Mula
Super Nomad
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Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Whales galore in Lopez Mateos
The whales put on a good show for the Flying Samaritans of Phoenix yesterday - seen from the clinic at the end of the airstrip.
The pangas are operating and everything seems to be well in Lopez!
Come on in to visit.
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Mulegena
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Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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My family wants to go as a group to see the whales.
Contact persons, group rate, life jackets; do the pangas get close enough so the whales can approach the boats?
Thanks. Mulegena and Family
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Cardon Man
Super Nomad
Posts: 1319
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
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Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
My family wants to go as a group to see the whales.
Contact persons, group rate, life jackets; do the pangas get close enough so the whales can approach the boats?
Thanks. Mulegena and Family |
A really good operator in Lopez is Sergio Garcia Tapia. He and his sons have spotlessly clean, safe, pangas with life jackets etc.
Try him at: stgarcia07@hotmail.com
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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whales
Hola, from what I have read (somewhere?) they now have rules about how many boat's and how close they are allowed,,I dont think you are allowed to get
very close, anymore,,but, Im no expert,,from what I read On the "rule's" They are suposed to stay a certain distance away and when it comes to rules
on the water around here,,It might be a crap shoot !! Keith & lil tasha
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
My family wants to go as a group to see the whales.
Contact persons, group rate, life jackets; do the pangas get close enough so the whales can approach the boats?
Thanks. Mulegena and Family |
Mulegena... If you wanta do Bahia Magdalena whales from San Carlos, I highly recommend guide Martin Flores. He's a knowledgeable man with a great
sense of humor and he really loves this work. His English is not the best, but that should present no problem for you. He does this little whistling
tune while thumping time on the side of the boat and the whales seem to be attracted to it.
Martin will take you for a looong day out if you ask.... through the nursery, to la boca, over to the island with it's old pier and wonderful array of
birds. From there he takes you to the dolphin playground, then back to San Carlos. Cost same as standard 2-hour tour - although we add extra tip, in
fairness. And yes, he has a safe panga and lifejackets.
I'm sorry to say that I do not have a phone number for him. We have always just gone to San Carlos and asked for him. Everyone in town knows him and
where he is each day. Perhaps you can find his phone through directory info?
All that said... Bahia Magdalena is a really big bay and you are less likely to have mama whales pushing their babies up to be petted. We saw lots of
whales up close and personal but none of them wanted to be petted - and that was ok. The trip was most memorable without that.
If you wanta for sure have a whale want you to touch it, I strongly suggest the San Ignacio Laguna. Happens every time and is ever such a cool
experience.
Wherever y'all decide to see whales, be sure to tell us about it - ok?!
nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
Hola, from what I have read (somewhere?) they now have rules about how many boat's and how close they are allowed,,I dont think you are allowed to get
very close, anymore,,but, Im no expert,,from what I read On the "rule's" They are suposed to stay a certain distance away and when it comes to rules
on the water around here,,It might be a crap shoot !! Keith & lil tasha |
They are not supposed to chase the whales---that is a no, no from what they tell us. So what they often do when a whale is near is put the motor in
neutral and let the whales decide when and if they want to approach the boat. We have had great luck with Kuyima at San Ignacio and they are very
professional and explain everything very well before one goes out in the boat.
We only went out once in Magdelena Bay from Lopez Mateos and had a good experience. Different, but still a good experience --- whales are great.
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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Sounds like that same rules we follow in Alaska. We don't approach closer then 100 yards. However, if I shut everything down and drift, and a whale
decides to come closer, I'm in the clear.
I have had Humpbacks spend an hour at the boat; spyhopping within a couple of feet of us, rubbing against the stem, and lying on their back under us,
with their pec fins reaching out on both sides.
I can't violate the terms of the marine mammal act, but the marine mammals can!
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