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moseattle
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 11-8-2004
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best place for whales?
I'm planning a trip in late march. What is the best place to get up close and personal with the gray whales? From what I'm reading it seems like San
Ignacio Lagoon would be it.
My friend and I are travelling via rental car. We don't want to sign up for one of those expensive multi-day trips. We just want to have a few hours
with magnificent whales.
Also, related to whatever place you recommend, what is the closest place where you can stay in a clean hotel, or where can you camp where there are
amenities?
Thanks in advance for your help!
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Go to "Rice & Beans" and talk to Richardo (the owner) he will radio out to arrange a Panga for you....The road is rough (and long) so I don't think
you will want to drive a rental car out there, although it's passable if you go slow. Or Richardo can arrange a ride for you, his hotel is very nice
$45pt., almost brand new (last time I stayed there) the food is very good......Oh, one last thing, he has the best showers in Baja (good water
pressure)
Also, if you decide to blow up your car he is very good about "babysitting" said car, even for years! (Right Mike H.?)  
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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We have seen the whales at both Ojo de Liebre (4x) and San Ignacio (1x). Both provide a great experience. San Ignacio is harder to get to in a
passenger vehicle.We made it out there from town in 70 minutes in a big pickup.Next time we plan to camp for the night out there. Rice and Beans can
set up a van to take you. It will take the better part of the day but is WELL worth it. The zocalo and mission in San Ignacio is a great take in as
well. We have not yet been to Magdelana Bay to see the whales but it is on our list. We have heard lots of good things from others about the
experience. Wherever you choose it will be unforgettable for sure.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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Mexray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1016
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: California Delta
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Mood: Baja Time
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At the risk of over simplifying...
...The Pacific Ocean seems to be the best place to look for whales here on the west coast! There are a few to be seen washed ashore from
time-to-time, but they're a bit smelly and not really life-like!
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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may i recommend......
www.bajaecotours.com
Johnny Friday will take good care of both your camping and watching needs at their all inclusive set up at Laguna San Ignacio.
I have partnered with them to bring in adventure minded tourists for the 2005 season, or feel free to drive yourself to their campo.
Also i am a big fan of Carlos at www.kuyima.com
they also run a good operation, but for camping and site amenities it is a bit "rougher" there vs. the baja ecotours set up.
have a great time.
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 |
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Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
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Also take a look at...
http://www.kuyima.com/kuyima.html
++Ken++
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4999
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
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While San Ignacio Lagoon enjoys the reputation for the "friendliest" whales, as mentioned, it is the least convenient to access of the three main
areas (Scammon's L., San Ignacio L., Mag Bay). There are reports of many great experiences in Puerto Lopez Mateos and San Carlos on Mag Bay.
If you do go to San Ignacio, as mentioned (again), Johnny Friday ("Baja Adventure Company") organizes tours, and his partners/pangueros at Laguna San
Ignacio are Romualdo ("Maldo") Fisher & Family. If you drive out to the lagoon on your own, simply look for the signs for "Maldo's" and deal with
them directly.
Great people. Maldo's wife Catalina makes some scrumptious (sp?) meals. Yum.
Regards,
--
Doug Means
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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I have to say after 5 whale watching trips one year that San Ignacio and Lopez Meteos are my favorites.
If you plan to camp in San Ignacio plan to get blown away as it is very windy that time of year out on the lagoon. We went out with Kuyima and camped
in their campground.
If you decide on Lopez Mateos stay at the Happy Shrimp...Cameron Feliz and ask for Saul for your captain.
Either way you cant lose. Touching a whale is a life changing experience.
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SiReNiTa
Special Correspondent
Posts: 881
Registered: 5-5-2006
Location: Ensenada, B.C.S.
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Mood: Savoring life while saving the world!
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guys i just read this but i know one thing for sure...mom used to work in scammons lagoon and we have been to almost every whale watching place and
ojo de liebre (scammons lagoon) is by far the best, not because they get you up and close to the whales but because the whales trust them and will
sometimes come right to you...in san ignacion the boat drivers follow the whales around even though it is obvious that the whales do not want the
company...i know this is very late to be saying this but i just saw the post while browsing in the whale watching forum so...i don't know if you
prefer to get to touch a whale even if it doesn't matter that they do not feel good about it or to have a whale come right up to your boat and stay
there for what could seem like minutes but be hours...it is also cheaper in laguna ojo de liebre and i know all the boat drivers by name since i was a
baby and i grew up there...also my mom trained them to be boat drivers, she and my father started that buisness along with the ejido benito juarez way
before i was born...it is worth the experience..it now counts with a visitor center and restaurant...all very nice and a nice beach with no waves for
your little ones...i recomend it!!
Live life as well as you can,
don\'t regret the things that once made you smile,
learn from your mistakes,
and thank God for every second he gives you upon this earth.
Visit me at
Http://BajaScents.Scentsy.com.mx
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Sirena is bang on with that, however in late march, San Ignacio can be better as most of the whales that have been in Scammons lagoon for the season
have left by then...all the cool whales have started north by then and there are only some passer bys at the entrance and they don't trust the boats
like the whales that have been there all season do. It's interesting as Scammons Lagoon, really called Ojo de Liebre fill up with whales first so the
season starts early in January, when this lagoon fills up, the overflow business goes down to San Ignacio later so their season begins and ends later.
