Grey Whale Baleen at San Ignacio Lagoon

San Ignacio Lagoon
Most Extraordinary Whale Interaction on the Planet

SEASONS

January – April

TYPES OF ADVENTURES

Glamping & Luxury Camp
Fly-in from Cabo or drive-in
4 or 6 night adventure

PRICING (pp. dbl occ.)

Glamping Tent: US$2545
Luxury Tent: US$3095

Destination Overview

Our sister company, Baja Expeditions is adventure travel at its best. From glamping, luxury, and beach camps, to whale interactions, sailing, kayaking, and orca expeditions. With our own fleet of super pangas, 48 ft fast boats, sailing yacht, 55-ft pocket liveaboard, overlanding Tacoma TRDs, buses, and vans, we do it all. With authenticity, warmth, and team members who have been with us for decades, we love showing our guests the “real Baja”.

San Ignacio Gray Whale Watching

San Ignacio Lagoon
Gray Whales

The most amazing thing happens every winter and spring at the gray whale birthing lagoon halfway up Baja, This is an experience not be missed. It’s phenomenal, extraordinary, mind shattering. These whales will steal your heart when they look you in the eye and swim over to interact.

The lagoon and surrounding desert are beautiful, and these trips are done in style, offering glamping and luxury villages, with direct 1 hour 50 minute fly-in flights from Cabo San Lucas. The gray whales arrive in late December, and camps open mid-January.

Every winter, Eastern Pacific gray whales migrate home to Baja, Mexico. Males cruise in and out of every bay, harbour, and lagoon in central Baja looking for females. Females do the same. San Ignacio is whale central, with 5,000 to 6,000 whales visiting the lagoon between December and May.

Our incredible good fortune began in 1972 when the gray whales started actively participating in more and more “human watching and interaction” in one of the deep water channels in the lagoon. Picture this, 40-ft whales swimming up to our idling pangas and communicating very clearly that they want us to stroke, caress, and even kiss them. It’s truly an astonishing experience.

Wild Experience

Interaction with the whales is entirely on their own terms. We never, ever chase or crowd the whales. It is up to the whales to decide to approach us. Whale interaction only happens in one small, designated part of the lagoon. The whales know where to find us if they want to play!

The Eastern Pacific gray whales are the last significant population of these spectacular animals. In the 19th and 20th centuries, they were mostly wiped out by whaling. It brings tears of gladness to our eyes and hearts to see that this population is now healthy and stable.

Camps

Your Home Away From Home

Camping in the desert at the edge of the ocean doesn’t mean you have to rough it! From fine dining to internet connectivity, 24-hour power and heat to ensuite bathrooms, and showers with hot and cold running water to 24-hour AC power, there is a joyful contrast between the desert with the beautiful sierras in the background and some of the luxuries of home. What we are most proud of is our people. Warm. Authentic. Many are local. And all are genuinely vested in giving you the best vacation possible. 2024 is our 50th anniversary, and it shows!

Glamping Tents

US$2,545

San Ignacio Lagoon Glamping Camp

We say “NO” to tiny tents with cots, sleeping bags and a couple of shared toilets and showers for the whole camp! Our tents are windproof, insulated and heated for maximum comfort, with ensuite bathrooms and showers, hot and cold running water with good pressure, and 24-hour power. Not to mention “real beds” with fine linen.

Enormous thought has gone into every detail, from a fire pit to a fine selection of wine, craft beer, single malt scotches and fine dining. We even have a bar and lounge tent and Wi-Fi-access throughout the camp.

Virtual Glamping Tent Video

Luxury Tents

US$3,095

San Ignacio Lagoon LuxuryCamp

Our luxury camp features all the amenities of the glamping camp, but with 12 large and luxurious tents, ensuring the utmost privacy. Each tent features an ensuite bathroom, a dresser in the bedroom as well as a separate sitting area with a couch and easy chairs – perfect for relaxing after a day of adventure.

Think of our luxury camp as one of the world’s best pop-up hotel.

Virtual Luxury Tent Video
San Ignacio Mexico landscape

Massage

Enhanced Heavenly Massage at San Ignacio

Does it get any better than enjoying a massage while on safari with the gray whales of San Ignacio Lagoon? It’s not just the whales that are extraordinary. At Baja Expeditions, we continuously strive to provide excellence and our carefully curated massage offerings are designed to do just that. We encourage pre-booking because these massages sell out fast.

