An Essential Guide to Magdalena Bay: Whale Watching Heaven

A complete guide to whale watching in Magdalena Bay, Mexico, as well as things to do, how to get there, and other useful information.

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Magdalena Bay, Mexico, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. A huge bay on Baja California Sur’s Pacific Coast, Magdalena Bay is one of three locations where you can have a close encounter with Baja’s friendly grey whales. It is an incredibly moving and humbling experience to not only be chosen to be approached by these gentle giants but also to be trusted to interact with them and their calves. The bay is also a popular place for a variety of water-based activities, including sport fishing, SCUBA diving, and snorkelling. We’ve covered everything you need to know about whale watching in Magdalena Bay in this complete guide, as well as all the practical information that is useful to know about visiting Magdalena Bay, including things to do, transportation, accommodation, and more.

About Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay (Bahía Magdalena) is a 31-mile (50 km) long bay on the west coast of Baja California Sur, the southern state in Mexico’s beautiful Baja California Peninsula. It is one of three protected lagoons on the Pacific Coast that serve as sanctuaries for grey whales. Every year, grey whales migrate to the calm waters of these coastal bays to give birth and mate.

The protected area here, known as Magdalena Bay Grey Whale Sanctuary (Bahía Magdalena Santuario De La Ballena Gris), is home to pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, lush mangroves, and diverse marine life. As well as grey whales, other species of whales, dolphins, sea lions, birds, and turtles also call the refuge home.

While whale watching is the most popular activity, there are plenty of other activities on offer in Magdalena Bay, including sport fishing, birdwatching, kayaking, snorkelling, and hiking.

What kind of whales are in Magdalena Bay?

Eastern North Pacific Grey Whales are the most common whale found in Magdalena Bay. Tours almost exclusively search for these grey whales who have a friendly nature and frequently approach the boats so close that you can interact with them.

Other whales that can sometimes be seen in Magdalena Bay include humpback, blue, fin, sei, and minke whales. Each species has its own migration pattern and can therefore be found in the area at different times throughout the year.

Magdalena Bay, Mexico History

Magdalena Bay has seen some military interest over the years. In 1908, the American Great White Fleet of sixteen battleships stopped in the Bay and carried out artillery practice. In 1912, there were rumours that Japan tried to purchase the harbour from Mexico.

Whaling began in Magdalena Bay as early as 1837 following a visit from American whaleships. French, Dutch and Russian whaling ships were also operating in all three Baja lagoons slaughtering hundreds of whales as they went. Soon, the population of grey whales began to dwindle and whalers began catching bulls (males) as cows (females) and calves (babies) became scarce.

It’s estimated that between 1846 and 1874, approximately 8,000 grey whales were killed by American and European whalemen, with over half of these being killed in Magdalena Bay alone. Whaling in the lagoons contributed to the near extinction of grey whales.

It was clear that whaling in Baja’s lagoons was unsustainable and something needed to change. In 1947, commercial whaling was banned in Mexico as the International Whaling Commission began to hold conventions to regulate whaling throughout the world’s oceans.

Due to these protections, the eastern North Pacific (North American) grey whale population has recovered and is now considered of ‘least concern’ by ICUN.

Following this, the first eco-camps in Baja California Sur’s lagoons were established in the 1970s and what followed was a new industry that gave visitors the chance to experience whales in their natural habitat: whale watching.

In 1998, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 was implemented by the Mexican government, laying out national whale watching standards.

Things to do in Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is a still-pretty-unknown eco-tourism destination. There’s definitely been some development since we visited and we’ve seen Mexico’s grey whale watching lagoons become increasingly popular every year. But Magdalena Bay is still a super remote part of the world and, as yet, unspoiled by overtourism.

Whale watching is the main attraction at Magdalena Bay. This is one of the best places in the world to get up close to grey whales and provides visitors with the unique opportunity to actually touch a whale – more on this in the next section.

Other activities in Magdalena Bay take advantage of its natural beauty and stunning landscape and include:

Besides whale watching, Magdalena Bay is also popular for commercial and sports fishing. Visitors make their way here to catch large pelagic fish like tuna, marlin, and mahi-mahi.

