Everything you need to know about Humpback Whale Watching in Los Cabos

A complete guide to ethical Whale Watching in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur – The best place in Mexico to see Humpback Whales!

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Cabo San Lucas sits on the southernmost tip of Mexico’s western peninsula, Baja California Sur. The surrounding area is known as Los Cabos, including the neighbouring town of San José del Cabo, but each place is affectionately referred to as simply Cabo. Cabo San Lucas is a bustling party town, popular with Spring Breakers and one of the top holiday spots for many well-known celebrities. But what many visitors don’t know is that Cabo San Lucas is also one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales. We had some of the best whale watching trips of our lives in Cabo San Lucas and share everything you need to know about Cabo Whale Season in this article so you can enjoy the show too!

Cabo Whale Watching Season 2024

Every Winter, thousands of whales migrate to the warmer waters off Mexico and humpbacks can be seen putting on incredible, acrobatic displays, both from the shore and on a boat trip. We heard Los Cabos is the ultimate destination in Mexico for whale watching so we spent over three weeks there, and saw innumerable numbers of humpback whales display the most incredible natural behaviours. We’ve listed everything you need to know about whale watching in Cabo San Lucas in this article, as well as important information like the best time to go whale watching in Cabo, tips to help you save money and even how to see whales from your hotel room! We also discuss the issues facing humpback whales in Cabo, including unethical tour operators, and have chosen the two best Cabo whale watching companies to help you plan your trip.

About humpback whales

Humpbacks are easily recognised by their dark grey or black colour with white patches on their stomach as well as knobs (called tubercles) on their heads. They have giant pectoral fins, which is thought to give them their Latin name, Megaptera novaeangliae, which means big wing of New England. Humpbacks are found in every ocean in the world and are known for their magical songs – sequences of moans, howls and cries – which travel for great distances underwater. Growing between 14–20 metres (45 to 68 ft) long, humpbacks aren’t the largest of whales, but they’re widely regarded as the most active.

Humpbacks actually have two blowholes located on the top of their heads. They are named humpbacks in reference to the dome-shape their back makes as they dive below the surface (as can be seen in the image below). Commercial whaling severely reduced humpback whale numbers but, due to strong conservation efforts, humpbacks are of Least Concern today.

Read next: Everything you need to know about Blue Whale Watching in Loreto

Where to see humpback whales in Mexico

Los Cabos is one of the best whale watching destinations in the world. As you can see from the map below, Humpbacks (and many other species of whale) migrate from the cold arctic waters off Canada to Mexico’s east coast, where they spend the winter months in the warmer Pacific waters. Here, they mate and give birth in protected spots, before embarking on the journey north to their major feeding grounds in summer.

The peninsula of Baja California Sur (BCS) is the best place in Mexico to see whales, without a doubt. In winter, grey whales can be found in three coastal calving lagoons, while blue whales can spotted from a secluded town on the Sea of Cortez. But it’s humpbacks who are most frequently spotted in Mexican waters. They migrate up and down the coast and can often be spotted from land. In fact, on our bus journey to Cabo San Lucas, we saw 7 whales from the road! Humpbacks can be seen along the east and west coasts of BCS, but are most concentrated off the southern tip. This makes Cabo San Lucas the best place to see humpback whales in Mexico.

Whales can also be seen on the west coast of mainland Mexico, from Puerto Vallarta to Oaxaca. Whale watching trips can be arranged from these locations, but chances are always higher in BCS as the peninsula is situated literally in the middle of the patch of ocean where the whales are. Whereas mainland trips need to ride out further to see them. For this reason, we’d recommend basing yourself in Cabo.

Where to see humpback whales in Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a unique destination as whales can be seen right from the shore! They swim up and down the coastline, and sometimes they even enter the bay, coming close to the shoreline. You can spot humpbacks from anywhere on the coast around Cabo San Lucas – in the resorts on the west coast, from Lovers Beach and The Arch, on a trip from the Marina or in any of the beach-side restaurants in the bay. We’d recommend buying a good pair of binoculars and a long lens for your camera so you can get a good view.

To get up close and really experience the sheer size and beauty of a humpback whale, you’ll need to take a tour. Whale watching in Cabo San Lucas is a popular activity but surprisingly not overcrowded. A lot of tourists to Los Cabos visit for Spring Break and can be found on the beaches and party boats, but don’t bother to experience one of Cabo’s best natural attractions – which is a good thing for any keen whale watcher.

