The Greatest Migration Spectacle in the Whale Watching in Baja Nature

The Baja California whale viewing is among the most amazing wildlife viewing experiences on the earth, as the gray whales make amazing yearly migrations between the Arctic feeding grounds and warm lagoons in Mexico, to mate and give birth. This is a special occurrence which brings nature lovers all over the world in pursuit of close associations with these marvelous marine mammals in clean coastal settings. The sheltered lagoons of Baja give the best opportunity to observe whales in a friendly and curious manner and approach to small vessels closer than is possible in other areas. Seasonal patterns, best viewing sites and locations and understanding of whales are used to ensure that the visitors have memorable whale watching experiences on the magnificent Pacific coast of Baja.

Essentially, the migration of the whale watching in Baja is one of nature’s longest journeys of the mammal species that cover about twelve thousand miles each way between the Bering Sea in Alaska and the breeding lagoons in Baja California. The great animals start their southern migrations in October, moving along the coastal paths along the Pacific Northwest to the Mexican waters in December. The peak season begins in January till March when lagoons contain maximum numbers of whales in courtship, child birth and parenting of children. This is because mothers with calves live in sheltered waters until they become strong enough to embark on tiresome northward trips that start in March and April. The consistency in this trend allows people to view whales with a high level of confidence during the winter and early spring seasons.

The Pacific coast of Baja has locations with lagoons which offer the best whale watching areas in the world. San Ignacio Lagoon is mid-peninsula and possibly the best place where gray whales show great hospitality. It is a shallow, sheltered lagoon where whales come to the boats and they are able to touch the boats so gently and develop deep bonds between them and the whales. Significant populations of whales in large waters serve many tour operators in Magdalena bay complex off southern Baja. Another important breeding area in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve is Ojo de Liebre Lagoon or Scammon Lagoon. The sites have different attributes in terms of accessibility, density of the whales, and the chance of interaction.

The quality of whale watching experience and conservation depends on the choice of tour operators greatly. Well recognized businesses hire expert naturalist guides who discuss the biology of whales, their migration, and conservation issues. The small groups in the right size boats guarantee close ups with small groups of whales without the additional boat congestion. By following set protocols, operators stay at proper distances when the whales remain unaffected and ensure that animals are free to determine the interaction instead of chasing or harassing these animals. By promoting responsible operators who value the conservation of the marine environment and the benefit of the local communities, the tourism income will have a positive impact on the protection of whales and the local economies.

Observations of whale behavior are very intriguing in terms of understanding the social life of these smart beings. Spy-hopping is a practice by whales where the head is lifted vertically above the water surfaces and seemingly the whale is monitoring its environment such as boats and the passengers. Violation happens when the whales jump their huge body fully out of water in spectacular exhibitions whose functions are still under debate amongst scientists. Tail slapping is the act of hitting the water surface using flukes with a lot of force producing loud noises, which may be used to get the attention of other whales. The practices of mother-calf bonding exhibit protective mothers imparting fundamental skills to calves that could help them to survive in the north prior to migrations. The visiting whales to the lagoons of Baja are known as the friendly whale, and these whales meet and greet boats and, in some cases, they allow gentle caressing which produces emotionally engaging moments.

Whale watching can be given a deeper meaning by conservation context. Gray whales were on the brink of extinction due to commercial whaling but they have been given protection under international conventions. Populations have come back to an incredible state proving conservation success stories but with threats such as climatic change, ocean pollution and habitat disturbance which cannot be overlooked. The lagoons of Baja are also important areas of the habitat where the undisturbed environments allow reproduction to be successful. Responsible tourism helps in conservation as it helps to provide economic reasons to conserve the whale habitats and makes the tourists understand the importance of marine life.

The photography experiences in Baja whale watching result in unbelievable photographs of such unforgettable experiences. The kind of shots that can be made at close proximity are that of capturing the features of the whale such as the skin covered with barnacles, symbolic eyes, and elegant movement. Action photography pauses attacks of violation and tail slaps. The under water photography in the clear water in the lagoon depicts some rare shots. Ethical photography activities do not resort to flash which may cause disturbance to whales and consider the welfare of animals instead of getting ideal images.

The accommodation facilities around whale watching sites are between rustic eco-camps where visitors can have the authentic wilderness experience and comfortable hotels in the localities. San Ignacio town is an affordable accommodation place that is nearby the lagoons. La Paz offers urban facilities to act as a starting point to the Magdalena Bay tours. Specialized whale watching lodges on lagoon shores provide in-depth experience such as the multi-day tours with the naturalist programs.

During winter whale watching, weather has an impact on the comfort. The desert of Baja gives warm days but mornings and water activities may be cool with the need of layered clothing. Seasickness preoccupation is not of interest in the calm conditions on the lagoon, unlike the open ocean whale watching.

Whale watching in baja California provides life transforming wild life experiences that glorify the splendor of nature and it also helps conserve these great animals and beautiful oceans so that future generations could cherish and be proud of them. https://www.greywhale.com/grey-whale-watching-baja