Located in the central part of the peninsula of baja california, the sanctuary contains some exceptionally interesting ecosystems. Get the monthly weather forecast for san ignacio, baja california sur, mexico, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. Whale watching season begins in baja california travel agent. Beached gray whale rescued in bcs mexico news daily. Wonderful activities to do while visiting corona del mar. Our lucky participants were met with unique and lifechanging experiences as gray whales called friendlies by some interacted with thembehavior seen. This is a fully guided whale watching expedition with nic slocum phd. Being a protected area, gladden spit is rich in marine life such as sea turtles, coral reefs and.
Whale watching mexico mexico ecotourism natural habitat. Don a mask and snorkel for a swim around the rocks and inlets of the islands and you will see why. It is here that they begin and end the longest migration of any mammal 12,000 miles from the icy waters of the arctic to the warm lagoons of baja, mexico, and back again. Each year gray whales travel over 10,000 miles round trip between their nursery lagoons in baja california sur, mexico, to their feeding grounds in the arctic. Six separate whale excursionscome within arms reach of gentle whalesincluding amiable mothers with calveson six separate skiff journeys inside the protected waters of san ignacio lagoon. Beginning in the bering and chukchi seas and ending in the warmwater lagoons of mexico s baja peninsula, their round trip journey completes over 12,000 miles. There are more cetacean species to be found in these waters than anywhere else. Magdalena bay baja california 2020 all you need to know. The baja california sur state prosecutors office said the collision with the whale about a mile from the beach resort of cabo san lucas tossed the victim into the water. From bodega bay north, highway 101 tightly hugs the shoreline and provides many handy pullouts.
We departed a chilly san diego and headed south to baja california, mexico. The baja peninsula beautifully merges desert and seainvigorating seasalt air with sunsetcolored canyons, friendly gray whales among sparkling water and. Gray whale adventure baja california mexico mary j. There is a sense of awe seeing these glorious creatures breach and blow just beyond the surf line. On our trip to horseshoe bay, we had checked out the whale watching options but the trip from there meant a much longer transit to the whale watching location. Mar 12, 2015 the baja california sur state prosecutors office said the collision with the whale about a mile from the beach resort of cabo san lucas tossed the victim into the water. Summer west winds subside in the fall making for perfect ocean conditions to go along with large numbers of whales present, making for outstanding whale watching conditions. One year of whale watching in just one infographic. How to go whale watching in baja california sur, mexico tripsavvy. Our group of 4 left at daybreak for the 45 minute drive the the campo cortez whale watching campgrounds compound. Not surprisingly, the most popular time to travel to mexico is during the winter. Find out the 6 best places to see whales in baja california. Migratory gray and humpback whale season is ending, yet there are.
Exceptionally rare conjoined whale calves discovered in. The sea of cortez also known as the the gulf of california is a unesco world heritage site that separates the baja california peninsula from the mexican mainland. Baja californias governor accused the profepa of corruption after an auto plant in tijuana reopened a day after being shut down for polluting. Other whale and dolphin species can be seen at this time or take a combined trip when the grey whales visit. December to early february the california gray whales are migrating south. An indepth immersionwitness the spring finale of the gray whales migration of nearly 6,000 miles from alaska to baja, with the expert interpretation of our naturalist expedition leader. If youre here just for the sea kayaking, the best time to visit baja is the end of octearly dec, as well as marapr, as the wind drops and the sea of cortez is clear and calm. Mhn2m6 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. There are many destinations around the world to swim and dive with whale sharks, so we wanted to provide you with a handy guide with the best places for every month of the year. From shakespeare to local cuisine, and outdoor action to a day at six flags, theres always something fun to do. The gray whale makes the most spectacular and longest mass migration of any marine mammal.