The best way to see whales in Cabo San Lucas is to take a licensed whale watching tour. There are quite a few whale watching operators in Cabo San Lucas, and choosing a good company can seem overwhelming. When booking an activity that includes wildlife, it’s always important to consider your impact on the animal. Experiencing wildlife ethically is important, not just for the animal involved, but for the conservation of species too. So you’ll want to be sure the whale watching trip you choose is fully licensed and adheres to a strict set of rules to protect humpback whales in Cabo.

Read next: The Best Wildlife Photography Camera Settings

Los Cabos Interactive Map

Is whale watching in Cabo regulated?

You’ll be pleased to know that whale watching is a highly regulated activity in Mexico. There are certain rules and guidelines that must be adhered to to ensure the humpback individual whales’ protection, as well as the survival of the species. And, of course, these rules exist to protect you too. There have been several recent incidents of whales breaching and falling on top of boats in Baja California Sur. This only happens when unlicensed vessels break the law and get far too close to whales. There are all sorts of boat companies in Cabo, including booze cruises, private yachts and snorkel tours. When not regulated properly, they all converge on a whale, sometimes getting far too close. Licensed companies with professionally trained guides offer you the best opportunity to see whales in a stress-free environment, which is safer for all involved.

What restrictions are there to protect whales in Los Cabos?

Whale watching laws are set out by SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environment ministry, Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resource). Rules for whale watching companies in Cabo include restrictions on speed, distance and time spent near a whale. A whale or a group of whales (or dolphins) can be observed for a maximum of 30 minutes at a time before the boat needs to move on. You can see from the image below that there is a large No Approach Zone to give whales room to change direction (which they do quickly), swim away and have a splash zone if they breach. Vessels must be authorised via a permit scheme and certified vessels must carry a distinctive flag at all times during whale watching activities.

There are also a few rules for whale watching participants too. It is strictly forbidden to touch or feed humpback whales, as physical contact can transfer harmful diseases and could make you or the whale sick. Swimming with humpback whales is also illegal, so you can’t get into the water with them – although if you are lucky enough to come across a whale on a snorkel or SCUBA dive, this is a rare exception and you should keep your distance and cherish the experience. Whale watching trips won’t only provide you with a bucket list experience, but are also designed to be educational and spread awareness of conservation challenges whales face too. Licensed tours provide SEMARNAT-trained guides who will not only make your trip unforgettable but thought-provoking.

Read next: Let’s Talk About Ethical Wildlife Tourism

Are the restrictions adhered to?

So are the Mexican whale watching laws adhered to in Los Cabos? Yes – to an extent. The Mexican government may be doing more than a lot of other countries in the world to protect its cetaceans. But they’re not doing enough to enforce their own rules in Cabo. The licensed whale watching companies in Cabo absolutely follow the rules. Their guides and captains care about the whales and their conservation, they follow the rules and they do all they can to encourage others to do so as well.

But unfortunately we were disappointed to see some other companies don’t share this care. Cabo San Lucas has a huge variety of boat tour operators, from catamarans to luxury yachts hire, to themed ships and numerous party boats. None of these companies are licensed to engage in whale watching and yet, when a plume of mist appears in the bay, we saw them rushing after whales, getting far too close and generally just harassing them.

This behaviour is incredibly frustrating. Not only are these companies putting the safety of the whale at risk, but they’re risking their passengers’ safety too. They don’t adhere to the rules so will stay for longer than allowed, get too close and will crowd around a whale that’s already being observed by a licensed operator.

Read next: Should You Touch a Grey Whale in Baja California Sur?

We heard that these companies can be sanctioned by the government if strong photo and video evidence is submitted showing them displaying this behaviour. But the people who submitted it received threats and so had to stop to protect their businesses.

So what can be done?

While tightening the enforcement of Mexican laws is out of our hands, we can control our own impact. Choosing a licensed operator is the best way you can help to conserve humpback whales in Cabo San Lucas. Research boat companies to ensure they value sustainable tourism, don’t buy tours from touts on the street as they’re likely unofficial with no training, and consider the sacrifice that’s at play if a tour seems cheaper than the competition (spoiler: it’s because the operator wants money from tourists more than they care about the safety of you and the whales).

How to see humpback whales ethically in Cabo San Lucas

We’ve established that booking a licensed whale watching trip is the best way to ethically see whales in Cabo, but how do you choose who to book with? Well, we did all the research and have chosen the two best whale watching tours in Cabo San Lucas for you. We went through dozens of Cabo whale watching companies and chose the most ethical tours and tried them out ourselves before recommending them to you.

