Baja Bob - 2-13-2005 at 09:15 PM
We (3 men mid 40) are taking a trip down Baja (feb. 24-mar.6) to Guerrero Negro...our goal is to observe whales from the surface and perhaps below. We
plan on mostly camping along the way from the border. Our goals are to camp near water...mostly Pacific side, for kayaking and free-diving. Traveling
in a Chevy full size 4x4.
Please recommend safe/clean campsites, points of interest, rest/food opportunities. Also include the dummest mistakes made on this type of trip and
perhaps areas to stay away from. We plan on making this an annual run. Thank you in advance!
Bob
Ken Bondy - 2-13-2005 at 09:43 PM
Baja Bob
I am not absolutely sure about this, and I don't want to rain on your parade, but I think there are some legal restrictions about getting in the water
with the whales. I know professional underwater filmmakers and they have had to jump through hoops to get permits from the Mexican government to film
underwater. You might want to check this pretty carefully. Plus the visibility in the lagoons is very limited, substantially less than one whale
length, normally less than one whale width. I have done several trips with Kuyima in San Ignacio lagoon, and asked about getting in the water from
their pangas, was told it was strictly forbidden. Also, be careful about kayaking in the lagoons when the whales are there, I think you need a
permit. Might be better to just go out with the established operators at Laguna Ojo de Liebre. Sorry to be a pain in the ass but you asked.
tim40 - 2-13-2005 at 11:06 PM
You are exactly correct Ken for all of the right reasons.
make that two to go!
yankeeirishman - 2-14-2005 at 02:22 AM
Advisement from a dumb mistake: carry two spare tires. This (pic below) cut short my trip to L.A. Bay last week. I think David K once advise everyone
to carry two spare tires. I couldn?t understand that remark?..at that time!
4baja - 2-14-2005 at 07:11 AM
carry intertubes as they can save alot of tire with rather large holes. morro santo domingo and sants rosallita are two of my favorites. bring fishing
poles!!!!!
wilderone - 2-14-2005 at 09:37 AM
Heard a report once that some kayakers were apprehended paddling in Scammons and were jailed. Somehow they made a getaway -- but had to leave their
boats.
I've seen whales at the mouth of Laguna Manuela though - you can paddle and dive there without restriction. Launch near the lighthouse and you don't
have to paddle so far.
Bruce R Leech - 2-14-2005 at 10:33 AM
the best way is to watch them from the shore rather than be a part of all the boats harassing them wile they are trying to give birth and raise their
young.
would you put your wife on display when she was having a baby? if they are intelligent animals then we should respect there privacy at this time of
year.
bajajudy - 2-14-2005 at 10:38 AM
While in Guerrero be sure to go to the old pier for a sunset and to the bird refuge for a walk.
Tianguis is the best place to shop for food. Tony's Mariscos stand on the main drag is excellent. Leonelly is excellent for carne asada tacos(be
sure to try the banana peppers on the counter). Malarimo restaurant is up and down but if you want a room they are pretty reasonable, actually rooms
are reasonable everywhere in Guerrero.
No, you cannot swim, dive nor kayak with the whales.
Ditto on the 2 spares...fan belts etc are always a good idea too.
Sounds like a great trip....have fun!
#1 - 2-14-2005 at 11:45 PM
Mexico rightly takes great pride in its whale protection measures. The nation was one of the first to call for protections of cetaceans in the 1930s.
It also created the world?s first whale sanctuary for the Pacific Gray Whale in the lagoons of the Baja California Peninsula where the grays winter,
procreate and give birth to their young. Whale watching in Mexico occurs on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico. In
addition, whale watching is becoming more common in the Sea of Cortez. The greatest concentration, however, involves the congregation of hundreds of
whales in the Baja California Peninsula lagoons which provide a tremendous opportunity to observe the whales close to the coast. However, the
concentration of so many whales in so little space also means that a large quantity of whales could be harassed by even a single boat (S?nchez
Pacheco).
2.3.1. Federal Laws and Regulations
Mexico?s whale watching legislation is derived from its 1988 General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environment. In addition, its Fisheries Law
establishes the methods necessary for the protection of marine mammals (Ley de Pesca, art?culo 3, fracci?n V), and Mexico?s penal code prohibits any
harm to marine mammals (C?digo Penal Mexicano, art?culo 254 bis) (S?nchez Pacheco).
In addition, Official Mexican Standards ("NOMs") establish regulations governing whale watching activity. The most important of these is
NOM-EM-074-ECOL-1996, which revised a 1994 law on the same subject. While the new NOM covers a number of different issues, it establishes the rules
regarding Gray Whale observation in the whale lagoons of Baja California Sur, including Ojo de Liebre, San Ignacio, and Magdalena Bay, as well as the
protection and conservation of Gray Whale habitat.
In Baja California Sur, whale watching is limited to those companies which have applied for and been given permits. The permitees are required to
comply with a set of regulations enforced by inspectors from Mexico?s office of the Attorney General for the Environment ("PROFEPA"). These
regulations are based on historical studies conducted by SEMARNAP?s National Institute of Ecology ("INE") of whale distribution, relative abundance,
and behavior, as well as the experiences of whale watching operations in these lagoons, which are part of SEMARNAP?s ongoing Vizcaino Biosphere
Reserve Gray Whale Program (S?nchez Pacheco). The whale watch regulations include the following:
* Designated whale watching areas which include only those portions of the lagoon in which the percentage of solitary whales (generally the males
and some juveniles) exceeds the percentage of mother-calf pairs.
* A limitation on the number of boats that can be on the water at one time, and regardless of the number of the boats, a prohibition against noise
which causes changes in the normal behavior of the whales.
* Defined areas of transit to reach the whale watch areas.
* A maximum speed of 10km/h in the areas of permitted whale watching to avoid harassment and collisions with whales.
* A requirement that whale watch permitees are also expected to obey protections set for the islands and lagoon environment generally.
* A requirement that operators ensure the safety of passengers. (S?nchez Pacheco)
In Baja California Sur, whale watching is limited to those companies which have applied for and been given permits. 
Bruce R Leech - 2-15-2005 at 08:11 AM
tell that to the whales with propeller cuts. Mexico has lots of good laws but as always enforcement is not so good .