We fulfilled a dream. On our trip to Mexico, more specifically to Baja California Sur, we approached Cabo hoping to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale jump, the most photogenic and acrobatic of alll whales. We entered the boat with adjusted expectations, aware that just being there was a privilege. And then the magic happened: a mother humpback whale teaching her calf to jump before embarking on the long journey to the Arctic. It happened in the middle of the Sea of Cortez, the “aquarium of the world” according to Costeau, near the arc where it meets the Pacific Ocean. As we believe in always returning to where we were happy, we went back to try our luck another day. The surprise was even bigger when a group of adult humpback whales were curious about our boat and gave us a show where we counted up to 12 jumps in a row.

Watching a humpback whale jump this close was a dream we fulfilled in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

If you also want to live this exciting adventure, in this guide you will find everything you need to do the humpback whale watching activity in Los Cabos with practical information about 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.

Book your 2h30 responsible humpback whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo here

The whale calf learning to jump with his mother’s directions underwater. A treat on our first whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved.)

Basic facts for humpback whale watching in Cabo

How to get there: The Los Cabos area has an international airport, although you can also arrive to the international airport in La Paz (2 hours from Los Cabos). More info here

When to go: The official whale season in Los Cabos runs from December to April. The best time is usually between February and March. More info here

How many days: If you want to have more chances to see the humpback whales, or if you want to enjoy this wonder several times, it is advisable to make several attempts, at different times of the day.

Rules: Whale watching is happily regulated in Mexico. In the case of humpback whales, 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 Whale Watch Cabo, with whom we did 2 whale watching tours. More info here.

How much does it cost: From $89 for a 2-3h tour with Whale Watch Cabo. More info here.

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

What to bring: Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, cap/hat…), 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: Ideally you should stay in Cabo San Lucas where most of the whale watching tours depart from (at Randomtrip we stayed at Casa Bohemia, from 63€/night), although you can also stay in San José del Cabo, or at any of the resorts in between. More info here.

Language: most tourists tend to be from the USA, so it is common for both Spanish and English to be spoken, although sometimes the captains only speak Spanish.

Currency: MXN ($) Mexican Peso (1$ equals 20$ MXN approx.). Check the updated exchange rate here. Since most tourists are from the USA, prices are usually in dollars and you can pay in dollars.

On our second whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo we counted up to 12 jumps in a row (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Where is Cabo?

Cabo or Los Cabos is the name given to the southern part of the Baja California Sur peninsula in western Mexico. When people talk about Los Cabos, they usually refer to its most important destination (Cabo San Lucas) and the capital of the municipality (San José del Cabo). Los Cabos is also the municipality that encompasses these two places and some others. Here you can see the location of Los Cabos within Mexico:

And here you can see a more detailed map of the Los Cabos area, where you can see Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo (and further north, other tourist areas of Baja California Sur such as La Paz or Todos Santos):

In what area of Los Cabos do humpback whale watching tours take place?

While humpback whales are found all along the coast of Los Cabos, most tours depart from Cabo San Lucas, the tourist epicenter of the area, so that is where the whale watching is easiest. From Cabo San Lucas, boats depart either to the right or left, depending on where the humpback whales are sighted each day.

Randomtrip and our biologist friend and Whale Watch Cabo guide, Rui, in front of the famous Cabo San Lucas arch from where the whale watching tours depart (located right at the junction of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez) (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

It is also possible to do a humpback whale watching tour from San Jose del Cabo, although there are fewer options, and the boats usually have to come near Cabo San Lucas, so our recommendation if you want to maximize your chances of seeing humpback whales is to hire the tour from Cabo San Lucas.

If you travel to Baja California Sur during the whale season (November/December to April), you will probably be able to see them, in the distance, from the coast, if you look closely. In our case, we saw them from our car, on the road that connects Cabo San Lucas with La Paz, we also saw them at Cerritos Beach in Todos Santos, from Cerro del Vigia in Cabo San Lucas and from Solmar Beach also in Cabo San Lucas. Obviously, nothing compares to watching them from a boat up close.

Even from Cerro del Vigia (aka Monte Solmar) we saw humpback whales jumping (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

How to get to Cabo San Lucas

Los Cabos has an international airport, so that would be the ideal and fastest way to get there. From Los Cabos airport, you will be 20 minutes from San Jose del Cabo and 40 minutes from Cabo San Lucas. In case you arrive to other areas of Baja California Sur, the other airports in the state are:

  • La Paz Airport, 2h from Los Cabos
  • Loreto Airport, 6h from Los Cabos

Depending on your goal when visiting Baja California Sur (whether you are coming for several days and visiting several places or just to visit Los Cabos) 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.

