter flights directly from San Diego | | | | 312-228-0517erick. |