We Touched Whales and Glamped in Mexico for $3,300, Price It

• My husband and I spent over $3,300 to go on a whale-watching expedition in Mexico.
• The value of the journey included three meals per day and a glamping tent with a mattress and a bathe.
• We acquired to spend a number of time with the whales up shut, which is an expertise I will always remember.

I am a little bit of a whale-watching addict. So after I noticed a TikTok of individuals hanging over the facet of tiny boats to pet a grey whale on the top, I knew I needed to discover a solution to expertise it for myself.

After doing a little analysis, I discovered that the optimum time to go to their protecting breeding and calving lagoons in Baja, Mexico, was beginning in February, only a few months away.

Nevertheless, the San Ignacio lagoon, which is the epicenter of grey whale exercise, is simply accessible by way of licensed tour corporations. So, my husband and I booked a four-day, three-night glamping journey with Baja Expeditions, an organization identified for sustainable tourism.

Though the expertise can value upwards of $2,500 per individual, we have been capable of rating a visit for $1,650 every by way of a Tremendous Bowl weekend deal.

Our journey began with 2 flights to the San Ignacio Lagoon

We kicked off the journey by flying from Seattle to Cabo San Lucas, the place we headed to the Baja Expeditions places of work.

After we arrived, a chartered bus shuttled our whole tour group to the San Jose del Cabo Worldwide Airport, the place we stuffed 14 individuals into small Cessna planes.

For the following two hours, we watched over the pilot’s shoulder as he flew the airplane. I plastered my face in opposition to the window to absorb the unimaginable canyon-filled surroundings, marveling on the distant model of Mexico I did not know existed.

After we landed on the shoreline of the San Ignacio Lagoon, a Baja Expeditions worker welcomed us with bubbly.

I used to be shocked to search out there was no heat, tropical local weather, and was immediately grateful that I adopted the packing record supplied to us and packed a puffer jacket.

It positively took me a second to regulate to the chilly temperatures.

We arrived at our campsite and loved some lunch

After grabbing our baggage, we have been loaded into SUVs and brought to the glamping grounds, which might function our dwelling for the following 4 days.

Inside our tent was an area heater, a tent bathe that had water hotter than most motels I’ve stayed in, and mattress with cozy fleece-lined electrical blankets.

Within the eating tent, we loved a lunch of connoisseur Thai-style hen salads. I used to be excited on the prospect of all of the included breakfast, lunch and dinner meals to come back since they have been included within the value of the journey.

As we ate, the Baja Expedition guides introduced we might be leaving to see the grey whales quickly

Wearing heat layers and rain gear, I used to be given a life preserver, soft-shell jacket, and knee-high rain boots.

I struggled to hold a ridiculous quantity of images tools with me as our information helped us right into a small metallic boat, often known as a panga.

Quickly, we have been off on a high-speed 30-minute boat experience to the guts of the San Ignacio Lagoon.

After we arrived, the boat slowed down, and moments later, we noticed the graceful again of our first grey whale gliding by way of the water.

All six of us shot to our toes, cheering at our first sighting, whereas the captain and information smiled at our unfiltered pleasure.

One other whale surfaced nearer to our boat whereas we noticed the spout of a grey whale arising for a deep breath of air on the opposite facet of the panga.

I questioned how lengthy this type of luck may final and dreaded that it could finish too quickly…till I noticed we have been surrounded by whales.

Two hours later, as our panga floated amongst these mild big grey whales, I sat dazed with pleasure watching whale after whale floor, spy hop, and breach all through the lagoon.

I acquired to have the shut encounter of my desires

Later, our information instructed us to splash the water to seize the whales’ consideration.

I threw myself to the facet of the panga whereas frantically splashing like I’d by no means get this opportunity once more. It labored.

Ever so slowly, an unlimited darkish mass rose towards the floor of the cloudy water. We reached our arms out because the whale paused. She then poked her nostril up, resting on the facet of the boat.

I reached towards her, fastidiously avoiding the barnacles on her darkish grey pores and skin, and located a patch on her nostril to rub gently.

I discovered myself cooing endearments at this large, easy whale, who appeared to beg for scratches like a golden retriever.

The journey was one thing my husband and I’ll always remember

For the rest of this epic journey, we visited the San Ignacio lagoon six extra occasions and had extra shut encounters than we may have ever dreamed attainable.

We even acquired one other probability to look into the attention of a 40-ton whale, simply inches away, as we touched her face.

As we returned dwelling from Cabo San Lucas, my husband and I agreed that this whale-watching journey may by no means be topped. We’re already planning to go to these particular creatures once more quickly.