A Complete Guide to Blue Whale Watching in Loreto

Everything you need to know about seeing blue whales in Loreto, Baja California’s prime blue whale watching spot, from when the season starts to the best tours.

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Loreto is a small town on the east coast of Baja California Sur that sits on the Sea of Cortez. The waters around the town, known as Loreto Bay National Park, contain 5 large islands which are home to lots of animals, including several endangered species. The bay offers protected water for the largest animal on earth, blue whales, who migrate here every year to feed, calve and mate. Loreto is definitively the best place to see blue whales in the world with some of the best whale watching in Baja, so a trip here should be on your bucket list. Read on to discover everything you need to know about blue whale watching in Loreto, in this complete guide.

Can you see whales in Loreto?

Loreto may be lesser known than some of the larger cities in Baja but it’s not to be underestimated. A prime eco-tourism destination, Loreto is a great place for whale watching. While several species of whale can be seen in Loreto, including fin and sei whales, blue whales are by far the most common.

About Loreto’s blue whales

Blue whales are gentle creatures and don’t display acrobatic or interactive behaviours like grey whales in Baja and humpback whales in Cabo (both of which are also sometimes spotted in Loreto). Instead, they’re known for their gentle natures and huge stature.

Blue whales (known scientifically as Balaenoptera musculus) are the largest animals in the world. They’re so huge that a blue whale’s tongue can weigh as much as an elephant, its heart as much as a car, and its total weight can be up to as much as 33 elephants!

Blue whales can live up to 90 years old and are among the loudest animals on the planet. It’s thought that, in good conditions, blue whales can hear each other up to 1000 miles away.

Blue whales are part of the baleen family. They spend a lot of time in shallower waters or at the surface, feeding on planktonic creatures like krill. They use plates (teeth) in their mouths to sieve food from water. This means you don’t need to ride that far out of Loreto to find them.

From the surface, their skin appears grey but in the water, it appears a true blue colour – hence their name.

Due to aggressive hunting in the 20th century, blue whales were driven to the brink of extinction. The International Whaling Commission banned all blue whale hunting in 1966. While efforts are being made to conserve the species, they are unfortunately still classified as endangered by the IUCN.

Where to see blue whales in Loreto

As a popular filming location for international broadcasters like BBC and National Geographic, Baja California is one of the best places in the world to spot the endangered blue whale.

Here, on the east coast, the Pacific Ocean separates the Baja California peninsula from the Mexican mainland by a patch of water called the Gulf of California (also known as The Sea of Cortez or Cortés). It was French Explorer Jacques Cousteau who described this area as “the world’s aquarium” – a testament to the sheer diversity of wildlife found in this patch of ocean. And, it’s also here that blue whales transit the Gulf during their annual migration.

Blue whales spend the summer months feeding in the Arctic waters off Alaska and Canada. Around December each year, they begin the long journey to Mexico and Central America. Many whales swim up the Gulf of California to Loreto, where it’s thought they rest, mate, give birth, and rear calves in the protected waters. Another theory suggests they simply come to Baja to feed in the nutrient-rich waters. Come March, they start the long journey home again.

It’s thought that there are between 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales left. Of these, around 2800 can be found transiting the coast of California (USA) to the Gulf of California (Mexico) – the largest known population in the world. There are five sub-species of blue whale in different oceans around the world and the population found in Loreto is the eastern North Pacific.

While it is possible to spot blue whales from other parts of the peninsula, such as in La Paz and Los Cabos, the best place in Mexico to see blue whales is, without a doubt, in Loreto.

The waters around Loreto give you the most reliable opportunity for whale sightings. The area of ocean here is known as Loreto Bay National Marine Park (Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto). A protected bay, the park provides blue whales with shelter and the perfect conditions to mate and calve, with babies learning to swim and feed in the calm waters.

The bay here takes the form of a curved coastline, sheltered by 5 large uninhabited islands: Isla Coronado, Isla del Carmen, Isla Danzante, Isla Monserrat, and Isla Santa Catalina. Many whale watching tours combine a visit to these islands, which are volcanic and offer scenic hiking trails and pristine beaches. While whales are found throughout the bay, they seem to be commonly spotted around Isla Carmen in particular.

When to see blue whales in Loreto

Like other species, blue whales migrate to Baja each year. However, they spend the shortest period here than all of Baja’s whales, spending just two months in the Gulf of California near Loreto.

The best time to see whales in Loreto is in winter. While whales can generally be found in Baja between December and April, the whale season in Loreto, Mexico is between January and March, due to its more northerly location. Some years, the whales arrive in December and other years, the whales don’t arrive until mid-February.

The best time for blue whale watching in Loreto, and the period we’d recommend visiting in, is between February and March, when numbers are highest, giving you the best chance of a sighting.

