By Chantae Reden | Published: April 14, 2023 | Updated: February 20, 2026
At first glance, it might seem like Baja California is inhabited mainly by giant cardón cacti and surrounded by nothing but a deep blue sea. Dramatic coastal cliffs cede to sandy beaches and turquoise bays, with craggy islets in the distance. But once you look closer, you'll find a region teeming with life across land, sea and sky.
Baja California is home to nearly 800 species of fish and 26 whale and cetacean species. The region's 700 varieties of plants also provide a home to myriad other mammals, reptiles and birds. Pack your binoculars, because a Mexico vacation during whale season in Ensenada is a nature lover's delight.
Key Takeaways: Best Whale Watching in Baja California
Every year, many whale species migrate from the freezing waters of the Arctic Circle to the warm waters of the Baja Peninsula to mate and give birth. At the start of the season, it's common to spot strong bulls competing for female attention and hear the haunting songs of male whales singing underwater.
Key whale species and their arrival times in Ensenada:
- ● Gray whales: You’ll most likely see gray whales in Ensenada between December and April, particularly from January through March.
- ● Sperm whales: Like gray whales, sperm whales are most often sighted between December and April, with peak sightings from February to early April.
- ● Blue and humpback whales: These species are most often sighted in Ensenada in February and March.
- ● Whale sharks: The best time to see whale sharks in Ensenada is between August and November, particularly mid-September to early November.
- ● Orcas: Typically, orcas are sighted in Ensenada during humpback whale season, between January and early April.
- ● Finback whales: Finback whales visit Ensenada during summer months, especially between July and September.
- ● Start planning your cruise to observe the ocean’s gentle giants playing in Ensenada.
What To Expect During Whale Season in Ensenada
The waters of Baja California are among the best places to whale watch regionally. They’re seen as a haven for the ocean's giants, like humpback whales, gray and blue whales, along with toothier predators like sperm and orca whales. Every year from December to April, humpbacks and other whales migrate from the freezing waters of the Arctic Circle to the warm waters of the Baja Peninsula to mate and give birth.
Venture on an Ensenada whale watching tour to witness humpback whales leap out of the water and slap their fins against the surface. At the start of the season, it's common to spot strong bulls competing for female attention and hear the haunting songs of male whales singing underwater. Later in the season, juvenile whales frequent the waters, often cruising curiously near whale watching vessels to get a closer look. Newborn whale calves stay beside their mothers, and you might see confident calves practicing their first breaches. Gray whales follow a similar migration route to humpback whales and are often visible from the shoreline of the Baja Peninsula.
When Is the Best Time To See Whales in Ensenada?
The best time to see whales in Ensenada is between Decmber and April. For most species, including the humpback, blue, and gray whale, peak season is between February and April, giving you the best opportunity to see a variety of species and diverse behaviors. Notably, different whale species have varying migration patterns, so you can see whales in Ensenada throughout most of the year.
Here are some key species and their arrival times:
- ● Gray whales: You’ll most likely see gray whales in Ensenada between December and April, particularly from January through March.
- ● Sperm whales: Like gray whales, sperm whales are most often sighted between December and April, with peak sightings from February to early April.
- ● Blue and humpback whales: These species are most often sighted in Ensenada in February and March.
- ● Whale sharks: The best time to see whale sharks in Ensenada is between August and November, particularly mid-September to early November.
- ● Orcas: Typically, orcas are sighted in Ensenada during humpback whale season, between January and early April.
- ● Finback whales: Finback whales visit Ensenada during summer months, especially between July and September.
For the highest chance of sighting whales, the best time to head out on a tour is in the early morning and late afternoon — this is when the whales are hunting for food. You’ll find plenty of tour options locally, including breakfast, private sunset, kayaking tours, and many more.
How To Find Ensenada Whale Watching Tours
Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada are ideal hubs for whalewatching excursions, with tours running regularly from both ports. Tour operators like Cabo Nature in Cabo San Lucas have naturalist guides on board to highlight whale behavior. From Ensenada, hop on board Sergio's Whale-Watching excursion to see whales from Baja California's northern coast. Most whale watching tours cost from $50 to $150 per person, which varies according to the amenities, duration and services requested.
