This is by far my favorite activity to do when you’re by the ocean and the best part is you can definitely do it with young children. Unlike most places, you only have to venture out 3-4 miles by boat in Cabo, Mexico to catch these majestic creatures. The best part is you’re by gorgeous beaches the whole time. I love it!
If you haven't seen Blackfish, then stop right now and go watch it. Don't even think about mentioning SeaWorld to me, even the aquarium is pushing it (if they're keeping large sea animals there). The best way to see something is at its best, in its au natural environment. To add to your watch list, please watch Seaspiracy on Netflix. We all need to be more aware of what the fishing industry is doing to our oceans. I was appalled and it’s more than just about plastic and polluting the ocean (which makes up about 30% of the ocean’s problems btw). Please watch it.
How do you get here? Cabo is very accessible through flights to Mexico and reliable transportation arranged by your hotel. This whale watching company offers you round trip transportation from your resort/hotel, which I recommend committing to so that you don’t have to worry about where to go exactly on the day of your trip and they have all the communication necessary.
When: mid-December - mid-April, early morning to afternoon on sunny days
Cost: $90/adult on group tours (3 and under are free)
Who: Whale Watch Cabo, a licensed research group of volunteers to study and protect marine animals
Duration: around 2.5 hours
Tips: It's always cooler out on the water so definitely prep for that. Pack an extra sweater, waterproof friendly clothing, sandals, and definitely sunglasses (use MARIAM15 for $ off the best and trendy eyeshades). You won’t need a hat for the boat ride since there’s a roof you can sit under, but for all the other times you’re not under there: a hat and tons of sunblock to protect you from the amazing, but the strong, sun. There is no food or water provided, so pack some snacks and water if you get thirsty on the boat ride or hungry post-ride. Bring something to keep your trash in and a reusable water bottle, I carry mine everywhere—it’s lightweight and easy to carry. Do not liter at all. Let’s keep the Earth clean and our animals safe. If you’re bringing a baby like we brought our 8-month-old, a baby carrier such as the Ergo 360 is all you need (which we love and both our babies loved because of the comfort, lightweight, and multiple positions it has to offer). A backpack is your best bet to carry all your belongings safely. A waterproof camera or your iPhone is perfect — you may not be able to capture the best shots, but the tour guide does that for you. Professional whale and beach photography is included in your tour and you’ll receive a link to the professional photography in your email a few days later. This company does require you to wear masks the whole time unless you’re taking a family picture.
My personal experience: We went around noon and got picked up by the transportation arranged by Whale Watch Cabo. Because we had our kids with us (4 years old and an 8-month-old) we decided to book our tour during the hottest hours of the day, at 12 - 2:30 pm (end of March). The boat is very clean and they have a safe little section protected from the water where you can place your belongings. I wore my 8-month-old the whole time in my baby carrier, while my son and husband got to carefully walk to each side of the boat to catch the best view of the whales. The water ride is really fun, because it’s a choppy tide area (you are boating through the Pacific Ocean) once in a while you could get sprayed, but definitely not wet. It wasn’t too long where you spotted a whale blowing some steam and other boats trying to catch up to it. The reason why I went with Whale Watch Cabo is that they respect the whale’s space, which is mandated by the government, but not strictly followed by other vendors. It’s mating season and this is the only time the Mom and baby whale are together, so it’s a precious moment to witness and you don’t want to be ruining it. Watching the whales majestically float in the air and perfectly roll back down in the water is an instant sight that you will not forget. It’s not guaranteed that you’ll see whales, but at the same time I’ve never seen this many whales in my life — both casually from this tour and from our resort beach view! Don’t bother wasting your time It’s hard to pose and get a picture with the whale, so don’t bother wasting your time. Just keep your eyes peeled and camera recording so you can save a few moments for later. We got to watch a handful of whales: mama and baby, 3 males and 1 female competing, a male on its own. My 4-year-old son loved it and so did we. Truly an unforgettable experience and a great way to be in nature with your family.
