For those of you that do end up in Cabo San Lucas and the Los Cabos area for whale watching I recommend that you add on a few extra days and arrange a trip to Magdalena Bay 4-5 hours north of Cabo.  This is one of the 3 bays that the California Gray Whales breed and calve on the Baja Peninsula.  It’s here where you will not only witness one of the largest congregations of whales anywhere, but also have the chance, if you’re lucky, to pet a baby whale from you boat.  There is no guarantee you’ll be able to pet one but just being on the water with so many whales is incredible.

On my third trip to Magdalena Bay I petted a baby off and on for 30 minutes while the 40 foot long mother observed nearby.  It ranks as one of the best all time life experiences I ever enjoyed.  Seeing them is one thing but touching them is another.  The whales that can be petted are called “amistosos” or friendlies.  The Mexican government has gone to great lengths to regulate whale watching here and they are in no way harassed or stressed.  Biologists have witnessed this experience form many years but can’t explain it.

Since the best time to see them is in the morning I’d make a 2 day trip of it.  There are escorted tours by van or you can fly in (expensive) or, if adventurous, rent a car and drive.  I prefer the latter.  There is a good 2 lane highway all the way there and you need not worry about banditos in peaceful Baja. 

 You’ll want to arrange for accommodations in the Magdalena Bay area before you leave Cabo because they fill up during whale watching season.  You can do that before you go to Cabo, preferable, or have your activities director at your timeshare resort help you.  In fact, once you’ve reserved your week you can call the front desk and arrange the trip before hand.  Make sure to bring something warm to wear as the weather can be much cooler than sunny Cabo.

If you can’t pick up one of RCI’s Last Call weeks between now and February, and you’d like to see the whales next year, put in your exchange request now.  The greatest demand for Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos is between Christmas and Easter so exchange availability is limited.

There’s still over 100 units left in Cabo San Lucas between now and February 17 on RCI’s Last Call list.  If you do grab a week in paradise to go see the California Gray whales I recommend that you do a sunset dinner cruise instead of a whale watching cruise.  That way you get to eat, drink and watch sunset while the whales are entertaining you.  And they really do put on a show. 

Some stand on their head and wave their tail, others roll on their side and wave a flipper and some spy hop, or stick just their head out of the water to take a look around.  If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a breach.  Usually it’s the big males that do the breaching.  To see a 45 foot long, 40,000 pound whale throw himself three quarters of the way out of the water landing on his back is something you’ll never forget.

Don’t forget, you don’t have to exchange your timeshare to get a Last Call week.  Grab one and go see something incredible that very few people in the world will ever experience.