High season in Los Cabos traditionally runs from October through May, but travel rates achieve peak intensity during the 
winter months – December to March – when thousands upon thousands of tourists flock from the frigid temperatures in the U.S. and Canada to soak up the perpetual sunshine on beaches in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
But snowbirds aren’t the only ones who think heading south to Cabo for the winter is a good idea.
During the same time period, many of the world’s largest creatures travel across immense distances (longer than the longest non-stop plane flight on earth), making their way from arctic feeding grounds to warm water breeding grounds in the coves and lagoons of Baja California Sur.
“They,” of course, are whales, and their winter migration is the reason whale watching season and high tourist season in Los Cabos are virtually synonymous.
Grays and humpbacks are the leviathans most commonly seen by those in residence at local hotels and rental properties, but it is not uncommon to also see blue whales, sperm whales and even orcas. The breeding grounds for gray whales are centered around Magdalena Bay on the Pacific Coast, while the other species continue into the Sea of Cortez.
From 2014 to 2015, a gray whale dubbed Vavara made what is the longest mammalian migration ever recorded: nearly 14,000 miles round-trip, from Russia to Cabo San Lucas and back. Varvara had plenty of company along the way, though. Between 5,000 and 10,000 whales make the journey to Baja California Sur each year.
Humpbacks are the most flamboyant of these massive visitors, prone to spectacular breaches in which they lift their entire bodies out of the water before splashing down in epic belly flops. There is no single explanation for this behavior: some speculate that these acrobatic leaps are made to rid the whales of barnacles, others that it is a form of non-verbal communication.
Whatever the reason, the high-flying humpbacks are the primary attraction during seasonal whale watching tours in Los Cabos.
Although whales can often be seen from shore, most visitors interested in up-close looks at these gargantuan creatures sign up for one of the many local whale watching expeditions.
During whale watching months, mid-December to mid-March, seemingly every tour boat in Cabo San Lucas offers some sort of whale-focused excursion, from small pangas and fast inflatables to fishing boats, sailboats and luxury yachts.
Some local adventure companies even offer hydrophones, so that in addition to the sight of these magnificent creatures, guests can also listen to their incredible “songs,” a form of language so complex scientists are still struggling to achieve an even rudimentary understanding.
But we can guess what they’re saying: “Los Cabos sure is beautiful this time of year!”
For more information about whale watching season in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo courtesy of Cabo Adventures.
Upcoming Event Calendar
November
San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June
WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4
Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12
Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12
Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12
50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18
Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20
Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 23
Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3
December
Sabor a Cabo Rural Food and Wine Tasting – Dec. 3
LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5
Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8
Sabor a Cabo International Food and Wine Festival – Dec. 9
Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12
Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March
Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24
Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25
Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28
Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve with DJ Paul Oakenfold at Blue Marlin Ibiza/ME Cabo Hotel – Dec. 31
Gatsby Theme New Year’s Eve Party at Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa – Dec. 31
January
Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) – Jan. 6
Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21
Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19
La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21
Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3
February
Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour – Feb. 10 – 11
Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14
Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced
Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced
March
Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17
El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19
Semana Santa – March 25 – 31
Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced
April
Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – Dates Not Yet Announced
NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26
Koral Pets Race – Dates Not Yet Announced
Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
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