BajaNomad - Strategy for whale watching in B. Magdalena

Strategy for whale watching in B. Magdalena

jim&carol - 1-18-2008 at 04:46 PM

I'm looking for suggestions for whale watching in Bahia Magdalena chartering with a Panga in San Carlos at the end of February. I have heard that it is best to go either early in the morning or later in the day to avoid the crowds. However that would be hard to do in a day if you have to drive there from La Paz or Todos Santos which are 175+ miles away.

Would be most interested in suggestions for a place to stay for a night or two in San Carlos or alternatiavely in C Constitucion as the next closet place. I am also open to other creative ideas for whale watching as long as I can avoid a long drive.

Jim

Whale Watching in Pto. Lopez Mateos...

Juan del Rio - 1-18-2008 at 07:21 PM

I have done the following a few times: flew into Loreto, stayed at the Oasis Hotel, drove over to Pto. Lopez Mateo (about an hour's drive) in the morning (we left at 7:30 am), jumped on a panga with a few other folks (ended up both times at $15 per person/per hour) to share the cost, came back to the landing area, had an early lunch from some of the local vendors set up and had the kids swimmng in the pool at the Oasis by 3:00 p.m. The one time we went around Valentine's Day when there is a big Whale Festival which the kids enjoyed as well. You can find all kinds of thing to do in and around Loreto. This was a really easy way to do the whales. You don't have to go very far to view the whales either...which is a plus.

capt. mike - 1-19-2008 at 06:51 AM

aero califia has air shuttles in c 208 stretch caravans that drop you right at the whale center in lopez. its cheap fast and you will have a blast. and they depart from the cabo airport too (NOT los cabos) so if you are at todos just go there.
the pilots, some of them look to be about 18 years old tho. no big deal to me, they are just building time for future airline jobs in a plane that's really just a gigantic 172 on performance enhancing drugs.......turbosina.

Alan - 1-19-2008 at 07:55 AM

Hotel Brennan in San Carlos has clean rooms about $45/night

805gregg - 1-19-2008 at 08:12 AM

I've often wondered if getting the whales (especially young ones) used to friendly people in small boats will some day get them in trouble when approached by eskimos who have a permit to hunt and kill them.

vandenberg - 1-19-2008 at 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
I've often wondered if getting the whales (especially young ones) used to friendly people in small boats will some day get them in trouble when approached by eskimos who have a permit to hunt and kill them.

That just gives the Eskimos a break.

They need it.

shari - 1-19-2008 at 11:32 AM

Excellent question Gregg...the problem is that human habituated whales makes them more likely to be injured or killed by boats &whalers. It's all very fine and well in the protected lagoons in baja but in the big bad world outside, many boaters freak if a whale rubs up against them and try to get away and run over or cut whales with the prop...from which they can bleed to death. It also makes em pretty easy to harpoon or shoot when they are tryig to get rubs and pats from whalers. While I love petting whales, I do feel guilty and know it is a selfish thing as it is NOT good for the animals. I'm all for a new "hands off" regulation for the whales sake. (I have updated the whale diaries on our website in the What's new in Asuncion section)
but something cool about this pic is that the woman petting this young calf (you can tell he's only a few weeks old by his dimpled face and short snout)..well this woman worked in an aquarium and had never seen a "wild" whale.

miniignacioamistosa.jpg - 34kB

jim&carol - 1-19-2008 at 12:01 PM

Thanks for the info in response to my original post and that brings up another question - whether to go from San Carlos or Pto Mateo. I heard that you get to see more physical activity (jumping, spi hopping, etc) near San Carlos since water is deeper while it is shorter to get to see them from Pto Mateo and perhaps easier to get close with shallower water. Any other opinions?

Jim

shari - 1-19-2008 at 02:28 PM

FYO..."getting close" to whales depends on many different factors...for example, it depends on what they are doing, time of season etc but not water depths...when the calves are very young...up to 3 weeks old, the mothers are more protective and they are constantly nursing and shouldnt be disturbed...it also depends on the will of the whale, if it WANTS to be aproached closely...if a whale doesn't want to be bothered, it will swim away and you'll be chasing it all day long...as soon as a whale exhibits evasive behavior, the panga operator should leave it and look for a more cooperative animal. Moms with calves only allow closer approaches when the calves are a bit older and can fend for themselves and have a tough enough skin not to get cut bad by the propellers. Sometimes when they are ready for the lesson, the mothers will bring a calf up to a boat that they trust to show the baby what the prop is and can do...she lets it get cut to teach the calf that props are dangerous. Most whales in the lagoons "know" who is driving each panga and who the better guides are so whales will let their amigos approach and the poor drivers will not be able to get close to any whale..so much depends on the "nature" of the skipper...not how much experience he has. Please mention it to your captain if you feel he is harrassing whales.

jim&carol - 1-20-2008 at 01:58 PM

Shari,
Excellent info. The smart behavior of the whales is interesting and good advice to avoid harassing them. There still remains the question of spy hopping and jumping in deeper water. I assume that is more a question of adult whale behavior than mother/calf habits.

