Each year, gray whales return to the same lagoon where generations before them were born. This March, you can be there when they do.
We’re returning down the Pacific Coast to Baja for a rare, deeply meaningful journey to Laguna San Ignacio, a UNESCO-designated sanctuary and one of the last remaining wild calving grounds for Pacific gray whales.
Taking place March 10–14, 2026, this five-day experience offers an extraordinary opportunity to witness gray whales in a place where fragile coastal ecosystems remain remarkably intact.
Laguna San Ignacio is located within the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, one of Latin America’s largest protected areas and a globally important habitat for whales, sea turtles, and migratory birds.
This trip is organized by Crystal Cove Conservancy in partnership with Baja Discovery, a respected, conservation-minded local outfitter.
Why this trip, and why now
For decades, Pacific gray whales have followed an ancient migratory corridor from Baja to Arctic feeding grounds. In recent years, that journey has become more precarious. Between 2019 and 2023, scientists declared an Unusual Mortality Event after hundreds of whales stranded, many undernourished, alongside sharply reduced birth rates.
While the UME has officially ended, recent winter surveys at San Ignacio have documented exceptionally low counts of mother-calf pairs and very few calves born, among the lowest observed since systematic monitoring began.
We believe this is an urgent moment to witness—and support—the whales and the ecosystems they rely on.
What you’ll experience
- Up-close whale encounters aboard small panga boats, guided by local captains and knowledgeable naturalists.
- Evenings under wide Baja skies with simple, nourishing meals and conversations with conservationists, marine biologists, and local experts.
- A true wilderness soundscape—whale exhalations, osprey calls, and distant coyotes—far from modern distractions.
- Time to explore the surrounding landscape through low-impact activities such as beach walks, tide explorations, and lagoon-side reflection.
2026 trip details
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- Dates: March 10–14, 2026
- Price: $5,095 per person (double-occupancy tent). Single-occupancy may be available for an additional fee.
- What’s included: Chartered flight from Tijuana (departing from San Diego), all meals and drinks, lodging in an environmentally sensitive camp, local guiding, and interpretive support.
- All details are tentative; subject to confirmation
How to express interest in the 2026 trip
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Because space is limited—and because we’re building a thoughtful, compatible group—we treat interest as a real opportunity rather than a casual maybe. To learn more, please contact our special projects manager, Nick Burciaga, at nick@crystalcove.org.
Looking back: 2025 trip highlights
In February 2025, Crystal Cove Conservancy hosted 24 supporters and staff at Laguna San Ignacio to experience Pacific gray whales in one of the last places on earth where they can breed, give birth, and nurse calves with minimal disturbance.
Travelers departed via San Diego’s Cross Border Express, flew by charter from Tijuana, and arrived at a dirt airstrip beside the lagoon before boarding pangas to Baja Discovery’s Punta Piedra camp, the only camp located within the designated whale-watching area.
Over multiple whale watches, the group observed whales arriving after their long migration and experienced what San Ignacio is known for: a small percentage of “friendly” whales that sometimes initiate human contact. Between excursions, participants explored pristine beaches and dunes, joined tide walks, and kayaked through mangroves.
Throughout the trip, participants deepened their understanding of the lagoon’s conservation story and the community-driven ecotourism model that helps protect this ecosystem. The experience reinforced the Conservancy’s mission to ensure that knowledge, stewardship, and care for coastal places are carried forward by people who are informed, committed, and connected.
Watch the 2025 highlight video below.