Guide Report
Gray Whales of San Ignacio Lagoon
February 27, 2014
By: Hayley Carmody
Our new group at
Campo Cortez traveled across the Atlantic from England. They came on a tour
from Natural Travel Company with their guide Mark Carwardine. Everyone came
with the hopes of seeing and touching whales, but they also wanted to get camera
lessons from Mark. Mark is a nature photographer and every day gave a wrokshop
on cameras. His workshops were ensightful and entertaining as he showed us
pictures of one of his favorite models, the Gray Whale. Out on the boat
everyone was practicing what they had learned and spent a lot of time looking
at whales through their camera lens.
On the first day
out we had a very friendly whale. The mother put the boat on her stomach and
gave everyone a ride around the lagoon. The baby swam around the boat and
eventually worked up the courage to come pet the people. Everywhere we looked
we saw mothers and babies and the occasional mating. The last census counted 73
calves and 170 adults with a total population of 243 whales.
Our most famous animal in San Ignacio
Lagoon is the gray whale, but we also like to inform our guests on the
surrounding flora and fauna. We take people on plant walks where we appreciate
the mangroves and when the tide is right into the mud flats. Maldo and Cuco
pointed out octopi that were hidden in scallop shells, crabs running around
and the stingrays swimming in the shallow water. These experiences make people
appreciate Laguna San Ignacio for more than just amazing whales.
Lagoon is the gray whale, but we also like to inform our guests on the
surrounding flora and fauna. We take people on plant walks where we appreciate
the mangroves and when the tide is right into the mud flats. Maldo and Cuco
pointed out octopi that were hidden in scallop shells, crabs running around
and the stingrays swimming in the shallow water. These experiences make people
appreciate Laguna San Ignacio for more than just amazing whales.