Cabo San Lucas from where our boat departed for the humpback whale watching tour (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

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 Los Cabos airport, where we landed, for our one month trip through Baja .

The other options are private transportation, or public transportation, although the trips take longer and the combinations are worse. In this case, Autobuses Aguila connects the main cities of the peninsula between Los Cabos and Tijuana.

The car we rented to explore Baja California Sur for a month. (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Best time to see humpback whales in Los Cabos

The best time to see humpback whales in Los Cabos is usually between January and March, although the official season runs from December to April and the humpback whales usually start arriving in November. If you are looking for fewer crowds, it is best to avoid the “Spring break” dates, during which many young tourists from the USA in search of partying fill Los Cabos and make the atmosphere change a lot and the boat tours become more crowded.

A humpback whale (and Cabo San Lucas in the background) (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved.)

Humpback whale season in Cabo

The official humpback whale watching season in Cabo runs from December 15 to April 15, during which time companies like Whale Watch Cabo offer a whale watching guarantee (which means that if on your tour you don’t get to see humpback whales, you can join another tour – as long as they have space – for free). But it is important to understand that we are talking about a migratory species in the wild. Humpback whales start arriving in Los Cabos usually at the end of November and start leaving back to the cold Arctic waters at the end of April.

During the entire season (December 15 to April 15) it is possible to see humpback whales, although the “peak” (when there are more whales) is usually between January and March.

Whale jumping and welcoming us to Baja California Sur (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

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

In our case, with the main goal of seeing whales, 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 went whale watching.

Hello whale! First whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

Best time of day to see humpback whales in Cabo

Based on data and statistics, there is no best or worst time of day for humpback whale watching in Cabo: 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, more playful or less playful, depends on a multitude of factors: on the whales themselves, on luck, on the state of the sea, on the weather, etc.

If you get seasick on the boat, ideally you should have a pill, and choose the tours that leave earlier in the day, as the sea is usually calmer. Also, given the large number of boats departing in Cabo San Lucas (many with loud music and partying), and given that many of these only depart after noon, the first shift is usually better to avoid crowds.

The ideal if you want to maximize your chances of seeing them is to do several tours, at different times of the day. In Randomtrip we did two tours, one early in the morning (8:00) and one late in the afternoon (14:30), in both we saw several humpback whales jumping, although in the second one (the 14:30) we saw many more and much more active, with the sea much more rougher as well.

At Randomtrip we did both whale watching tours with Whale Watch Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

Information and curiosities about humpback whales

Here are some facts about humpback whales.

  • Humpback whales are a migratory species, and have one of the longest migratory routes among mammals. The ones that come to this area of Baja California Sur, come from the arctic, every year, to these warmer waters to mate and give birth to their calves (some continue further south and reach Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco and Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca).
  • They are called humpback whales because of the shape of their dorsal fin, which looks like a humpback.
  • They are present in all the oceans of the planet.
  • They are mammals. Adult whales measure between 12 and 16 meters and weigh about 36 tons. The calves, when born, measure between 3 and 5 meters, and weigh a little less than a ton; they feed on mother’s milk for about the first year of life.
  • Humpback whales are believed to live up to 80-90 years.
  • Humpback whales feed mainly on krill (a type of crustacean), other small crustaceans and fish. They eat between 1 ton and 1.5 tons per day, during the summer in the Arctic (in winter they live mainly on fat reserves). To eat, the folds they have on their underside allow them to greatly increase the capacity of their mouth, facilitating the introduction of large amounts of food and water, which they then filter through their baleen plates. In addition, they have very advanced techniques to capture their prey, such as creating circular “bubble nets” to leave their prey in the middle, which they close little by little, and then attack (as you can see in this video).
  • Humpback whales come to Baja California Sur from November to April (the winter months in the northern hemisphere), seeking warmer waters in which to mate, give birth and teach their young. During the summer months they are in the arctic, feeding.
  • It is believed that they have calves every 2-3 years. The gestation period is 11 months, and once born, calf and mother are together for a year, during which the mother is usually very protective, accompanying the calf all the time and even touching it with her flippers. After the year, the calf goes “on its own”, although it usually stays with the same group of whales.
  • Humpback whales are also best known for their songs: very little is known about them (it was previously believed that the songs were part of the mating ritual, but recently the songs have been heard also in other situations, eating and migrating). Only males sing. Some interesting facts about this are that all whales in the same “zone” (zone can be an entire ocean) sing the same song, which varies slightly over time. Whales from different zones sing completely different songs.
  • The humpback whale population, as happened with the rest of the whales, was drastically reduced due to whaling. Fortunately, today and for several decades, whaling has been banned (since the 1980s), although illegal whaling continues to exist.
  • The only known predator of humpback whales are killer whales, although their main threat is the human species (illegal hunting, collisions with boats, fishing nets, noise pollution, climate change…).
  • Fortunately, this whale species is no longer endangered today.
  • They are black, although they have white spots, a white belly, and white patterns also on their fins and on the underside of their flukes.
  • The pattern of their flukes identifies them univocally (like a footprint, a flukeprint). In fact, on Whale Watch Cabo tours (and certainly on many others) the guides will try to take pictures of the flukes of the whales sighted, to upload them to a database for later photo-identification.
  • In the upper part of their head and jaw they have very characteristic protuberances or nodules, each of these protuberances containing a hair, which connect with their nervous system. Their function or use is not known at this time.
  • It is very common to see them jumping out of the water (breaching), although it is not known for sure why: theories range from that they do it as a game to that they do it for cleaning their skin.
We continue to be moved by the memory of this moment (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

