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