Conjoined grey whales discovered in baja california lagoon. The whales feed very little while migrating or in the lagoons and must live off of the. Journey from san diego into mexico to trace the migration and lifecycle of the gray whale. Get your 3day weather forecast for san ignacio, baja california sur, mexico. The latter name stems from a 19th century whaling captain, charles scammon, who. Conjoined gray whale calves discovered in baja california lagoon. Scammons campground whale watching on the road in mexico. Us tourists travelled from san diego on selfcontained 7 to 10day cruises down to the lagoons of the baja california coast. They congregate in these shelters that are little touched by humans. Steinbeck had talked about this phenomenon in his sea of cortez, but i was not. When the gray whales arrive in baja to have their babies, it is a magical time. It is also a critical habitat for the nearly extinct berrendo or pronghorned antelope and an important feeding habitat for four of the worlds seven species of sea turtles. I was not however prepared for apparitions of sky hopping whales floating above what was infamously called scammons lagoon.
Bow spray and some wind are inevitable, so be sure to wear warm clothing and headgear, and bring plastic. It is an important habitat for the reproduction and wintering of the gray whale and harbor seal, as well as other. Home field programs whale watching journey to baja california. Scammons lagoon is the largest gray whale nursery in baja, and. A unique, unforgettable experience is a boat ride among the whales in scammons lagoon, a gray whale sanctuary, to view these giant mammals at arm. Visit scammons lagoon on your trip to baja california or. Scammons lagoon scammonslagoon is a lagoon a shallow coastal waterbody, completely or partly separated from a larger body of water by a barrier island, coral reef or other depositional feature and has the latitude of 27. The following is just a small glimpse into the planning process. Scammons lagoon is one of three noted places that the california gray whale makes its winter home. It is a 10,000 mile round trip from their summer home in the arctic sea. It reaches a length of about 16 meters 52 ft, a weight of 36 tons and an age of 5060 years. Theres a new hotel as youre entering gn which is recommended. This was our first motorcycle trip outside the protective womb of the usa and i was a bit nervious if not a little scared. Whale watching video, san ignatio lagoon san felipe, baja, mexico on february 26, my friend steve and i left san diego for the west coast of baja.
As in san ignacio lagoon, we were soon surrounded by gray whales, and some members of our. 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. Please call the owner of baja airventures kevin warren at 16194212235 or 8002219283 toll free. Prior to the discovery by the whalers there were an estimated 18,000 to 22,000 whales migrating there each year from colder alaskan waters. Petting baby whales in baja california, mexico buckettripper.
Do you have some more frequently asked questions baja whale watching. In march, i found myself 450 miles 720 km south of the international border. Scammons lagoon are two of the three primary calvingbreeding lagoons and winter. These first whales to arrive are usually pregnant mothers that look for the protection of. Scammons lagoon is much larger than san ignacio and more accessible if youre driving from the north. The combo trips offers three days of whale watching during peak season. Gray whales have come for centuries to mate, calve, and relax before heading north to their arctic feeding grounds. Baja gray whales whale watching tours, scamoons lagoon.
Scammons lagoon whale watching tours the largest gray whale nursery in baja, mexico from january through march, the gray whales populate the three main lagoons on the pacific coast of baja california sur the south state of baja, mexico, to give birth, and to find a mate. Baja coast and whale watching trip 8 in guerrero negro, mexico. During peak season, well over whales can be counted in scammons lagoon and, on some exceptional seasons, baja whale watching experts counted over 2000 gray. This is a guide for those who arent whale enthusiasts but whore interested in interacting with the grey whales up close. The art of gray whale watching baja bound insurance services.
In our experience, san ignacio lagoon is one of the best places to interact with whales worldwide. Turtle expeditionthe giants of san ignacio lagoon turtle. There are 8 adults in the group, and well be travelling in an rv from san diego with the main purpose of whale watching at scammons lagoon, san ignacio, and. Scammons lagoon baja california all you need to know. The whales do not seem to mind, as they make this journey to baja year after year. The lagoon is one of three places in baja mexico where one can actually interact pet grey whales in the wild along with magdalena bay and scammons. We have 30 years of baja ecotourism experience and love taking baja gray whales, baja whle sharks and any type of baja nature travel. Whale watching, baja, mexico whale tours dive discovery. Whale watching tours, scamoons lagoon guerrero negro. Boat trip to observe gray whales on san ignacio lagoon where in 1972 the notion of the friendly whale was born, a term that is now recognized around the globe and which changed our perception of these amazing creatures. The journey to baja is a long one for the gray whales. Its a great place for watching whales, as whales have been coming to this lagoon for hundreds of years and it has become one of the gathering grounds for the whales and. A convoy of fifteen fourwheel drive vehicles full of scorpions set off for a fiveday trip to see the whales at guerrero negro.
