Gray whales are present at Scammon's Lagoon (Laguna Ojo de Liebre) in Guerrero Negro from January through April. The peak calving and mating activity is February and March — which is why we run our trips exclusively during those two months. We do not travel outside February–March because whale density and behavioral activity peak in this window.

Our trips run exclusively in February and March. We don't offer gray whale tours in January, April, or any other month — not because whales aren't present, but because February–March gives guests the highest concentration of mothers with newborn calves and the most active whale behavior in the inner nursery.

• Best booking strategy: February trips fill up 6–12+ months in advance. March has slightly more availability but also sells out.
• Early February: Highest concentration of newborn calves — most intimate mother-calf encounters in the inner nursery
• Late February / March: Consistent overall whale activity; calves are larger and more active; mating behavior common
• January & April: Whales are present but trip frequency and nursery access are reduced — we don't run departures these months

At Scammon's Lagoon — the most populated of the three gray whale calving grounds in Baja California — guests see dozens of whales on every outing during peak season. With 4 dedicated whale watching outings across 2 days, you have multiple opportunities to observe different behaviors.

• Expect to see: Mothers with newborn calves, courting pairs, playful juveniles, spy-hopping, breaching, and tail-slapping
• Inner nursery access: Our trips enter the special inner lagoon nursery zone where the majority of calves are born — this is where the most intimate encounters happen
• Less crowded: Scammon's Lagoon attracts fewer tour operators than San Ignacio, meaning more peaceful viewing and more time at the best spots

Guerrero Negro (Scammon's Lagoon / Ojo de Liebre) vs. San Ignacio Lagoon — By the Numbers:

• 4x more whales overall than San Ignacio Lagoon
• Early February 2026: 107 mother-calf pairs counted at Scammon's Lagoon vs. just 3 at San Ignacio

Important reality check: We cannot guarantee specific numbers — these are wild animals in their natural habitat. However, during peak February–March season, zero-whale outings at Scammon's are exceptionally rare.

Gray whales at Scammon's Lagoon are famous for being 'friendlies' — whales that voluntarily approach small boats and sometimes allow themselves to be touched. This is a unique behavior that scientists still don't fully understand, and it makes Scammon's Lagoon one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on Earth.

Mexican government regulations technically require a 2-meter minimum distance from gray whales. However, when a whale approaches the boat on its own initiative, guides will tell you what is and isn't permitted in that moment. The magic is that the whale makes the choice.

• What a 'friendly' encounter looks like: A 40-foot, 30-ton whale surfaces alongside your small panga boat, rolls over to look at you with one enormous eye, and lingers. Sometimes for 20 minutes.
• Newborn calves are often the most curious — mothers will bring calves alongside to investigate the boat. With so few mothers with calves in San Ignacio, you may not even have this special experience.
• You don't need to enter the water — these encounters happen from the boat

No other ocean experience compares to a gray whale choosing to make contact with you. It's the reason guests return year after year.

This is the question we get most often. The short answer: Scammon's Lagoon gives you more whales, more mothers and calves in a special 'whale nursery,' more comfortable lodging, a shorter more scenic drive, and the only two-ocean itinerary in Baja. Here's the full comparison:

🚗 Travel from San Diego:

Our whale watch tours start at our Las Animas Ecolodge which is approximately 380 miles from San Diego — the same distance as our whale shark tour, about a 7.5-hour scenic drive with rest stops. San Ignacio Lagoon is roughly 490+ miles from San Diego, adding 4+ more hours each way. You arrive at Scammon's on day 4 after a short 2.5-hour scenic drive from Las Animas — fresher, earlier, and with more energy for whale watching.

🐋 Whale Population:

Scammon's Lagoon (Laguna Ojo de Liebre) is the single most populated of the three gray whale calving grounds in Baja California. There are four times more whales here than anywhere else on the Pacific coast during peak season. And THIRTY times more mothers with calves than San Ignacio Lagoon. (In February 2026, there were only 3 mothers with calves in San Ignacio compared to 107 mothers with calves in Scammon's Lagoon.)

🏠 Lodging — Real Rooms vs. Plywood:

Most San Ignacio Lagoon tour operators house up to 30 guests in double occupancy plywood-walled dwellings and tents without private bathrooms, which are directly exposed to Pacific coast weather — cold nights, coastal wind, and occasional rain which makes for less than ideal shelter. Our guests stay in a private B&B in Guerrero Negro with real private rooms, real beds, hot showers, and a private chef. After a full day on the water in Baja winter weather, this difference is significant.