Jim

shari - 1-20-2008 at 08:58 PM

Good question...spy hopping is a specialty of mine...it really isn't a case of whales looking around...their eye only clears the water when the tide is low, often they are actually standing on their tails on the bottom so if the tide is low and the lagoons are shallow, their eyes stick out of the water! But what's neat is that a mother who loves to spy hop will pass this on to the baby who is so cute when it tries to spy hop too...babies of spyhoppers are spyhoppers too! Now breaching is another story...there are several reasons why they breach but my favorite is just for fun! Like we like to dive into thte water...I remember as a kid diving one after another just to FEEL it...and I think whales just like it too. Sometimes they breach to divert attention from a sick whale or a young calf or to attract attention if a boat is heading straight for them or sometimes they WANT a boat to notice them and come over to them. They breach in deeper water because they have to do a deep dive to get up speed and momentum in order to drive themselves out of the water....which is why they don't breach in shallow water. Jim, you can't begin to imagine how "smart" whales are! They know exactly who is in the panga...what they have in their hearts...how their health is etc.....unfrigginbelievable amigo! I had to write a book about extroardinary encounters between humans and whales as the things I witnessed in 25 years of whale observation was so overwhelming. Have a great trip and please be nice to our whale amigos.

BAJACAT - 1-20-2008 at 09:48 PM

Im going to ask the ugly question.Nobody have ask about,price's for this trips Im not a cheap,but I like to be well informe.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Juandelrio comments on $15 a person,does every pangero has his price

[Edited on 1-21-2008 by BAJACAT]

prices

Cardon Man - 1-21-2008 at 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJACAT
Im going to ask the ugly question.Nobody have ask about,price's for this trips Im not a cheap,but I like to be well informe.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Juandelrio comments on $15 a person,does every pangero has his price

[Edited on 1-21-2008 by BAJACAT]

Last year at Mag Bay we hired a whale watching panga and split the cost among just 3 people. The price for the boat was in the $160usd range as I recall.

shari - 1-21-2008 at 12:32 PM

Just an idea...if when you are whale watching the guide does a nice job of reepecting the whales and not chasing or harrassing them, pleas tip him something and tell him that's why you tipped him...often guides will do things to get tips that upset whales...for example they tell the customers to get their cameras ready and then will sneak up on a sleeping whale and get close and then gun the engine which snaps awake the whale and it usually throws its tail up high in order to do a quick dive to avoid perceived danger...bad bad bad...after the worlds longest migration of any marine mammal and then giving birth and nursing, these poor sould need all the rest they can get...and whales don't sleep at night, they take cat naps throughout the day and night...so please don't disturb a sleeping whale!

Wiles - 1-21-2008 at 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
Just an idea...if when you are whale watching the guide does a nice job of reepecting the whales and not chasing or harrassing them, pleas tip him something and tell him that's why you tipped him...often guides will do things to get tips that upset whales...for example they tell the customers to get their cameras ready and then will sneak up on a sleeping whale and get close and then gun the engine which snaps awake the whale and it usually throws its tail up high in order to do a quick dive to avoid perceived danger...bad bad bad...after the worlds longest migration of any marine mammal and then giving birth and nursing, these poor sould need all the rest they can get...and whales don't sleep at night, they take cat naps throughout the day and night...so please don't disturb a sleeping whale!

Shari,

There’s lots of wiggle room in interpreting various whale behaviors. And girl, quite often you wiggle like there is no tomorrow. :lol:

But this time you nailed it!!! Very well stated. Everyone should read your post before stepping into a panga.

Thank you Shari

shari - 1-21-2008 at 07:22 PM

Raising whale watchers awareness has been my secret mission for many moons. thanks Wiles

Bernardo - 1-21-2008 at 10:17 PM

For a really great whale watching trip, google "mar y advertura" They have great whale watching trips out of La Paz to Mag Bay (San Carlos). Best I have been on and fully supported - meals, drinks and mucho fun. Guides are great!

BAJACAT - 1-21-2008 at 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cardon Man

Quote:

Last year at Mag Bay we hired a whale watching panga and split the cost among just 3 people. The price for the boat was in the $160usd range as I recall.

Thanks Kardon men,I found another one,look at Inform, I spell it Informe,sometimes instead of english ,spanglish, komes out.