Baja: Whale Watching Eco-Adventure in San Ignacio

Mexico

A unique, wild adventure in Baja

This is a trip for the adventurous traveler that can sacrifice some creature comforts. If you want a raw, wild adventure, this is an intimate opportunity to see the grey whales and their calves in San Ignacio Bay!

Journey to San Ignacio Lagoon, located in Baja, Mexico. This pristine and remote coastal sanctuary is renowned for its abundant marine life and tranquil beauty. The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It serves as a vital breeding and calving ground for gray whales, offering you a unique opportunity to experience close encounters with these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

Settle into camp life in a unique and rustic geo-dome tent. Enjoy a remote and internet-free environment, allowing more time for connection and contemplation. Immerse yourself in the serenity of the bay, where you can enjoy striking sunsets and incredible wildlife encounters. Embark on twice daily whale watching adventures in a small boat, allowing you to view these magnificent creatures up close while accompanied by a local whale expert and local boat captain.

Suggested length: 6 days/5 nights
Best time to go: mid January - early April
Starts from: $5,000 per person

"I highly recommend this experience to anyone. We are a family of five with young children (ages 5, 7 and 10). My 10 year old said it best, 'This is better than Disney!' The whale watch and turtle research to the sand dunes, the delicious food, the staff... A trip of a lifetime, although I'm hoping to book another trip soon."

Helene Norton-Russell

Baja, Mexico: A large gray whale breaches near a small boat with people wearing orange life jackets on a calm body of water.

Highlights

Take a digital detox, and connect with your family and the enchanting coastal environment.
Witness Pacific gray whales and their calves up close with the guidance of a whale expert.
At camp, look out for the wildlife that frequents the area, including sea birds, ducks, and dolphins.
Unwind in the relaxed and beachy atmosphere of the gorgeous San Ignacio Lagoon.
Explore the nearby mangroves by kayak, or enjoy intertidal walks led by naturalists, and beach combing.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

San Diego Departure

Your trip will start from your hotel in San Diego. Our driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the border, where you’ll use the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) to cross directly into Tijuana Airport. From here, fly to Loreto. Your guide will meet you and assist you in boarding your connecting flight to San Ignacio Lagoon. The journey from San Diego to camp is around 5-6 hours.

Upon landing, transfer directly to camp. You’ll receive an orientation, enjoy your first dinner, and take time to get settled into your Geo-Dome Tent. These tents feature a lookout point with clear panels, allowing you to take in the picturesque scenery from the comfort of your bed. Relax, breathe in the sea air, and look out for the birds that call San Ignacio Lagoon home. Delight in watching your first sunset as the sky turns vibrant shades of pink, orange, and purple.

Overnight Gray Whale Camp

Baja, Mexico: Palm trees growing by the edge of a river under a clear blue sky, with some branches leaning over the water.

Baja, Mexico: Sunset view from inside a geodesic dome tent with two white chairs, a small table, and bedding; desert landscape visible through the large window panels.

Baja, Mexico: Two white geodesic dome tents set on a flat, arid landscape with a colorful sunset sky in the background.

Day 2 - 4

Three Days of Whale Watching!

Over the next three days, you’ll embark on whale-watching expeditions in both the morning and afternoon. Each boat trip will be guided by a local whale expert and boat captain. Between outings, you’ll return to shore for lunch and have some time to relax around the camp before heading out again in the afternoon. Then, you’ll have some time to unwind before dinner.

The boats are scheduled to go out twice a day, weather permitting. If the seas are too rough, alternative activities will be offered, such as kayaking, intertidal walks led by naturalists, and beach combing. During your trip, your guide will also take you out into the mangroves for a fishing experience (poles are available at camp). Timing depends on the weather, tidal conditions, and smooth coordination with other activities.

Spend your evenings connecting as a family as you enjoy the rhythmic lapping of the waves and sparkling stars overhead.

Overnight Gray Whale Camp

Baja, Mexico: A whale’s tail fin, or fluke, rises above the surface of the ocean with distant land and mountains visible under a cloudy sky.

Baja, Mexico: Calm coastal landscape at sunset with pastel-colored sky, distant mountains on the horizon, and reflected clouds on shallow water.

Baja, Mexico: Two orcas swim near the surface of calm ocean water, with mountainous land visible in the background under a clear sky.

Day 5

Departure Day

After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to Baja. You’ll receive a bagged lunch for the ride before loading the vehicles and departing for the lagoon airstrip to connect with your charter back to Loreto.

From here, you’ll fly to Tijuana Airport and cross directly into the US via the Cross Border Xpress once more. Once across, your driver will meet you for your return transfer to your hotel in San Diego.

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