When cruising to Ensenada, you can also book day excursions at the onboard Royal Caribbean excursion desk or on your My Royal Cruise portal before sailing. By securing a spot early, you ensure you’ll get the chance to see nature’s gentle giants.
Tips for Whale Watching in Baja Mexico
When whale watching in Ensenada, keep the following tips in mind to make the most of your experience:
How To Find Ensenada Whale Watching Tours
- ● Bring sun protection and a few extra layers: Despite the heat on land, mornings can be chilly on the water, while afternoons heat up quickly. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a jacket or sweater.Take water and snacks with you: Tours usually run for about four hours, so stay comfortable and hydrated.
- ● Book in advance: The whale watching season is popular, especially from February to April, and spots fill quickly.
- ● Choose your timing wisely. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to see active whales as they feed and socialize.
- ● Bring a camera — but don’t rely on it: Snap a few shots, but spend most of the trip simply watching. Whales can surface suddenly, and you don’t want to miss the moment fumbling with settings.
- ● Mind the motion. If you’re prone to seasickness, take preventative medication or choose a larger vessel for a smoother ride.
Additional Nature and Wildlife Excursions in Baja
Whales are not the only species you can see on a cruise to Ensenada. Here are some other animals you can visit during your cruise vacation.
Spot Birds Both Big and Small
You don't have to be an expert birder to admire the feathered friends of Baja. The peninsula is home to multiple species that live nowhere else in the world and is a major stop for migrating seabirds. With such a large stretch of undeveloped coastline hosting lagoons and estuaries, the region is a haven for birdlife.
Peek into wildflowers to admire the bright green and red plumage of the Xantus's hummingbird, endemic to Baja California, or the magenta shimmer of Costa's hummingbird. Gray thrashers, pygmy owls, Harris's hawks, cactus wrens, turkey vultures and California quail all take refuge in the desert scrublands.
Out on the shoreline, watch as a brown pelican scoops up its catch of the day in its enormous 10- to 15-inch-long beak. Ospreys, double-crested cormorants, black-footed albatrosses, gulls and magnificent frigatebirds with seven-foot wingspans soar over the ocean. Baja California is also home to one of the largest blue-footed booby colonies in the world. Their mating dance can be seen on the Sea of Cortez, affectionately known as the Baja booby boogie. (These dance moves probably won't earn big points around Baja's nightlife scene, so maybe leave them to the birds.)
Scuba Dive or Snorkel With Hundreds of Mobula Rays
I squealed through the scuba diving regulator in my mouth the first time I saw a Mobula ray glide by. A few seconds later, I saw another. Then another. From the corner of my eye, the water darkened like a storm cloud. When I turned towards it, I saw a school of hundreds of Mobula rays swimming above me in synchronized aggregation. My dive guide and I held our position. Soon, we were surrounded by a vortex of dark gray and white rays swirling around us.
The sea surrounding Baja California Sur is an underwater world home to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of Mobula rays. These harmless rays are also called Munk's devil rays, thanks to their protruding frontal lobes that resemble horns. The rays off Baja California are the smallest of the Mobula ray species, but what they lack in size, they make up for in acrobatics. The rays are often seen leaping out of the water, somersaulting and jumping in physics-defying flights. Underwater, they’ll mesmerize you with their grace as they glide and twirl weightlessly through the blue. They're undoubtedly one of the most unique Mexican animals to see.
The best time to scuba dive with Mobula rays is from mid-April to July and from November to January, when currents enrich the waters with plankton that makes for a smorgasbord of good eating for the filter-feeding rays. Baja Expeditions offers half-day snorkeling and sightseeing tours from Los Cabos and La Paz. Scuba divers can blow bubbles with the rays with Dive Cabo from Cabo San Lucas.
