Whales, Whale Sharks, Orcas & Mobulas: Your Season-by-Season Guide to Baja’s Marine Giants
No destination in North America puts you closer to marine megafauna than Los Cabos and the Sea of Cortez. But every giant has its season — here is the honest calendar so you can plan the trip around the encounter you want most.
Humpback & Gray Whales — December 15 to April 15
The classic Los Cabos whale watching season runs a full four months. Humpbacks breach right off the Cabo San Lucas bay and the Pacific corridor. Our own luxury whale watching tour departs daily during season.
Whale Sharks (La Paz) — October to May
The gentle giants gather in the Bay of La Paz, about two hours from Cabo. Peak season is January through March, when 50+ individuals can be present in a single day. Day trips from Cabo typically run 10–12 hours; expect $120–200 USD per person for combination tours. Summer visits are possible but rough seas and plankton blooms make sightings unreliable.
Orcas (La Ventana) — summer, regulated
Baja California Sur became the first Mexican state to regulate swimming with orcas, near La Ventana southeast of La Paz, with boat numbers capped at 24 per day. It is a bucket-list experience — book only with licensed operators.
Mobula Rays — summer aggregations
June through September, hundreds of thousands of mobula rays school in the Sea of Cortez — one of the most surreal spectacles in the ocean, and the perfect summer alternative while whales are away.
Plan your trip
Whatever the season, there is always something extraordinary in the water. Browse our tours and activities or start with a snorkeling adventure to meet the year-round locals.
Sources: Mexico News Daily, The Cabo Sun, Baja Shark Experience.