The world‘s finest diving

San Ignacio Grey Whales

Technically a "whale watching" trip, you'll be stunned by the interaction you get with these humongous creatures without even getting wet ! They'll come right to your panga & pop their heads out of the water looking for physical contact with you. You can reach out to pet them & they love it. Just incredible !

Baja California
Land-based January to April

Pacific Grey Whales

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Unforgotable „Destination“ Moment

So ... What's The Grey Whale Story ?

Tim Means and Baja Expeditions pioneered eco-tourism in Baja including the first gray whale camp at San Ignacio Lagoon 27 years ago and Nautilus Liveaboards is now working in conjunction with Baja Expeditions to share the excitement to a broader audience..

This legendary lagoon, on the Pacific coast of Baja Mexico, is where gray whales finish an 11,000 mile migration from the Bering Sea and Alaska to mate and calve each year. It is one of only 4 mating and birthding lagoons that we know of in the world, The grey whales here are astonishingly curious and interactive and they appear to actually seek out close encounters with humans, coming right up to the boats looking for contact.

The new 4-day grey whale program offered by Nautilus features round-trip private charter flights from Cabo San Lucas. You’ll stay in a catered “luxury” camp and will have up to nine gray whale encounters of roughly 90 mins each during your stay.

A nice-to-know bit of info is that San Ignacio Lagoon, which has remained undeveloped (no ghastly highrise hotels). has been designated a UNESCO Heritage Site … and the animals are protected from whaling. Their population has recovered to around 18,00 individuals and has been removed from the endangered species list !

A Bit About The Whales

The grey whale population was hunted to near-extinction but has undergone a miraculous regeneration. San Ignacio Lagoon, with its decades of respectful ecotourism, has experienced the apex of this transformation. The whales, once considered some of the most dangerous animals on the planet (due to fierce attacks on whaling ships) are now known for their docile interaction with and curiosity about the humans who visit them.

Gray whales are baleen whales which can reach up to 50 feet in length, weigh up to 40 tons …. and live up to 70 years. They feed largely on crustaceans, which is unique in the world of whales. They do feed on plankton also, especially in the northern waters, but the coastal region of Baja California is rich in crustaceans and seemingly offers delicacies these gourmet whales adore.

As winter approaches the northern hemisphere’s arctic regions, the whales leave behind the frigid waters to migrate some 5,000-6,000 miles to the warmer, protected lagoons along the Baja coast. Here they’ll bear their young. In fact, it’s the pregnant females who arrive first, looking for safe harbor for their calves. Other members of the tribe use this winter vacation as a time to mate.

What To Expect During The Trip

Your main adventure starts at 8 am on Day 1 with a 2-hour charter flight from Cabo San Lucas to San Ignacio Lagoon. The airstrip is located right at the beach camp and you will be greated with a glass of champagne before you’re whisked out onto the water for your first whale watching encounter.

Before that, however, we recommend arriving in Cabo San Lucas at least a day or two in advance. Why not enjoy the sun & sea ? If you choose, you can check in with the Nautilus staff at their See Creatures Dive Center on the Cabo Marina and ask them to organize a dive or two for you …. or a complimentary whale watch tour in search of humpback whales. Another possibility is one of their Backscatter photo workshops.

After 4 days of grey whales, you’ll return to Cabo at 1:30 pm. after a last morning of whale watching.

Accommodation

Your encounters with the Grey Whales are made more adventurous by the accommodation offered. You’ll be “glamping” on the beach in one of two styles of glamorous & exceedingly comfortable tents, placed along the shoreline, so you can enjoy uninterrupted views over the lagoon and a skyscape which reveals the entire Milky Way.

The camp welcomes whale lovers of all ages, with the added bonus that kids and teens go half price. Everyone loves the fire pits and adults appreciate the bar and lounge tent with big comfy couches and even a pool table, where you’ll find fine wine, craft beer and single malt scotches.

After a day spent petting 45-foot gray whales, you’ll be greeted back on the beach with a warm hot chocolate (or ice-cold beer) in time for sunset. Unwind with a board game in the Clubhouse and sit back in the evening to enjoy the naturalist presentations which give you an in-depth understanding of the rich cultural history of the area and its incredible wildlife.

