Whale Watching in Loreto: The Ultimate Guide to Marine Wildlife Tours in the Heart of sea of Cortes

Whale Watching in Loreto is one of the most varied and spectacular wildlife marine experiences that can be found in the entire of Mexico. Loreto is found on the eastern coast of the Baja California peninsula on the beautiful shores of the Sea of Cortez and has made a name as a high-profile place to observe blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, and many species of dolphins in the wild. It is a beautiful colonial town with an authentic Mexican culture and a rich sportfishing history and a unique marine biodiversity that makes it an unforgettable whale watching venue that can make nature lovers, photographers, families and adventure travelers worldwide feel at home.

Why Loreto is a Whale Watching Premier Destination.

The strategic location of Loreto on the central Sea of Cortez is the core of the most productive marine ecosystem in the world. The waters surrounding Loreto are rich in nutrients and therefore have an amazing array of marine life ranging as small as plankton to the most massive creatures to have ever lived on this planet. The rugged terrain of the underwater terrain of Loreto forms deep channels and submarine gullies that are appealing to pelagic whale species such as blue whales and sperm whales that love deep water conditions. Both deep-diving cetacean species and coastal species are found in the combination of deep offshore waters and sheltered coastal bays, which makes Loreto one among the few places where a visitor has a possible chance to experience a truly astonishing variety of whale species on a single trip.

The comparative lack of human intrusion by the presence of people whale watching in Loreto in comparison to other more market-oriented locations such as Cabo San Lucas makes the process more personal and natural. The reduced size of tour groups, the decrease in traffic of boats and the pristine marine environment results in the great wildlife experience and an increase in the quality of the interaction with whales and dolphins. Whale Species that are commonly seen in the Loreto Waters

Blue Whales

Blue whales are the unquestioned star attraction when it comes to whale watching in Loreto. These great animals, up to 100 feet long, and weighing as much as 200 tons, come to the waters of Loreto principally between the months of February and May. The Sea of Cortez is very important in providing critical feeding habitats to the blue whales and seasonal upwellings cause dense concentrations of krill which accommodate these filter feeding giants. A blue whale on the surface, the massive spout that may be up to 30 feet, and the huge exhalation emanation of the biggest creature that has ever existed is one of the most significant wildlife experiences that can be ever imagined. 

Blue whale sightings usually require 30 minutes to 2 hours of boat travel to reach the deep offshore waters of Loreto. The whales tend to concentrate in areas where their prey, the krill, is concentrated in areas with underwater topography and ocean currents. Blue whales take 10 to 20 minutes to be underwater during feeding sequences, then come up to get several breaths. The reward of patient observers is the various cycling of surfacing, irregular fluking behavior as the whale plunges into the deep waters, and occasional but spectacular surface feeding in which one can see the whale’s huge mouth at work.

Fin Whales

The second largest type of whale on Earth is the fin whale and they are permanent inhabitants in the Loreto waters throughout the year. These smooth-looking, high speed cetaceans may be as long as 85 feet and are identified by their asymmetrical coloration, the right lower jaw being white and the left side dark. Fin whales can be found in small herds, and are more accessible than blue whales, often diving around boats and giving them excellent photographic opportunities. The reliability of fin whales in the area is such that they are a dependable sight all year round when other large whales are hard to see. The whales may be met at any time of the year, but the highest concentrations are observed in the winter and spring months when the food supply is the highest. Fin whales are frequently surface feeders with spectacular displays of whales leaping into groups of small fish and krill with their mouths gaping.

Humpback Whales

The humpback whales come to the waters in the Loreto waters mainly in the winter months between December and March. Although the humpback whales are not as numerous in the waters of Loreto as that of places such as Banderas Bay, the few that come to Loreto waters usually showcase impressive acrobatic moves such as full breaches, tail slaps, pectoral fin slaps, and spy-hopping. The relatively peaceful nature and the relatively clear waters of Loreto offer good opportunities to observe these behaviors and take a photo of them without congestion of boats which is evident in most popular humpback whale destinations.

Sperm Whales

Sperm whales, the largest of all toothed whales on the earth, live in the offshore waters of Loreto throughout the year. These amazing cetaceans can dive as far as 3,000 feet to find their major food source, which is the deep-sea squid. Sperm whales need to be seen by going out deeper into deep water and taking time since they may take up to 45 minutes or more during deep foraging jumps. The boxy head, angled spout and dramatic fluking behavior on making deep dives make sperm whale encounters especially memorable and photo profitable all year round with the various seasons being the most favorable time of year to see the various species.

Blue whales are most likely to be found during a period spanning between late February and early May, with March and April being the months which have the highest number of concentrations and most frequent sightings. Blue whales are found in Loreto waters during the entire year, but are more likely to be seen during cooler seasons between November and May as seasonal krill booms form in the waters. https://greywhale.com/whale-watching-loreto