🌊 Inner Nursery Access:

Our itinerary takes you to the inner lagoon's special 'whale nursery' area — the protected zone where the majority of calves are born. Two of our four outings go specifically to this area for the most intimate mother-calf encounters.

✨ Only Two-Ocean Itinerary:

After 3 nights at Las Animas Ecolodge — where you'll look for fin whales (the 2nd largest animals on Earth), grey and humpback whales, dolphins, and snorkel with friendly curious sea lions in a UNESCO World Heritage Site — you cross the peninsula to Scammon's Lagoon for the Pacific gray whale experience. No San Ignacio operator offers this.

Gray Whales (Pacific leg — Scammon's Lagoon):

Medium-sized baleen whales (40–50 feet, up to 40 tons) that migrate 10,000+ miles each year between Arctic feeding grounds and Baja calving lagoons. Famous for their curious 'friendly' behavior toward boats. The California gray whale population is one of conservation's great success stories, recovered from near-extinction to over 20,000 individuals.

Fin Whales (Sea of Cortez leg — Las Animas):

The second-largest animal on Earth (up to 85 feet) and one of the fastest whales — sometimes called 'the greyhound of the sea.' Fin whales are often spotted on our Sea of Cortez excursions.

Our 'Best of Baja Whales, Dolphins and Sea Lions' trip is one of the only experiences in the world where you can encounter gray and fin whale species in the same week.

The El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected area in Latin America, spanning over 6 million acres of Baja California. It encompasses Scammon's Lagoon, the Pacific coastline, and extends into the desert interior. UNESCO designated the Baja California gray whale sanctuaries — including Scammon's Lagoon — as a World Heritage Site in 1993.

What this means for your whale watching experience:

• Strict protection: Commercial fishing, industrial development, and vessel traffic are tightly regulated within the sanctuary. The lagoon remains in pristine condition.
• Healthy whale populations: The protection has allowed the gray whale population to recover to pre-whaling levels. Density of whales in the lagoon during calving season is extraordinary.
• Conservation-minded tourism: All whale watching within the sanctuary operates under Mexican government permits with regulated boat numbers, approach distances, and engine protocols.

Our Sea of Cortez leg at Las Animas Ecolodge is also located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California — making this trip one of the few in the world that visits two separate UNESCO designations in the same week.

The trip to Guerrero Negro starts with travel to Las Animas Ecolodge which is approximately 380 miles south of San Diego — about a 7.5-hour scenic drive with rest stops, the same distance as our whale shark tour. San Ignacio Lagoon, where most other Baja whale watching operators are based, is approximately 490+ miles from San Diego — over 4 additional hours each way if you drive on top of that.

All roundtrip ground transportation from San Diego is included in your trip. You don't arrange anything. Here's what Day 1 looks like:

• 6:30 AM: Meet at Brown Field Municipal Airport, San Diego (free parking)
• Drive south through San Diego, cross into Mexico at Tecate or Mexicali border (15-minute crossing with passport)
• Scenic drive through Baja California — dramatic desert landscapes, Sea of Cortez coastline and island views and Valle de Los Cirrios (world's tallest cacti)
• Stop at the historic town of Bahía de los Ángeles and board boats for scenic nature cruise past bird-filled islands and empty pristine beaches and bays. Chance to see whales and dolphins
• Arrive Las Animas Ecolodge around 3PM–4PM — check into private beachside deluxe yurt, welcome happy hour and dinner

The drive itself is a genuine Baja experience — not just a transfer. Many guests call it one of the highlights of the trip.

Everything is included except Mexican taxes (16%) and staff tips. Specifically:

Transportation: Roundtrip ground private coach San Diego ↔ Las Animas · Roundtrip private coach to Guerrero Negro ↔ San Diego · All boat transportation during trip

Sea of Cortez Accommodation (3 nights): Private beachside yurt at Las Animas Ecolodge · Both California King bed and twin beds · Ensuite bathroom · Hot shower · Hammock deck

Pacific Coast Accommodation (2 nights): Private room at our B&B in Guerrero Negro · Real bed, private bathroom, hot shower · Not a tent camp

All Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, happy hour · Beer and margaritas included · Private chef on both legs of the trip

All Activities: 4 gray whale watching outings · All Sea of Cortez excursions (whales, dolphins, sea lions, islands) · Free use of kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, fishing gear · Naturalist guide on all excursions

Not included: 16% Mexican taxes · Staff tips (recommended $150–300+ per person) · Travel insurance · Personal items

Standard trips: Maximum 10 guests, with an average of 8. We maintain a 2:1 guest-to-staff ratio throughout the trip — meaning you always have more staff than most tours, dedicated to your experience.