Glamping Camp

Windproof, insulated & heated, these tents are built to withstand the coldest nights in the desert.  They all feature adjustable twin beds or 1 king bed (no camp cots here) , fine linens, plush pillows, an ensuite bathroom with hot & cold running water (and excellent pressure), and 24-hour power and lights.

Need to stay connected? There is Wi-Fi access everywhere in camp.

Luxury Camp

Think of the luxury tents as one of the best pop-up hotel suites … with all the amenities of the glamping camp, but with 12 large and luxurious tents, ensuring the utmost privacy. Each tent features an ensuite bathroom, a dresser in the bedroom as well as a separate sitting area with a couch and easy chairs – perfect for relaxing after a day of adventure.

These trips will SOON be on our option. Until then, please contact us

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Itinerary, Rates, What's Included, Getting There & Away

The following is a sample itinerary based on weather, sea conditions & animal behavior. View the daily itinerary, travel information, what’s included & what’s extra

GETTING THERE & AWAY

You’ll want to organize an international flight into Los Cabos International ( SJD) …. It’s also possible to fly in with your own aircraft or to drive (13+ hours from California … 6 hours from Loreto on the eastern side of Baja.

If you fly from Cabo to San Ignacio with the group, the charter flight is included in the price of your stay.


DATES & RATES:

Annually …. from mid-January through mid-April (corresponding with the months the whales spend in the lagoon)

2022 rates:
$2395 per person … Glamping Tent (including charter flight …. + tax & fees)
$2995 per person … Luxury Tent  (including charter flight ….+ tax & fees)


SAMPLE ITINERARY  …  3-NIGHT / 4-DAY TRIP

Hopefully you’ve arrived in advance to the trip to take advantage of Cabo’s beauty and activities.  As mentioned, you can pop into See Creatures Dive Center to get advice and possibly some free diving or whale watching.

Day 1 – Departure from Cabo …. Arrival San Ignacio

You will be collected from your Cabo Hotel at approximately 7:00am for the transfer to the Cabo San Lucas airport.  Your private Cessna charter aircraft makes the two hour flight up to remote San Ignacio a breeze!

Upon arrival to Camp Tio Timo, you will be welcomed by your expert naturalist guides and hostesses with champagne mimosas.  Next you’ll be taken straight out onto the water with the grey whales!  Get ready to watch out for spouts!

Following your first whale encounters, you will return to camp for fully catered meals and to enjoy everything the camp has to offer. Take out a kayak or paddleboard, or grab an ice cream or cold drink from the bar to enjoy the spectacular sunsets over the lagoon from your prime beachfront location.

Days 2-3 – It’s all about the whales

Sessions start at 8:00am and continue through sunset.  You can expect three to four 90-minute encounters each day, dependent on capacity restrictions at the lagoon.

Accompanied by the knowledgeable guides, you’ll see the whales roll, breach, spyhop, and tend to their young. You may even get the chance to stroke these incredible creatures when they come to greet your panga.

During your time on land, you can take out one of our kayaks for a paddle on the calm lagoon waters or explore the shoreline tide pools, observing diverse bird life in the surrounding mangroves.

Day 4 – Return to Cabo

Following breakfast, your charter plane will return to Cabo San Lucas at 10:30am, with an arrival time around 12:30pm. We recommend scheduling your departure flight no earlier than 3:30pm.

Better still, we’d encourage you to consider further adventures in the sunny Sea of Cortez where there’s nearly endless excitement !


RATES INCLUDE:

  • flight from & to Cabo
  • fully catered camping with provided bed linens and towels
  • en-suite washrooms with flushing toilets and showers
  • biodegradable toiletries
  • non-alcoholic beverages
  • 2-4 whale watching excursions per day
  • guide services
  • kayaks for non-whale-watching hours
  • battery charging station

EXTRAS:

  • international airfare
  • reserve fee & airport landing fee
  • alcoholic beverages
  • gratuities

Looking For Something More "Off-piste" ?

Consider an exotic Sri Lanka Safari & Cultural Tour.  See Sri Lanka Safari …..

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