Near the yucatan peninsula, whale shark season ranges from june to september, whereas whale shark season in mexicos baja peninsula occurs from winter to early spring. Gladden spit in belize is another of the best places to dive with whale sharks. It was around 3pm on friday 28 february 2014, in san ignacio lagoon, baja california. The blue whales of the loreto marine reserve, baja. And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree stock images that features animal photos available for quick and easy download. In summer, stop at the visitor center to check out the exhibits. Feb 28, 2017 within five minutes of getting on our boat we found a beautiful blue whale who stayed with us alone and close by for 3 and a half hours. We had our first trip of the season on the western prince ii today. Cabo san lucas, mexico january 25 2018 pacific coast mexican baja california small town is crowded of tourist for the humpback whale season. Explore fundamentals by susan clarkes photos on flickr.
Whale season is getting underway in the mexican pacific, and baja california sur bcs is the place to be. Caborey whale watching tour cabo san lucas all you need. Cabrillo national monument, just west of san diego on the point loma peninsula which extends into the pacific ocean, is the perfect location to witness gray whales as they migrate from the arctic to the bays of baja california, mexico. Orcas filmed attacking grey whale calf off coast of. We had also considered going to victoria on vancouver island for a whale watching trip. The best whale petting kissing viewing experience ever. It is thought to be one of the most diverse seas on the planet with the widest variety of whales and dolphins, and nearly 900 species of fish. A commercial fisherman has spoken of watching killer whales attack a whale just off the coast of byron bay. Whale and dolphin watching holiday baja california sur. The month of may is unofficial whale watching month at kalaloch lodge with events and activities related to all things whale.
Spent extensive time learning about whale watch opportunities in cabo san lucas then decided to book with whale watch cabo based on their use of marine biologists as guides, limiting groups to 1012 guests we had 8, giving free access to photos taken by whale watch staff during the tour, and having an affiliated transportation company that provided us the most favorably priced. The man, who asked to remain anonymous, filmed the sequence on his. The best time to visit baja is undoubtedly between mid january and mid march, when the grey whales migrate to the lagoons to give birth. Beginning in february you begin seeing whales migrating back. Jun 02, 2018 killer whale freed near salt spring, b. Every year, thousands of gray whales travel between mexico and alaska, one of the longest known maritime migrations. This grey whale breeding spot is full of activity from january to march. The whale watching season in baja california is in full swing, so a sighting, even catching a whale on camera, is not unexpected. Fundamentals by susan clarke has uploaded 3171 photos to flickr. The whaleplanner february a whale watching infographic.
Her schedule includes not only the pacific region of the baja peninsula, but the gulf of california sea of cortez as well. Whats happening in baja california and the sea of cortez, by month. February is also a good time to see the big whales around the baja california, mexico. May 01, 2017 orcas filmed attacking grey whale calf off coast of california in unprecedented hunt season a high number of grey whales have been hunted by the single orcas pod in monterey bay, ca, even while. The mountains and islands of baja california sur whales. Getten, telepathic animal communicator, for an up close and intimate encounter with gray whales in baja california, mexico the only place in the world to observe gray whales calving and where friendly whales come up to boats and sometimes allow you to touch them. In the period 1951 to 2000, baja california had one hurricane and three tropical storms make landfall. The list of baja california peninsula hurricanes includes all of the tropical cyclones that impacted the baja california peninsula, which includes the mexican states of baja california and baja california sur.
The new fossils date to 17 to 19 million years ago, or the earlymid miocene epoch, making them the youngest. Whale watching half moon bay, ca riptide sportfishing. We will be back for sure as we continue our motorcycle road trip throughout baja california all the way to alaska, we cant love enough this town who changed our lives and love for those beautiful and. A comeback story in the salish sea and beyond while may through september tends to be peak season for spotting killer whales, also known as orcas, here in the san juan islands, we are in the midst of a second peak in whale sightings right now. Established since 1995, the cortez club has become the premier scuba diving, sport fishing and water sports center in baja california. For 72yearold pachico mayoral, gray whales were devil fish. Gray whale season in baja was a huge success wildcoast. Or, hit the coastal or mountain trails of baja california for a day of mountain biking. Whale watching at olympic national park my olympic park. During their northward migration blue whales sometimes hang out in the coastal waters of central and northern baja california. Once the whale was free, it began to swim off, and cottrell and his team followed to.