The two best whale watching companies in Cabo

Whale Watch Cabo

Whale Watch Cabo is one of the best whale watching operators in Los Cabos. They are Cabo’s first and only dedicated Whale Watching Company and have been heralded TripAdvisor’s # 1 Conscious and Eco-Friendly Whale Watching Company since 2011. Their speedy Zodiac boat can search the waters faster than the traditional boats and is allowed to approach 20 metres closer to a whale too! With thousands of 5-star reviews, they offer a variety of 2.5 hour whale watching trips, guided by passionate and knowledgeable marine biologists and guaranteed to make your experience unforgettable.

Whale Watch Cabo offer a Monring Tour at 08:00, a Midday Tour at 11:00 and Afternoon Tour at 14:30. Zodiac whale watching tours are capped at 10 passengers so it’s a small-group trip to give you the best experience on the water.

In the unlikely event you don’t see a whale (which probably won’t happen with chances of a sighting being 95%+), they’ll take you to another tour for free. And don’t worry if you’re not a professional photographer, they also provide you with high quality photographs for free!

Their small-group tours have received Viator’s Badge of Excellence and we honestly can’t speak highly enough of their professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication to conservation.

Cabo Trek

Another sustainable company in Cabo we love is Cabo Trek. As winners of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2021 (and every year since 2013 for that matter), Cabo Trek prioritise responsible tourism. They offer a range of marine wildlife encounters, from swimming with whale sharks and mobula rays, to SCUBA diving and whale watching. As the first ecotourism company in Mexico to obtain the official recognition of Responsible Whale Watching Operator assigned by the World Cetacean Alliance, a trip with Cabo Trek should be on your Mexico bucket list!

Sporting Get Your Guide’s Eco-Certified Badge, their small-group tours are 2.5 hours in a covered boat and trips can be booked with an English, Portuguese or Spanish speaking, marine biologist guide. Cabo Trek whale watching tours run at 08:00, 11:00 and 14:30 with a maximum of 12 passengers – a small-group experience to give you the best view of all the whales.

There a quite a few tour companies in Cabo that offer whale watching, and also have trips to Dolphin Discovery. This is an activity that involves swimming with captive dolphins in Cabo. We’d strongly urge you to avoid these companies. While swimming with captive dolphins can be spun as an attempt at educational wildlife tourism, it’s actually incredibly harmful to such intelligent creatures who should be allowed the freedom to live wild. You can find out more about the warning signs of unethical wildlife tourism and how to avoid it here.

Whale behaviours you might see

You might be wondering what you can expect to see on a whale watching tour and it can be useful to know what to look for. While every trip is different, and nothing can be guaranteed with wild animals, here are a few behaviours you might see on your trip:

Blowing – The main indicator there’s a whale nearby will be a cloud of mist, known as a blow. This is part of the breathing process and is simply the result of a whale expelling air.

Breaching – Humpbacks particularly are a more active species of whale and can often be seen throwing their entire bodies out of the water. The reason for breaching is partially unknown and the main possibilities are to communicate with other groups over great distance, to let others know about a nearby predator, to alert each other of nearby food and to mark their territory. A partial breach of the lower body is known as a Peduncle Throw (also called penduncle slapping).

Spyhopping – A less energy-consuming way to see above the surface, this is when a whale pokes their head out of the water to observe what goes on around them.

Slapping – When a whale slaps part of it’s body against the surface of the water. It can include Head Slapping, Lobtailing (tail) and Pec Slapping (fin).

Fluking – When a whale lifts its tail into the air before diving down into the depths.

As humpbacks migrate to Cabo to give birth, you’ll quite often see babies in the latter half of the season. These babies will stick to mum and train, learning a lot of the behaviours we’ve listed above.

Humpbacks also migrate to Cabo to mate. If you’re lucky you may experience a humpback whale courtship behaviour called a heat run. This is when males compete for a female in a (sometimes vicious) race that often involves a lot of quick changes and acrobatics in a bid to impress. It’s not uncommon to see a lot of breaching in a heat run, sometimes several times in a row or from more than one whale at a time.

Read next: The Thorough Guide to Magdalena Bay Whales’ Grey Whale Camp

When is the best time of day to go whale watching in Cabo San Lucas?

Officially, there’s no best time to go whale watching. Whales are wild animals and their presence or activity can never be guaranteed.