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

Humpback Whale Sighting 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 humpback whale watching in Cabo, the rule that applies is NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 (if you are curious, you can read it here). Below you will find 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 area. 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 point that the whales may decide, voluntarily, to approach the vessel.
  • Maximum 30 minutes with the whale or group of whales
  • If the whale or group of whales exhibit 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… (i.e. it is strictly forbidden to jump into the water in the presence of the 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.
A group of 3 whales approached, curious, to our boat. The boat should be left with the engine on and in neutral position (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Are whale watching rules adhered to in Los Cabos?

Based on our experience, they are mostly complied with, although not all ships comply with them (it depends a lot on the company), and much more vigilance is needed to ensure compliance.

In most cases we did feel that the whales were respected but, unfortunately, not all boats respect them (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

In Cabo San Lucas marina there is a lot of movement of boats (to go to the famous arch, to simply go out to enjoy the boat ride or party on it, there are big boats – catamarans, cruise ships -, luxury yachts, private boats, etc.), and the humpback whales are quite close to the area, although only authorized boats can do whale watching. For that reason, those other boats often approach to see them, even though it is forbidden, and without surveillance, it is difficult to avoid. In addition to approaching without permission, it is usually those other boats that break the other rules (getting too close to the whales, chasing them, harassing them…), which makes the situation even more serious.

The maximum distance that the boat can approach the whale is 60 meters. Be wary and report if you see a boat not respecting the rules. It can be dangerous and / or jeopardize the lives of all (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

That is why it is very important to hire tours with authorized operators, with good reputation and that you can verify that they comply with the rules, and not only look at the price. 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 the tours with Whale Watch Cabo, the company we chose to do the sightings with, you will always have a guide on board (with studies in marine biology) who will brief you before leaving, explain the rules both before and during the tour, will be in charge of informing you of what is happening (how to spot the whales, what kind of behavior you are observing, etc.) and even take good pictures so that you only have to take care of enjoying this privileged experience.

Humpback whale coming up to breath (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

How is the humpback whale watching tour toin Cabo?

Since these are wild animals, there is no way to know for sure if you will see the humpback whales or not, in which area they are or anything like that, and that is why it is important to adjust your expectations, although in the 2 tours we did with Whale Watch Cabo we saw several humpback whales and even a gray whale.

After the briefing, you walk to the boat in the marina and set off in search of a sign of a whale (usually a blow or in the case of humpback whales, a jump), an event that can take minutes or hours (be patient). There is also communication between captains to let them know when they see some.

Incredible experience (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Once a whale or group of whales is detected, the boat will sail 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, it must stop and leave the engine in neutral position.

Mother whale (left) and calf (right) practicing for the long journey to the Arctic (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Humpback whales are one of the most famous and well-known whale species worldwide, both for their jumps (if you are lucky you will be able to witness one during the tour) and for their “songs” (sounds they emit underwater that travel long distances), which sometimes, with luck, you will be able to hear (Whale Watch Cabo‘s boats have a hydrophone onboard, which in case there is an opportunity to listen to the whales, will facilitate the task).

