We spent over $3,300, took 2 flights, and glamped for days to pet gray whales in Mexico

08.03.2024 - 16:40 / insider.com

I'm a bit of a whale-watching addict. So when I saw a TikTok of people hanging over the side of tiny boats to pet a gray whale on the head, I knew I had to find a way to experience it for myself.

After doing some research, I learned that the optimal time to visit their protective breeding and calving lagoons in Baja, Mexico, was starting in February, just a few months away.

However, the San Ignacio lagoon, which is the epicenter of gray whale activity, is only accessible through licensed tour companies. So, my husband and I booked a four-day, three-night glamping trip with Baja Expeditions, a company known for sustainable tourism.

Although the experience can cost upwards of $2,500 per person, we were able to score a trip for $1,650 each through a Super Bowl weekend deal.

We kicked off the trip by flying from Seattle to Cabo San Lucas, where we headed to the Baja Expeditions offices.

When we arrived, a chartered bus shuttled our entire tour group to the San Jose del Cabo International Airport, where we stuffed 14 people into small Cessna planes.

For the next two hours, we watched over the pilot's shoulder as he flew the plane. I plastered my face against the window to take in the incredible canyon-filled scenery, marveling at the remote version of Mexico I didn't know existed.

When we landed on the shoreline of the San Ignacio Lagoon, a Baja Expeditions employee welcomed us with bubbly.

I was surprised to find there was no warm, tropical climate, and was instantly grateful that I followed the packing list provided to us and packed a puffer jacket.

It definitely took me a second to adjust to the cold temperatures.

After grabbing our bags, we were loaded into SUVs and taken to the glamping grounds, which would serve as our home for the next four days.

Inside our tent was a space heater, a tent shower that had water warmer than most hotels I've stayed in, and bed with cozy fleece-lined electric blankets.

In the dining tent, we enjoyed a lunch of gourmet Thai-style chicken salads. I was excited at the prospect of all the included breakfast, lunch and dinner meals to come since they were included in the price of the trip.

Dressed in warm layers and rain gear, I was given a life preserver, soft-shell jacket, and knee-high rain boots.

I struggled to carry a ridiculous amount of photography equipment with me as our guide helped us into a small metal boat, known as a panga.

Soon, we were off on a high-speed 30-minute boat ride to the heart of the San Ignacio Lagoon.

When we arrived, the boat slowed down, and moments later, we spotted the smooth back of our first gray whale gliding through the water.

All six of us shot to our feet, cheering at our first sighting, while the captain and guide smiled at our