Whale-watching Baja style
This year’s whalewatching season is already looking fantastic. Marine researchers and tour guides off the Central California coast are reporting lots of humpback whales and orcas sightings along with increased grey whale caravans. Seems Canadian RV’ers aren’t the only ‘whales’ traveling south for the winter – again (of course, I’m referring to their huge motorhomes, not their skin palor or body profile).
This L.A. Times article lists a bunch of ways folks north of the border can go whale watching this season and even dress it up a bit by going to an actual whale-watching event. One of the biggest (the Blue, if you will) is the Dana Point Festival of Whales. For two weekends in March, 100,000 pack in the tony Point to see a parade, live bands, a street fair, car show and a volleyball tournament. Certainly lots to do while keeping one eye pealed toward the Pacific searching for that telltail puff of salty spray.
However, the best way to go whale-watching is by going to actually see, hear, smell and touch the whales Baja style through outfits like Miramar Adventures, Baja Eco Tours, or Sea Kayak Adventures (see my Kayaking with Whales post). There are several places in Baja California Sur to visit whales in thier natural habitat and as well as several species to choose from. To see the largest animal that has ever lived, the Blue Whale, or the ‘greyhound of the sea,’ the finback, for example, you’ll have to visit Loreto or La Paz (assuming you don’t live there) because those two species can only be found in the Mar de Cortez. Maybe experiencing a ‘whale nursury’ floats your boat. What’s that like? Take a look at this YouTube post of folks petting whales and being looked in the eye by a ‘ol grey mom. To do this, you’ll have a more rugged adventure to remote Pacific Ocean side of Baja California Sur. Either way, if the northern whale sightings are any indication, this year’s whale-watching season in Baja should be one of the best.
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