Private groups: Groups of 11–16 can book exclusive private trips. We close the trip to other guests so your group has the ecolodge and all activities to yourselves. Popular for family reunions, corporate retreats, milestone birthdays, and anniversary trips. Call for private group pricing and availability.

Why small groups matter for whale watching: Whale watching regulations limit the number of boats and people in the inner lagoon nursery zones. Small groups mean better whale watching positions, more time at the best spots, and more personal attention from guides.

Yes — this is one of the most accessible whale watching experiences in Baja. Gray whale watching is entirely boat-based. You do not need to swim, snorkel, or enter the water to have extraordinary whale encounters. If a whale approaches the boat, everyone on board has the same front-row experience.

• The whale watching pangas are small, stable boats — guests sit during outings (not standing on deck)
• Our B&B in Guerrero Negro has conventional hotel-style accessibility
• Las Animas Ecolodge involves a beach terrain — sandy walking between yurts and the main lodge (roughly 15–100 yards on sandy ground). Most guests with limited mobility manage this comfortably.
• The Baja road trip involves ~7.5 hours in a comfortable private van with multiple rest stops

If you have specific mobility concerns, call Kevin directly at 619-421-2235 to discuss your situation.

You need to be able to climb a single flight of stairs at the B&B and walk at least a few hundred yards to the docks.

We've accommodated guests in their 90s and guests with significant mobility limitations — the key is knowing your needs in advance so we can plan accordingly.

Yes. Families with children ages 5+ are welcome. Because gray whale watching is boat-based (no swimming required), this trip is more accessible to young children than our whale shark tour. Children of all ages can experience watching gray whales from the boat.

• Minimum age: 5 years old (strictly enforced for safety)
• Best ages: 7–17 — kids in this range are completely captivated by gray whale encounters
• Under 5: Not permitted for safety reasons (open water, boat movement, remote location)

What children love on this trip:

• The moment a 40-foot gray whale surfaces 10 feet from the boat (genuine awe — kids don't forget this)
• The 'friendly whale' encounters — when whales approach on their own
• Desert road trip — walking among the world's tallest cacti and desert wildlife
• Sea of Cortez leg — snorkeling with sea lions, kayaking, fishing, beachcombing, campfire, stargazing and more

The trip is a natural fit for grandparent-grandchild and multi-generational family groups. The accessible whale watching format means grandparents and grandchildren have the identical experience from the boat — no one misses out.

Baja California winter weather on the Pacific coast is mild but genuinely cool — dress in layers. Guerrero Negro sits at sea level and can be windy and overcast in the mornings.

Typical Conditions:

• Daytime air temperature: 55–70°F (cool to mild — a light jacket or fleece is comfortable)
• Mornings on the water: 55–60°F with wind chill — a waterproof windbreaker is essential for whale watching boats. On the Sea of Cortez it is normally 10 degrees warmer.
• Nights: 50–55°F — sweater or light down jacket recommended
• Rain: Possible but infrequent. February is the tail end of the rainy season. Our B&B provides solid indoor shelter unlike the plywood shelters and tents of other operators.

Packing list for whale watching:

• Valid US passport (required for Mexico)
• Warm waterproof jacket / windbreaker (most important item for whale watching)
• Layers: fleece or down for evenings, t-shirts for warm afternoons
• Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen (Baja sun is intense even in winter)
• Waterproof camera or GoPro (highly recommended — you'll want it on the whale watching boats)
• Cash in USD ($150–$300 for staff tips + personal spending)
• Sea of Cortez leg: swimwear, water shoes, light hiking shoes
• All snorkel gear provided for the Sea of Cortez leg

Unlike most San Ignacio Lagoon operators, we do NOT use plywood cabins and tents. On the Pacific coast leg of the trip, you stay in our private B&B in the town of Guerrero Negro — a comfortable, hotel-style property with private rooms, real beds, private bathrooms, and hot showers.

Why this matters: Pacific coast Baja in February is cool, windy, and occasionally rainy. San Ignacio camp structures are directly exposed to the elements — cold nights, coastal fog, and wind come right through camp. After a full day on the water watching whales in Baja winter weather, returning to a warm private room, hot shower, and a chef-prepared dinner is a completely different experience.

