BajaNomad

Mag Bay whale trip

bajafreaks - 10-12-2025 at 07:42 AM

Thinking about doing a first time trip to Mag Bay to see the whales in February. Any suggestions on where to go, guides, places to stay, etc. Its my understanding it books up pretty early. Thanks

geraldalexander7 - 10-12-2025 at 09:03 AM

Are you driving or flying in?
We fly into Loreto and take the bus into San Carlos.
Check your U2U

surfhat - 10-12-2025 at 12:43 PM

Mag Bay attracts relatively fewer whales compared to the other two lagoons in Baja Sur.

San Ignacio attracts more gray whales than Mag Bay, but Mag Bay has better fishing opportunities that the other lagoons do not.

For the best chances of up-close and closer chances, GN is the better choice. No fishing in the lagoon is allowed during the gray whale season.

Our boat drivers know the lagoon better than anyone. That these boat drivers have an opportunity to earn a living through our whale love for a couple of months every year that we are allowed is a gift to the both of us.

Can I assume the same behavior by visitors is the same for all of the gray whale lagoons?

I ask this because of a report of some other practices on the other two lagoons that were not what I have always experienced with Shari's Whale Magic Tours.

Thank you Shari and Sirena. I wish all whale tour providers would follow your informed clients education before going out on the lagoon.

An informed clientele does make a difference in the number of whales that will choose to stop by to offer direct contact.

That special magic is truly magical and has been since my first gray whale trip a decade ago.

Thank you Shari and Sirena for providing such a rewarding life enhancing experience in my later years.

As long as I remain mobil, I intend to refresh this relatively newfound passion every year I am given.

The Ojo de Leibres lagoon always has more gray whales every year, if that is one's primary reason for going. The choice is easy. In my opinion for whatever it is worth.

One last piece of advice. Make your reservations now for next winter if you want to reserve specific dates. Some whale guides fill up months ahead of time.

Maybe it is the ever popular Shari who fills up early. I know little about the other whale tours. Shari has spoiled me from the first trip a decade ago.

I hope to always find a space in one of her vans for a day trip from town with her Whale Magic Tour while in GN. for the week I am in town.

Who has ever experienced the gray whale magic and not wanted more? Most certainly not I. I am committed or should be committed, for as long as I remain mobil enough to go.












bajafreaks - 10-13-2025 at 07:28 AM

Thanks for the info. We will be driving north from Los Barriles, I picked Mag Bay simply because we've never been there and it sounds like an interesting area plus the bonus of seeing whales.

wilderone - 10-13-2025 at 11:52 AM

It's not that interesting.

chippy - 10-13-2025 at 12:59 PM

I've had good luck at Puerto Lopez Mateos and Puerto Chale.

geraldalexander7 - 10-14-2025 at 09:05 PM

In the 6 or 7 years we have been taking our friends to see the whales in San Carlos, we have touched them every trip.
San Carlos is a much more interesting place to visit then Puerto Chale or Lopez Mateos.
In Guerrero Negro you can watch the salt evaporate and enjoy the grey sky.
Every one has their opinion.
Pics of whales to follow.

San Carlos friendly whale

geraldalexander7 - 10-14-2025 at 09:27 PM



IMG-20190212-WA0004.jpeg - 104kB

chippy - 10-15-2025 at 05:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by geraldalexander7  




Funny to have San Carlos and interesting in the same sentence:lol:.
I don´t find any of those places particularly interesting. It's all about the whale encounters.

[Edited on 10-15-2025 by chippy]

bajafreaks - 10-15-2025 at 09:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by geraldalexander7  
In the 6 or 7 years we have been taking our friends to see the whales in San Carlos, we have touched them every trip.
San Carlos is a much more interesting place to visit then Puerto Chale or Lopez Mateos.
In Guerrero Negro you can watch the salt evaporate and enjoy the grey sky.
Every one has their opinion.
Pics of whales to follow.

Have you always gotten reservations and which month do you go? Thanks

geraldalexander7 - 10-15-2025 at 12:43 PM

We always do Feb and always make reservations for the boat and hotel.
Feb is very busy for whale watching.

geraldalexander7 - 10-15-2025 at 12:59 PM

Chippy
I have been visiting Baja Sur for 21 years.
San Carlos has greatly increased in tourists visiting in the last 20 years.
I live there part time each winter. I have first hand knowledge of activities available there.
In 2004 I started going fishing in SC with local captains who have become my friends.
I also snorkel and SCUBA Dive at the barrier island where the Pacific meets the bay.
The captains I know are booked solid very day in Feb with whale watching.
From late Oct to early Dec they are booked solid every day with divers to go out into the open ocean and swim with marlin.
The captain I first hired in 2004 had 1 panga then.
Now he owns 5 and they are booked solid each Feb with whale trips in Feb and divers in Nov.
I guesstimate he males $100,000 per year now.
San Carlos is a hopping busy interesting place now.
Just because you are not aware of something does’nt mean it’s not happening.

bajafreaks - 10-15-2025 at 01:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by geraldalexander7  
We always do Feb and always make reservations for the boat and hotel.
Feb is very busy for whale watching.

Recommendations on both would be great, thanks for the input...sounds interesting to me :)