Stone Therapy Massage

Cupping Massage

Massage with Herbal Pindas

Deep Tissue Massage

Relaxation Massage

Reflexology Add-On

San Ignacio Gray Whale Watching

Trip Options

Your Trip Options

  • 4 Days / 3 Nights
    $2,545
  • 6 Days / 5 Nights
    Extended stay
    $3,350
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
    Baja Ultimate Whales
    Luxury Expedition Yacht Swim with Whale Sharks San Ignacio Luxury Camp
    $4,950
San Ignacio Mexico landscape

Typical Itinerary

Typical Itinerary

We recommend SJD Cabo San Lucas as your gateway airport for seamless transfers from the arrivals hall to Cabo San Lucas.

Our concierges will be on standby to assist with arrangements, address special requests, and answer any questions you might have. We recommend flying into Cabo early to enjoy and partake in our Baja hospitality.

Day Before Boarding

We invite you to join our photo and video workshop at 9:30 am. And for those who sign up ahead of time, we offer a complimentary afternoon humpback whale watching adventure.

Day 1: Meet the Gray Whales!

Your adventure begins with a private 1 hour 50 minute flight from Cabo to our airstrip at the Lagoon.

On arrival, our staff will meet you at the airstrip with welcoming smiles, glasses of champagne and hot apple cider, and we will travel to camp for brunch and welcome aboard briefing. After brunch, you have the option of two whale watching encounters or enjoying camp. Cocktail hour. Watching the sunset around one of our fire pits. Dinner. Presentation by one of our naturalists.

Days 2 – 3: San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Watching

All operators in the lagoon work together to maximize guest experience while ensuring no negative impact on the whales. For this reason, all whale encounters are in a small defined area of the lagoon with pangas taking turns entering the restricted area for a maximum of 90 minutes. The timing on this is worked out between the operators which means that we abide by scheduled departure times. For this reason, unfortunately, we can’t just send a panga out to go whale watching whenever our guests want.

Option 1: 7 am breakfast after watching the sunrise over the sierras and then head out at 7:45 am for several whale watching encounters.

Option 2: Sleep in and relax. Breakfast when you are ready. One more whale watching encounter at 2 pm.

After lunch, enjoy another whale watching encounter in the afternoon. Or as long as the weather cooperates, enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding the mangroves across the lagoon or a leisurely walk, mountain biking, hiking, and bird watching with one of our naturalists or just kicking back, and relaxing. Cocktail hour, sunset viewing, making new friends around one of our fire pits, pickle ball or a game of billiards and an evening presentation by a naturalist are all fine ways to finish off your day in camp.

Day 4: Return to Cabo

Early breakfast. One more whale watching encounter (always weather dependent) and then the beautiful flight back to SJD Los Cabos. Arriving 12:30 pm. If you are flying home this day, we recommend not booking a flight departure before 2:45 pm. Otherwise transfer back to SeeCreatures Cabo a ll and more adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What am I going to see ?

You can expect up close and personal interactions with Pacific gray whales! San Ignacio Lagoon is also home to a variety of bird species including nesting ospreys and egrets.

When should I go?

We only operate in peak season when large numbers of whales are present, from January through April.

Why do your trips leave out of SJD?

Because the shortest flight to the Lagoon is from SJD which is super easy to get to with service from 15 different US cities, most of Mexico and even direct flights from overseas. Because Cabo San Lucas in the winter and spring is a really fun place to visit!! Because you won’t have any border crossing hassles. And because we offer all sorts of other activities from our Cabo San Lucas base including swimming with whale sharks and other adventures in the Sea of Cortez, scuba diving including our Socorro giant manta liveaboard trips, photography workshops and much more.

Is there another way to camp or do I have to fly from SJD?

We happily cater to self-arrivals whether it is by private aircraft or driving in. Our speciality is supporting guests with the rental of our Toyota Tacoma TRD overlanding camping trucks.

What’s included in the trip?

Return flight from San Ignacio. Hotel transfers in Cabo. Accommodation, activities, meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages plus unlimited whale watching subject to capacity control and weather. On-site naturalist.

Park fees, gift shop, bar, gratuities and camera rentals are NOT included.

What airport do I fly into?

SJD Los Cabos International for both commercial airlines and private aircraft.

San Ignacio Grey Whale Baleen

See What Guests Have Said

What Guests Have to Say About San Ignacio Whale Watching

Life Changing Experience

This has been a most incredible life changing experience. We will cherish these memories. Read full review

Charles & Deb W – Tucson USA

Everything was Perfect!

Everything has been perfect!! the staff knowledge, kind, patient and helpful. Read full review

Jane B – USA

Picture Prefect Dream

The entire experience lived up to the dream of being here. Read full review

Anthony M – Atlanta USA

Awe-inspiring Creatures

Words cannot adequately describe how awe-inspiring these magnificent and playful creatures are. Read full review

Randy S – USA

Experience That Changed My Life

Today was our second date. What an amazing experience!! I am so grateful to be here. Read full review

Anahi – Cabo San Lucas

Get Inspired!