What's included at the Pacific B&B:

• Private double-occupancy room with real bed and proper mattress
• Private bathroom with hot shower
• Homemade meals prepared by our private chef — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour
• Indoor common areas for evenings — not a tent with a camp cot

The Sea of Cortez leg is Las Animas Ecolodge — 8 private beachside yurts with California King and twin beds, ensuite bathrooms, hot showers, and hammock decks overlooking the water. This is glamping at its best: immersed in nature without sacrificing comfort. Share this experience with only 10 guests total. Not 30+ like San Ignacio operators.

Food is consistently rated the #1 or #2 highlight of this trip by guests. We have a private chef on both legs of the journey — the Pacific B&B and Las Animas Ecolodge — which means fresh, homemade Mexican and Seafood cooking every day.

Sample meals:

• Breakfast: Fresh fruit, eggs to order, chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, homemade tortillas, coffee
• Lunch: Fresh ceviche, fish tacos, tostadas, salads
• 4-Course Dinners: Grilled fresh fish (often caught by guests that day), chicken mole, vegetables, enchiladas, rice, beans, dessert
• Happy hour: Ceviche, fresh salsas, guacamole, margaritas, beer — all included

Dietary accommodations: Vegetarian, vegan (with some limitations), gluten-free (not celiac-safe), and common food allergies can be accommodated with advance notice at booking. Tell us when you reserve.

You take our private boats from the small fishing village of Bahía de los Ángeles to Las Animas Ecolodge — accessible only by boat, 12 miles along the coastline and multiple islands. This is where the trip transforms to full wilderness immersion.

At Las Animas (3 nights, 2 full days = 4–6+ nature excursions):

• Look for Humpback, Grey and Fin whales (among the largest animals on Earth) — our location in the Midriff Islands region is one of the best in the world for both species
• Snorkel with playful sea lion colonies
• Kayak and paddleboard in clear, calm Sea of Cortez waters
• Fish with local boat captains (catch-and-eat lunches are a guest favorite)
• Explore uninhabited islands and bird nesting colonies
• Light hikes exploring the diverse and abundant desert plants and wildlife
• Best dark sky stargazing on the Baja Peninsula — no light pollution

This Midriff Island region of the Sea of Cortez (called the Galapagos of Mexico) is what makes the 'Best of Baja' trip genuinely unique. No other gray whale watching operator in Baja includes it.

What's the whale watching experience?

After your full Sea of Cortez / Midriff Island experience, you travel across the narrowest section of the Baja Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean — a scenic 2-hour drive through the Valle de Los Cirios desert preserve and get right into whale watching in the 'whale nursery' in the AM. Followed by lunch, short rest, and a 2nd whale nursery excursion. Then back to your private B&B for happy hour, dinner and shared nature stories. Day two includes two more whale watching experiences near the outer lagoon, lunch, dinner and evening nature talk. Day 3 a scenic drive along the Sea of Cortez back to San Diego around 3–5PM.

• The famous 'Baby Whale Nursery' with the highest concentration of Gray whale mothers and calves
• See up close the largest salt flat production facility in the world
• El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected area in Latin America
• Local expert whale watching captains who have lived in Guerrero Negro their whole lives

They are completely different experiences. Las Animas is not a resort — it's a remote wilderness ecolodge accessible only by a 45-minute boat ride from the nearest town. There are no roads in, no tourist infrastructure, and no other development or lights visible from the property.

What you get at Las Animas that you can't get at any Baja resort:

• Complete wilderness immersion — your entire beach and surrounding islands, essentially to yourselves
• Wildlife encounters that happen naturally — dolphins investigate your kayak, sea lions pop up alongside your paddleboard
• The silence of true remote nature — no traffic, no noise, no crowds, no lights, no phone notifications
• A community feel with max 10 guests and a dedicated local staff who know your name
• Private beachside yurt with skylight roof for stargazing from bed

What Las Animas doesn't have: a pool, a spa, a gym, a lobby bar, or room service. If those are important, a Cabo resort is a better fit. If genuine nature and human connection are what you're seeking, with real Western comforts, Las Animas ecolodge is unlike anywhere else in Mexico.

Yes. Groups of 11–16 can book the entire trip exclusively. We close the departure to other guests and customize the experience for your group. Private trips are popular for:

• Family reunions — grandparents through grandchildren all on the same whale watching adventure
• Multi-generational milestone trips — 60th birthdays, anniversaries, graduations
• Corporate team retreats — unique, memorable, off the beaten path
• Friend groups — 8–16 people who want the ecolodge to themselves

Private trip benefits: Your own van, your own schedule flexibility, menu customization, and the ecolodge entirely to your group. Call Kevin at 619-421-2235 to discuss dates and pricing.

