BajaNomad

have the whales arrived in Mag Bay?

john68 - 1-21-2013 at 07:06 AM

thanks.

Mula - 1-21-2013 at 08:02 AM

Yup!

DianaT - 1-21-2013 at 09:21 AM

Next to San Ignacio, Mag Bay is my favorite place to whale watch. It is such a pretty bay.

john68 - 1-25-2013 at 12:51 PM

We went out on Wednesday. Lots of friendly whales.

Islandbuilder - 1-25-2013 at 09:18 PM

Can anyone recommend lodging in the Mag Bay area?

john68 - 1-26-2013 at 08:07 AM

The selection is pretty limited.

We stayed at Brennan's many years back and at Hotel Alcatraz this week. We liked Alcatraz better, nice people, good restaurant. Rooms are small. 780 pesos. hotelalcatraz.net

We used Danny Infante at the hotel as our whale guide. Good English, very knowledgeable about the Bay and the whales and good company. 750 pesos/hour for the boat--holds six comfortably.

Restaurante Lore near the square has good food.

Islandbuilder - 1-26-2013 at 06:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by john68
The selection is pretty limited.

We stayed at Brennan's many years back and at Hotel Alcatraz this week. We liked Alcatraz better, nice people, good restaurant. Rooms are small. 780 pesos. hotelalcatraz.net

We used Danny Infante at the hotel as our whale guide. Good English, very knowledgeable about the Bay and the whales and good company. 750 pesos/hour for the boat--holds six comfortably.

Restaurante Lore near the square has good food.


Thank you very much. Very helpful!

Mulegena - 1-26-2013 at 08:35 PM

How 'bout RVers?
Is there a developed camp or is it cool to park in town?

btw, what are the age requirements for whale watching?
Children can be how young?

john68 - 1-26-2013 at 08:40 PM

Didn't see any developed RV facilities, but there's a lot of empty space if that's an alternative.

Our guide had his nine-year old son along. I don't think there's an age limit. Dogs, however, are not allowed on the boats.

DianaT - 1-26-2013 at 08:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mulegena
How 'bout RVers?
Is there a developed camp or is it cool to park in town?

btw, what are the age requirements for whale watching?
Children can be how young?


Several years ago, we just parked our little fiberglass trailer near the light house in Lopez Mateos and that was OK. Don't know what has changed??

shari - 1-26-2013 at 09:12 PM

there is no age limit for whale watching...but you may want to bring your child's life jacket so he/she's more comfortable.

Mulegena - 1-26-2013 at 11:15 PM

Thanks, everyone, and good to hear from you.
I have some friends here in town who are heading south; a really sweet little family on their first Baja adventure.
I'll do some whale-whispering in their ears. ;D

edited for a post script : remember Varvara the Western Grey Whale from Russian waters? She was tagged a couple years ago and was tracked last season cruising here in Baja waters all the way down to Mag Bay. I followed the weekly updates on her whereabout and relayed them here on Nomad. http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=57772#pid7372...
She was last "seen" in her summer feeding/breeding grounds on the coast of Sakalin Island in Russia. The last update on her was in October. Its assumed the tracking device malfunctioned, a shame, because we wanted to know if she would return to Baja again this year. Until this study of Western Pacific Grey Whales I believe it was thought they remained in Western Pacific waters, separate and distinct from their eastern cousins, so researchers were surprised to find her traveling with the Eastern Pacific Grey Whales down here on their winter migratory route. Too bad we've lost track of her, but happily there are many other gorgeous whales here to marvel.

These wonderful creatures remain among earth's grand mysteries, and its a privilege to venture out amongst them.

[Edited on 1-27-2013 by Mulegena]

shari - 1-27-2013 at 08:56 AM

I wondered what happened to Varvana and assumed her tag wore out or off...I wonder if there are photo ID's of her so we can watch for her.