Gray Whales of Magdalena Bay

23134 Puerto Chale, BCS, Mexico

PE
4 reviews
Duration: 1 day
Group size: 6 - 18
Gray Whales of Magdalena Bay
23134 Puerto Chale, BCS, Mexico

4 reviews

$205
Deposit: $50
Duration: 1 day
Group size: 6 - 18

About this trip

Read Review - Jan. 27, 2025

Early rise! Magdalena Bay is world renowned for gray whale interaction with humans. It is one of three nurseries and breeding grounds of the Pacific gray whales. During the months of Dec – Mar. the gray whales, after a 5000 mile migration south,  gather in the protected lagoons where breeding or birthing takes place.  Glimpse into the mysterious world of these amazing cetaceans. Note: Our Gray Whale day trips are private and opened to guests booked through Panterra only. We place a maximum 6 guests + naturalist per panga for a more up-close and personal experience.. Our trips are 3/4 hours in length allowing for both whale and bird watching.

What’s included

  • Transportation
    Roundtrip from La Paz
  • Breakfast
    Ranch-style loncheria breakfast
  • Gray Whale Watching
    3/4 hours on the water to include coastal bird watching. This is also nesting time of the double-crested cormorants and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Tide permitting.
  • Lunch
    Seafood or vegetarian tacos and beverage

What’s not included

  • Personal Items
  • Gratuity

Available Packages

Adult

Departing from La Paz. Time varies due to weather conditions. Departure is between 6 - 8 am.

$205
Deposit: $50

Available Add-Ons

Hotel Catedral in La Paz
$125
Deposit: $50

Should we have an early morning departure or should you choose to spend time in La Paz the day(s) before or after we off a special hotel rate.

Based on single or double occupancy per night and availability at time of booking. 

Check in is at 3:00 pm, check out at 12:30 pm.


Itinerary

Gray Whale Adventure
Magdalena Bay

Early morning departure to Puerto Chale with a breakfast stop at a local loncheria, 3/4 hours gray whale and bird watching, expert naturalist followed by a seafood or vegetarian lunch.


Please note: This activity depends on weather conditions. We do not send our guests out in harmful or unsafe weather. We choose days when the experience will leave you with memories of a lifetime.

Your Organizer


PE
Panterra Educational and Cultural Training Society
4 reviews
Panterra Eco Expeditions/Panterra Geo Expediciones are part of the Panterra Educational and Cultural Training Society (PECTS). The expeditions are an initiative designed to generate financial funding for our research, wildlife conservation and community programs. A portion of the proceeds from each expedition is allocated to support these programs. Thank you for your kind support. For more information on PECTS, please visit our website at pects.org. For more information on our expeditions please visit our website at www.panterra.com.