Birdwatching is also popular around the lagoon and on the small island of Isla Corazon. Mangrove swamps provide sanctuaries for sea birds including herons, ibis, egrets, caracara, turkey vultures, and bald eagles. Ospreys and other coastal birds use the area for safe nesting sites.

Snorkelling in Magdalena Bay’s clear waters is popular. The main attraction here is the bait balls which form from huge shoals of fish. During a sardine run, millions of individual sardines come together to form one huge ball. This attracts predators like marlin, sea lions, sharks, dolphins, orca, and humpback whales. Snorkellers in the open ocean have the opportunity to witness this incredible natural phenomenon.

There’s unfortunately a pretty unsustainable shark fishing industry in Magdalena Bay. But Pelagic Life alongside Magbay Sport offers a grassroots tour to replace shark fishing with sustainable shark tourism. It’s a multi-day ocean safari to see sharks, as well as bait balls, dolphins, turtles, whales, mahi mahi, striped marlin and sometimes mola molas (sunfish).

An organisation called Grupo Tortuguero also carry out monitoring of sea turtle populations in Magdalena Bay while promoting local conservation efforts.

Hiking on the islands is a great way to immerse in Baja’s natural beauty and provides panoramic views of the bay, Pacific Ocean, and sometimes passing whales.

Magdalena Bay Beaches

Magdalena Bay is home to some stunning beaches of sprawling golden sands, both on the mainland and on the islands. Natural sand bars and rolling sand dunes form in places like Playa San Dolar and are fun to explore too.

Grey whale watching in Magdalena Bay

During the whaling period, grey whales were feared. Mother grey whales would fight viciously to save their harpooned calves, destroying boats in the process. This earned them the iconic nickname, devil fish. But, despite his moniker, they’re actually an incredibly gentle species and, as we now know, very friendly.

The first documented encounter between a ‘friendly’ grey whale and a human was with a local fisherman named Francisco ‘Pachico’ Mayoral in San Ignacio Lagoon. A grey whale persistently pursued his boat until he reached out his hand to touch the whale, which it responded to by nudging closer as if asking for more contact.

Local fishermen then observed mothers leading their calves to boats, seeking contact, and a bond of trust was created between humans and whales. Usually, contact with a wild animal would be a sign of an unethical animal encounter. But, as the whales choose the contact, there are regulations to monitor the activity, the guides are respectful of local laws, and there’s no evidence that touching a whale is harmful to it, it’s one of the few exceptions to this.

Where is Magdalena Bay located?

Magdalena Bay lies on the Pacific Coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. It is located in the Comondú Municipality on the west side of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur (which is the southern tip of the peninsula).

Magdalena Bay is easily accessible from Baja California Sur’s capital, La Paz, as well as popular vacation destinations Cabo and Loreto. This means it is the most accessible lagoon and therefore the most popular and cheapest option for those hoping to see a grey whale in Baja.

There are three port towns on the mainland that whale watching tours in Magdalena Bay depart from:

Whale watching in Magdalena Bay Map

Where can you see whales in Magdalena Bay?

Whales can be found all throughout Magdalena Bay. They are wild animals so their presence can never be guaranteed but local guides are good at finding them and often the whales actually find you.

It’s popular for visitors to stay overnight and go whale watching over multiple days, either from the port towns or by staying on Isla Magdalena itself. This is a great way to maximise your chances of a friendly encounter.

Here’s a quick overview of the three towns in Magdalena Bay where whale watching trips depart from:

When can you see whales in Magdalena Bay?

Every year is different and the exact arrival and departure dates of the whales change due to various factors, including the weather, tidal patterns, and water temperatures.

Magdalena Bay Whale Season

Grey whales start to arrive around Magdalena Bay in December and have left by April each year. Magdalena Bay is the furthest south of the three lagoons, meaning whales arrive slightly later in the season (more like January) and leave a little later (so can still be seen at the end of March). Male grey whales tend to make their way back to the feeding grounds earlier than the females and calves, who are the last to leave the lagoons.

What is the best time to see whales in Magdalena Bay?

We specifically recommend visiting during late February to early March as this is when there is the highest number of whales in the lagoons and you’ll be more likely to see mothers with their calves.

