| Pages:
1
2
3 |
edimburgo
Newbie
Posts: 9
Registered: 12-9-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
BEST PLACE TO GO WHALE WATCHING?
Hi Nomads!!!!
we are heading south tomorrow( if the weather is not too bad). we'll be 9 days in baja and we wanted to know what is the best place to go whale
watching in this time of the year. We have heard great things about Guerrero Negro and Laguna San Ignacio but which place should be better to go at
the end of December?
Any suggestions about who to contact with to go out on a bout to see the whales?
Muchas Gracias
Cesar
|
|
|
tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1837
Registered: 7-30-2007
Location: El Pescadero
Member Is Offline
|
|
The first whales enter El Ojo de la Liebre, I believe. G Neg, altho not beautiful, has many hotels and restaurants! My favorite is San Ignacio.
Stay in Hotel and reserve tour and van out to the lagoon; easier and less beating on your rig Very pristine. .December is a little early. Let's
see what other Nomads think?! Enjoy. Tio
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
Cesar-
Nomad Shari is likely to be among the most knowledgeable you might encounter. My two cents, since I've viewed the whales in both the places you
mention, as well as Magdelena Bay, is that given normal conditions, one is more likely to have a close encounter at San Ignacio.
However, given the mating and birthing cycle, the best opportunity usually occurs later in the season when the males depart and the females and their
calves remain. December is not the best opportunity. If anything, I would suggest that you plan your whale encounter as part of your return trip. The
later the better.
We've actually had a good experience in early March.
And, although I mentioned San Ignacio as the preferred choice, as early in the season as you'll be there, I would recommend that you contact these
folks in Guerrero Negro. Nice Hotel. They do the tour leaving from their lobby. And they take credit cards.
http://www.hotelloscaracoles.com.mx/
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
BY FAR, we have had our best whale experiences at San Ignacio---and we love the town.
However, it is really early and our favorite people, Kuyima http://www.kuyima.com/whales/index.html don't even start to operate until the middle of January.
Many years ago we did see some in Ojo de Liebre in December, but.....
|
|
|
mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
|
|
Shari' websites
Just adding a little more info...
http://www.bahiaasuncion.com
http://bahiaasuncionmexico.wordpress.com/
http://sharibondy.wordpress.com/
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20043
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
dec may be a bit early for baby whales, probably won't reliably have babies until late January, but early season is best for seeing mating.
try kuyima in san ignacio. good outfit. if you get skunked after looking for whales for an hour or 2, ask to go on tour of mangroves. or even if
you do see whales, still ask for tour of mangroves -- great birding, and fun to see mangroves at water level
SI nd SIL are a lot prettier than GN. GN is sort of a gritty industrial town.
malarimo's is best food, hotel and tour outfit in GN.
opinions are like arses, everyone's got one 
[Edited on 12-20-2010 by mtgoat666]
|
|
|
Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mellow
|
|
edimburgo
Here's something I wrote a while ago that may be of use to you:
"The California gray whale, one of the thirteen great whales (12 with baleen plus one, the sperm whale, with teeth), spends its summers feeding in the
waters of Alaska. But late every year, in November or December, that old primordial bell rings, they hear it, and they head south, making the longest
migration of any mammal. They swim over 5,000 miles down the Pacific coast of North America to mate and bear their young in three shallow-water
lagoons in Baja California. North to south these lagoons are called Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Laguna San Ignacio, and Bahia Magdalena. Laguna Ojo de
Liebre is also called Scammons Lagoon, named for the American whaling captain who discovered, in 1857, what the whales do there every year, and
slaughtered them by the thousands in the rest of the nineteenth century. The whales were killed primarily to provide oil in lamps.
Considering that, something happens now in those lagoons that is incomprehensible. After being killed to the point of extinction, in the cruelest
possible ways, these magnificent animals now actually seem to have forgiven us, or at least forgotten what happened to them in these lagoons. There
is a behavior that happens in the lagoons every year now that defies explanation. They now actually demand interaction with humans.
Each of the lagoons has a thriving “whale-watching” industry which is regulated by the Mexican government. Tourists view the whales in small,
motor-driven fiberglass skiffs called pangas. In a behavior described as “friendly,” certain whales regularly try to climb into the pangas with the
tourists. It is unnerving when a 50-ton animal places its chin on the gunnels of your little boat. I have chased whales in all three of the Baja
lagoons; and by far my favorite is Laguna San Ignacio. It is much more remote and difficult to access than the other two lagoons, and the facilities
are limited. It is spectacularly beautiful in its isolation. In my opinion, based on my experiences in all three lagoons, more “friendly” behavior
takes place in Laguna San Ignacio. A fringe benefit to chasing whales in Laguna San Ignacio is the chance to spend a little time in the small Baja
town of San Ignacio, with its magnificent town square and old, beautifully preserved mission church.
