Mike Humfreville - 12-22-2005 at 08:39 PM
I know this question is redundant but I couldn't find any of the comparisons. Which site do you prefer for whale watching?
Thanks in advance.
Ken Bondy - 12-22-2005 at 08:48 PM
Mike
I have chased whales in both lagoons many times and I far prefer Laguna San Ignacio. Smaller, more concentrated area, more remote and beautiful, and
in my experience MANY more friendly encounters, particularly late in the season after the bulls have split. Just my $0.02, but based on much personal
experience with both areas.
++Ken++
elgatoloco - 12-22-2005 at 10:17 PM
We agree with Ken.
The first four times (99-03) we went to Scammon?s. March 04 we went to San Ignacio Lagoon for the first time. We want to return there. San Ignacio was
the first place we got to pet a whale. Our experience at Scammon?s was that we got real close to a lot of whales but never close enough.
If someone was not retired and had a ?schedule? to maintain one could not go wrong going to Scammon?s as it is easily accessible. It has its own
charms and lots of whales. San Ignacio requires a larger ?commitment? but is WELL worth it. We will camp overnight at SI when we return. We camped at
Rice and Beans (hot showers ,excellent food, great margaritas) in 04 and we drove the truck out in the early AM. It took us 50 minutes. We got lucky
because we were at Kuyima at 8:00 AM. The van loads of folks from town don?t get there until about 10:00. We ended up eating some huevos rancheros
then going out on a boat with only four of us about 9:30. it was great (see attached). We spent three hours on the ride back into town, photos ops,
side roads and salt.
We had a couple of interesting experiences at Scammon?s. The first time there we camped on the inlet that is on the west side of the whale watching
area, this was before any permanent structures were built. We were tent camping way back then and were awakened in the early morning before daylight
by the sound of whales exhaling, one BIG whoosh followed by a small whoosh. When daylight hit we awoke to see, 100 yards from us in the middle of the
small inlet, a mother whale with what was likely an hours old baby. The mother appeared to be actually resting on the bottom with just her back and
blowhole exposed and the baby was in front of her bobbing in the water like a cork. It was a memorable experience. As we watched, the tide rapidly
filled in and eventually mother circled around the baby nudging it as they slowly floated back into the main lagoon. We learned later that the mothers
regularly take newborns up that inlet, tide permitting. The next year we returned and snagged the same camp spot. In the morning we woke up early and
saw the most bizarre thing we have ever seen in Baja, coyotes clamming. Two coyotes in the middle of the inlet, now totally devoid of water due to low
tide, digging in the mud! We got the binoculars out and watched as one of the coyotes dig in the mud and then the other one picked up what we think
was a clam and cracked it open and ate it. As the daylight increased I crawled out of the tent on my belly and snapped two photos of the coyotes
before they saw me and left the area. I have no idea if you can still camp there or not.
If you are short on time I know a certain captain who can fly you into SI.