Unlike other whale species or whale watching destinations, there doesn’t seem to be a time of day that’s best to see grey whales. However, we think going out early in the morning is best as it’s before all the day tours arrive so the lagoon is much quieter with fewer boats. This can really maximise your chances that a whale will want to approach your boat. Staying overnight is the best way to ensure you’re out first thing in the morning and have the lagoon to yourself.

How to go whale watching in Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is a protected reserve and there are strict rules that tour operators and tourists must follow when whale watching here. While it’s possible to see whales from the shore, the best experience really is to get up close on a boat tour.

In winter, local fishermen become licensed tour guides for whale watching excursions in Magdalena Bay. This means that the marine life in Magdalena Bay is given a no-fishing period to rebound and that local communities still have a sustainable income at the same time.

Only small vessels, named pangas, are allowed in the grey whale lagoons. These boats are expertly navigated by licensed tour guides who are local fishermen.

There’s a variety of Magdalena Bay whale watching tours on offer, from day trips to multi-day camps. We’re going to run through all the different types and the pros and cons of each.

Magdalena Bay Day Tours

Day tours to Magdalena Bay usually include transportation to and from your accommodation and one whale watching trip out on the water.

While this is the cheapest way to visit, it’s also the most risky. As whales are wild animals, there’s no guarantee you’ll see them on your first trip. You may get lucky and have an encounter with a friendly who approaches your boat but you also may not see much.

Loreto is the closest town to Magdalena Bay. Taking a Whale Watching Trip to Magdalena Bay from Loreto has the advantage of short journey times, meaning more time on the water.

You can easily take a Magdalena Bay Whale Watching Trip from La Paz too as the capital of Baja isn’t much further away than Loreto.

Magdalena Bay Whale Watching from Cabo tours are available too. It’s a much longer drive from Cabo so you might want to consider staying overnight in Magdalena Bay if you want to get the most out of your time on the water.

Magdalena Bay Multi-day Tours

Booking a tour with accommodation included is a great way to ensure you have multiple chances to meet a friendly grey whale out on the water. These overnight packages include accommodation, food, and multiple whale watching trips, and can include transportation too.

We spent two days whale watching in Magdalena Bay and found there were far fewer whales around on our second day. We were grateful we’d been able to go out multiple times and experience a variety of activities.

Magdalena Bay Day Tour vs Multi-day Tour

A day tour is great if you have a limited budget or limited time.

We personally think that if you’re making the effort to visit Magdalena Bay, you need to make the most of it.

Staying overnight and whale watching over multiple days gives you more time for exploration and relaxation. The more time you spend on the water, the more you’ll see and the higher your chances of a grey whale interaction. You’ll also have downtime to enjoy other activities like fishing, kayaking, and hiking.

Overnight Accommodation: Hotel vs Camp

The accommodation included in multi-day whale watching tours to Magdalena Bay can be anything from hotels to campsites. Most hotels are situated in the town of Puerto San Carlos.

Some companies put you up in a hotel on the mainland, in one of the small port towns. This is your base for the duration of your stay and you go out into the lagoon from here.

Other companies have their own campsites on Isla Magdalena. There are only two companies that offer this: Magdalena Bay Whales and Sea Kayak Adventures.

The advantage of staying on the island is that you’re right in the middle of the bay. You can literally spot whales in the lagoon from your tent. It also means you’re closest to the grey whale sanctuary and can be one of the first boats out on the water each morning.

Our experience whale watching in Magdalena Bay

We did a three-day, two-night stay at Magdalena Bay Whales Camp and it was one of the best experiences we’ve had in all our travels.

Mornings would start with dolphins swimming in front of a stunning sunrise and breakfast in the palapa-style restaurant. Then it was out on the water for a private 6-hour whale watching trip. Our guide – who was one of the first four people to receive a whale watching permit in Magdalena Bay – was fantastic, so respectful of the whales and very knowledgeable. We saw just shy of a hundred grey whales during our three-day stay, as well as a super pod of hundreds of common dolphins. We didn’t touch a friendly but did have some close encounters with some very curious whales who swum up to and around our boat, chilling in the water below us.

We were originally supposed to be transported straight to the camp but, due to bad weather, ended up staying the night in the company’s Hotel Isabela in San Carlos. Instead of losing out on a night at the camp, we were able to negotiate an extension by a day. We’d recommend leaving flexibility in your schedule for events like this too.

