Gray Whale Watching in Puerto Chale, Bahía Almejas (Baja California Sur, Mexico): everything you need to know

What if we told you that only two hours away from La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, there is a bay full of gray whales to navigate and meet them? If you are traveling to Mexico, more specifically to Baja California Sur, between January and March, don’t miss this experience. Meeting these majestic animals up close was one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had in our lives.

In this guide you will find everything you need to do the gray whale watching activity in Puerto Chale with practical information on the best season to go, prices, who to do it with, how many days, whale watching rules and even where to stay so that your experience is as special as ours was.

Basic facts for gray whale watching in Bahía Almejas, Puerto Chale

How to get there: The closest airports are La Paz (2h10) and Loreto (2h40), although Los Cabos airport is also 4h30 away. We recommend you to use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with dates to get the best possible price. More info here

When to go: From January to March (although it depends on the year). The best time to do it is usually between February and March. More info here

How many days: If you want to have more chances to see gray whales in Puerto Chale, or if you want to enjoy this wonder several times, it is advisable to make several attempts on different days.

Rules: Whale watching is happily regulated in Mexico. In the case of the gray whales of Bahia Almejas, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 applies. At Randomtrip we always advocate animal welfare over human entertainment. More info here.

How to do the whale watching: In a 2 to 3h boat tour with authorized operators. More info about the tours here.

Who to do the tour with: It is important to choose a responsible company. At Randomtrip we recommend Camacho’s Tours, with whom we did a whale watching tour. More info here.

How much it costs: 600 pesos (about 30 USD) for the 2-3h shared tour with Camacho’s Tours. More info here.

Weather: The weather during gray whale watching season is usually cool/cold at night and in the early morning, and sunny/hot during the day.

What to bring: Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, cap/cap…), a windbreaker for the cold at dawn and on the fast boat rides, cameras (smartphone, GoPro, professional camera…), water (preferably in a refillable bottle). More info here.

Where to stay: There are some options in Puerto Chale itself, although the most common option is to stay in La Paz, which is about 2 hours from Puerto Chale. More info here.

Language: Contrary to the rest of the tours we did in the other lagoons of Baja California Sur, here most of the tourists were nationals, so the main language on the tours was Spanish.

Currency: MXN ($) Mexican Peso (1$ equals 20$ MXN approx.). Check the updated exchange rate here.

Where are Bahía Almejas and Puerto Chale?

Bahía Almejas is located in the south-west of Baja California Sur, Mexico, on the other side of Magdalena Bay, after Isla Margarita. The most common access point to the bay is Puerto Chale, which is by car 4h30 from Cabo San Lucas/San José del Cabo, 2h10 from La Paz, 2h40 from Loreto, 1h from Ciudad Constitución and 1h20 from Ciudad Insurgentes.

Here you can see a more detailed map with the location of Bahia Almeja and Puerto Chale in relation to other points of interest such as La Paz:

How to get to Puerto Chale

The airports in Baja California Sur are the following:

• La Paz Airport, 2h10 from Puerto Chale
• Loreto Airport, 2h30 from Puerto Chale
• Los Cabos Airport, 4h30 from Puerto Chale

Depending on your goal when visiting Baja California Sur (whether you are coming for several days or just to visit La Paz and Puerto Chale) we recommend you to choose the most suitable airport for you, use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with the dates to get the best possible price.

Once in Baja California Sur, the easiest way to get around is by car (owned or rented), so you can have the freedom to move around at your own pace and avoid wasting a lot of time getting around. In our case, we rented a car at the Los Cabos airport, where we landed, for our month-long trip through Baja California Sur .

The other options are private transport, or public transport, although the times are longer and the combinations are worse.

Best time to see gray whales in Puerto Chale

The best time is usually betweein February and March, although it is possible to see gray whales from January to the end of March, depending on the year (remember that we are talking about wild animals in their habitat). Here we explain why.

Gray whale season in Bahía Almejas, Puerto Chale

The “official” season runs from December to April, but it is important to understand that we are talking about a free-ranging migratory species. Gray whales start arriving in Bahía Almejas usually at the end of December and start leaving back to the cold Arctic waters at the end of March.

During all this time it is possible to see gray whales, although the “peak” (when there are more whales) is usually in February/March.

This can vary from year to year, so there is no way to predict it exactly, but it is best to avoid the shoulders of the season (December and April) to have a better chance of seeing them.

