Mexico
Mexico: The Great Gray Whale Migration and Baja’s Natural Wonders
Program No. 12315RJ
Witness the gray whale migration, one of nature’s most phenomenal events, and see these gentle giants up close in the heart of their breeding grounds.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
8 days
7 nights
20 meals
7B 7L 6D
1
Check-in, Registration & Orientation, Scripps, La Jolla
San Diego, California
2
Enter Mexico, Tijuana, Ensenada, San Vicente, San Quintin
San Quintin, Baja California
3
Baja Peninsula Landscapes, Rock Art, Guerrero Negro
Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur
4
Nature Reserve, Scammon’s Lagoon & Whales, San Ignacio
San Ignacio, Baja California Sur
5
San Ignacio Lagoon & Whales, Town Exploration
San Ignacio, Baja California Sur
6
Scammon’s Lagoon, Desert Walk, Cataviña
Cataviña, Baja California
7
Morning Walk, San Quintín Bay, Ensenada, Farewell Dinner
Ensenada, Baja California
8
Program Concludes
San Diego, California
At a Glance
Observe one of the most miraculous natural phenomena on the planet: the 5,000-mile winter migration of gray whales to the Baja Peninsula to mate and deliver their calves. Journey from San Diego into Mexico to trace the migration and lifecycle of the gray whale.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking short distances on varied terrain. Boarding small fishing boats from pier and beach, possibly wading into water knee high. Driving time on bus from 1.5 - 6 hours daily, half hour on a graded road. Elevations up to 3,500 feet (900 m.). For border crossings: must carry all belongings across the border including luggage and carry-ons and walk up to 300 feet (90 m) on a smooth sidewalk. Possibility of standing in line. Bathroom facilities on-route range from modern to rustic.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Get within an arm’s length of a pod of gray whales aboard a 12-person fishing boat.
- Visit the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to learn about whales with marine biologists.
- Examine the bizarre boojum tree, towering cardon cactus and contorted elephant tree in Baja deserts.
General Notes
Nature always comes first in our wildlife experiences. This is a whale-watching program, and whale behavior is unpredictable. While close encounters are common, consider personal interactions with these magnificent creatures a special bonus. Road Scholar cannot offer air for this program. Participants have to arrange their own flights as well as transportation to the first hotel in San Diego. The program ends at the Courtyard Marriott with a drop-off at the San Diego Airport on the way.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Mexico: The Great Gray Whale Migration and Baja’s Natural Wonders
Program Number: 12315
The Girl of the Sea of Cortez
A heartwarming, eco-conscious novel about a young woman and her sixth-sense for ocean wildlife. Benchley’s protagonist, Paloma, discovers a secret ocean animal in a sea full of beauty, danger and adventure. First published in 1983.
The Whales Know, Travels Along the Baja California Peninsula
A humorous and humble travelogue by writer-explorer Cacucci. He travels the length of Baja California revisiting sites seen by John Steinbeck, but becomes enamored with all things whale.
Lagoon Time: Our Life and Times Among the Gray Whales of Laguna San Ignacio
Lagoon Time is an extraordinary first-hand account of the experiences and discoveries made by Dr. Steven Swartz and his colleagues in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico, that provides visitors a look into the human and natural history of Laguna San Ignacio. It is also a field guide to gray whale behavior and the diverse botanical and avian wildlife in the area. It presents information on the Pacific gray whales that winter in Baja California beginning in 1977 to the present. All of the net proceeds will support the Laguna San Ignacio Ecosystem Science Program, a project of The Ocean Foundation.
Into a Desert Place
An Englishman, Mackintosh fell in love with Baja California on a visit and, despite a glaring shortage of both experience and money, determined to walk its entire coast. Into a Desert Place is his account of how he equipped himself, what he saw and learned, and how he survived on this harsh and beautiful journey.
Almost an Island, Travels in Baja California
A poet and aficionado with an irrepressible sense of humor, Berger combines anecdote, history and research to bring the deserts, towns and eccentric personalities of Baja to life.
Field Guide to the Gray Whale Paperback
This handy 50-page booklet is the first and only practical guide to viewing the biannual migration of gray whales along the Pacific Coast. It includes fascinating information about the natural history and habits of the gray whale as well as maps and directions to whale watching sites from Alaska to Baja. Proceeds of this book help support the Oceanic Society.
Baja California Plant Field Guide
We can't imagine a walk through the deserts and islands of Baja California without this book in hand. With hundreds of color photographs illustrating 715 plants of the region, this superb field guide also includes short introductory chapters on vegetation, geology and climate. This expanded third edition was revised by Jon Rebman, botanist at the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Roadside Geology and Biology of Baja California, 2nd Edition
The book is written for the enjoyment of the average person who has little or no training but has an interest in the natural surroundings and almost unique geology and biology of the Baja California Peninsula. It will provide for your enjoyment as you travel along Baja's highways. The road logs provide kilometer-by-kilometer information on the roadside geology and biology of the highways, introducing you to this magnificent place in a way that can be easily understood.
Mexico Field Guide, Baja California Sea and Shore Birds
The Log from the Sea of Cortez
The classic account of a collecting trip to the Sea of Cortez with marine biologist Ed Ricketts, first published in 1941. Subtitled "A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research," this much-loved book captures the wonders of the Gulf of California and the joys of discovery.
Baja, Sea of Cortez Marine Mammal Guide
A double-sided, laminated field guide illustrating the whales, dolphins and other marine mammals of the Sea of Cortez and Pacific coast of Baja.
Eye of the Whale, Epic Passage From Baja to Siberia
Epic in scope, this absorbing, first-person account follows the migration of the gray whale from the lagoons along the Pacific coast of Baja to the summer feeding grounds in Alaska.
Baja California Map
Waterproof • Tear-Resistant • Travel Map National Geographic Adventure Baja Map Pack
