Each year in late fall or early winter, hundreds of whales from the frigid waters of the Arctic migrate to the warm, calm waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula. Ideal climate, shallow waters, salinity and abundant marine life make the bays and lagoons north of Los Cabos the perfect place for whales to raise their young. From December to March, there's no better place to go whale watching than Los Cabos!
The Sea of Cortez
Whale watching in Cabo San Lucas is very unique because the city sits at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meets. While the Pacific Ocean is the highway the whales take to travel from their home in Alaska to their home in Mexico, the Sea of Cortez is a very real whale sanctuary. The Sea of Cortez is still one of the most biologically intact seas in the world. While the population of Humpback and Gray whales explodes from December to March, there are some species that can be seen in Cabo all throughout the year. In fact, approximately 75% of all cetacean (whale and dolphin species) can be found in the Sea of Cortez, making it fairly easy to see a whale while you're
vacationing in Los Cabos.
Types of Whales
You can expect to see several different types of whales in Los Cabos during the late winter and early spring months. Let's take a look at a few of these amazing creatures:
Blue Whales - At 30 meters in length and 180 tons or more in weight, blue whales are thought to be the largest and heaviest animals ever to live on Earth. Their skin is a beautiful gray-blue color, often with a mottling of light spots.
Gray Whales - The gray whale is a medium-sized baleen whale, with a beautiful gray coloration that has white spots and patches. It reaches a length of 14.9 meters, a weight of 36 tons, and lives between 55 and 70 years.
Humpback Whales - Humpback whales are medium-sized baleen whales with a thick blubber layer, making them clumsier in appearance than some of their more streamlined relatives. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Its majestic tail and variety of spectacular behaviors make this whale a favorite of whale watchers.
Sperm Whales - The sperm whale, or cachalot, is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. They can grow to about 60 feet in length. They have dark, wrinkled skin, blocky heads and stout bodies.
Fin Whales - The fin whale, also called the finback whale, razorback or common rorqual, is the second-largest animal in the world. Its sleek appearance got it the nickname "greyhound of the sea." They are the only animal known to be asymmetrically-colored, as they have a white patch on their lower jaw on their right side, but not their left.
Killer Whales - Known by their beautiful black and white coloration, killer whales have an unmistakable appearance. Also referred to as orca whales or orcas, killer whales are toothed whales who gather in family-oriented pods of 10-50 whales.
Whales aren't the only marine life you'll be able to view this time of year - you can expect to see various dolphins, including Common, Pacific White Sided and Bottlenose, as well!
Whale Watching Tours
Whale watching is Los Cabos' most popular activity! The exciting variety and abundance of cetacean make Los Cabos one of the best places on earth to view these beautiful animals. At
Lifestyle Villas, we offer a variety of whale watching tours for you to choose from:
AEROCALAFIA - Join us at Magdalena Bay to watch the gray whale, a gentle giant that measures 12-16 meters and weighs from 20-35 tons! The tour offers the opportunity to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat.
RISSALENA - The Rissalena is a newly commissioned, custom designed, 37-foot power catamaran. Reserve a whale watching, sightseeing adventure with your friends, associates or family of up to 24 people for a one-of-a-kind cruise experience.
ZIG ZAG PRIVATE CHARTER - Zig Zag, a 43-foot fountain pajot catamaran, is extremely stable and comfortable as she glides through the water at 5-8 miles an hour. Enjoy the tour from the roomy aft seating area or the large open bow.
OCEAN RIDERS - Ocean Riders' tours have become one of the most popular ways to see whales in Los Cabos. The performance of their boats will let you explore more territory than any other boat in town, guaranteeing whale sightings from the comfort of your seat.
CABO ADVENTURES - Conducted on new all-weather inflatable speed boats to ensure a safe and comfortable ride, Cabo Adventures whale watching tours are guided by exceptionally talented marine mammal behavior experts who are passionate about protecting wildlife and the environment.
CABO SAILS PRIVATE CHARTERS - Experience the finest private charter sailing aboard a beautiful and relaxing fleet of sailboats. As a premier sailing company in Los Cabos, Cabo Sails offers both romantic getaways and safe adventures for the entire family!
When you stay in one of our
luxurious beachfront villas in Los Cabos, you have possibility of seeing these beautiful creatures right from the deck! However, if you want to get up close and personal with this amazing species, be sure to add a whale watching tour to your activities itinerary. Our Lifestyle concierges are local experts and are here to assist you in creating the perfect itinerary. Give us a call at 1-888-655-9589 to book your
Los Cabos accommodations and start planning the perfect beach vacation!
LIFESYLE Villas Los Cabos: BEST Luxury Villa Rentals in Mexico!
LIFESTYLE Villas Los Cabos
Phone: 1-888-655-9589
Mexico: 624-144-4954
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All levels of Casa Del Mar have covered terraces which allow everyone to have private spaces to sit back and relax, while taking in the many azure colors of the Sea of Cortez. This 10,000 square foot beach house boasts ocean views from all living areas, including the kitchen, bbq, dining room, media room, wet bar and 5 of the 6 bedrooms. There are very few homes in Los Cabos that enjoy such privacy!
