The prime whale watching areas are the three lagoons north of Cabo San Lucas: Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Laguna San Ignacio and Bahia Magdalena. Each of the three offer whale watching boat rides. Older calves and their mothers can often be spotted heading south on a feeding run to the nutrient-rich Sea of Cortez. Whale watching peaks in mid-March, shortly before the whales begin their journey back to the Bering Sea.
Adult whales measure 35 to 50 feet and weigh 20 to 40 tons. Females are larger than males. Many gray whales carry several hundred pounds of barnacles--parasites that embed into their hide. At birth, calves average 15 feet long and weigh 1,500 pounds. Whale mothers' milk contains 50 percent fat, so the calves gain weight very quickly. If they can evade predators--chiefly killer whales and large sharks--gray whales may return to Baja for 50 to 60 seasons.
Going out in an inflatable Zodiac boat is reportedly the best way to come in close to the whales. Many Baja visitors have even touched their rubbery hide from the tour boat. In fact, some of the gray whales become so inured to the whale watchers they appear friendly and try to initiate contact with the tourists.
Obtaining a sharp photographic image is often difficult. First, whales can dive down and stay underwater for as long as three minutes, and you will not know where they will surface next. That, added to the probable rocking of the tour boat means that you should have your lens zoomed out and stabilize yourself as well as you can. Special photography tours are available, with crews who will try to maximize your chances of getting a good shot.
Whales of different types can be seen near Cabo San Lucas throughout the year, although the greatest activity comes during the winter and early spring with the gray whale migration. For the best viewing, take a commercial excursion into the waters where the whales congregate. If you have a choice between a morning or afternoon tour, choose the afternoon. By then, most of the fishing charters have come ashore, no longer making noise and churning up the ocean.