It is also important to note that because Almejas Bay is the southernmost of the peninsula, the whales tend to arrive here a little later and leave earlier, compared to other lagoons further north. It is for this reason that Camacho’s Tours, with whom we did the whale watching activity, only does tours during the months of January, February and March.

In our case, with the main goal of whale watching, we visited Baja California Sur from February 7 to March 7 and managed to see whales at all the points in Baja California Sur where we did whale watching tours.

Best time of the day to see gray whales in Bahía Almejas, Puerto Chale

Based on data and statistics, there is no best or worst time of day for gray whale watching in Puerto Chale: it is possible to see them at any time of the day.

Whether we can see them, whether they are closer or farther away, more curious or less curious, whether they come closer to the boat, depends on a multitude of factors: the whales themselves, luck, the state of the sea, the weather, etc.

In gray whale watching what stands out the most is when they come very close to the boats, more than any other type of whale, so luck in this case is not measured by how many whales you see, but by having the opportunity to see one or some of them come close to your boat. We would even say that it is better to see only one gray whale near the boat than 10 or 20 in the distance! Although just seeing them, near or far, is a thrill and a privilege.

If you get seasick on the boat, ideally you should have a pill before, and choose the tours that leave earlier, since the sea is usually calmer, although as everything depends on the day.

RandomTip: An important thing to keep in mind before you go whale watching is to adjust your expectations! Remember that just the fact of being able to see them is a gift of nature (it is the wonder of seeing wild animals in their habitat, the feeling that you won the lottery) and it is always the whales that choose whether to get closer to the boat or not (and never the other way around).

How many gray whales are there in Bahía Almejas (Puerto Chale)?

The number of gray whales in Almejas Bay varies by week and year.

In 2024, this was the number of whales according to the official census, published here:

Date	Whales (total)	Whales with calves	Whales alone
25/01/2024	64	0	64
06/02/2024	219	0	219
24/02/2024	243	0	243
10/03/2024	40	0	40
Date	Whales (total)	Whales with calves	Whales alone

In the previous season (2022-2023) the maximum peak was 301 whales (source).

Information and curiosities about the gray whales

Here are some facts about gray whales. You can see more in our complete guide to gray whale watching in Baja California Sur, which we will publish shortly:

• Gray whales are a migratory species, with one of the longest known migratory routes among all mammals, traveling between 16,000 and 22,000 kilometers in total.
• They were hunted almost to extinction in the same lagoons of Mexico where today we can see them very closely. Fortunately, whaling was banned in the 80’s, since then the gray whale population has been growing and is not in danger of extinction.
• They are called gray whales precisely because of their characteristic gray color. In addition, especially adult whales, usually carry “complements” or the marks left by these complements. These complements are called “barnacles” and are crustaceans (you may have seen them in the shells of mussels) that cling to the whales when they go down to the bottom of the sea to feed.
• Adult gray whales measure between 11 and 15 meters, and can weigh up to 45 tons. Newborn gray whale calves measure between 4.6 and 4.9 meters, and weigh between 680 and 920 kg.
• Gray whales come to the lagoons of Baja California Sur from December to April to mate, give birth and teach their calves. Their gestation process lasts one year, and they can have a calf every 2 years.
• Gray whales are believed to live approximately 40 years.
• Gray whales feed mainly on krill (a type of crustacean) and other small organisms such as small fish and plankton. To feed, they go to the sandy bottoms where they crawl sideways and obtain food by filtering the sand thanks to their baleen. Yes, gray whales have baleen and not teeth.
• In the past, gray whales were known as “devil fish” because during the time when they were hunted, the mothers defended themselves very strongly and attacked the boats to protect their calves. Today, however, they are not dangerous and come very close to boats.
• Killer whales are the largest predator of gray whales. The other threats to gray whales are people (unfortunately illegal hunting persists), and to a lesser extent, polar bears and sharks.

If you want to learn more about gray whales, as well as other whales, sea turtles, vaquita, etc., don’t miss the Whale Museum in La Paz.

Gray whale watching rules

Mexico is a country that, fortunately, has a strong regulation and protection of whales, so whale watching activities must follow certain rules and the boats must have the corresponding official permit.