That being said, we do think there are two other factors to consider when booking a whale watching tour in Cabo San Lucas:

1. Sea conditions – Typically, the sea is calmer in the morning, with waves becoming slightly rougher at midday and choppier in the afternoon. This is something to consider if you get seasick, as you’ll likely want to go out in the morning. Unofficially, it has been said that humpbacks seem to prefer choppier waters and perform more acrobatic displays when the waters are rougher. But this does not mean they don’t display these behaviours in the morning too. In fact, we witnessed two babies learning tricks with their mothers and an intense heat run with repetitive breaching on morning trips.
2. The other boats – The other boat traffic in Cabo San Lucas’ Bay typically doesn’t leave until midday, with most party boats going out in the afternoon and evening. The early morning slot means the bay is much quieter and you might even be the only boat observing a whale. With more vessels on the water, there are more unlicensed boats that approach the whales, which often causes them to dive and swim off. We found the afternoon/evening slots to not be as rewarding as the morning slot for this reason (although that was just our experience).

When is the best time of year to see humpback whales in Los Cabos?

The humpback whale migration to Cabo San Lucas occurs annually from mid-December, when the first whales start to arrive, to mid-April when the last whales left leave for the arctic waters off Canada. Whale watching season in Cabo San Lucas is best between the months of January to March, when the highest number of whales is recorded and chances of a sighting exceed 95%. By February babies will be big enough to swim by themselves and start learning behaviours like slapping and breaching. While heat runs can be experienced any time within this window.

Other whale excursions in Baja California Sur

You’ve probably guessed by now that we’re a bit whale mad and humpback whale watching in Los Cabos is just the tip of the iceberg! We’d also recommend heading to Magdalena Bay where you can stay in a camp dedicated to whale watching in a protected grey whale sanctuary. And a bit further along the coast is the sleepy town of Loreto, which just so happens to be one of the best places to see blue whales – the largest animal on earth!

Where to stay to see whales in Cabo San Lucas

You may be wondering where to stay in Los Cabos, as there’s an overwhelming variety of accommodation on offer. The most popular accommodation choice is an all inclusive resort in Cabo, most of which offer a pool and spa. If you’re on a budget, we’d recommend saving money on accommodation so you can spend it on whale watching. Vrbo and Airbnb have great selections of incredibly affordable self-catering units.

If you just can’t get enough of whale watching, you’ll be thrilled to know that you can actually see whales play right from your hotel! Humpbacks can be spotted from the shore and, at certain hotels, you can often see whales from the balcony of your own room! We spent three nights at the Sunrock Los Cabos Hotel and at points we were spotting whales breach every 5-10 minutes right from our room! We also had drinks twice at The Cape’s panoramic roof-top bar and saw several whales from there too.

Here are our top hotels for spotting whales in Cabo San Lucas:

Basic: Sunrock Los Cabos Hotel

Comfort: Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas

Mid-range: Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas

Luxury: Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa

Bliss: The Cape, A Thompson Hotel

Opulent: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

Pro-tip: Sign up to the Hilton Honors Reward Programme for free and earn points on your stay at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal to use on future hotel bookings.

What else is there to do in Los Cabos?

Cabo Land’s End

Cabo Land’s End is the spit of land at the very southern point of the Baja California Sur peninsula. It features an impressive rock sea arch, known as El Arco – The Arch of Cabo San Lucas. A group of sea lions hang out in the waters here and can often be found sunbathing themselves on the rocks. Nearby, Lovers Beach (Playa del Amor) is a famous strip of secluded beach between the towering cliffs and makes for a great spot for relaxing on the beach for the day. It can only be reached by boat, with water taxis available from the marina.

SCUBA Diving

Cabo San Lucas isn’t the best place to SCUBA dive in Mexico. In fact, in winter the visibility can be quite poor. But that makes it a really great destination to learn to dive and get your Open Water PADI certificate. Water temperatures range from 20°C (68°F) in March to 29°C (84°F) in August/September and the weather is almost always sunny.

Dan got his PADI with Dive Cabo in 2022 and they were fantastic and patient teachers. Pelican Rock is the most popular spot for beginners, and offers protected waters which are great for learning. They offer a range of dives for certified divers, including diving with shark species like mako sharks, blue sharks and marlin. You’re likely to see lots of fish, including friendly pufferfish, a sea lion or turtle and if you’re very lucky you might even come across humpbacks, orcas, schooling mobula rays, blue whales and whale sharks. They keep their groups small (no more than 6 people per guide) and offer complimentary snacks and photos too.

Every year between May-July, thousands of mobula rays pass through the waters near Los Cabos. You can experience the mobula ray migration firsthand, as seen on BBC’s Blue Planet II, on a Mobula Ray Snorkel Tour with Cabo Trek. Observe these gentle giants, sometimes in groups of 100+, as they glide, breach and play about in the ocean.