List of baja california peninsula hurricanes wikipedia. Those looking for an extended biking adventure might. Then they go on their long journey to feed in the rich feeding grounds of the north. On the oregon coast, several whale species, especially gray whales, may be seen yearround, and the state trains volunteers to assist tourists in the winter months, during whale migration season.
The gray whale is generally dark gray in color with mottling patterns of white patches that are used by scientists to identify individual animals. During the same period, baja california sur witnessed nineteen hurricanes and thirty. During this whale watching season, the san diego natural history museum offers cruises with museumtrained naturalists, the museum whalers, who provide interpretation on board the hornblower whale and dolphinwatching cruises. Wed watched jealously as a mother and baby grey whale approached a boat 100m away. Baja california sur mexico february 1st february 7th 20 tour leaders. Earlier this season, birch aquarium at scripps teamed up with andiamo tour mexico to embark on a remarkable expedition to two gray whale breeding lagoons in baja california, mexico. The four new toothed baleen whale species were also four huge surprises, rivin says. Fall giant blue whale watching the official travel. The whale overlook and old point loma lighthouse within the monument provide the best views for spotting the whales. Up to 90 days of daily highs, lows, and precipitation chances. Sunset at puerto adolfo lopez mateos, baja california sur baby grey whale mouth, mum in the background.
Whale lifts kayakers out of the water on its back upi. The blue whales of the loreto marine reserve, baja california sur. Oct 18, 20 so it seems to the firsttime visitor to the sea of cortes, the 700milelong finger of ocean separating the baja california peninsula from the mexican mainland. This is when many snowbirds from the usa and canada flock south of the border to escape the brutal winters of the north it gets especially busy at the end of the year with people travelling for christmas and new years. Whale watching in bodega bay california coastal vacations. Download this humpback whale breaching in sea of cortez mexico photo now. Exceptionally rare conjoined whale calves discovered in mexico lagoon. Early in the season, pods of whales journey south to the warm water lagoons in central and southern baja california, mexico from the bering sea. The whaleplanner december a whale watching infographic. Seven of us, plus our guide, were in a small panga motorboat, bobbing around on a sunny afternoon. The baja peninsula beautifully merges desert and seainvigorating seasalt air with sunsetcolored canyons, friendly gray whales among sparkling water and splashes of color cast against secluded, dry caves.
New whale species unearthed in california highway dig wired. The crew is led by mike keating, the owner and operator with over 25 years of experience in the waters of baja california, his first mate, 3 licensed skiff operators, the chef and assistant. There are no dedicated tours for these creatures, but if youre lucky youll spot one of them as well. Whale watching from steveston, bc retired and travelling. A rare albino whale was spotted off the coast of mexico. Best time to visit baja california responsible travel.
Magnificent whales pass through san diegos coastal waters on their way to and from their breeding grounds. Aug 10, 2017 for the past few weeks, at least 50 to 75 humpback whales have been gorging on krill and anchovies in the monterey bay, delighting boaters and whale watching groups. Gray whales can be seen from the highway turnouts in big sur from december through april. The migration route of the pacific gray whale is often described as the longest known mammal migration in the animal kingdom and is easily observed along the california coastline. Daily whale watching cruises continue through april 14. The name came from whaling days, when the animals often rammed and sank the whaling boats that pursued them in the baja california lagoon where the whales came each winter to calve and breed. Gray whale migration winterspring 2020 the official.
When you catch an incredibly rare white whale on film, however, it. We started our tour not having any reports of whales, so off we went to search. Along the journey you have opportunities to see dolphins, mantas, sea turtles and the on occasion whales and while circling the beautiful volcanic island you will see many varieties of birds and stunning rocky cliffs and formations. Spend a tranquil day traveling around coronado island to the sea lion colony and then on to the brea thtaking white sand beaches for lunch, snorkeling and hiking.
