GUERRERO NEGRO – The annual gray whale watching season is in full swing at Laguna Ojo de Liebre outside Guerrero Negro. Tour operators are reporting strong early numbers as mothers and newborn calves fill the protected lagoon waters through late March. Notably, Ojo de Liebre is the northernmost of Baja California Sur’s three major whale lagoons, It hosts an estimated 60% of the world’s gray whale births each season. As a result, it is arguably the best place on earth to observe these animals at close range.
Several licensed tour operators, including Mario’s Tours and Malarrimo Eco-Tours offer panga boat excursions from the lagoon’s eastern shore, Boats depart roughly every half hour between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily. Each trip lasts approximately 90 minutes on the water. Additionally, boats carry six to eight passengers at roughly $50 USD per person. In fact, gray whales in Ojo de Liebre are famously curious. They frequently approach pangas on their own and linger alongside long enough for passengers to observe them at arm’s length. Federal regulations limit the number of boats in the lagoon at any time and prohibit engines within a set distance of whale pods.
The whale season runs from mid-January through early April. However, late February through mid-March is considered the peak period for calf sightings. Guerrero Negro sits roughly halfway down the Baja peninsula on Highway 1. Specifically, it is about seven hours south of Ensenada or four hours north of Loreto. The town has limited hotel capacity. For example, the Hotel Malarrimo and the Desert Inn are the primary options for English-speaking visitors. Both are priced between $60 and $100 USD per night.
Multi-day guided whale watching packages are also available for the 2026 season. For instance, Whale Magic Tours offers five-day itineraries from San Diego at approximately $2,550 USD per person. This includes transport, lodging, meals, and multiple lagoon excursions. Alternatively, independent travelers can take the lagoon access road. It turns off Highway 1 at a signed junction roughly 9 kilometers south of town. The CONANP (national parks) office at the lagoon collects a 50-peso conservation fee per person.