In the case of gray whale watching in Bahía Almejas, the rule that applies is NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 (if you are curious, you can read it here). Below is a summary of the rules

• The vessel/captain must have official authorization and carry the flag (distinctive) visible on the vessel.
• In the presence of whales, the maximum speed is 5 knots (9km/h), decreasing to 2 knots (4km/h) when entering the observation zone. The boat should always go at a slower speed than the slowest whale and avoid accelerating or decelerating abruptly.
• Maximum 4 boats with each whale or group of whales. If other boats wish to observe the same whale or group of whales, they must wait at a distance of 240 meters.
• The maximum distance the vessel can approach the whale is 60 meters.
• The approach to the whale or group of whales must be made diagonally, from the rear side, and the vessel must sail parallel to the whale or group.
• If the whale or group of whales stop, the vessel must remain with the engine running and in neutral position. It is at this time that the gray whales may decide, voluntarily, to approach the vessel.
• Maximum 30 minutes with the whale or group of whales, although if what is explained in the previous point happens (with the boat stopped, the whale or group of whales approaching) the time limit is when the whale or group of whales decide to leave.
• If the whale or pod exhibits evasive behavior, the vessel(s) should immediately move away.
• During whale watching it is forbidden to:
  • Harass (“Act that interferes with the natural behavior of whales, as well as forcing physical contact with them”) or harm whales.
  • Dispersing whales
  • Interfering between mother and calf, or approaching whales that are mating or calving
  • Engage in other activities such as fishing, diving, swimming, etc…. (i.e. it is strictly forbidden to jump into the water in the presence of whales).
  • Use other vessels (jet skis, kayaks, etc.).
  • Throwing waste into the sea
  • Catching or collecting wildlife, as well as bringing it in.
  • Carrying pets on board (except guide dogs).
  • Feeding whales
  • Towing objects or dragging ropes, nets, hooks, etc.

Can gray whales be touched or kissed?

This is a rather controversial topic: if you have searched for some information about gray whale watching in Puerto Chale (in Baja California Sur, Mexico) or in other areas of Baja California, you have probably already seen images or videos (either on social networks or on the websites of service providers) in which people are seen touching, petting or even kissing a gray whale.

If you read the standard that regulates the activity and that we summarized in the previous point (NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010) you will see that there is no explicit reference to touching gray whales, and therefore, probably unintentionally, it is not prohibited by law to touch the gray whale. Obviously, just because something it is not prohibited does not mean that it should be done, and in our opinion, this type of interaction should not be allowed, at least not as it is currently done.

After talking and asking questions during our trip to different people with knowledge on the subject (mostly biologists that we have met during our month in Baja California Sur), they all agreed that physical contact with the gray whale should not be allowed and that it should be prohibited, because besides being ethically questionable, it can also be dangerous, for the following reasons:

• Whales, like other species, have maternal instincts. Gray whales come to Bahía Almeja to mate and give birth, so it is common for them to be with their calves. Any approach, well-intentioned or not, can be perceived as a threat and generate violent behavior on the part of the mother.
• Touching them can expose the person to diseases (some of those associated with marine mammals are brucellosis, tuberculosis and leptospirosis), and vice versa.
• Whales have lice, which we saw at the Whale Museum in La Paz, that can cause diseases to people, as there have already been cases.

Although we could affirm that the interaction is initiated by the whale, and that this behavior of the gray whale in these Mexican lagoons is unique in the world, the impact that this interaction may be having on them is unknown. The companies and people involved defend that there is no evidence that touching them is harmful to them, but the rules do state the following:

Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development states: “In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation“.

On the other hand, even if there was certainty that touching them does not have a negative impact on the gray whales, the popularity that the activity is reaching means that, based on our experience, more than 95% of the people who come to do the activity have the goal of touching/kissing a whale. During the different 6 tours we did (in Magdalena Bay, Almejas Bay, San Ignacio Lagoon and Ojo de Liebre Lagoon) we were able to observe behaviors caused by the desire to touch the whale that were detrimental to the whale:

• On one of the tours, a person from another boat fell into the sea while trying to touch a whale, which clearly was not close enough to the boat and did not seem to be interested in being touched. The person was not wearing a life jacket.
• On another tour, a person who came on our boat wanted to kiss a whale. When she had the opportunity (which lasted a few seconds) the person ran to where the whale was, jumped over me, and pounced on the whale to kiss it, dropping her cap on top of the whale, which she quickly picked up roughly. The whale left immediately afterwards.
• On another tour, the whales that day were not particularly friendly: we were seeing many but they were not approaching the boat. One of the people on our boat was also expressing her goal of touching one. As soon as one whale came close enough to the boat, he ran over to touch it and take a photo, which caused the whale to change its behavior and leave.