How much do whale watching tours in Magdalena Bay cost?

Day whale watching tours start at around $175 USD, which includes transportation from places including La Paz, Los Cabos, and Loreto.

If you have your own car and organise your own accommodation, you might be able to secure a cheaper rate directly with the company just for the tour.

Multi-day whale tours which include accommodation, food, and transportation start at about $350 USD a day. The more days you stay, the cheaper the nightly rate becomes.

How to get to Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is easily accessible by car. It is a few hours’ drive from a couple of major airports in Baja California Sur

Here are some popular routes to Magdalena Bay:

What is the closest airport to Magdalena Bay?

The closest international airport to Magdalena Bay is Loreto International Airport (LTO). This is a small airport more commonly used by airlines flying in from the USA.

Another airport near Magdalena Bay is La Paz International Airport (LAP), also called Manuel Márquez de León International Airport. It is situated just outside of La Paz, the vibrant capital of Baja California Sur, and serves lots of international routes.

Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is another major international airport in Baja California Sur. It’s further away from Magdalena Bay than La Paz but connections can easily be made to La Paz, or you can book your tour from Cabo.

Ciudad Constitución and López Mateos also have small airports that you could get domestic flights into.

As part of a day tour

Most day tours include transportation to and from your accommodation or a central meeting point. This can be shared or private transportation depending on whether you’ve booked a group or private tour. The main cities that run day tours to Magdalena Bay include Loreto, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, and San José del Cabo.

As part of a multi-day tour

Transportation for multi-day tours works similarly to day tours. However, instead of sharing transportation with a group, your transfers are often private as visitors will be arriving and departing at different times and staying for different lengths. You can arrange your drop off and pick up locations with your tour company. We arranged to be picked up in La Paz and dropped off in Loreto as part of our Baja California Sur itinerary, saving us the effort of making the journey ourselves.

By bus

It’s possible to get to Magdalena by bus but it’s tricky and requires local connections. It’s a bit of a pain and not really a recommended method of transportation to Magdalena Bay.

The Aguila bus serves the Baja peninsula and can drop you off on the main highway near the lagoon.

As we mentioned earlier, there are a couple of port towns in Magdalena Bay that run tours, and which one you need to get to will depend on the departure point for your tour company. Usually, you’ll be heading for the port towns of Lopez Mateo or San Carlos. Disembark at Ciudad Insurgentes for Adolfo Lopez Mateos and Ciudad Constitucion for San Carlos.

From each city (ciudad), it’s about an hour via taxi or collective (if there are any). Alternatively, you could coordinate with your whale-watching company to pick you up as the journey should be cheaper than transferring you all the way from one of the major cities.

By rental car

Getting to Magdalena Bay by car is easy but may require long distances. You can rent a car in Baja California Sur from a major city international airport. We’ve detailed the different driving routes to Magdalena Bay in the section below.

Magdalena Bay Whale Watching from Los Cabos

Cabo San Lucas to Magdalena Bay follows the west coast up Baja California Sur, past Todos Santos to La Paz. From here, you can follow the directions below in the Magdalena Bay from La Paz section.

How far is Cabo from Magdalena Bay?

The journey from Cabo San Lucas to Magdalena Bay is about 275 miles (440 km) and takes around 5.5 hours to drive. From San José del Cabo, it’s another 20 miles (32 km) and 30 minutes extra.

Magdalena Bay from La Paz

From La Paz, you can follow Highway 1 north to Ciudad Constitución.

Turn left along Highway 22 if you’re heading to Puerto San Carlos.

If you’re going to Puerto Chale, turn left earlier at Santa Rita.

If you’re heading for Puerto Adolfo López Mateos, continue on to Ciudad Insurgentes, where you turn left towards the coast.

How long is the drive from La Paz to Magdalena Bay?

The journey from La Paz to Magdalena Bay is about 170 miles (270 km) and takes around 3.5 hours to drive.

Magdalena Bay whale watching from Loreto

For Loreto to Magdalena Bay, follow Highway 1 south along the east coast, before crossing the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range.