Spectacular humpback whale jump (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

Always keep in mind that you are observing wild animals in their habitat, in a respectful way, which is a huge privilege, and there are no guarantees of anything. How many humpback whales you get to see, if they come closer, if they jump or don’t jump, will depend on luck, so adjust your expectations and understand that just the fact of being able to observe these giants is already a great luck.

The most beautiful stunt in the world? Yes I say so! (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved.)

Humpback whale behaviors to observe

These are the most common surface behaviors of humpback whales 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 lift a large part of their body out of the water vertically and land on their back, generating a largesplash. This is one of the common behaviors of humpback whales and the one that most people want to see. At Randomtrip we were able to see several jumps on both tours we took.
  • Spyhopping: they only stick their heads vertically out of the water, observing their surroundings. We were not lucky enough to see this behavior of humpback whales in Los Cabos, although we did see a lot of gray whale spyhopping on other tours in Baja California Sur.
  • Slapping: they hit the water with their fin or tail, generating a splash.
  • Fluking ): usually indicates that the humpback whale is going to dive to deeper areas, so if we see the fluke it means that the whale is leaving and it will take a few minutes to resurface.
Cabo San Lucas and a humpback whale slapping (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved.)

How long does the humpback whale watching tour last?

It depends on the tour, the most common ones usually last between 2 and 3 hours. The 2 tours we did with Whale Watch Cabo lasted about 2h30, enough time to see several humpback whales with their calves and enjoy the jumping show.

A baby humpback whale breaching (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

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…

Tour boats at the famous Cabo San Lucas Arch (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

In the tours we did with Whale Watch Cabo the boats had capacity for about 10-12 people, a guide and a captain, and in all of them we were between 5 and 10 people so it was ideal, since everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the show comfortably. The first tour we did was in the Zodiac (capacity for 10 people, but we were only 5 plus the captain and guide), and the second we did was in a traditional panga (maximum capacity for 12 people, but we were only 8 plus the captain and guide).

How much does the humpback whale watching tour cost?

The price depends on the company you go with, the duration, the type of boat used, the number of people….. In the case of Whale Watch Cabo, shared tours cost $89 per person (taxes included).

Since it is an activity with wild animals in their habitat where the main goal is that they are respected and that the tour is done following 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.

The most beautiful hump in the Marine World (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Recommended company for Humpback Whale Watching in Cabo

Based on what we explained, 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.

At Randomtrip we did the tours with Whale Watch Cabo and we highly recommend it (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

In our case we did two humpback whale watching tours in Cabo San Lucas, both with Whale Watch Cabo, and we can recommend them since in the 2 tours we did, the rules were respected at all times and they showed a great commitment to the rules and to the animals.

Thank you for helping us fulfill a dream Whale Watch Cabo. Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

In case Whale Watch Cabo does not have availability for your dates, the other company that we also have very good references is Cabo Trek, who are also a responsible company with the animals and the environment, and whose prices are similar to those of Whale Watch Cabo.

In Whale Watch Cabo they do a previous briefing, have a biologist guide on board and respect the rules at all times (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Unfortunately, we have to use this space to also point out a company that we DO NOT RECOMMEND to do this tour with: Cabo Adventures. It is a large and well known company, so you will surely find their advertising during your visit, and despite offering whale watching tours in Cabo San Lucas, they have a center where they keep dolphins in captivity in Cabo San Lucas itself (and another one in San Jose del Cabo) and where they offer activities with those dolphins in captivity, which in our opinion should be absolutely forbidden. Please do not give your money to someone who does not respect animals (neither Cabo Adventures, nor any other company that works with them or sells you dolphin interaction tours).

Outraged humpback whale blowing in Cabo San Lucas about how it is possible that some aberrations of animal abuse continue to exist (and are still allowed) (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Our humpback whale watching experience with Whale Watch Cabo

As we told you, we chose Whale Watch Cabo because it is one of the companies with very good reviews in reference to respect for animals and compliance with the rules, and we can attest that it is so.

We did two tours with Whale Watch Cabo. The first one we did was in the Zodiac, in the first shift (8:00), the second one was in the panga, in the last shift (14:30).

Randomtrip aboard the Zodiac about to live the first experience (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

On the first tour the day was a little more cloudy, but the sea was very calm, which made it easier to spot the whales. It was our first day in Baja California Sur (we had arrived the previous afternoon from Cancun), so we couldn’t have started our trip through the peninsula in a better way. As we left the Marina, we were taken to see the famous Cabo San Lucas arch (which sits right at the junction of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez) as well as other rock formations in the area. Our guide and friend, Rui, whom we met through another “travel” friend (he was introduced us by Tiago, whom we met in the Azores) and who takes amazing picture (you can follow him on Instagram), was telling us all the time curiosities about the humpback whales and the area we were in. We were 5 people on the boat, besides Rui and the captain.

