In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet. To see the whales you really need to take an organized boat trip or a private boat charter operated by an experienced skipper who knows where the whales are and how to approach them in the vessel without scaring them off. However, for the best possible experience, it is advisable that you visit the maldives in may, november and december when the sea is calm, and visibility is good, and dive in some 3 to 5 hours before high tide. Read about our amazing day out on the pacific where we met humpback whales, dolphins, stingrays, and much more. We realise that most of our guests have traveled great distances to experience what we have the privilege of doing daily. They can also be seen in mexicos sea of cortez, and in canadas mingan. Baja is a great place to see gray whales, blue whales, and finbacks. Usa whale watching in december seattle forum tripadvisor. The 20172018 whale watching season officially opens december 8, giving everyone a chance to observe humpback whales in their natural habitat. Where to watch thousands of migrating gray whales this weekend. Spyhopping, where the animal vertically pokes its head out of the water, is a behavior exhibited by cetacean s some sharks. From december to marchapril they mate and give birth in the warm and shallow waters off the baja california, mexico.
Mexico has specific laws in place regarding whalewatching activities from vessels to minimize stress on the whales, to protect them from unintentional injury by boaters and to ensure that the mothers and calves are never separated from each other. From december to april they use the tropical waters off the baja california as their winter quarters. The peak of whale watching season is still december through april when tens of thousands of california gray whales come within a few miles of the san diego coast on their 5,000mile southern voyage, the longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis. Discover whalw watching tours in mexico and get ready for a great getaway. Spyhopping, where the animal vertically pokes its head out of the water, is a. Go for a snorkel with mexicos gentle giants whale sharks. Puerto vallarta, mexico offers many ecological tours, but nothing compares to the thrill of whale watching on banderas bay. Whale watching is one of the most popular activities in baja. Tours available in season from december through march. Whale watching season officially starts again on december 3rd as hundreds of humpback whales arrive all over the coast of nayarit.
When the giant mammals disappear under water, the photo comparing and the existed chatter resumes until the next whale appears in the distance and the whole show repeats itself again. Mexico whales watching whale watching with experts. Whale watching near sayulita sayulita mexico vacations. Northern gulf of mexico brydes whale marine mammal. Nov, 2012 when the giant mammals disappear under water, the photo comparing and the existed chatter resumes until the next whale appears in the distance and the whole show repeats itself again. Welcome to the whale shark experience, this is a unique activity in the world and is the most enigmatic activity in mexico. We offer a noninvasive, environmentally conscious option for whale watching in sayulita. Humpback whales are spotted in the winter, spring, and summer, and the dwarf sperm whale tends to make an appearance in the fall. The fishing village of puerto adolfo lopez mateos located at the north end of magdalena bay event holds the international festival of the gray whale is celebrated, whalewatching tours are also possible further south in puerto vallarta or along the riviera nayarit. My birthday is in december and i am pretty set on taking a trip within the same month of my birthday. This animal is completely harmless since it feeds on plankton and it does not represent a danger for our travelers.
Journey mexico writer sam murray went to puerto vallartas luxury yoga retreat xinalani for a private waterfall swim, jungle yoga, read more. Humpbacks and grey whales blowing and diving off the coast of ensenada mexico in january 2014 with sea lions. Humpback whales, however, arent afraid of people and are likely to leap out of the water right next to your boat. By the start of the official puerto vallarta whale watching season, december 8th, the population of humpback whales in the bay of banderas in puerto vallarta all but guarantees multiple whale encounters on every tour.
In this website you will find truthful, factual information, not biased by greed or by personal interests other than a deep love and respect for the gray whales. Every year, thousands of gray whales travel between mexico and alaska, one of the longest known maritime migrations. The diversity of large marine mammals roaming offshore mexico include sperm whales, blue whales, killer whales, and grey whales, but all these are quite elusive and hence are rarely spotted during whale watching tours. Pdf every winter, most gray whales eschrichtius robustus of the eastern north pacific stock migrate from feeding. December to early february the california gray whales are migrating south. Whale watching in mexico is at its best at four seasons punta mita, including humpback whales.
There are many destinations around the world to swim and dive with whale sharks, so we wanted to provide you with a handy guide with the best places for every month of the year. Gray whales from december on, thousands of gray whales gather in the shallow lagoons of the baja california to give birth to their calves. If you need it warm and cozy during winter, just follow the gray whales and go to mexico. In the weeks in the whales will venture as far south as cabo pulmo and cabo san lucas to winter, before turning around and heading north again to summer in arctic waters. The very first time i went to mexico, while i was enjoying my morning coffee on the balcony of a rented condo near san jose del cabo, i was treated to the sight of a whale spouting in the distance. Up to nine species of whales visit baja on a regular basis. Whale watching in huatulco huatulco forum tripadvisor. From mid december through march, scammons lagoon is the destination of the largest number of these magnificent mammals, approximately 1,500 including. Here you will also find whale watching trips and whale information. Gray whales are 52 feet long and weigh 36 tons, yet are gentle enough to touch and baja californias pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the thrill. Nearly 20000 gray whales will migrate south to the warm of lagoons of baja mexico from middecember through midjanuary. Whales of guerrero study and protect whales boost the. Jan 27, 2015 the 5 best places to see the winter humpback whale migration hawaii, mexico, and california are hot spots for viewing the marine mammals on their annual journey. Look for humpback whales off the coast of mexico on a halfday whale watching tour from puerto vallarta.
