Mexico Whale and camping expedition in Laguna San Ignacio
2009 Dates
Dates from end of January to end of March 09. See ‘details’.
From £1095 per person based on two adults sharing a twin tent excluding international flights.
Exceptional opportunity to interact with the mystical gray whale.
From a safari style camp location on water’s edge of San Ignacio Lagoon experience pristine wilderness.
The best place on earth to observe first hand these inquisitive creatures in their natural habitat.
Lying adjacent to the west coast of the Baja Peninsula, three lagoons provide the California Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) with a refuge at the end of their annual migration from the Arctic. San Ignacio Lagoon, the most remote of the three, lies midway between Scammons Lagoon to the north and Magdalena Bay to the south.
Surrounded by low dunes and bordered by mangrove lined estuaries, San Ignacio Lagoon provides a dramatic background to the California Gray Whale.
Pregnant females sometimes give birth to their calves along the way. Female whales typically give birth to one calf every two years. At birth the calves are 14-16 feet long, and weigh between 1500-2000 pounds. Once the whales arrive in the lagoons, the calves benefit from the warmth and safety of the shallow waters. They grow quickly, and by the time they begin migrating northward with the adults in late March or April, they will have doubled their weight and added a few feet to their length.
San Ignacio Lagoon is famous among the nursing grounds for its “friendly encounters.”
Some whales will surface very near your boat, close enough to touch. Often, many other whales can be seen in the distance spy hopping, and occasionally breaching (leaping nearly completely out of the water).
Recognized for its importance as a breeding ground for young whales, Laguna San Ignacio is a protected bioreserve under Mexican law, and has received numerous international recognitions.
You will not only see, be involved, and study the whales but by booking with Discovery Initiatves you will be helping Pro Peninsular with the conservation of the area. In return you will receive a year’s membership which will give you Pro Peninsula’s newsletter, a biannual publication with photos and articles on environmental issues confronting the peninsula, Pro Peninsula projects, focuseds pieces on our friends and partner organizations, and Pro Peninsula updates.
Make an Enquiry & learn more
Dates 2009 – Book early
Saturday 31st January to Wednesday 4th February
Wednesday 4th February to Sunday 8th February
Sunday 8th February to Thursday 12th February
Thursday 12th February to Monday 16th February
Friday 20th February to Tuesday 24th February
Tuesday 24th February to Saturday 28th February
Saturday 28th February to Wednesday 4th March
Sunday 8th March to Thursday 12th March
Thursday 12th March to Monday 16th March
Monday 16th March to Friday 20th March
Friday 20th March to Tuesday 24th March
Tuesday 24th March to Saturday 28th March
Cost
From £1095 per person based on two adults sharing a twin tent excluding international flights.
Price Includes: 1 year’s membership to Pro Peninsula. All accommodations starting with Day 1 and ending on Day 4 airport transfers; all transfers throughout starting from hotel in San Diego on Day 1 and ending in the San Diego Hotel on Day 5; certified, bi-lingual naturalist kayak guides, single and/or double kayaks; all kayaking gear; camping equipment; all meals; camping (based on twin share) and meals while camping and your local guides.
Price Excludes:
International flights, airport taxes, immigration card accommodation preceding Day 1 in Laguna San Ignacio and following Day 4 in Laguna San Ignacio, gratuities to trip leader, local guides, cook and wait staff in Laguna San Ignacio.
Travelling from outside the UK
We are happy to quote you either in US dollars or Euros – Because of recent currency fluctuations we will quote you separately for this. Please do contact us for a quotation.
Single Supplement We do not offer a single supplement for this trip.
This Trip Supports..
Pro Peninsula
Pro Peninsula is a United States based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering communities and organizations on the Baja California peninsula, to protect and preserve their environment. Pro Peninsula envisions the creation of a network of strong and effective environmental organizations backed by an educated and active public working towards the common goal of environmental preservation.
Field Expertise
Alex Romero
Alex Romero
Alex is a La Paz native and grew up fishing with his family. He is a Baja Kayak Association instructor which certifies sea kayaking guides. Alex has worked with since 1991 in a sea kayaking program as well as whale watching camps. He has an intense enthusiasm for Baja and is proud of his home land and loves to share his knowledge of the area. Alex is also the camp manager.
Our Feedback
This is a new trip and therefore no direct feedback is available. However should you wish to get direct feedback from any number of our numerous clients who have enjoyed these Baja whale cruises with us please do contact us and we would be delighted to help put you in touch.
“Our target was to see Blue Whales and it was a dream come true. Not only one but a mother and calf – what more could be asked? It was a very emotional moment for both Heather and I to see them, and to be so close to the grey whales, and to have such a show by the humpbacks, and to witness the huges number of birds in the feeding frenzy, and … and… and …!
All this was made possible by the dedication, enthusiasm, expertise, friendliness and any other adjective which could be used to praise the crew and the enthusiasm of the naturalists, and we like to thank them yet again for all they did for us (we have already used Randy’s enchilada recipe!). Without this crew and support I am in no doubt it would be a much lesser experience.
Once again – many thanks for enabling such a memorable experience!”
Regards Simon & Heather Beesley 2007