Southern Exposure - Whale Watching Tours on Mexico"s Baja California Peninsula
Each year, the Pacific coastal waters along North America's west coast bear witness to the travels of the California gray whales.
These whales spend the warmer summer months feeding in the nutrient-rich Arctic waters of the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea, and then take on the longest migration route of any mammal on earth - somewhere between 5000 and 7000 miles each direction.
The best location for whale watching tours in Mexico is the coastal lagoons along the western seaboard.
These warm waters are the location for the annual mating and calving for the herd, and the sheltered lagoons provide additional protection from predators.
While the adults, at 30 to 40 tons weight and up to 45 feet in length, have few natural predators, calves are traditionally at the mercy of sharks and orcas in the wild.
The lagoons allow some protection while the calves are at their weakest - newly born and still learning to swim.
The whales are usually in the area from December through April, but whale watching tours are not allowed into the area until after 1 January each year.
The population of the California gray whales fell to near extinction in the 1800's due to overfishing.
The whales did not go quietly, and earned the nickname "devilfish" by fighting back violently and often sinking whaling boats.
Since the worldwide moratoriums on whaling have gone into effect, the gray whales have made a strong comeback.
The Pacific herd now numbers roughly 20,000.
The lagoons in particular represent a refuge.
Since 1972, Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Scammon's Lagoon), Laguna Guerrero Negro, and Laguna San Ignacio have been a whale sanctuary.
In 1988, these lagoons became part of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, and in 1993 became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Whales in the lagoons are often quite friendly, and will voluntarily approach boats of humans.
In some cases the animals spend hours being petted and admired by people on whale watching tours.
Gray whales are not the only species that you'll see while whale watching in Mexico.
In the Sea of Cortez, humpback whales and blue whales spend the winter months.
Other areas play host to fin whales, Bryde's whales, sei whales, and Minke whales.
Wherever your whale watching tour takes you, remember to keep personal safety in mind.
Be aware of your surroundings - it would be unfortunate to fall out of the boat while trying to interact with the whales!
These whales spend the warmer summer months feeding in the nutrient-rich Arctic waters of the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea, and then take on the longest migration route of any mammal on earth - somewhere between 5000 and 7000 miles each direction.
The best location for whale watching tours in Mexico is the coastal lagoons along the western seaboard.
These warm waters are the location for the annual mating and calving for the herd, and the sheltered lagoons provide additional protection from predators.
While the adults, at 30 to 40 tons weight and up to 45 feet in length, have few natural predators, calves are traditionally at the mercy of sharks and orcas in the wild.
The lagoons allow some protection while the calves are at their weakest - newly born and still learning to swim.
The whales are usually in the area from December through April, but whale watching tours are not allowed into the area until after 1 January each year.
The population of the California gray whales fell to near extinction in the 1800's due to overfishing.
The whales did not go quietly, and earned the nickname "devilfish" by fighting back violently and often sinking whaling boats.
Since the worldwide moratoriums on whaling have gone into effect, the gray whales have made a strong comeback.
The Pacific herd now numbers roughly 20,000.
The lagoons in particular represent a refuge.
Since 1972, Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Scammon's Lagoon), Laguna Guerrero Negro, and Laguna San Ignacio have been a whale sanctuary.
In 1988, these lagoons became part of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, and in 1993 became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Whales in the lagoons are often quite friendly, and will voluntarily approach boats of humans.
In some cases the animals spend hours being petted and admired by people on whale watching tours.
Gray whales are not the only species that you'll see while whale watching in Mexico.
In the Sea of Cortez, humpback whales and blue whales spend the winter months.
Other areas play host to fin whales, Bryde's whales, sei whales, and Minke whales.
Wherever your whale watching tour takes you, remember to keep personal safety in mind.
Be aware of your surroundings - it would be unfortunate to fall out of the boat while trying to interact with the whales!