San ignacio lagoon baja california 2020 all you need. California grey whales scammons lagoon baja california. California grey whales scammons lagoon baja california mexico photography the gray or grey whale eschrichtius robustus is a whale that travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. In 1857, the whaler charles scammon discovered the northernmost baja lagoon it was later. To calm the concerns i planned, planned, and planned some more. San ignacio lagoon is the last and only undeveloped nursery and breeding ground for pacific gray whale. To see the whales blowing, sounding, mating, and calving in their natural habitat is an awesome and inspiring experience. Approx 75 sites pit toilets this campsite is located right at the major birthing lagoon for the grey whales.
Whale watching is one of the most popular activities in baja. Conjoined grey whales discovered in baja california lagoon kpbs. The lagoon know world wide scammons lagoon named after the infamous predator, a yankee whaler, of the species who discovered the lagoons entrance. 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. Females give birth and tend to young calves in shallow areas, while mating action takes. Scammons lagoon scammonslagoon mexico map, weather and photos. This behavior was first reported in 1976 from san ignacio lagoon and has grown each year.
Called friendlies by whale watching tourists, many whales now seek human contact in the baja lagoons. Baja california whale watching day trips to book or not. Hi there, i am travelling with my family to baja california from 29th march 15th april 2015. Lodging for the popular best of bajas whales, dolphins and sea lions includes a bed and breakfast stay on the pacific ocean, as well as time spent at our famous las animas ecolodge, where you can experience sea lions, dolphins, and more whales. Every year, the california gray whales set off on the longest migration made by any mammal. And in scammons, the primary calving lagoon in baja, more than 1,500 whales including 300 newborns. Whales of bajas san ignacio lagoon san diego reader. During friendly encounters, a gray whale approaches a whale watching skiff, eyes the passengers, and may come alongside and surface so that the tourists can touch or sometimes even kiss the. Gray whale, san ignacio lagoon, baja mexico the pacific ocean swung at anchor several miles inside the entrance shoals of san ignacio lagoon. To see the whales blowing, sounding, mating, and calving in their.
Its the beginning of gray whale calving season in the lagoons of baja california, mexico, and fishermen. On february 26, my friend steve and i left san diego for the west coast of baja. You will get your visas checked at the baja nortebaja sur checkpoint which is on the highway just north of guerrero negro. Gray whales were once called devil fish because of their fighting behavior when hunted. The whale tour boat landing near the essa salt plant, scammons lagoon, baja california, mexico. This lagoon is located in the largest biosphere reserve in latin america. Observe one of the most miraculous natural phenomena on the planet. From december 15april 15, guided tours are conducted aboard 10passenger outboard pangas skiffs. Over the past few decades, whale watching excursions to the lagoons of baja california have become a big business with numerous operators offering a.
Las animas ecolodge on the sea of cortez has year round fin whales and blue whales and more. The weather can be a little chilly if its overcast and when the boat is. The pacific side of baja, especially in the north, has. And, two days whale watching in san ignacio lagoon also called, laguna san ignacio, both on the pacific side of baja, mexico. Up to nine species of whales visit baja on a regular basis. San felipes scorpions club whalewatching trip to scammon. Visitors are taken out into the lagoon in small boats 812 passengers.
We go to three different locations, so read the trip descriptions and itineraries carefully. Whales the big three aventuras mexico profundo baja. But as a result of international treaties protecting this once endangered species, the worldwide california gray whale population is now estimated at over 20,000. Frequently asked questions baja whale watching whale. The lagoon near guerrero negro in central baja california. The whale report remote passages whale watching, tofino, bc. There was lots of desert scenery that flew by at 30 to 60 miles per hour im lucky to. Today, one of the most exciting encounters baja california visitors enjoy is to get close and actually pet a whale. We offer the best gray whale watching safari camp experience in our baja trip, in the very best location for gray whale watching in baja, mexico, and maybe anywhere. Captain charles scammons ship guerrero negor, black warrior, sunk near the coast in the 1850s. Whale watching at scammons lagoon san felipe, baja. The great gray whale migration and bajas natural wonders, which included scammons lagoon locally called laguna oja. Scammon and his crews slaughtered so many whales there they put the pacific population at risk, and the gray, extirpated in the atlantic, was on the endangered species list until 1994.
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