San Ignacio Lagoon
Early in the morning excitement could be sensed in the air, as we hit the road not long after sunrise. We headed inland into the desert on board several vans and crossed the width of the Baja California peninsula towards the Pacific coast. We got a chance to get a close look at the Tres Vírgenes volcano and its three hundred year old lava flows, on top of which picturesque elephant trees thrive. Immense cardón forests, tree yuccas and creosote bush fields were all part of the scenery. We arrived at the old town of San Ignacio and admired the mission, founded by the Jesuit padres and later tended by the Dominicans, and continued on our way to the lagoon. San Ignacio lagoon is one of the three main calving lagoons where the gray whales mate and give birth and is part of the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. This huge Federal Reserve protects not only the gray whales but also the highly endangered peninsular pronghorn antelope, desert bighorn sheep and other species, and preserves important archeological sites like the monumental cave paintings.
Once in the lagoon, we enjoyed lunch and boarded several pangas, the local out-board boats, in order to see the gray whales. There are very strict regulations at San Ignacio lagoon and only sixteen boats are allowed at the same time in the whale-watching area. On our way to the whale watching area, we saw numerous bird species, including eared greebes, Pacific loons, surf scoters and brants. Soon, we spotted the first whales and the experienced local drivers maneuvered around them, giving us the chance to watch our 10th marine mammal species of the voyage. Females with their calves swam around, some raising their heads out of the water and even breaching! Several even approached our boats and seemed to be as curious towards us as we were towards them! It is not easy to reach San Ignacio lagoon.. But having had the chance to look into a baby gray whale’s eye makes me feel privileged.
Early in the morning excitement could be sensed in the air, as we hit the road not long after sunrise. We headed inland into the desert on board several vans and crossed the width of the Baja California peninsula towards the Pacific coast. We got a chance to get a close look at the Tres Vírgenes volcano and its three hundred year old lava flows, on top of which picturesque elephant trees thrive. Immense cardón forests, tree yuccas and creosote bush fields were all part of the scenery. We arrived at the old town of San Ignacio and admired the mission, founded by the Jesuit padres and later tended by the Dominicans, and continued on our way to the lagoon. San Ignacio lagoon is one of the three main calving lagoons where the gray whales mate and give birth and is part of the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. This huge Federal Reserve protects not only the gray whales but also the highly endangered peninsular pronghorn antelope, desert bighorn sheep and other species, and preserves important archeological sites like the monumental cave paintings.
Once in the lagoon, we enjoyed lunch and boarded several pangas, the local out-board boats, in order to see the gray whales. There are very strict regulations at San Ignacio lagoon and only sixteen boats are allowed at the same time in the whale-watching area. On our way to the whale watching area, we saw numerous bird species, including eared greebes, Pacific loons, surf scoters and brants. Soon, we spotted the first whales and the experienced local drivers maneuvered around them, giving us the chance to watch our 10th marine mammal species of the voyage. Females with their calves swam around, some raising their heads out of the water and even breaching! Several even approached our boats and seemed to be as curious towards us as we were towards them! It is not easy to reach San Ignacio lagoon.. But having had the chance to look into a baby gray whale’s eye makes me feel privileged.