Additionally, the Eco Alianza Loreto holds a festival each year to celebrate the blue whale. The Blue Whale Festival (Festival de la Ballena Azul) is a three-day event, typically held in February or March and features educational workshops, competitions, exhibits, lectures and presentations, as well as amateur and professional live music concerts. You can find all the information on their Facebook page. You may wish to time your visit to Loreto with the festival to enhance your experience.

What time of day are blue whales most active?

You may also be wondering if there’s a best time of day to see blue whales in Loreto. The answer is no – whale sightings are often down to luck. Having said that, we tend to have better luck on morning whale watching trips as there are fewer boats out on the ocean and conditions can be calmer. But whether you choose morning, afternoon, or evening, you’re bound to have an amazing time.

How to see blue whales in Loreto

Due to tight regulations in Loreto Bay, it’s not possible to go whale watching on your own. Mexico has a strict code of conduct for whale watching, to protect whales from a multitude of stressors, such as boats getting too close, chasing them, and too many boats crowding around at once.

To see blue whales in Mexico, you’ll need to book onto a tour. Whale watching tours in Loreto typically depart from the central Loreto Marina or Marina Puerto Escondido, which is south of the city. There are a few companies to choose from, all of which offer blue whale tours in Loreto.

How much do whale watching tours in Loreto cost?

The cost of a whale watching tour in Loreto varies depending on the operator you choose, group size, duration, and included amenities. Typically, tours cost about $2,000 MXN per adult (approximately $115 USD). A private experience costs about $2,700 MXN per person (approximately $155 USD).

Visitors to Loreto Bay must have a permit, which comes in the form of a paper bracelet. This park pass is normally included in the tour price but it’s worth checking with the operator you choose. If not, you can pay it at Loreto Marina – it’s about $5 USD per person.

What is it like to see blue whales in Loreto?

To get out in the bay before other boat traffic, tours usually leave early in the morning, between 7:00 and 9:00 AM.

Local boat companies will be monitoring whale sightings and will know which parts of the bay the whales have settled in. If the whales have settled in the southern part of the bay, you may depart from Puerto Escondido Marina rather than Loreto Marina to reduce travel time.

Blue whales are solitary creatures and quite shy. While mothers have been spotted with calves, you’ll likely just see one whale at a time. There’s never a guarantee you’ll spot one but your captain and guide will do their best to find one in the bay. This may involve cruising through the bay on the lookout or you may find a whale pretty instantaneously – it depends on the day.

The bay usually has pretty calm and flat water so there’s no need to worry about seasickness (although the journey from Puerto Escondido Marina can be slightly longer and rougher). On the day we went out, the water was as still and sparkly as glass.

Each trip is different, but when you see a blue whale, you’ll likely spot it from its breath first. The first sign of a whale is usually its blow – a plume of mist expelled from the whale’s nostrils as it comes to the surface to breathe. Then its sleek back rises from the water, followed by a small dorsal fin breaking the surface.

Once spotted, the captain will navigate towards the whale at the legal speed and position you at the designated distance from the whale.

Our experience whale watching in Loreto

Our tour started almost as soon as we left the marina, with a pod of 3 fin whales. After observing them for a while, we set out in search of blue whales.

Our marine biologist guide was super knowledgeable and taught us a lot about the animals we saw, as well as the area and its history.

After a little while we found our first blue whale! We saw a couple during our time on the water, as well as another couple of fin whales. Several times we’d see blows in the distance and we were able to get up close to quite a few whales.

The blue whales we observed were mainly feeding, which meant they would breathe at the surface for a few minutes before diving back down to the ocean floor. Blue whales can hold their breath for up to 90 minutes but usually only go down for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Unlike other species, blue whales follow a circular pattern when they feed. This makes it easier to predict where a whale might re-appear, so you can follow the path slowly and at a distance. After a dive, we would hang around in the area, with the captain navigating us to where they thought the whale would next appear.

When some whales dive, they lift their tail (called a fluke) out of the water, in a behaviour known as fluking. The deep sea feeders, like grey and sperm whales, often show their flukes when they dive. Humpbacks are also known for fluking. It’s much less common to see the tail of a surface feeder, like blue, fin and, sei whales – but not impossible. We got super lucky and got to see this behaviour several times.

We also came across a blue whale that seemed to be curious about us and floated at the surface for ages (which is quite unusual), blowing great big breaths into the air. When you’re close to a whale, its breaths sound like an elephant trumpeting!

What we really liked about Loreto Sea and Land Tours is that they tailor each tour to the group. If there’s lots of whale action going on, or if you’re struggling to see anything at all, they’ll stay out looking for whales for the whole trip. We saw quite a few blue whales and the pod of fin whales in the first two hours of our tour so we decided to explore the rest of Loreto Bay. We then saw bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, a turtle, and blue-footed boobies. Se docked on the stunning Isla Coronado for lunch and enjoyed free time hiking around the island and relaxing on the beach.

