Driving down the 1,247km of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, you’ll feel like you’re reaching the tip of the world. There are four desert regions along the way, supporting characteristic giant cacti, and a mountain range along Baja’s spine. But in these arid landscapes, you’re never far from the water; the peninsula measures just 40km at its narrowest point. And this is some water.
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Each year, virtually all the grey whales in the world swim over 8,000km to congregate in the waters off Baja California. That’s some endorsement – but the destination lives up to it.
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Jacques Cousteau referred to the Sea of Cortez, separating Baja from the mainland, as “the world’s aquarium.” Containing almost 3,000 marine species, including 900 fish and a third of the world’s marine mammal species, the description seems apt. Kayaking in these waters – from islet to islet – is an idyllic way to discover Baja’s marine life up close. But it’s the lagoons on the Pacific coast that provide the most spectacular draw, as they fill up with thousands of grey whales each year – a species so friendly they regularly approach boats and introduce their enormous babies to the wide eyed onlookers onboard. Find out more in our Baja travel guide.