First humpback whale breaching in the distance on the first whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

We sailed for about 30 minutes listening to the curiosities, until a gray whale (our first! in the following days we would see many more in other areas of Baja California Sur) came by to briefly greet us. A few minutes later, our first humpback whale appeared breaching in the distance, which then left for a deep dive. Soon after, another humpback whale appeared , this time with her calf, delighting us with a breaching show.

A baby whale breaching on the first whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

We had another little while of “calm”, where we saw some more humpback whales thanks to their blows, and to finish the tour we had another humpback whale with her calf, which once again were breaching several times, quite close to our boat, giving us the high point of the day. Our time was over, and we returned to Cabo San Lucas still not believing everything we had experienced.

Mom whale breaching on our first whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

As we wanted to experience more, and our friends Rui and Sara let us know that there was availability to go out again a few days later, we signed up for the afternoon tour (14:30), to try to see these majestic giants once again. We receive the briefing from Rui again, who warned us that there was going to be some wind, which will be increasing, and that the sea would be a bit rough, so the ride would be “fun”. This time we were in the panga, 8 people in addition to Rui and the captain.

About to start the second Whale Watch Cabo whale watching tour (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved.)

Once again, as we leave the marina, we observe some rock formations, the famous arch where we take some pictures, the sea lions, and we head out to where the sea is rougher in search of humpback whales. About half an hour after leaving the marina, we spot a first group of humpback whales, which after a couple of blows, disappear.

Sea lions as an appetizer to the main course of the second humpback whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

We continue sailing without much luck for another 20 minutes, until we see another pair of humpback whales, far away, breaching. We get closer, and they keep brechin and slapping with their fins. Once they leave, we continue sailing (and jumping due to the roughness of the sea) for another half hour, and we realize that we are running out of time so we think about how lucky we were on the first tour.

Flip saying hi (second whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo. Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

When we thought that this was going to be it, magic happened. A group of 3 whales (two adults and a calf) appeared and delighted us with a 15-20 minutes show of constant jumps, each one more spectacular. They even passed under our boat, very close!

We count up to 12 jumps in a row! (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved.)
This group of three whales was very curious with our boat, it was amazing! (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

After this exciting encounter, time was up so our captain took us back to the marina, where we went to celebrate our luck with our super guides and friends, Sara and Rui.

Sara and Inês, their faces say it all. Happiness after a happy afternoon (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Get inspired by the stories of our Humpback Whale Watching in Cabo San Lucas

You can view the featured Instagram stories about our visit to Cabo San Lucas here.

You can also see the reels of our two spotting tours here:

Reel of the first tour (Zodiac at 8:00):

Reel of the second tour (panga at 14:30):

Things to see and do in Los Cabos

Besides seeing humpback whales, there are other things to see and do in Los Cabos. Here are the main ones, you can see more in our complete guides to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, which will be published soon:

Things to see and do in Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is the largest tourist destination in Baja California Sur, where you’ll hear more English than Spanish, see lots of prices in dollars, and a plethora of luxury hotels and resorts. Here are the main things to see and do:

  • Visit the famous Cabo San Lucas Arch located at the junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.
  • Visit the beaches of Love (Sea of Cortez) and Divorce (Pacific Ocean).
  • Visit other interesting rock formations
  • Visit Pelican Rock Beach and snorkel (with the possibility of seeing sea lions).
  • Visit other beaches such as Empacadora and El Medano.
  • Visit the San Lucas Marina
  • Climbing Mt Solmar (Cerro del Vigía) with Henrique and his dogs
  • Watch the sunset at Solmar Beach
  • Natural History Museum
Views of Cabo San Lucas from Cerro del Vigia (aka Mt Solmar) (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

Things to see and do between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo

On the road between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, full of luxury resorts and construction, there are several beautiful beaches you can visit, some ideal for snorkeling:

  • Santa Maria Beach
  • El Chileno Beach
  • Palmilla Beach
  • Acapulquito Beach
El Chileno Beach (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Things to see and do in San Jose del Cabo

San José del Cabo is much quieter than Cabo San Lucas, a bit less touristy than its neighbor, and with a less party-like but more bohemian atmosphere. Here are the main things to see and do:

  • Visit Plaza Mijares and the church (Mission San José del Cabo)
  • Visit the Art Walk on Thursdays, where some of the streets are closed for cars and filled with art and craft sales, plus lots of atmosphere in the bars and restaurants.
  • Go to Playa Azul in the hotel zone
  • Visit the Estero de San José del Cabo Municipal Ecological Reserve
A Thursday at the Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)

Where to stay in Los Cabos

In Los Cabos you have plenty of options to stay. In our opinion, you should ideally stay in Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo, where you will have plenty of dining options, although there are also plenty of resorts in between, if that is the style of travel you are looking for.

