The Details
A fully Guided Group Experience and Whale Watching Holiday
If you want to be part of an unforgettable whale watching holiday, this is the one for you! Baja California has is simply teaming with marine life. The lagoons here are one of the most important sites in the world for Gray whale encounters (see video). Famed for their friendly behaviours, this will be the closest whale encounter you are ever likely to experience.
The Baja Peninsula
The Baja Peninsula is a thin finger of land that borders California but is part of Mexico, separated from the mainland by the Sea of Cortez. As well as boasting an incredibly beautiful landscape, it’s undeniably one of the best places in the world to enjoy marina life experiences, particularly encounters with some of the larger whale species.
We called this holiday ‘The Big Three’ because Gray whales, Humpback whales and Blue whales all migrating down the Baja Peninsula each spring.
The Sea of Cortez and Pacific Lagoons
The seas surrounding the Baja Peninsula are impossibly turquoise and teeming with wildlife. Whale watching experiences here are like no other in the world, and the white sand beaches easily rival those found in the Maldives. It’s an extraordinary experience, nature truly at its finest.
Your boat excursions span a huge expanse of the Baja coastline. This means you’ll get to see a fantastic variety of scenery, bird and marine life. You’ll be part of a special group experience, discovering the best of what Baja California has to offer.
It’s common for Grays to come alongside the boats. Craving human contact, they regularly approach to be stroked. Humpbacks rise from the ocean, crashing down like a violent storm. Blue and Fin whales tend to be spotted on the horizon.
Why are Gray whale encounters so special?
Encounters with the Gray whales here are incredibly special. They have an inquisitive nature that is not seen in other whale species. It’s common for them to approach the boats, seeking physical contact. Researchers estimate that 19,000 Gray whales migrate to the sheltered lagoons of Baja California every year, so you have a greater chance of seeing a whale up close here than anywhere else in the world.
A snapshot of Your Whale Watching Excursions
Starting in the Port of Lopez Mateous, you explore the pacific sea life along Baja’s west coast,first heading south to the sheltered Magdalena Bay. A highlight of your holiday will be San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebra lagoons, where you can observe large numbers of Gray whales. The pacific coastline of Baja is where Gray whales migrate to give birth and nurse their young, and these lagoon in particular play host to a very large number.
You will traverse around the bottom of the peninsula, crossing into the sea of Cortez to the east. You can enjoy fantastic views of the Sierra Giganta Mountain Range as you travel up the coastline. You’ll spend a full day in Loreto Bay, looking out for Blue, Humpback and Fin Whales.
Birds circle overhead, their chorus perfectly complimenting the ocean backdrop
Overhead, Frigatebirds, Royal Terns and Yellow-Fotted Gulls are your constant companions, as they search for their next morsal. Squadrons of Pelicans skim the sea with effortless east, whilst Osprey swoop down, their talons extended to pluck fish from the ocean to feed to their young.
La Paz, San Ignatio and Loreto – and the surrounding towns and landscapes
We’ve carefully designed the itinerary to strike a balance between varied whale watching trips and time spent on land, where you get to go on short guided walks and explore the Mexican towns and cities surrounding La Paz, San Ignacio and Loreto.
When inland you’ll be presented with a more arid environment, where plant life has adapted to flourish in the subtropical climate. You’ll be stunned at the colour and diversity of the flora.
From the roadside you’ll come across the largest cactus in the world, the cardon cactus. You’ll see acacia chinchweed, sweet bush, yucca, and mimosa…just to name a few.
You’ll meet wild mammals like the Bobcat. Others have names that hint at their attributes, like the Pronghorn (a type of deer), the Botta’s Pocket Gopher. And, one of my favourites, the Dalquest Pocket Mouse!
During your time in Baja, you’ll stay in comfortable hotels and will experience the warmth of Mexican hospitality. You’ll gain an understanding of the peninsula’s colonial past, its desert vegetation, geology, and birdlife.
An expert guide to take you on your journey
This incredible whale watching holiday is led by Orloff, an expert naturalist with an infectious enthusiasm for this part of the world. He has an unrivalled 30 years of experience and his insights will elevate your holiday experience.
This holiday is exclusive to Archipelago Choice, so you can enjoy small group excursions. Orlaff will guide you throughout your holiday. He’s an expert in whale behaviours, but is also a walking guide with extensive knowledge of the plants and animal life that thrive on this exotic peninsula.
Ian Coates – CEO
“This is the whale watching experience of a lifetime. It’s exclusive to Archipelago Choice and you’ll be joining a small group of like-minded travellers. Having done several variations of this trip, I can confidently say that this is one of the best marine wildlife experiences in the world.”
Our 2026 Trip Dates: Thursday 26th February to Monday 9th March
If you’d like to learn more, get in touch with Ian:
