From December to April, marine giants gather just off the coast — often so close that you don’t even need a boat to encounter them
By Dennis Braatz
January 7, 2026

For many people, encountering a whale is a lifelong dream – in Los Cabos, it becomes reality.

First comes the spout. Fifteen, maybe twenty meters away, directly ahead at twelve o’clock. Moments after the spray fades, the whale’s massive body rises to the surface. Just like in the movies: the arched back appears, followed gently by the tail fluke, water droplets cascading off it like thousands of beads from a rainforest shower. Then the whale disappears beneath the surface – and for the first time in my life, I have seen one. A chord of happiness, gratitude, and humility swells inside me.
“That was just a small one – just wait,” the captain calls from behind me as he turns the boat.

Only twenty minutes earlier, I boarded in the harbor of Cabo San Lucas, the tourist epicenter of Los Cabos. This region at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Sur is best known as a playground for Americans who come here to party and play golf – and as a retreat for celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, or Will Smith, who relax in their private villas. All true. But Los Cabos is more than that.

There are stretches of coastline so remote that no artificial light interferes with the night sky. Small resorts that preach slowing down instead of nonstop entertainment, offering effective spa treatments and serious farm-to-table cuisine. Deserts and oases worth exploring on foot. And then, of course, there are the whales.

Why Los Cabos Is One of the Best Places in the World to Watch Whales

Los Cabos is one of the best places on Earth to observe whales between mid-December and mid-April – peak season. I arrived in late November, just as the first marine mammals appeared, primarily humpback and gray whales migrating from Alaska into warmer waters. They mate here and give birth before heading north again.

Employees at well-located coastal hotels like Chileno Bay Resort & Residences say that on some days, you can spot 50 to 60 whales from the terrace alone.

My dream of seeing a whale has already come true, but there’s still time before returning to port, so we continue along the coast. Past El Arco, the iconic rock arch where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez and sea lions lazily bask in the sun. Past elegant white villas perched on cliffs framing secluded coves. And past relatively few other boats.

Los Cabos enforces strict guidelines to protect the whales – limiting boat size and traffic so the animals aren’t disturbed.
“There!” the captain calls, pointing toward open water. “Do you see the shadow?”

At first, I see nothing but sunlight glittering across the sea.
“Something’s approaching us, but it’s not a whale,” he says. Now I see it too –  like the tip of a spear moving closer. Then another shadow appears beside it. A pair of manta rays glides past us, weightless and silent.
“You’re lucky  –  they usually don’t come this far up the coast.”

Take note: Los Cabos is also highly recommended for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. Turtles, dolphins, sharks, and massive schools of fish are common sights –  and at certain spots, even whale sharks.

Then, in the distance, another spout –  and another – and another. Three whales at once?
“Mating season has begun,” the captain explains. “They’re starting to flirt with each other. We shouldn’t disturb them.”

Distance means protection and respect.
“Come back in spring,” he says, “when the mothers teach their calves how to breach.”
Deal. My flights are already booked.

InCabo Travel offers private whale watching tours around Los Cabos. Two hours for two people cost approximately €725. Duration and route are customizable, and pricing may vary accordingly.

This article is adapted from an original German publication by Dennis Braatz. The English version has been translated and edited for international readers.