There are good whale watching operators in Baja. Here's what makes us genuinely different:

35+ years operating in Baja (since 1989).

Kevin Warren has been guiding in Baja since 1989. Our local staff — boat captains, guides, chefs — have been with us for many years. This is not a startup or a tour aggregator: we own our ecolodge, our lodge boats, and our relationships with the communities we work in.

The only two-ocean itinerary in Baja.

No other operator combines Scammon's Lagoon gray whales with a Las Animas Ecolodge Sea of Cortez stay in a single all-inclusive trip.

Real lodging on the Pacific coast.

Private B&B with real beds, private rooms, and a private chef — not plywood shacks exposed to Pacific winter weather.

#1 TripAdvisor Specialty Lodging, Baja California — Hall of Fame.

210+ reviews, 4.8 rating. This ranking is based on years of consistent guest experiences — not a recent marketing push.

Small groups (max 10).

We are not a whale watching bus tour. Max 10 guests with a 2:1 staff-to-guest ratio means personal attention from guides who know your name. Most San Ignacio tour operators have 30 or more travelers.

Why drive instead of fly?

Many visitors fly (for extra cost) into Loreto or La Paz — and then still face a 4–5 hour drive north to reach San Ignacio or Magdalena Lagoons. With Baja Spirit, you drive the peninsula from San Diego with your naturalist guide from day one, turning that 'travel time' into the trip itself — vast cirio cactus deserts, roadrunners, osprey nests, the occasional coyote and the incredible Sea of Cortez along the way. By the time you reach Scammon's Lagoon after a scenic 2-hour drive through the amazing Valle de Los Cirios (a protected wildlife area), you've already been immersed in Baja nature and the Sea of Cortez for 3 days.

Kevin Warren is the founder and owner of Baja Spirit (formerly Baja AirVentures). He first traveled to Baja in 1973 and has spent the past 50+ years exploring, surfing, guiding, and building a business in this peninsula he loves. Kevin is a licensed commercial pilot, accomplished waterman, husband to his wife Carolina, and father of three daughters.

Kevin sometimes leads our whale watching departures. When he's not guiding, our trips are led by experienced Baja field naturalists and biologists with deep knowledge of gray whale behavior, marine ecology, and the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve.

Meet Your Lead Guide: Steve Sanders

Steve Sanders brings over a decade of hands-on Baja ecotourism experience to every expedition he leads with Baja Spirit. He has guided small groups through whale watching, whale shark swims, kayaking, snorkeling, birding, and tide pool exploration across Baja California — while drawing on deep operational knowledge of remote, off-grid ecolodge environments.

His background spans fisheries biology in the Bering Sea, raptor banding in Nevada, marine mammal rehabilitation, and naturalist guiding at Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks. A former AP Environmental Science teacher and conservation board member, Steve doesn't just show you Baja's wildlife — he helps you understand it. With Steve as your guide, you're in experienced, knowledgeable, and deeply passionate hands. Plus he's fun!

Our local staff — boat captains, guides, and chefs — are from the communities of Guerrero Negro and Bahía de los Ángeles. Many have worked with Baja Spirit for many years. They bring local expertise, genuine warmth, and an authentic slice of Baja culture that large tour operators simply cannot replicate.

Safety is our first priority. 35+ years without a serious incident is the track record that matters.

• All whale watching boats are operated by licensed Mexican boat captains with decades of experience in Scammon's Lagoon
• All Sea of Cortez excursions are captained by local fishermen who have navigated these waters their entire lives
• Starlink internet at Las Animas Ecolodge for communication
• Nearest clinic: Guerrero Negro (on-site doctor available) for the Pacific coast leg and Bahía de los Ángeles (Sea of Cortez — 45 min by boat)
• Nearest hospital: Guerrero Negro (Pacific coast leg)
• All guides carry basic first aid kits
• We strongly recommend travel insurance with emergency medical evacuation coverage — ask us for our recommendations

We operate in remote wilderness. This is not a risk-free environment — it's the ocean, and weather and conditions can change. What we provide is experienced local guides, properly maintained boats, and decades of operating judgment.

Travel With Confidence

From time to time, news coverage of events elsewhere in Mexico may raise questions about travel safety. Here's the context that always matters: Baja California is a peninsula geographically and culturally distinct from mainland Mexico — and the regions where we travel remain consistently calm, welcoming, and unaffected by events in other parts of the country.