The blue whales of the loreto marine reserve the aquarium of the world is how the great jacques cousteau referred to the sea of cortez. The whale watching near loreto can be wonderful but is very different from whale watching in magdalena bay. Gray whales migrate every april through may past olympics rugged coastline from baja california to alaska, so spring is a great time to see them offshore. All eyes are on the horizon for one of natures most graceful giants. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save the graphic on the next page. In magdalena bay charter companies take people out to the calving lagoons of the grey whales hoping for a friendly experience when a whale will approach a boat and allow people to touch it. Gray whale watching on the sea of cortez in mexico. The sea of cortez the worlds aquarium, as it was referred to by the famous french explorer jacques cousteau and the pacific coast of the peninsula have 80% of all marine mammals found in mexican waters. With about 26,000 acres 10,510 ha and 22 miles of coastline 36 km, gladden spit and silk cayes are part of a protected marine area gsscmr in belize.
Baja california sur is one of the best world destinations to see whales. Then, one or two of them approaching your boat and poking their heads out allowing you to touch them. I have been bugging david since we had arrived in vancouver about whale watching. Wonderful activities to do while visiting corona del mar the countless activies found here does include the adventure that is whale watching.
The best time to swim with whale sharks in mexico depends on what part of the country you intend to visit. After we left the island we headed south in windy conditions. In the spring, they return north and are seen farther offshore. Humpback whales gorge in monterey bay the mercury news. Whale watching in baja california sur hidden corners. North pacific right whale eubalaena glacialis aquatic mammal. Beginning in february you begin seeing whales migrating back to alaska with their newborn babies by their sides. A fabulous whale watching voyage to baja california s spectacular pacific coast to see blue, fin and humpback whales, and witness the thrilling spectacle of grey whales at close quarters in their breeding lagoons. From december to marchapril they mate and give birth in the warm and shallow waters off the baja california, mexico. The air and the water are growing warmer and the locals have returned to feed. Mar 12, 2015 cabo san lucas, mexico a 35yearold canadian woman died and two other tourists were injured when a surfacing gray whale crashed onto their boat, mexican authorities said thursday. Bahia magdalena bahia magdalena is one of the main breeding and calving areas for the california gray whale. Best time to cruise baja, by month when to travel adventuresmith.
For a short time in the months of february and march we offer the opportunity for a short migration from cabo san lucas up north all the way till loreto for an incredible encounter with the biggest living mammal on the planet as well as to explore the baja peninsula a bit more in depth. Mar 07, 2017 march 7 upi a pair of kayakers in argentina received the shock of their lives when a whale swam under the boat and lifted them onto its back. There are so many whales here at this time, that you can just drop anchor and wait for them to swim up. Apr 01, 2017 whale watching in baja california sur imagine sailing in a small boat, watching at distance the whales exhaling or showing their tails.
Mexico wildlife holidays in latin america wildlife worldwide. San ignacio, baja california sur, mexico monthly weather. The best place to see grey whales in baja california, mexico. Baja california, on the wild pacific coast of mexico, is the best place in the. Because most scuba divers are restricted to a certain time for their vacation, this article intends to introduce a few options for your whale shark adventures. Baja california s governor accused the profepa of corruption after an auto plant in tijuana reopened a day after being shut down for polluting.
Whale and dolphin watching holiday baja california sur mexico february 25th march 3rd 2012 humpback whale whale watch west cork are running a whale and dolphin watching holiday to baja california sur, mexico saturday, february 25th to saturday march 3rd 2012. Our first morning we spent a little time at islas todos santos where we saw black oystercatchers, brown pelicans, doublecrested cormorants, bluewing teal and peregrine falcon. On 20 february 1996, during an aerial survey along the baja california peninsula, we observed a single right whale eubalaena glacialis at 2302n. The whalewatching season runs from january to april later in the season is best as, although there are fewer whales, there are more with calves and they are more playful.
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