Is blue whale watching in Loreto ethical?

Whales are protected under Mexican law and the experience is well-controlled to ensure minimal impact on the species. Whale watching regulations are set out by SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environment ministry, Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources). Permits are issued each year to companies that meet certain criteria and undergo required training.

Whale watching in Loreto is only permitted by authorised boats. It’s not possible to rent your own boat and go out with the intention of whale watching, or to hire a private boat for the purpose of whale watching.

Being a protected zone, Loreto Bay is well regulated with special legislation in place to protect the marine life within. The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas), known by the initials CONANP is an institution of the Mexican government also responsible for the care and conservation of the 182 Natural Protected Areas, of which Loreto is one. They patrol the bay to ensure tour companies follow the rules, and can revoke the permits of companies that don’t.

Due to its protected status as a national park, the waters and islands around Loreto are home to lots of animals, including several endangered species. As well as whales, you might see dolphins, turtles, sea lions, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, angel fish, parrot fish, sierra, dorado, rainbow wrasses, and pufferfish. As a testament to its natural beauty, in 2005 the bay was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Loreto Bay National Marine Park didn’t always offer blue whales this protection though. In the 1990s, local citizens became concerned about the impact fishing and development were having on the bay. They campaigned and petitioned for over three years to preserve the bay’s natural environment, and in 1996 the waters around Loreto were declared a National Park. Fishing (and whale watching) in the park are now highly regulated with lots of restrictions to allow the fish population to return.

There weren’t that many boats out on the day we took our tour and the ones that were followed the rules – mostly. A couple of boats were definitely approaching too fast but these breaches of the rules were nothing like the diabolical harassment we saw of humpback whales in Cabo by unlicensed vessels.

Our captain was really good at positioning us at a safe distance from the whale without approaching it head-on or approaching too quickly. Additionally, the relaxed surface behaviour, feeding, and fluking that we saw all indicate that the whales we observed were totally unbothered by our presence.

Other whale watching experiences in Baja

Watching blue whales in Loreto is just the tip of the iceberg! We specifically visited Mexico for whale watching in Baja and there are a few other species you can see in different locations around the state that you can see at the same time of year. Here are some of the other epic marine attractions in the region:

Magdalena Bay grey whale watching tours from Loreto

Due to its location as the closest large city to Magdalena Bay, Loreto is often used as a base to take a day trip to Magdalena Bay. The most accessible of Baja’s three grey whale lagoons, it’s here that visitors can get so close to a whale they can reach out and touch it! Don’t worry, only curious whales that approach the boats take part in this interaction, completely on their terms. It’s the only experience like it in the world. Here are the best grey whale experiences in Magdalena Bay that leave from Loreto:

Dolphin watching in Loreto

As we mentioned, it’s not just blue whales who are attracted to the waters around Loreto. More than 10 species of cetacean can be found here, including humpback, grey fin, sei, sperm, minke, pilot, orca and tropical bottlenose whales (also known as beaked whales).

There is also a good chance you’ll see dolphins on your trip. Many different species of dolphin can be found in the Gulf of California but the most frequently spotted dolphins near Loreto are bottlenose, common, and spinner.

Wildlife watching in Loreto

It’s not just cetaceans you can see in Loreto. Sightings of turtles and stingrays are also common while seeing sea lions is all but guaranteed. Isla Coronado is home to a large colony of these cheeky sea-puppies and you can actually get in the water with them too! Swimming with sea lions in Loreto is truly a bucket-list opportunity. Watch as they zip gracefully through the water and marvel at the inquisitive pups, who curiously approach swimmers and sometimes even nibble on their snorkel gear.

Bird watchers will be delighted to know that Loreto Bay National Park is home to some unique bird species too. You don’t need to visit the Galapagos to see blue-footed boobies, as they can be found on the rocky cliffs of Loreto’s surrounding islands. Other bird species that can be spotted here also include the frigate bird, osprey, plover, pelican, hawk, eagle and turkey vulture.

What to pack for whale watching in Loreto

There are a few essentials you won’t want to forget on your trip, including:

What to wear for whale watching in Loreto

The weather is usually pleasant during Loreto’s whale watching season, with warm temperatures and strong sunshine. Here’s what we’d recommend you wear on a tour:

There’s plenty left to explore when you’re not whale watching. From ancient cave paintings to historic missions and a wealth of diverse marine life, there are so many things to do in Loreto, that it can be hard to fit it all in! Find out more in our concise list of the best things to do in Loreto, as well as the top activities, attractions, day trips, and restaurants to make your visit unforgettable.

Read next:

The 26 Best Things to Do in Loreto, Mexico

Loreto Bay National Marine Park: Islands and Wildlife Guide

How to Visit Isla Coronado from Loreto

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