Most of the friendly whale behavior occurs late in the calving season, in February and March, after most of the mating has taken place and when many
of the males have left the lagoons and headed north. It is not unusual for a female with calf to literally push the calf to the boat, thus
introducing the youngster to humans. The whales allow themselves to be touched, actually in many cases they demand to be touched; if you don’t
scratch them they will move on to another panga.
The interaction between whales and humans in the Pacific Baja lagoons is one of the most amazing things I have seen in nature. It changes the life of
almost every person who experiences it."
carpe diem!
|
|
|
capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
|
|
yur way too early for mom and baby encounters.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
I wrote to Cesar on another thread he started that he might consider making a return trip in late February or early April. However, after all is said
and done, if he checks in with the folks at Caracoles, Malarrimo, or for that matter even Cowboy, on his return trip, any one of these places is
reliable enough to tell him what his chances will be heading out into the lagoon that early. Perhaps for a first-timer, just being able to float
around and among some of these beasts will be enough to whet his appetite for a return trip more solidly within the season.
|
|
|
mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
|
|
Very nice write up Ken Bondy.
Are you a professional writer? If not...you should be.
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
|
|
|
Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: alegre
|
|
Mid February, San Ignacio Lagoon. You can't miss.
Stay at the San Ignacio Springs Yurts. Book the van with them and head out to the lagoon for a life altering experience.
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
|
|
|
Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mellow
|
|
Thanks mcfez. No, not a professional, just a hack.
carpe diem!
|
|
|
Brian L
Nomad
Posts: 250
Registered: 6-21-2010
Location: Alpine, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Bad Days
|
|
Sorry if this is a bit off-topic, but a couple of other questions:
1. What age kids are appropriate for the panga tours?
2. Is it permissible to bring your own rv to San Ignacio?
Brian
|
|
|
CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Cesar-
Nomad Shari is likely to be among the most knowledgeable you might encounter. My two cents, since I've viewed the whales in both the places you
mention, as well as Magdelena Bay, is that given normal conditions, one is more likely to have a close encounter at San Ignacio.
However, given the mating and birthing cycle, the best opportunity usually occurs later in the season when the males depart and the females and their
calves remain. December is not the best opportunity. If anything, I would suggest that you plan your whale encounter as part of your return trip. The
later the better.
We've actually had a good experience in early March.
And, although I mentioned San Ignacio as the preferred choice, as early in the season as you'll be there, I would recommend that you contact these
folks in Guerrero Negro. Nice Hotel. They do the tour leaving from their lobby. And they take credit cards.
http://www.hotelloscaracoles.com.mx/ |
G Nego, lets see how long it take Kavid D to correct this?
|
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
| Quote: |
opinions are like arses, everyone's got one
|
and they all STINK!!!!
|
|
|
Gaucho
Nomad
Posts: 405
Registered: 11-7-2008
Location: Laguna Beach/East Cape
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemia por favor...
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by blane
Sorry if this is a bit off-topic, but a couple of other questions:
1. What age kids are appropriate for the panga tours?
2. Is it permissible to bring your own rv to San Ignacio? |
I took my 5 and 7 year olds there last April and they had a great time. We stayed at the Yurts on the river and used Kuyima to take us out. Yes, there
are places to park an rv in San Ignacio.
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
dec may be a bit early for baby whales, probably won't reliably have babies until late January, but early season is best for seeing mating.
|
And that is quite a sight to see---watched this in January in San Ignacio Lagoon a few years ago---violent, it takes more than two to tango and the
guide will not get too close.
Ken so beautifully described the close encounters, and they are wonderful, but the more distant experiences are also great.
We just hope you get to see some whales!
On edit, can anyone say how much more of the road out to the San Ignacio Lagoon was paved this year?
[Edited on 12-21-2010 by DianaT]
|
|
|
capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
|
|
wow those are some dorks.
ya don't often get to see whale porno.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
|
|
Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
|
|
April 2000 in BOLA we kayaked among a group of Grays. That was the southern part of the bay opposite Camp Gecko. A dead juvenile had washed up on the
beach and I wondered if they were hanging around because of that. We heard their cries all the night before.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20043
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by blane
Sorry if this is a bit off-topic, but a couple of other questions:
1. What age kids are appropriate for the panga tours?
2. Is it permissible to bring your own rv to San Ignacio? |
1. any age, i've been out with infants and toddlers who either love the whales or scream with fear of the sea monster,... just remember it is a panga,
y'all may get wet, it may be choppy and uncomfortable boat ride on windy day.
2. bring whatever vehicle you like. the washboard road will rattle your RV into 10,000 tiny pieces
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2
3 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