These 3 cases, in our opinion, do qualify as harassment, and are therefore illegal under the rules established in NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010. The problem with allowing whale touching without educating tourists about it and without surveillance, is that as tourism increases in the area, the cases that we know are harmful will also increase, generating a tourism that is neither sustainable nor respectful of these majestic animals. As tourism increases, if the number of “friendly whales” does not increase, the pressure on captains and on the whales increases, due to the intention and objective of the people who come here to touch one.

We understand that for many people it is a dream to be able to touch a whale, but if you are reading this, we urge you to reconsider: just seeing them up close is incredible enough and you will be contributing to a more responsible and sustainable activity.

Are gray whale watching rules adhered to in Puerto Chale?

In our experience, for the most part they are complied with, and it is clear that the people involved (most are fishing captains) have respect for the animals and good intentions. Unfortunately, not always or everyone complies with the rules, there is no constant surveillance of the rules in Bahía Almejas (we were told that there is surveillance on random days without warning), and due to the culture of tips and the anxiety of people to touch/kiss the whales, the captains are pressured to perform actions that they should not, that they do not manage to stop for fear of losing money and/or lack of communication skills.

That is why it is important to hire tours with authorized operators, with good reputation and that you can verify that they comply with the rules. It is also very important that you read the rules, and give a warning and/or report to the authorities in case of non-compliance, and even share them with other people on the same boat, who may not know what the rules are.

In our opinion, it should be mandatory to have a guide on board (a biologist) to ensure that the rules are followed, explain to the people who are doing the tour what they see, and call attention in case someone does something wrong or tries to pressure the captain.

How is the gray whale watching tour in Puerto Chale?

Since these are wild animals in their habitat, there is no way to know for sure if you will see the whales or not, in what area they are or anything like that, and that is why it is important to adjust your expectations, although on the tour we did with Camacho’s Tours we saw lots and lots of gray whales, only that most of them were not curious and did not approach the boat.

In the tours of Puerto Chale the boats go out to the areas where whale watching is allowed, and they sail in search of a sign of a whale (usually a blowing), an event that can take minutes or hours (you have to be patient). There is also communication between captains to share when they see some. The tour schedule is from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and the season runs from January to March.

Once a whale or group of whales is detected, the boat sails towards them up to the maximum distance allowed. Once close, if the whale is moving, the boat can accompany it in parallel from a maximum distance allowed, and if it stops or approaches the boat, the boat must stop and leave the engine in neutral position.

It is at this moment when the magic can happen: the gray whale or group of whales approaching the boat. It is important to understand that this does not happen every day, nor in every tour. In Randomtrip we did 1 tour in Puerto Chale, and although we saw many more whales, most of them did not approach the boat, only two whales did at the end of the tour and more timidly than in other tours we did. So adjust your expectations!

RandomTip: Always adjust your expectations but according to the captains we did the tours with the year we went, if you go from January 15 to March 15, you are guaranteed to see them (you don’t know how far away they are because the approach depends on them). As always, this was our experience and the dates may even vary from year to year (and even more so with the acceleration of climate change).

If you are lucky enough to have the gray whale come close to the boat and stay, you will be able to enjoy seeing it up close. Normally the gray whales pass under the boat, “rub” or scratch against the boat (you will notice how they move it! some gray whales are bigger than the boat), come out to breathe very close to the boat, stick their heads out, etc. At Randomtrip we had the opportunity to see them up close and even film them underwater with our GoPro from the boat. It is a spectacle of nature and a privilege to be able to attend this type of encounter.

How long that encounter lasts and what happens during it will depend exclusively on the whales. It is said that if you splash your hands in the water when they are close and/or if you talk to them, it is possible to encourage them to come closer, although there is no scientific evidence in this regard. During this type of encounter, the boat should remain with the engine on and in neutral, without moving, and can stay there until the gray whale or group of gray whales decides to move away.

Keep in mind that even if you are lucky enough to have one of these magical encounters happen, it may only last a few minutes, so you will most likely spend the 2 hours of the tour seeing gray whales further away, so once again, adjust your expectations!

