12th Annual Whale Watching Trip in Guerrero Negro, Baja Sur Feb 15-18 2019

THIS is why we are going!

February 15-18 2019

A 3-day whalewatching trip to Guerrero Negro to ride out into the bay in pangas, to look at, photograph,and maybe touch a whale! The best season is from January through March.

SCHEDULE
Friday – February15

• 6:00am – Depart San Diego and head south for FUN
• Noon – Lunch and fuel break in San Quintin.
• 6pm – Arrive in GN, get hotel rooms, eat dinner and enjoy the fabulous sunset!!

Saturday – February 16

• 6:30am – Depart the hotel and drive to the whale watching headquarters, about 30 minutes away.
• 8am – Board the panga for 2-hours of whale watching.
• 10am – Repeat if necessary for more photographs!
• 1pm – Optional free tour of the salt factory in town. Reservations required.
• 3pm - Visit the "Haunted" Lighthouse, if you dare...

Sunday - February 17

• Depart the hotel for the 4-hour TOP SECRET Tour

Monday – February 18

• 6am – Depart for San Diego.
• 5pm – Arrive at the border.

COST

• Guerrero Negro is about 450 miles south of the border. Passports are required. Credit cards are not accepted.
• Gasoline: Plan on 1000 miles with side trips. At 25 mpg the fuel cost is ~$150 round trip. This cost will be split between all members in the cars.
• Insurance: Depends on the value of your car – from $30-$60 for the weekend depending on the value of your car. This cost will be split between all members in the cars.
• One place to check for insurance is here.

LODGING:

• No reservations required for the hotel which costs ~$28/night/two people/two double beds.
• Currently 350 pesos for one bed & 2 people, 400 pesos for two beds & 2 people, 460 pesos for 2 beds & 4 people, 500 pesos for three beds & 3 people, and 560 pesos for 3 beds & 6 people. (as of Jan 14, $1.00=14.2 pesos) 
• We will share rooms and split the cost between those you have in your room.
• The rooms aren’t heated, but they are clean and have hot showers and a TV.

FOOD:

• Bring your own or eat in the town.
• Most people will probably choose to eat together in town.
• The cost for food in town is ~$1 per taco or up to $6-$10.00 for local delicacies such as birria de chivo and huaraches.
• NOTE: if you are going to the cave paintings, bring a lunch for that day.

BOAT FEES:

• $45.00 for adults, $35.00 for kids, for a two-hour trip.
• You can go out more than once if you want to but you will need to pay another $45.00.
• Here is their website
• Secret Tour $50 including a sack lunch

MEXICO VISA:

• The required visa costs about ~$20 and is good for 6-months if you are a US citizen
• 3-months for everyone else.
• A 7-day free visa is also available.

COST SUMMARY:

• If the car is worth ~$15K and there are 4-persons/car and 4-persons/room – insurance, gas, room, one boat trip & a paid visa would be about $135 + food.
• With the free tourist visa the cost would be ~$115 + food.
• Warm clothes and windbreakers are a necessity!
• Without SCUBA and camping stuff we can fit a lot of people in a car.

NOTE:

• We drive directly to the panga launching dock through the salt flats of GN.
• They are a large producer of salt for export and world consumption!
• Cool side photographic spot!
• You get to see the great Gray Whales in their natural and protected environment at Guerrero Negro Lagoon and Scammons Lagoon (Laguna Ojo de Liebre).
• Here you will find the largest number of these mammals in the world.
• Many Gray Whales, are born in Mexican waters so don’t miss this opportunity to possibly touch a whale or the whale’s calves.

TIPS:

• Binoculars can help provide more detailed observations for behaviors. When viewing whales from land, 10x50 wide-angle binoculars are best. From boats or airplanes, use 8x40 or 7x50 binoculars instead.
• This isn’t a SCUBA trip, we will be in pangas.

DRIVING DOWN SAFELY - MEXICAN CAR INSURANCE

• Don’t drive in Mexico without it.
• Shop for insurance where you like but one inexpensive place is Baja Bound at this link.
• You will need to buy your insurance before joining this trip.
• (It would take too long for all of us to buy it at the border.)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

• Driving directions will be provided for the trip.
• We will also be in a caravan using Midland Walkie-Talkies between all of the cars.
• We will drive no faster than you are comfortable with driving.
• Currently the group leader has four radios available for the trip.
• Most GMRS radios should work.
• There is a beautiful divided highway toll road along the coast from Tijuana to Ensenada with three toll booths costing around $2.25-$2.30 each.

CLOTHING:

• It gets windy on the ponga while on the lagoon so be sure to bring a windbreaker and a couple of sweatshirts.
• An extra pair of pants for after the whale watching may be handy if you get a little wet in the panga.

FINE PRINT:

• PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE BEFORE FEBRUARY 8th SO CARPOOLING CAN BE ARRANGED
• With trip confirmation, a packing list and pre trip meeting date will be sent to you.
• The dollars to peso exchange rate can be up to 30% greater north of the border; details on exchanging money will also be sent.