Whale watch vallarta nuevo vallarta 2020 all you need to. The fishing village of puerto adolfo lopez mateos located at the north end of magdalena bay event holds the international festival of the gray whale is celebrated, whale watching tours are also. Whale watching cabo best time whale watch cabo tours. During the mating season, the island waters are home to a large population of humpback whales, and are a popular diving destination. From december to april they use the tropical waters off. Whale watch vallarta nuevo vallarta 2020 all you need.
But the best time to schedule your trip is during the annual migration, when youre almost guaranteed to get close to these marine. Based on the gulf of mexico brydes whales small population likely fewer than 100 individuals, its life history characteristics. Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo. But its important to choose your guide service carefully, as many boats get intrusively close to the whales during whats obviously a delicate time recently, scientists presented evidence at the international marine conservation congress that whale watching boat trips can. Whale whisperers, mexico, 2015 national geographic fine art. The whale watching season in mexico is reasonably short. Whale watching season opens in vallarta nayarit december 8. A gray whale spyhops in the waters of san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico.
From december to marchapril they mate and give birth in the warm and shallow waters off the. Best places to spot whale sharks in maldives south ari atoll south ari atoll source. In the weeks in the whales will venture as far south as cabo pulmo and cabo san lucas to winter, before turning around and heading north again to summer in arctic waters some of the pacific bays and lagoons of baja california sur are. Learn about the majestic animals from your marine biologist guide as you ride on a small boat that is equipped with a restroom. To have an excellent chance of seeing whales, visit baja between the end of december and. Our whale watching holidays include trips to see blue, killer, sperm, grey, fin. Cruising the gulf of mexico with an expert guide, youll snorkel with the biggest fish and maybe spot dolphins, manta rays and turtles on this small group snorkeling adventure off the yucatan coast. We went with jorge, captain of the boat selene and the fee depends on how long you want to go out. A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale watching globally in 2008. I want to go whale watching, i was looking into the san juan islands off the coast of washington state, but evidently whale watching sucks in december.
From december to april they use the tropical waters off the baja. Every whale watching tour has to get an official authorization from semarnat for its single vessel or corporate events. This bay is nestled between the states of jalisco and nayarit, so puerto vallarta is a good point of departure. We hope that by using our experience to make your cabo san lucas whale watching plans you may ensure the best chances of having some wonderful whale watching adventures with us. Whale watch vallarta is a locally owned and family operated whale watching tourism company offering the only sustainable and educational premium experience for knowledgeable travellers. In fact our head guide elisa has seen whales on over 99% of the tours she has led.
I checked all of the local tour companies and i didnt see any specific whale watching tour. Mexico every year thousands of california gray whales migrate 6,000 miles from the cold waters of the bering and chukchi seas to the warm waters of baja californias central pacific coast. You could try contacting some like danitours or tlaloc to see if theyd do a custom tour for you with that being said its hard to tell when and if well get whales offshore in manzanillo. Feb 25, 2016 humpback whale freed from illegal net in mexico. Mexico to mozambique where inseason sightings of whale sharks are almost guaranteed. Gray whale watching season begins in early december and moves along the pacific coast of the baja peninsula and ends in early april as the whale return north. My birthday is in december and i am pretty set on taking a trip within the same. Based on the gulf of mexico brydes whales small population likely fewer than 100 individuals, its life history characteristics, its extremely limited distribution, and its vulnerability to existing threats, nmfs has determined that the gulf of mexico brydes whale is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range. When the gray whales arrive in baja to have their babies, it is a magical time.
After a good laugh, instructions were given what is allowed and what is not allowed and we proceeded to board the vans. Sayulitas first pure whale watch and whale research company. Orcas killer whales in cabo san lucas whale watch cabo tours. Watch whales in baja, puerto vallarta and many other places in mexico. As these mighty whales reach 14 meters in length, it is possible to see them from the beach while theyre jumping in the sea, but theres nothing compared to getting a closer view. January through early april is peak time to experience the grandeur of the grey whale in mexico. Article pdf available in ecological applications 146. Cruise out across the gulf of california, dive in to swim or snorkel under the supervision of your guide, and look out for majestic whale sharks swimming. The trip in mazatlan was run by a marine biologist doing a study on the whales in the region. A humpback whale and her newborn calf swim near roca partida, the smallest island of the revillagigedo archipelago, off the pacific coast of mexico. Once when going south to the lagoons of mexico late fallearly winter and once. Mexico just off the bow of our 22foot open boat what baja fishermen call a panga a whale spout erupts with an. Whale watching excursions now tote the opportunity to see humpback, fin and minke whales in fall and summer, along with frequent yearround sightings of bottlenose, pacific whitesided and common dolphins. You can enjoy whale watching in baja california sur.