Observable behaviors of gray whales

These are the most common behaviors of gray whales on the surface that you will see during the tour:

• Blowing: when they come out to breathe, they emit a blowing sound that can reach several meters high and be seen from far away.
• Breaching: they take a large part of their body out of the water vertically and fall on their back, generating a large splash. This is not as common in gray whales, and if they do it is usually farther away from the boats. At Randomtrip, we were able to see a couple of jumps in Puerto Chale, but very far away.
• Spyhopping: they only stick their heads vertically out of the water, observing their surroundings. We have seen this behavior on almost every tour and it is one of our favorites, we love it when they do it!
• Slapping: they hit the water with their fin or tail, generating a splash.
• Interaction with the boat: rubbing against the bottom of the panga or its sides, getting close, sticking their heads out nearby… this is the behavior that everyone who goes on the tour wants to see and we had the privilege of seeing it several times.
• Fluking: usually indicates that the gray whale is going for a deep dive, so if we see the tail it means that the whale is leaving and it will take a few minutes to resurface.

How long does the gray whale watching tour last?

It depends on the tour, the company and the price. The shared tours of Camacho’s Tours, with whom we did 1 trip to see gray whales, lasted about 2 hours, leaving from Puerto Chale at 10am.

You also have the option of private tours of 2 or 3 hours, at the time of your choice. Departure times are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and the season is from January to March.

How many people go on the boat?

It depends on the tour, the company and the price: there will always be a captain and the number of tourists that corresponds to the maximum number of places that the boat has. Of course, the ideal is that there are not many people per boat but, in our opinion, we do not believe that there should be private tours (which there are, although in Randomtrip we did not want to do it this way) because the more private tours, the more boats on the water…

On the tour we did with Camacho’s Tours, the boat had capacity for 14-15 people and the captain, and we were full. In general, everyone was comfortable and able to see the whales, although the people in the middle (3 seats per row) depended on the generosity of the people on the sides to get a better view.

How much does the gray whale watching tour in Puerto Chale cost?

The price depends on the company you go with, the duration, the type of boat used, the number of people, etc. …. In the case of Camacho’s Tours the daily shared tours cost 600 pesos per person (about 30 USD). You also have the option of a private tour of 2h for 4000 pesos (about 200 USD) or 3h for 6000 pesos (about 300 USD).

Since it is an activity with wild animals in their habitat where the main goal is that they are respected and that it is done under the current regulations, we recommend that you do not look for the cheapest operator, and that you do some research on who you are going to do it with and their position regarding the welfare of these animals.

Recommended company for responsible gray whale watching

Based on what we indicated, fortunately the activity is regulated and you can only do the tour with authorized boats. Given that even then there are boats that do not comply with the rules, the most important thing is that you choose well with whom you are going to do the tour, and that you express when the tour starts your intentions to make a responsible sighting and following the rules.

In our case we did it with Camacho’s Tours and we can recommend them because in the tour we did, the captain respected the rules at all times. It is a family company, which has been doing the activity in these waters for years and whose goal is to respect and help in the conservation of the gray whale (as well as the rest of the fauna present in the area).

Our gray whale watching experience with Camacho’s Tours

After booking the activity with Camacho’s Tours by Whatsapp (+52 612 102 6311), they told us to be at 10:00 am on the agreed day in Puerto Chale to do the activity. In addition to sending the location on Google Maps, they also provided us with instructions on how to get there easily so we didn’t get lost from La Paz.

We left La Paz at 7:45 am in our rental car with which we drove all over Baja California Sur, with breakfast already taken, and arrived a few minutes before 10:00 am in Puerto Chale. We parked the car in the Camacho’s Tours parking lot and checked in with them. They gave us our mandatory vest and asked us to wait 5 minutes to board.

The pier is quite rustic with very nice views of Almejas Bay. There are several booths with local food of fish tacos and chocolata clams and some other booths of another authorized operator of Almejas Bay.

We boarded the boat and we were about 14 people, 15 with the captain, seated in rows of 3 people. In general, everyone was comfortable and able to see the whales, but it is true that the people sitting in the middle of the row depended on the generosity of the people on the sides to be able to see better. In this sense, it is important that we respect the rules that the captain tells us (among others) not to stand up so as not to unbalance the boat and not to take away the vision of those who are in the middle.

After about half an hour of sailing and watching several birds, we reached an area where we started to see several whale blowings, there were so many around us that it was impossible to count them! Of course, most of the blows we saw were far away, but some of them were closer and we could hear the whale’s breathing. It was incredible, the gray whales were there!