Baja California carries a Level 3 travel advisory — the same designation it has held since July 2022, unchanged throughout every one of the 80+ tours we've completed since then. A Level 3 is a broad, general reminder to travel thoughtfully in Mexico; it is not a reflection of local conditions where we operate. Millions of visitors travel Baja's coast each year without incident.

What we'd like you to know most: we've been running these exact trips to these exact regions since 1989. More than 5,000 guests — families with children as young as 5, grandparents well into their 80s — have trusted us with their Baja experience over 35 years. That kind of track record isn't claimed. It's earned.

We receive daily reports from on-the-ground contacts and from travelers actively on our routes right now. The consistent message: no issues, no disruptions — just exceptional wildlife and stunning conditions.

Your adventure departs as scheduled. The whales are here. We're ready. And Baja will deliver exactly what we promised.

Sustainable tourism is not a marketing tagline for us — it's the operational model we've run since 1989. Remote wilderness ecotourism only works if the environment stays pristine. We have every incentive to protect it.

• Small groups (max 10) minimize ecological footprint at Scammon's Lagoon and Las Animas
• All whale watching operates under Mexican government permits with regulated approach distances, boat numbers, and protocols
• Las Animas Ecolodge uses solar power, composting eco-toilets, and on-demand water heating to minimize resource consumption
• Local staff employment: Our entire operations team is local — boat captains, chefs, and guides from Guerrero Negro and Bahía de los Ángeles communities. Our tourism directly supports these families and communities.
• We use only fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Seafood is caught by our guides and guests, not shipped from industrial fisheries.
• We educate guests about gray whale conservation, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve ecology, and Sea of Cortez marine biology throughout the trip

Our location within two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (El Vizcaino and Islands of the Gulf of California) means we operate under the most stringent environmental protection frameworks in Mexico.

2027 pricing: From $4,495 per person + 16% Mexican taxes and park fees. Everything below is included in the base trip price:

• All ground transportation roundtrip from San Diego
• All boat transportation during the trip
• 2 nights Pacific B&B (Guerrero Negro) — private room, private bathroom
• 3 nights Las Animas Ecolodge (Sea of Cortez) — private beachside yurt
• All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, happy hour
• Beer and margaritas at happy hour and with meals (alcohol included)
• 4 dedicated gray whale watching outings
• 4+ Sea of Cortez excursions (whale watching, sea lions, islands, fishing, guided light hikes)
• Free use of all gear (kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel equipment, fishing gear)
• All naturalist guide fees and National Park entry permits
• Worry-free booking

Not included (add to your budget):

• 16% Mexican taxes (13% sales tax + 3% National Park conservation tax) — added to trip price at booking
• Staff tips: recommended $150–300+ per person for the 6-day trip
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended — ask us for suggestions)
• Personal items, souvenirs, cash for personal spending at rest stops

Book as early as possible. Our 2026 season is sold out. We run trips in February and March only. For 2027, February departures typically fill 6–12+ months in advance. March has more availability but also sells out.

• Best dates (fill first): February — peak mother-calf nursery activity and highest whale density
• March departures: Excellent activity, slightly more availability, calves are larger and more active
• Private groups: Need 6–12 months advance notice for exclusive bookings

Booking early also gets you the best price — we offer early-bird savings and deluxe yurt upgrades if available for 2027 reservations made before May 1, 2026. Call Kevin at 619-421-2235 to hold your spot with a deposit.

We offer a worry-free booking and cancellation policy:

• You may reschedule any new or existing reservation for up to 2 years at no charge if official government health or travel restrictions are in place
• Date change requests (if available) require mutual written agreement and may incur a date change fee
• Deposits are required to confirm bookings — no booking is confirmed without a signed registration form and paid deposit

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover non-government cancellation scenarios (illness, personal emergencies, etc.). Travelinsurance.com is commonly used by our guests.

Call Kevin at 619-421-2235 with any specific questions about your booking situation.

The two trips run in different seasons — whale watching departures are February and March only, whale shark tours are September–November — so they cannot be combined in a single trip. However, many of our guests do both trips in the same year or in consecutive years.

If you're planning back-to-back seasons, let Kevin know when you book — we have special upgrades and pricing options for returning guests. The Sea of Cortez ecolodge leg (Las Animas) is part of both itineraries, so returning guests get to experience the same magical location in completely different seasons with completely different marine wildlife.