Here are some recommendations on where to stay:

Where to stay in Cabo San Lucas

At Randomtrip we stayed in a small studio at Casa Bohemia (from 60$/night), the Morocco studio (all units have different names), very well located within walking distance of the marina and several restaurants. They have several typologies (click here to see which one best suits your needs) and all have a small kitchen and bathroom. We also loved the fact that we had parking on the property, knowing that our rental car was safe and that parking is not always easy in Cabo San Lucas.

Inês and our rental car in front of our studio at Casa Bohemia (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved)
  • Sofia Hostal Cabo (from 45$/night) in this very well located hostel there are shared rooms, double rooms and apartments.
  • Milagros Hotel (from 100$/night): rooms and suites in small hotel with gardens and swimming pool 5 minutes from the marina
  • New Terra Condo (from 120$/night): ideal if you are in a group because it can accommodate up to 6 people.
  • Marina Cabo Plaza Town & Beach Condos (from 120$/night): studios for up to 4 people in the Marina of Cabo San Lucas
  • Solmar Resort (from 150$/night): suites in a 4-star resort with 3 restaurants
  • Hotel Tesoro Los Cabos (from 150$/night): comfortable rooms in 4-star hotel with restaurant, full-service spa and a large outdoor pool with 2 hot tubs and bar
Hotel Tesoro Los Cabos. Photo from Booking

Exclusive accommodations in Los Cabos

If you want to experience Cabo San Lucas like a true celebrity, then this list is for you:

  • Playa Grande Resort: 5-star beachfront resort suites with 3 outdoor swimming pools
  • Breathless Cabo San Lucas, in front of El Medano beach, ideal if you are looking for luxury and partying.
  • Gran Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa, aka, 3 infinity-edge pools, several whirlpool tubs and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from the private terrace, ideal for lounging. Nothing more to add, your honor.
  • Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, probably one of the most luxurious accommodations in Cabo San Lucas, this 5-star hotel is located in the exclusive neighborhood of El Pedregal (where several Hollywood celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston have homes).
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Photo by Booking

Find more accommodations in Cabo San Lucas on this link .

Where to stay in San Jose del Cabo

  • Hotel Casa Ceci Inn (from 50$/night): simple rooms in downtown San Jose del Cabo
  • Desert Heart Hostel (from 50$/night): close to the art district of San Jose (and its bars and restaurants) but in a quiet area where you can relax, this hostel is ideal if you come on a budget and stay in one of its rooms.
  • Hotel Colli (from 100$/night): ideal rooms in a small 3-star hotel with the particularity of offering a free bicycle service to its guests.
  • Marisol Hotel Boutique (from 130$/night): 10 suites and studios in small hotel close to the beach and several restaurants
  • Drift San José del Cabo (from 135$/night): designer rooms in a hotel with gardens and outdoor swimming pool
Drift San Jose del Cabo Photo by Booking

Exclusive accommodations in San Jose del Cabo

Viceroy Los Cabos Oceanview Apartment. Photo by Booking

Find more accommodations in San Jose del Cabo on this link.

Best restaurants in Los Cabos

These are the restaurants we tried and recommend in Los Cabos:

Tacos at La Taquiza, Cabo San Lucas. (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

Recommendations for visiting Los Cabos and watching humpback 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 in the season we recommend at Randomtrip, you are likely to see humpback whales, but there is no guarantee of seeing them or how far away you will see them as it depends 100% on them.
  • Increase your dose of patience: On our tours in Cabo San Lucas, we saw several humpback whales but 90% of the time we saw the whales far away or nothing, so most of the time is spent in 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.
  • 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 humpback whale watching in Cabo San Lucas

  • 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

If just by reading our experience you got excited, you know what it means, so we just want to wish you bon voyage, Randomtripper! If you have any questions or want to share your experience with us, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment.

Randomtrip, about to live one of the most incredible experiences of our lives (Photo by Randomtrip. All rights reserved).

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