After several blows, we saw our first spyhopping, a gray whale in spy mode only sticking its head vertically out of the water, watching our boat. Happily we were able to see several whales in spyhopping mode throughout the tour and it is one of our favorite behaviors, we love it when they do it!

At the end of the tour, around 12:00, two more curious whales approached our boat and one even rubbed up against the boat for several minutes. The captain was incredible because, instead of strictly complying with the two-hour tour, he stretched the time a little longer for us to enjoy this incredible experience. Afterwards, we quietly started our way back to Puerto Chale where we arrived around 12:45h.

During this tour, the truth is that most of the whales did not approach our boat and we watched them from afar. Only two whales were more curious at the end of the tour and came closer, although more timidly than in other tours we did. In addition, this day was a bit cloudy, which meant that the visibility of the water (to observe them underwater from the boat) was not as spectacular as on a sunny day in Puerto Chale. For this reason it is important that, as we always say, you adjust your expectations and remember what a privilege and impressive experience it is to be with these majestic creatures of the sea.

Get inspired by the stories of our visit to La Paz

You can see the Instagram stories about our gray whale watching tour in Puerto Chale in our La Paz featured stories at this link. By the way, do you already follow us on Instagram?

Things to see and do in La Paz

Besides seeing the gray whales in Puerto Chale, there is much more to see and do in La Paz. Here are the main ones, you can see more in our complete guide to La Paz:

• Swim with the Whale Shark (and also visit Balandra Bay and one of its paradisiacal beaches).

• Swim with sea lions in the biodiverse Espiritu Santo Archipelago National Park and enjoy the paradisiacal beaches of the national park.

• Visit the beaches of La Paz such as Bahia Balandra, Tecolote, see the views of the beaches from the lookout points, etc.

• Strolling along the malecon of La Paz

• Enjoy incredible sunsets from the malecon, from Cerro de la Calavera or from the beaches.

• Visit the Whale and Marine Science Museum and learn not only about sea lions but also about the different types of cetaceans.

We will tell you in detail everything you can see and do in La Paz in our complete guide to La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur.

Where to stay in La Paz

In La Paz you should ideally stay near the Malecon of the capital of Baja California Sur. At Randomtrip we recommend the following accommodations, depending on how much you want/can invest per night:

• Hotel Zar La Paz (from 65$/night): one of the most economical options in downtown La Paz, close to the Malecon and with quality and comfort.
• Maar Studios (from 65$/night): if you prefer to stay in a self-catering apartment instead of a hotel room, check out these studios two blocks from the Malecón.
• Aquamarina (from 89$/night): an excellent value for money option. It was where our friends Sara and Rui stayed so we have excellent first hand opinions.
• Hotel HBlue (from 160$/night): comfortable rooms, friendly staff, rich breakfast and central location
• Malecón 1680 (from 186$/night): an unbeatable view and close to everything

• Casa Al Mar (from 268$): in the heart of the Malecón and with an entrance that does not go unnoticed when walking around, this accommodation has 4-star suites and a very good-looking restaurant.

• Baja Club Hotel (from 295$/night): if you want to treat yourself, this 5-star hotel, member of Design Hotels, is the place to stay in La Paz. Impeccable aesthetics, comfort and an incredible sunset from the hotel’s terrace bar. The companion we went with on the whale shark tour was staying here and couldn’t recommend it more, he was thrilled.

• República Pagana (from 308$/night): another option if you want to stay in one of the best hotels in La Paz with views and swimming pool.

If none of these accommodations convince you, take a look at all these in this link and remember that the prices we mention are approximate and change according to the type of room and the season.

Best restaurants in La Paz

• Taco Fish La Paz: We loved these fish and shrimp tacos. Good, hearty and inexpensive with super friendly service.
• La Carreta: we liked the shrimp tostadas and the sierra salad so much that we repeated.

• Claros Fish Jr.: another taco place that we loved and very well priced. Ideal to try several specialties of Southern Californian gastronomy.
• Made Pizza Bar: if you have a craving for pizza, go to Made, incredible quality and pizzas from the most traditional to the most original. In fact, in the same street pizzeria there are several options with several terraces and good vibes (Note that the pizzeria does not open until 17:00h).

• Paradiso Bakery: if you don’t want Mexican antojitos or local breakfast in the morning, Paradiso’s bread, juices, croissants and coffee are your best option. It was the place where we had the best breakfast in La Paz. It is on the same premises as Made Pizzas but Paradiso is not open in the evenings, only in the mornings so they share the beautiful terrace.