So the San Ignacio residents stay longer as they got there later....get it? So the later in March you come down, the better it is to go to San Ignacio
although is is very crowded...I can personally highly recommend Maldo and his family as they are always very respectful of the animals and know what
they are doing, which is very important. Wherever you go, please respect these lovely and intelligent creatures, give them the space they
need...imagine all those looky loos in the maternity ward at your hospital!!
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
Posts: 1281
Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
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Mood: Tengo Flojera
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Camping at La Laguna...
This is the kuyima camp ground on Laguna San Ignacio..
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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Shari, I knew you looked familar. One year (95-96-97?) before they had built any buildings, we were at Ojo de Liebre and had a nice chat with you
about whales and the lagoon whilst we waited for a boat ride. At the time there was a panga sitting in a few feet of water just off the shore with a
broken transom and no motor. It had been slammed by a mother whale. Do you recall? The story as I remember and tell it, was that the panga captain hit
a baby whale and the mother 'fluked ' the panga knocking the driver out of the boat and when someone took control of the boat and came around to get
the driver the mother whale flipped the whole thing. The other thing I remember, vividly, from that trip was camping on the shore of the small inlet
and waking up to see a mother with a new born bobbing in the water just off shore. Have not been back to Scammons since they built the buildings. Can
you still camp by the inlet? Another trip we woke up and saw coyotes in the middle of the inlet at low tide digging for clams? Unique camp site for
sure!
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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SiReNiTa
Special Correspondent
Posts: 881
Registered: 5-5-2006
Location: Ensenada, B.C.S.
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Mood: Savoring life while saving the world!
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that's right...sorry for responding for my mom but even though i do not remember you exactly i remember that time when the mother hit the opanga...and
with perfectly good reason, the guy driving the boat is kind of careless but by now has learned his lesson and do not let all that scare you because
it only happens if they really deserve it and whales are not aggresive animals..on the contrary they are really sweet i should know i grew up with
them!!
Live life as well as you can,
don\'t regret the things that once made you smile,
learn from your mistakes,
and thank God for every second he gives you upon this earth.
Visit me at
Http://BajaScents.Scentsy.com.mx
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
Posts: 1281
Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
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Mood: Tengo Flojera
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Sirenita....
What was the youngest child you can remember going on the panga?????
My Daughter was 1 and 1/2 in this photo, she loved it..and obviously knew what we were looking for!! She has been back twice and got to hug a baby
last time, SOOOOOO COOOL!!!
OBTW we were picked up on a Moma whales back as well, but she was very gentle and did it in a friendly way (I think!)
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jimqpublic
Junior Nomad
Posts: 30
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Southern California
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Sorry no photos, but we took our daughter out when she was 14 months. She did enjoy seeing the whales then.
Now she's five and on our March trip with Kuyima (camped at Kuyimita) she got to pet two baby whales a lot- and loved it. Our three year old son
liked watching them but refused to touch.
PS- We've brought our own PFD's for the kids on each trip to be sure they would have a properly fitting life preserver.
Jim
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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How nice you remembered us from the lagoon, those were the golden days for sure, and although there is a large fancy visitor centre and restaurant
etc. and the guys have real official looking jackets, they are the same panga drivers as before and the campground hasn't changed except for a few
more outhouses...so it it still a magical place to camp and witness the miracle of birth...maybe we can get some folks together this season and I'd be
honored to guide our trip! I love going back and really miss doing research and living there but am happy to wave at my whale friends as they pass by
my patio....
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SiReNiTa
Special Correspondent
Posts: 881
Registered: 5-5-2006
Location: Ensenada, B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Savoring life while saving the world!
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hmm..i'm not sure what the youngest was...but i'm wondering if i was on the boat that got picked up by a whale...i was on aboat trip like that also!!!
it's great...how long ago was that?? it's been like...5 or 6 years since i had that experience at ojo de liebre...
Live life as well as you can,
don\'t regret the things that once made you smile,
learn from your mistakes,
and thank God for every second he gives you upon this earth.
Visit me at
Http://BajaScents.Scentsy.com.mx
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
Posts: 1281
Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
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Mood: Tengo Flojera
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This was at La Laguna, we were picked up on the mama whale in '97, BK....(before kids)....We were with some old folks that we didn't know, they were
pretty scared..it was our first time out there, pretty cool..
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mulege marv
Senior Nomad
Posts: 652
Registered: 10-8-2004
Location: san carlos / grass valley, calif.
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Mood: relaxed
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SAN IGNACIO
HANDS DOWN http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=16013#pid1357...
Want what you have
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by SiReNiTa
that's right...sorry for responding for my mom but even though i do not remember you exactly i remember that time when the mother hit the opanga...and
with perfectly good reason, the guy driving the boat is kind of careless but by now has learned his lesson and do not let all that scare you because
it only happens if they really deserve it and whales are not aggresive animals..on the contrary they are really sweet i should know i grew up with
them!! |
No worries. 
It certainly was another in a long series of memorable trips to Baja. Lucky us.
I bet that capitan never pulled that stunt again!
Lucky you! 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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