Whale watching trips in Cabo

[marko711]

any suggestions?

[moondoggie]

Oh please, tell us about whale watching in Cabo. We're leaving in eight days and haven't booked anything yet. Need a recommendation for a tour on either a zodiac or larger boat. Thanks.

[Ine]

I hope you also come to P. Vallarta. There we made a great whale-watch tour on the Zodiac "Prince of Whales" which belongs to open-air expedition.

Check their website on : www.vallartawhales.com.

[kelmac]

My wife and I did the whale watching(Cabo) excursion in March, and it was great. We have been on whale watching excursions in New England, Alaska..,--but in Cabo, was the first time we have ever experienced whales "breeching". What a sight!

 

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[moondoggie]

Kelmac, which tour company did you use for whale watching in Cabo? We're doing the canopy tour while in PV, so want to do WW in Cabo. Thanks!

[JohnQ]

Mark, Moondoggie???

 

In Cabo, we took the ships whalewatching tour on the Cabo Rey tour boat, which is the only large one at the dock. It was great, lots of whales that just hung around the boat just outside the harbor for the whole time. There were a couple of small cabin cruisers, small boats and a sailboat near us off and on and you can book from the dock on a smaller boat. The ship tour was about $79 or $89 each and some of those smaller ones were going for $45. Just make sure they are exactly the same. Some do not have restroom or open bar or snacks. We had the ship videoographer with us and we were in the final ship video they put togeather. Whales were close, not just diving, but just kink of staying near the surface on the side or front of the boat. We were so busy shooting photos and videos, we didn't have time for snacks. And we didn't have to ride way out to find them. We were there in the second week of Feb last year. I have a few photos on this site if you want a small glimpse:

http:jquinn.photosite.com/mexico_2004_cruise

 

Hope that helps a little. Ask more questions if you have them.

[Cessna140]

Just my bad luck here, someone else may have had a wonderful time on this excursion...........but here is my complaint. We booked this $56.00 per person tour through Princess. We went with the larger boat because we were afraid of becoming seasick on the smaller zodiac boat. On our tickets the tour times read 8:00am to 10:30am. We were on an early tender off the ship and escorted right to the boat at the dock. It was a very large boat, two decks, sort of the kind you see in the other ports , like a "party" boat . As we left the dock the tour guide gave us information about whales and why they come to the area. She was very knowledgeable and friendly. Way off in the distance we could see a couple of whales jumping and spouting. The boat tried to get to these areas but this is a large boat that can't turn very quickly or efficiently in choppy water. By the time our boat got to the vicinity, we were already straining to look at whales off in another direction. Again, we turn and try to head out that way but again we were too late. In the mean time we can see the smaller zodiac boats and various local cabin cruiser type boats in the vicinity of the whales. Finally the captain says we are turning back and he did take us back by the Arches in Cabo and we got some nice shots of the rocks. I realize that we were not guaranteed to see any whales at all and I understand that. But my complaint is this.......we were back, off the boat, standing on the dock in Cabo at 9:50am! A full 40 minutes ahead of schedule. I was not very happy with the tour ending early so I complained to the tour desk and they had me fill out a form. So, my final thought is maybe we should have gone with the smaller boat, perhaps we would have seen more. No flaming please, I am just telling people what happened on our excursion. Hope you have better luck.

Marcia

[dot73]

Did anyone see any Zodiac excursions being offered in Cabo? If so, where? Where do most of the non-ship water excursions leave from? Thank you.

[Xoe]

We were in Cabo Jan. 14, and went on a whale watching tour that was added after the original one, on a big (200 passenger) boat scheduled for 1:30, filled up. Ours was at 8:00 a.m. on a catamaran, and I loved it. We walked a short way from the tender dock to the cat, boarded, and off we went.

