BajaNomad

Guerrero Negro Whale Watching - Prices?

BajaKurtis - 1-8-2013 at 10:51 PM

What is the going rate for whale watching in Guerrero Negro? A couple hour boat ride. Show up, spot price, Not the over priced tours from American companies.

What companies would be good to use there?

I have always driven right past GN and want to do the tour this year. I will have my own ride, so if that make a difference.

Thanks guys.

bajaguy - 1-8-2013 at 11:01 PM

Drive out to the lagoon and check in at the center. Think it's about $40usd a person

BajaKurtis - 1-8-2013 at 11:26 PM

Thanks, that sounds good. Thanks

I saw several packages that were nearing $1000 for several days, transport and all that.

Baja Bucko - 1-8-2013 at 11:39 PM

Skip the expensive stuff...drive out to Ojo de Liebre, get the camping spot of a lifetime, and go whale-petting there ....bring a guitar, bond with your people and stay warm. Visit the whales for at least a day...enjoy the solitude...oh yea, did I say stay warm???:lol:

BajaKurtis - 1-8-2013 at 11:48 PM

No way I would pay those crazy tour prices that the US companies want....

Getting the info here, good places and average prices. Just go straight to the tour companies sounds like the right way. Camp a night or two, but need a GN hotel recommendation, for the Lady at some point.

I have been out on the central Pacific during the summer several times (abreojos, 7 sisters, etc..) and it was very cold, so I can imagine it will be super chilly Jan-April in GN area.

Pacifico - 1-9-2013 at 06:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaKurtis
No way I would pay those crazy tour prices that the US companies want....

Getting the info here, good places and average prices. Just go straight to the tour companies sounds like the right way. Camp a night or two, but need a GN hotel recommendation, for the Lady at some point.

I have been out on the central Pacific during the summer several times (abreojos, 7 sisters, etc..) and it was very cold, so I can imagine it will be super chilly Jan-April in GN area.


As for a hotel, I would recommend Malarrimo or Cowboy hotel. Malarrimo has a great restaurant in it as well. Have fun!

shari - 1-9-2013 at 08:33 AM

I agree with driving out to the lagoon for several reasons...you have flexibility and can choose when you want to go and who you want to go with. The tours in town are rigid and you have to go when they go.

the drive out there is pretty cool too through the salt works gate...here it is at high tide after a wind whipped up the foam.



At the lagoon just south of GN, if it's windy or raining, you can wait awhile till it calms down...and you can mill around the great Interpretive Center and see who else is wanting to go out...you can wait till you like the folks you go on a panga with...which is important to having a great experience. If the weather is good, I suggest waiting till all the morning crowd have left and often you can go out just yourselves on a panga with fewer people!



You can have breakfast or lunch there too and the whale watching from the big palapa patio is awesome...bring your binoculars. the interpretive center has lots of interesting things to see as well and great people watching! And if you like birds....do ask about a bird watching tour...it is amazing!







[Edited on 1-9-2013 by shari]

Pescador - 1-9-2013 at 08:53 AM

Amen to the reccomendations. The first time I went out at Ojo was many years back and the peninsula had run out of gas and all the pumps were empty. There were cars stopped all waiting for gasoline and we ended up at Malarrimo and they said if they got enough people to go that they would run up to El Rosario to get gas and take us out the next morning.
The first guy in the van was a serious hippy dude with dreadlocks (that had maybe been washed in another lifetime but not this one) and he wanted to play his flute to entertain and bond with the whales. Next one in was another hard core hippy, but this one was female with the same kind of hairdo and a tie died dress that had a lot of last months dinner attached. She had three children that were of the same makeup and they were all over the bus asking for candy or money. Then came three Japanese tourists who spoke no English or Spanish and of course had one or two cameras hanging from their necks and enough film to document the whole thing for National Geographic. To add to the mixture a hard core redneck with his dainty little wife were next and he had to explain everything to her that was going on in a loud and colorful language. But the star of the show was this well dressed woman with perfect hair, fingernails, dress, and of course silver high heels. (slip on type) And a couple of normal looking Baja travelers thrown in for a mix.

That had to be the longest two hour whale watching experience I have ever had, but perhaps the most interesting. Things were OK but it was hard to stay upwind of the hippie crowd, course it wasn't much better with the dressy lady as she had enough perfume to scare the whales. I think the captain was ready to implant the flute for the hippy before the trip was over and we all wanted to drown the little urchins who kept crawling all over everyone. And of course, the lady with the silver high heels lost them in the sand.

mtgoat666 - 1-9-2013 at 09:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
And a couple of normal looking Baja travelers thrown in for a mix.


what does a "normal looking Baja traveler" look like?

:lol::lol:

Archie - 1-9-2013 at 09:54 AM

At Ojo de Liebre Lagoon (615) 157 00 25. i usually recommend to give them a call first to see actual weather conditions, sometimes its awful windy here in GN, but sunny and calm over there.

- Adult $45 dlls $560.00 pesos
- Children $35 dlls $440.00 pesos
- Special $300.00 pesos
- Palapas $5 dlls $65.00 pesos /day
- Parking $5 dlls $65.00 pesos

- Tours -08:00 am - 04:00 pm
- Restaurante - 08:00 am - 07:00 pm

They have been certified to provide an eco-friendly service under Mexican Norm NMX-133 for Ecotourism on the wildlife sightseen, camping services and personnel.

If you found and have evidence of a problem with their service, ask for Brigido Martínez (Administrator) or Juventino Moran (head of personnel).

Also you can contact me at (044 615) 106 3431, or at email arqteryx@gmail.com, im working currently on the follow up of said certification.

have fun.

[Edited on 1-9-2013 by Archie]

[Edited on 1-9-2013 by Archie]

Pescador - 1-9-2013 at 10:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
And a couple of normal looking Baja travelers thrown in for a mix.


what does a "normal looking Baja traveler" look like?

:lol::lol:


Who knows, it might have been you in camouflage.

mtgoat666 - 1-9-2013 at 10:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
And a couple of normal looking Baja travelers thrown in for a mix.


what does a "normal looking Baja traveler" look like?

:lol::lol:


Who knows, it might have been you in camouflage.


is this one? i think this photo is of mulege bar flies

BajaKurtis - 1-9-2013 at 04:02 PM

Thanks for the good input on hotels and prices!

BajaKurtis - 1-9-2013 at 04:15 PM

the drive out there is pretty cool too through the salt works gate...here it is at high tide after a wind whipped up the foam.




NICE Pictures, that foam build up is crazy.