Swim with sea lions

Los Cabos is only a 2 hour drive to La Paz, the vibrant capital of the Baja California Sur peninsula. Here, between the months of October to May, you can swim with wild sea lions. Known as the wolves of the sea in Spanish, sea lions are incredibly inquisitive and often come right up to snorkellers, making for an unforgettable encounter. Cabo Trek run Day Trips from Los Cabos to Swim with Sea Lions, which include round-trip transportation from Los Cabos to La Paz’s Espíritu Santo Island. You’ll swim with sea lions at the iconic Los Islotes, as well as having time to explore the pristine shores and crystal clear waters of Isla Espíritu Santo.

Swim with whale sharks

Sea Lions aren’t the only attraction for wildlife lovers in La Paz. Every year between October-May, you can swim with whale sharks in the calm waters around La Paz. The largest fish in the sea, whale sharks are one of the most elusive animals in the world and swimming beside them is a once in a lifetime experience. Cabo Trek run Whale Shark Snorkelling Excursions from Los Cabos, which include round-trip transportation to the La Paz Whale Shark Zone, all your snorkel gear, lunch and snacks, as well as a knowledgeable, local marine biologist guide.

Bars and Restaurants

There are numerous bars and restaurants to choose from in Cabo. Taco Loco has simply the best tacos in Cabo, while Taqueria El Paisa offers delicious and affordable local Mexican dishes. Tropical Kitchen and La Rana Vegana are also great spots for veggie/vegans.

If you’re looking to keep costs down, you should consider self-catering. Walmart is accessible by taxi, while there is a dedicated vegan supermarket (California Ranch Market) near the marina and Healthy Green Coffee & Market is great for specialist vegan items.

If you’re considering any other kind of boat trip, like a party boat or hiring a private yacht, please thoroughly do your research. Check reviews to see if whale watching rules are adhered to and watch the boats in the bay to see if the company you’re considering chases the whales unlawfully. Remember, for a boat to approach a whale, it must be licensed by SEMARNAT.

Los Cabos FAQs

What type of whales are in Cabo San Lucas?

Many species of whale can be seen around Los Cabos. While humpbacks are most often spotted, grey, blue and fin whales can also be seen, as well as orca. Dolphins and whale sharks can also been seen occasionally too.

Can you see whales in San José del Cabo?

While whales do travel up the coast past San José del Cabo, there are far more off Cabo San Lucas so your chances of a sighing are far higher. Some tour companies do run whale watching trips from Marina Puerto Los Cabos in San José del Cabo, but will typically drive the boat down the coast towards Cabo San Lucas, so you spend more time in transit than on a whale watching tour in Cabo San Lucas. You can contact Cabo Trek who have run whale watching trips from San José del Cabo, or can help you arrange transport to their office for one of their epic whale watching trips.

How to Get to Your Hotel in Los Cabos

Uber is a contentious issue in Los Cabos. Many claim that Uber is illegal in Cabo, but this isn’t true. There’s a feud between Uber drivers and taxi drivers, as many locals feel Uber’s convenience and low prices are putting the local taxi drivers out of business. We always like to support locals over multi-national corporations, so we’d recommend arranging your taxi through your hotel. Alternatively, you can book a shared airport transfer in advance, which is cheaper than choosing a private airport transfer, although not as convenient. The local Ruta del Desierto bus is the cheapest way to get from Los Cabos International Airport to your accommodation. The bus stop for the city centre can be found on the main road outside the post office (Correos de México Cabo San Lucas) by Plaza Puerto Paraiso Shopping Centre. And if you need to use Uber, we can confirm it runs just fine in 2022.

How to Get Around Los Cabos

Cabo San Lucas is highly walkable. If you need to travel longer distances, such as from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo, you can take the Ruta del Desierto bus, a taxi or an Uber.

Is it safe in Los Cabos?

Los Cabos is incredibly safe. As one of the most visited areas in Mexico, it’s one of the safest areas in Mexico too. You should exercise general safety precautions wherever you go, but the most you’ll need to worry about in Cabo is petty theft.

When are whale sharks in Cabo san Lucas?

Whale shark season runs the same time as whale season: December to April each year. Whale shark snorkelling in Los Cabos is difficult as most whale sharks are actually found further north in the waters around La Paz. However, it is possible to swim with whale sharks from Cabo – you just need transport. If you have your own car, we’d highly recommend booking with La Paz VIP Tours, the best eco-conscious company in La Paz. If you need a whale shark tour with transport from Cabo San Lucas, look no further than Cabo Trek.

Read next:

Everything you need to know about Blue Whale Watching in Loreto

Should You Touch a Grey Whale in Baja California Sur?

The Thorough Guide to Magdalena Bay Grey Whale Camp

Everything you need to know about Swimming with Whale Sharks in La Paz

Everything you need to know about Snorkelling with Sea Lions in La Paz

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