You don’t have to go into Outer Space or voyage to the bottom of the deepest ocean to do something truly extraordinary. Just go to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and meet the ‘friendly’ grey whales of San Ignacio. Every year, between January and April, this lagoon becomes a sanctuary for hundreds of grey whales which come to breed and raise their young before their long journey north. We’ve been there as a family, and this new trip allows you to experience its magic first hand.
Although the term ‘friendly’ risks anthropomorphising these impressive creatures, it’s hard to interpret their behaviour here in any other way, as they freely engage with their delighted visitors. You’ll make twice-daily boat trips into the lagoon to encounter these friendly cetaceans up close. And there’s no need to go looking for the whales – the females push their calves to the boats to have their noses, chins and baleen scratched. The calves take turns spy-hopping in front of each person, sometimes refusing to move on to the next until they’ve had some attention!
To see grey whales is one thing, to interact with them is another, but to have so many whales around the boat wanting to play with you that you don’t know where to turn, is in a different league altogether. It is probably the greatest whale watching spectacle on Earth and what better way to enjoy it than with your family? It’s an incredibly emotional experience for everyone, and I can guarantee you’ll be talking about it for years to come.
Accompanied by experienced guides and boat captains you’ll stay in ‘cabanas’ at a peaceful, rural camp from which you’ll make boat trips to meet and learn about the whales and their habitat. In the evening, there may be a presentation from one of the guides, followed by a home-cooked meal and some superlative stargazing – to a soundtrack of whale blows from the lagoon and coyotes calling in the desert. It doesn’t get much better than this!
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