Recommendations to visit Puerto Chale and watch gray whales as a responsible tourist

At Randomtrip we always advocate animal welfare over human entertainment, so here are our recommendations for this activity, based on our experience:

• Adjust your expectations: If you go during the season we recommend at Randomtrip, you will probably see whales, but there is no guarantee how far away you will see them as it depends 100% on them.
• Increase your dose of patience: In our tour in Puerto Chale, 95% of the time we saw the whales far away (in social networks we show only the most exciting bits) so most of the time is for contemplation and waiting. You never know what nature is going to give you that day but remember that just being there is a privilege.
• Never ask the captain to get any closer. The captains know the rules by heart, they know the boat and the bay like the back of their hand, the changes in the tides and the wind and they have been observing the behavior of the whales for years so listen to them and do not force them to break the rules. If the whale wants to approach your boat, it will and in fact it does many times in this unique place in the world. Unfortunately, even though there are regulations to abide by, sometimes captains, in order to please clients, give in to forcing some rules because of client pressure. Don’t do it and remember to always put the welfare of the animal before your entertainment.
• Do not touch or kiss the whale. No matter how many photos and videos you see on social media touching (or even kissing) the whale, based on everything we have discussed in this guide, it should not be allowed and we ask you to reconsider.
• Be kind to other people: During our tours in Baja California Sur we were lucky to share the experience with people who lived this incredible activity from the excitement and respect and, unfortunately, with others whose main (and maybe only?) priority was a photo touching and even kissing a whale. With the aim of getting the coveted photo, everything in their way was an obstacle, so they were constantly moving from their place, stepping on other people’s toes and we even received nudges of “I’m coming!”, moving the boat and even compromising in some cases the safety of the entire boat. Don’t be this person, please.
• Be responsible with waste and resource management: Remember the unique and special environment you are in, don’t throw absolutely nothing into the sea and bring a reusable water bottle to avoid buying single-use plastic bottles.

Checklist: what to bring for whale watching in Puerto Chale

Here is the list of products that we believe you should bring for this adventure with gray whales:

• A  reusable water bottle like one of these to carry water with you all the time and void single-use plastic.
• Water proof dry bag like this one, very useful to keep your photographic equipment, cell phone and wallet safe from getting wet on the boat (whales sometimes blow near the boat or even hit the water with their fin or tail near the boat, and water can reach the boat).
• A neck gaiter like this one to protect yourself from wind and cold
• Sun screen: the sun is strong in Baja California Sur so it is a must to take care of your skin. Always look for a Coral Friendly Sunscreen, i.e. one that protects your skin without harming marine ecosystems by avoiding ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to corals. Nor that it has been tested on animals.
• A hat or a cap (like this one) and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun
• Windbreaker waterproof jacket: like this one. On the boat, depending on the conditions, it can be a bit chilly, so the ideal is to wear a windbreaker to protect you from the cold, the sun, and the water if it splashes.
• A phone lanyard: due to the wind and sometimes the jumps of the boat, it is advisable to have some protection for your smartphone so that you do not drop it (either inside the boat or at sea).
• A floating sunglass strap: as with the smartphone, it is advisable to have something similar for the glasses (we witnessed a couple of cases of people who had their sunglasses “blown” into the water and could not recover them, plus it is plastic that pollutes the sea).
• A good camera to register your adventures. At Randomtrip we carry a Sony ZV-E10 and a Gopro Hero12 Black (for underwater pictures)
• A Power bank: taking so many pictures will drain your batteries, so it’s always a good idea to carry a good powerbank. At Randomtrip we travel with these 2 (Anker 20000 mAh and  Anker 10000 mAh), which allow us to charge both our phones and our cameras.
• First aid kit: In our first-aid kit there is always a medicine against seasickness (such as biodramine for seasickness on boats), antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication (and a probiotic to recover more quickly), antihistamines, painkillers and antipyretics and, of course, travel insurance. If you hire your travel insurance with IATI using this link you will get a 5% discount

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If you travel to La Paz in the same season as the gray whales (first quarter of the year), be sure to make the trip to Puerto Chale to live this experience. And if you do it or have any questions, let us know in the comments!

Disclaimer: Camacho’s Tours allowed us to experience this gray whale watching adventure in exchange for reporting our experience here on the blog, but all opinions and information expressed in this post are our own.