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1 / 6 · Josh Withers
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Sea of Cortez Whales · Sea of Cortez
Whales close enough to hear
1 / 6 · Josh Withers
Whales close enough to hear
Sea of Cortez Whales · Sea of Cortez
Wild Adventure Calm
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Browse cruises Talk to a specialistWhy you’ll love it
Gray whales come to the boat. Bring a wide lens and low expectations of staying dry. A GoSmart cruise specialist matches you to the right ship, cabin, and sailing.
Why it works
A gray whale surfaces right beside the little boat, close enough to hear the blow and smell it, and then a mother nudges her calf astonishingly close to the skiff. In the lagoons of Baja the whales come to you, curious and unafraid, in one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters anywhere.
Worth knowing
The famously friendly gray whales are a winter event, roughly mid-January to mid-April, when they calve in Pacific lagoons like San Ignacio and Magdalena Bay. Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez the world's aquarium for good reason, with sea lions, dolphins, and even blue whales around too.
The magic happens from small pangas, so pick a trip that gets you into the lagoons in those skiffs rather than only viewing from a big boat. Pack for sun, wind, and spray.
Trips run out of La Paz or Loreto, or across to the Pacific-side lagoons, often mixing sailing, kayaking, and island landings. It is desert meeting sea, so days are warm and nights cool.
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