Dec 20, 2017 every whale watching tour has to get an official authorization from semarnat for its single vessel or corporate events. The 5 best places to see the winter humpback whale migration. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. Because most scuba divers are restricted to a certain time for their vacation, this article intends to introduce a few options for your whale shark adventures. The 20162017 whale watching season officially opens december 1, giving everyone a chance to discover the wonderful world of whales while vacationing in vallarta. He is a fantastic captain, and does fishing, snorkeling, and whale watching tours. Blue whale sightings are particularly reliable at mirissa, in sri lanka, where they gather between december and april. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe. Baja jones is the only sponsor of this, the worlds largest gray whale watching information website. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet. Swimming with whale sharks is an unforgettable travel experience. Though whale watching in baja is a yearround activity, the winter months are the height of whale season. Mexico and the southern coast of australia are pretty good bets to watch blue whales during the wintertime.
In this baja, the gray whales come to you photography. Available from december to march, our whale tour is one of the most popular sighting trips in puerto vallarta. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Limited to 18 travelers a very important feature of our whalewatching tours is the limited group size, as whale encounters are best experienced with fewer travelers for a more intimate nature experience.
In mexicos stunning magdalena bay, humans and whales meet up. A group on a whale watching boat out of lahaina, maui, gets a close look at a breaching humpback whale. You can track whale shark sightings as they happen by downloading. Tourist panga at the whale nursery near guerrero negro photo by bob bowers mexicos gray whale nursery lagoons. We realise that most of our guests have traveled great distances to. The whaleplanner december a whale watching infographic. Download scientific diagram images of humpback whale feeding behavior in banderas bay, mexico. Imagine swimming next to an immense animal like the whale shark. Mar 17, 2017 a day of whale watching on scammons lagoon, guerrero negro, mexico video. Northern gulf of mexico brydes whale marine mammal commission. Whale watching mexico watching whales gray whales, humpbacks. According to rodriguez medrano, the ministry of environment and natural resources of mexico, all the captains and crew members are provided adequate training every year especially for the whale watching season.
And you have good chances to see blue whales there as well. Images of humpback whale feeding behavior in banderas bay. I have been on whale watching trips in cabo and mazatlan and enjoyed both very much. Whale watching season starts december 3rd explore nayarit. The best time to visit baja is undoubtedly between mid january and mid march, when the grey whales migrate to the lagoons to give birth. Every year, the california gray whales set off on the longest migration made by any mammal. Whale watching january 2014 ensenada mexico youtube. These recommendations are to give you a better understanding of what to expect when joining whale watch cabos guides for some whale watching tours. Discover the best whale watching spots in mexico and be captivated by the majestic gray, blue, and humpback whales. The whaleplanner july a whale watching infographic. With 70 miles of coastline, san diego makes an ideal location for viewing this impressive parade of marine life. It is in this particular area of baja california sur that visitors can get an unforgettable whale watching experience. A day of whale watching on scammons lagoon, guerrero negro, mexico video. Additionally, operators are only allowed to sell humpback whale watch trips within the defined whale watch season.
To decide when is the best time for you to join us on a whale watching adventure, keep reading. They arrive here in december and start returning north in march. A single whale lateral lounge feeding on 31 december. The biggest whale draw in baja is the magdalena bay nursery, where gray whales come to give birth and nurse their young. The 5 best places to see the winter humpback whale migration hawaii, mexico, and california are hot spots for viewing the marine mammals on their annual journey. This signifies that the boat has a whale watching permit and that the owner has attended workshops on whale watching and agrees to follow the whale watching regulations of mexico. There are so many whales here at this time, that you can just drop anchor and wait for them to swim up. Jan 10, 2014 humpbacks and grey whales blowing and diving off the coast of ensenada mexico in january 2014 with sea lions.
Whale whisperers, mexico, 2015 national geographic fine. Every year, thousands of gray whales travel between mexico and alaska, one of the longest. Dec 01, 2016 puerto vallarta, mexico offers many ecological tours, but nothing compares to the thrill of whale watching on banderas bay. From middecember through march, scammons lagoon is the destination of the largest number of these magnificent mammals, approximately 1,500 including. Aug 25, 2017 a gray whale spyhops in the waters of san ignacio lagoon, baja, mexico.
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