For San Carlos, turn left and head south at Ciudad Insurgentes. At Ciudad Constitución, turn right to the ocean.

If you’re going to Puerto Chale, turn left and head south at Ciudad Insurgentes. Turn right at Santa Rita to the Pacific Coast.

For Puerto Adolfo López Mateos, turn right and pass north through Ciudad Insurgentes, turning left just after the town.

How long does it take to drive from Loreto to Magdalena Bay?

The journey from Loreto to Magdalena Bay is about 125 miles (200 km) and takes around 2.5 hours to drive.

Is whale watching in Magdalena Bay ethical?

Magdalena Bay’s grey whale lagoon is an eco-tourism and financial success story. A combination of strict federal regulations and a local commitment to protect the environment has led to a sustainable tourism industry with some of the most ethical whale watching in the world.

Magdalena Bay is known for its ‘friendlies’ who approach boats, allowing humans to touch, pet, and even kiss grey whales. Touching wild animals is normally a no-go as it can cause stress, transmit diseases, and often involve harassment. But Baja’s grey whales seek out human contact and initiate the interaction, seemingly enjoying the contact. There’s no evidence to suggest that it’s harmful to them or that it disrupts important behaviours so it’s allowed to continue under strict supervision.

Whales are protected by law in Mexico and it is illegal to harass them. Harassment is defined as a disruption to the whales’ natural behaviours and can involve boats getting too close, chasing whales, or feeding them. Restrictions also include limits on the speed and distance boats must keep from whales, time spent with the whales, and angles at which the whales are approached. Specifications on vessel sizes, training for guides, and certifications for companies are also included. Touching whales is not specifically referenced in the legislation.

Inspectors are present regularly in Magdalena Bay to ensure the rules are followed. They can report companies who are non-compliant and influence the issuing of licenses for the following year. However, they’re not constantly present and bad behaviours can slip under the radar.

Nowhere is perfect and there’s always room for improvement. While most of the boats we saw in Magdalena Bay were respectful of the whales, we did see a few that would approach whales too quickly, jostle for the best position for tourists to touch the whales, or approach whales that were uninterested in human interaction (causing them to dive and swim away). It was by no means as bad as the behaviours we saw when whale watching in Cabo but it can still be harmful to the whales (and you’re going to have a worse experience if it’s your boat too).

With the rise of social media, destinations that were once unheard of have become more popular so it’s even more pertinent that strict regulations are in place and upheld to protect the wildlife that resides there. According to our local guide, about 30 years ago there used to be only 3 licenses for whale watching in Magdalena Bay. Now, there are around 60 licenses given to whale watching companies in Magdalena Bay.

More boats in the water likely means fewer whales. Magdalena Bay is a refuge where whales calve and breed, but also where they rest after a long migration. They don’t feed here so they need to conserve huge amounts of energy for the long journey back to the Arctic. Human activity can disrupt this rest, meaning more whales are driven into deeper open oceans where predators are, waters are less calm, and it’s more dangerous for young calves that need the shallow, warm waters to develop.

Regulations are important to ensure that whale watching in Magdalena Bay is done sustainably and that the species continues to thrive. The biggest impact you can have is by choosing a licensed company that respects the whales and follows the regulations.

Magdalena Bay Weather

Magdalena Bay has a warm and sunny climate year-round with low humidity. Winter is the whale watching season in Magdalena Bay. This is the coolest period, with temperatures between 15°C to 23°C (59°F to 73°F). There can be high winds, rainfall, and storms between December and April but most days are sunny.

What to pack for Magdalena Bay whale watching

To ensure an enjoyable whale watching experience in Magdalen Bay, it’s important to pack the right gear. Don’t forget to pack your:

What to wear for Magdalena Bay whale watching

When going whale watching, it’s essential to dress comfortably and practically for a fun and safe experience. Here’s a suggested packing list:

Whether you’re visiting for whale watching, fishing, snorkelling, or just to escape into nature, you’re bound to have an excellent time in Magdalena Bay. We hope this post has helped you plan your visit and that you have as magical a time as we did.

Read next:

Our Magdalena Bay Whales Camp Review

Should You Touch a Grey Whale in Baja California Sur?

The Ultimate Guide to Whale Watching in Baja California

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