Reviews

This was a well planned and executed cruise by a competent staff. The Naturalist, Lela Sankeralli, was 100% concerned with the guests comfort and experience. She is a knowledgeable lover of the Sea of Cortez and was complimented by Cultural Geologist, Myra, who brought her knowledge and helped with all activities. We liked the small group size (8 guests), the delicious food and the attentive staff. We loved our cabin (although our friends had a problem with Diesel fuel smell in theirs which Lela remedied by moving them to a smaller, odor free cabin). While this was a pricey cruise, for us, we would definitely recommend it as worth the experience and the lasting memories!
By Sandra S for Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse Cruise on Mar 29, 2025
Thanks for the lovely review. It was a pleasure having you and Victor onboard. The photos I captured of the two of you says everything about your experience. I have addressed the problem with the diesel smell and the cabin is now odor free. Please do not be strangers you are both very inspirational and it was an honor to meet you.
PE
Eco Glamping in the Sierra La Laguna Mountains of Baja Baja's mountains are calling, and you should go! Too often visitors to the Cabo area stay only at the resorts and miss the more authentic part of Baja Sur in the Sierra La Laguna Mountains. At Panterra's trip to an eco ranch in these beautiful mountains, you can get a much better idea of the culture and lifestyle of the people who have lived here for generations. How? By living at the family ranch and assisting, if you wish, with some of the cooking and chores. Help harvest the vegetables and fruits you will eat there and that Dona Maria Luz will prepare for you. Help her make the tacos. Her meals were delicious and as spicy (or not) as you would want. Go with Rogelio in the morning to feed and milk the cows. There are numerous birds to watch--some of them endemic and found nowhere else. There are short (or longer) hikes down to the river for a swim or to the Pericule pinturas of indigenous art. Don Catarino will be happy to share his knowledge about tanning the hides from their cows and teach you how to turn the leather into a bracelet or bolsa. The tents were large and beds comfortable. This is a wonderful retreat into nature and into the heart of a ranch family happy to share their life with you. We hope to bring our grandchildren back in the future!
By Helen W for Panterra Information and Waiver Form on Mar 22, 2025
Hi Helen. Thanks for the beautiful review. The ranch has been in the family for over 300 years. They are part of the ambience that makes the experience so raw and magical. This is an activity every eco tourist that visits the Baja should experience. I hope you enjoy the photos. See you in December for the family adventure back to the ranch as well as the 4x4 adventure which is shaping up nicely in design.
PE
We enjoyed an authentic rancho/farm experience in the beautiful mountain preserve of Sierra La Laguna. Doña Maria Luz’s home cooked meals were delicious. We learned leather making with Papa and helped Rogelio (as best we could) to milk the cows and gather the fresh vegetables we ate from the garden and every sort of fruit tree you can imagine. Short hikes to old pictographs and bird watching also kept us busy. It’s a perfect trip for a family or anyone wishing to learn a little better about the real Mexico away from resorts
By Helen W for Camp San Dionisio by Panterra - Wenner Group on Feb 10, 2025
THIS ADVENTURE WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. EVEN THOUGH WE HAIL FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WHERE ORCAS AND MIGRATING WHALES ARE A FACT OF LIFE (BUT NOT EVER TAKEN FOR GRANTED) , BEING ABLE TO SEE THESE MAGNIFCENT CREATURES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WAS BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS. WE WERE A GROUP OF 4 BEING FRIENDS FOR DECADES SO TO SHARE THE EXCITMENT TOGETHER WAS A MEMORY CREATING EVENT FOR CERTAIN. LELA WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN SHARING HER KNOWLEDGE AND CHEERFULLY AND PATIENTLY ANSWERING A CONSTANT BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS. WE LIVE IN ELIAS CALLES (NEAR TODOS SANTOS) ENABLING US TO DRIVE TO LAPAZ FOR THE PICKUP POINT THE MORNING OF THE EXCURSION. ANOTHER POINT THAT IMPRESSED US WAS THE CAREFUL AND CONSIDERATE DEAMEANOR OF OUR PANGA TO NOT 'HOUND' THE WHALES, AS WE HAVE SEEN OTHER PANGA OPERATORS DO WITH A DIFFERENT OUTFIT. BREAKFAST ON THE RUN, WIITH OUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO AVENA, A WARM OATMEAL BEVERAGE, AND WATCHING THE SUNRISE WAS A VALUE ADD. LUNCH POST WHALE WATCH ON THE BEACH WITH FRESH SHRIMP TACOS WAS THE ULTIMATE END TO A WONDERFUL DAY. CANT HEAP ENOUGH ACCOLADES ON THIS OUTFIT....EVERY PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE WAS TOP DRAWER. LELA EXUDES THE QUALITIES OF A PASSIONATE EDUCATOR.
By Strphenie W for Gray Whales of Magdalena Bay on Jan 27, 2025
Hi Stephanie, Thank you. For the lovely review. I am so happy your experience has left you with memories you will soon not forget. Having the flexibility to wait a day or two for the ideal weather conditions makes the trip as magical as the whales. I will have the pictures of your experience to you this week to share with the friends that joined you on the excursion. It was wonderful to meet the four of you and we are here if you would like to continue your adventures with Panterra. Kindest Regards, Lela
PE