 

I give the whales an "A+" -- many, many doing more breaching than I have ever seen before (& I have seen many whales, Hawaii & Alaska & along the California coast), some very close, some further away. Not a long way offshore from Los Arcos, pretty much straight south from those rock formations. After this great breaching display, when our boat began to leave, 2 whales aligned with one another did synchronized "waving" with their flippers. Reminiscent of a Sea World show, except these were free cetaceans. What a thrill!

 

The boat was fine, capacity of 100 but we had only 35-40 as it was a late add-on to the shore excursion offerings -- and that was great. Nice crew members with a competent affable pilot; however, I did not care for the narrator who talked too much trying to sell us on other tours he hoped we would take with him later in the day -- bad taste & annoying, and at an ear-hurting volume on the PA system. Also I don't think he was very knowledgeable about whales; he told us very little.

 

But all else was perfect -- nice passengers, comfortable boat (with a head, which it's nice to know is there if needed), and GREAT whales. Focusing on all of that and tuning out the narrator created a memorable experience.

[JohnQ]

The CaboRey which we booked thru the Pride was a large trimaran which held quite a few but not 200. We had no problem manuevering, the whales came right up next to us and stayed pretty much there for at least two hours. We only went just outside of the Harbor at Cabo. Didn't even see another large boat around.

Zodiacs are expecially nice when you need a bathroom. We did not see any at Cabo. There were a few small cruisers and a sailboat but that was all.

[moondoggie]

We hate cattle call shore excursions, and wanted to see whales on OUR terms! You can too--and for a fraction of what the cruise ship wants for their excursions. Here's what to do: get off the boat WHENEVER you want. On the dock there will be tons of locals trying to sell you water taxi rides to Lovers/Divorce beach, whale watching, taxi to town, silver, etc. Four of us (fiftysomethings) hired a small skiff with a fabric roof and a 'driver' for $120 for all of us. He took us to the local floating 'convenience store', we bought water and sodas, and off we went for 2 fabulous hours with the whales. The boat was small enough to get up close (but without disturbing the whales, I promise), and maneuverable enough to change direction when they did. We had a great time, and at the end of the 'whaling' he pointed out beach features, rock formations, the sea lions, and some local info. We tipped him $40 because he was so good. We are all good swimmers, checked out to be sure there were four good life vests (just in case), and we all took Bonine a few hours before leaving. So, for $80 a couple we did excellent whale watching at the right price on OUR terms--you can too!

[seabreezer]

We took an excellent excursion on the Rissalena. It's a motorized catamaran that carries about 30 passengers, max. The open bar was excellent, the best Bloody Mary's ever and the lunch was quite good. The crew was very friendly and professional. We saw some whales but it's so sad how they're chased all over. I really just went along to enjoy the ride.

[dakrewser]

We took the tour on the pirate ship Sunderlund last month. An excellent trip. Once out of the marina, they turn off the engines and unfurl the sails (it's a two master).

 

Whales do run from the motorized boats so we found places to cruise in where the stinkpots would be chasing the whales.

 

WE had whales breeching both fore and aft, coming to the surface right next to us and providing more time actually looking at whales than all of our whale-watching trips in Alaska, Hawaii, San Diego and San Francisco put together! It was fabulous.

[David]

Seabreezer -- Did you do the Rissalena whale watching in Cabo? What time did it depart? We are on Vision and we don't arrive until 10, and then we have to tener in to the marina, so we probably could't catch the tour until 11. Would that work out? How much did you pay, and how long was the tour?

 

David

[seabreezer]

I think we departed around 10 AM and it cost around $70 per adult. I thought it was a great deal. If you book far enough in advance you may be able to customize your departure time - it wouldn't hurt to ask - I know they're very flexible. They have a website www.rissalena.com with more info and a contact.

[RobbieCruises]

i'm signed up for the pirate ship and whale watching in cabo. is the one you did offered through the cruise line? i'm on the oosterdam (leaving sat.)

[seabreezer]

I'm not sure who you're asking but I don't think the Rissalena is offered through the ships. We were on a land-based vacation an our concierge booked it.