Sunbathe With Sea Lions
One of the best things to do in Baja California is to find a beach and simply relax. The sea lions of the Baja Peninsula have mastered this skill, setting an example of how to have an idyllic Mexico vacation. On the rocky outcrops of Baja's shoreline, like Land's End off Cabo San Lucas, you'll spot sea lions lounging under the warmth of the sun. Paddle a kayak along the coastline, or take a boat tour for prime views of these intelligent pinnipeds. These sea lions are often seen playing, bickering and bumping each other off a coveted ledge. They're not so different from us, after all!
When it's time to eat or cool off, the sea lions slip into the sea in search of fresh fish. If you want to join them, grab a set of snorkeling gear and jump into the water (but don't get too close). Curious sea lions often come close to newcomers, but these thousand-pound critters are best left alone. While their body movements are awkward out of the water (scooting is their main form of land locomotion), they're incredibly graceful underwater. Some of the sea lions, like one Cabo San Lucas celebrity named Pancho, have fine-tuned the art of stealing lunch straight out of fishing boat catch tanks.
Sea lions of Baja California are around all year long. In Ensenada, they often act as the rambunctious welcome committee for ships cruising into the Port of Ensenada.
Kayak on a Sea Safari
Baja California spans 760 miles north to south and is surrounded by water. Seascapes range from giant kelp forests to coral reefs, depending on the part of Baja California you're exploring. Paddle through the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park on a sea safari to spot loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles, sea lions, rays, dolphins and birds from the comforts of your kayak. Pack a set of snorkel gear to get a closer look at the reef bommies that catch your eye from above. Tours tend to be led by guides with a knack for spotting sea life. It's also possible to rent a kayak or paddleboard and head out on a DIY adventure if you'd rather do the wildlife spotting yourself.
Cabo San Lucas also makes for a great sea safari launch point. The rocky outcrops along Land's End are a haven for many types of Mexican wildlife, and the sandy beaches offer tranquil rest stops. Further north, paddle the calm waters of the Sea of Cortez in La Paz, explore the biosphere reserve of El Vizcaíno and enjoy the marine mammal haven of Loreto National Marine Park. No two trips to any of these nature refuges are the same.
Meet Baja California's Inland Residents
Meet Baja California's Inland Residents
Exactly what animals live in Mexico? Mexican bobcats, kit foxes, spiny-tailed iguanas, rock lizards, jackrabbits and multiple bat species also call the varied terrain of Baja California home. Baja California has hefty credentials when it comes to its abundance of marine life, though there are plenty of creatures worth admiring on terra firma, too. The peninsula landscape changes from the snow-capped peaks at Sierra de San Pedro Mártir to stretches of sun-soaked desert of Cabo Pulmo National Park. If you tread quietly, you might spot rare and unique animals like the pronghorn, a mammal that looks like an antelope — yet are actually a part of the Antilocapridae family — and runs nearly as fast as a cheetah.
Hiking through Fox Canyon near Cabo San Lucas is one of the best things to do in Baja California for wildlife lovers. Tour operators like High Tide Los Cabos will send a naturalist as your guide to point out the plants, insects and timid critters who might be lurking in the brush. Waterfalls with swimming holes await along the trail, offering a prime place to relax and wait for creatures to come close.
Over on Baja California's northern end, Ensenada is also an ideal starting point for exploring inland. Look closely at the treetops as you zip line over the canopy at Las Canadas Adventure Park. Or, trek over the fairy tale rock formations at El Salto Canyon and get misted by the giant waterfall in its interior. Birds, small mammals, and bats have all found a place for themselves within the canyon.
Snorkel With Whale Sharks
When you visit Baja California, you have to catch a glimpse of the world's biggest fish: the whale shark. From tip to tail, they can grow up to 40 feet in length. That's about the same size as a school bus! These gentle polka-dotted giants filter feed on small fish and plankton, moving slowly through the sea. Whale sharks swim in the waters of the Sea of Cortez, and it's possible to snorkel alongside them from the seaside city of La Paz, reachable on a day trip from Cabo San Lucas. The best time to swim with the whale sharks on a Baja California vacation is from August to November in Ensenada, or November to March in La Paz, when they migrate to the Sea of Cortez for feeding and possibly breeding. Their behavior is still largely a mystery to Baja California wildlife researchers.
Catch the Magic of Whale Season in Ensenada
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