James Dorsey Trip

See the Lagoon Through a Storyteller’s Eyes

Award-winning author, explorer, and cetacean naturalist James Michael Dorsey spent more than two decades returning season after season to San Ignacio Lagoon. As a resident naturalist, he came to know its gray whales, local families, natural history, and the remarkable stories that make this sanctuary unlike anywhere else in the world.

On this special journey, James brings those experiences to life in the very place where they unfolded. Between whale watches and during relaxed evenings at Campo Cortez, guests will hear personal stories from his years at the lagoon, learn about the individual whales and people who inspired his writing, and discover the deeper history of one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife sanctuaries.

James has written hundreds of essays and contributed to publications including the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Lonely Planet, BBC Travel, BBC Wildlife, and Hidden Compass. His work blends natural history, environmental awareness, and personal storytelling with an enduring fascination for the connections that can form between people and wild animals.

This is more than an author presentation added to a whale-watching trip. It is an opportunity to experience San Ignacio Lagoon alongside a gifted storyteller whose life and writing have been profoundly shaped by it.

Part memoir, part natural history, and part celebration of a remarkable place, 'The Lagoon' shares James’s experiences with the gray whales and people of San Ignacio Lagoon.

The book explores the whales’ migration, behavior, and history while telling the stories of memorable encounters and the individuals who have devoted their lives to this remote sanctuary. It also considers the importance of protecting the lagoon and what our relationships with wild animals can teach us about the natural world.

Guests are encouraged to read the book before traveling, although it is not required. Copies will also be available at Campo Cortez.

The book was published in 2023 and draws on James’s decades of experiences as a resident naturalist at the lagoon.

Six Opportunities for a Remarkable Encounter.

San Ignacio Lagoon is a protected winter breeding and nursery area for Pacific gray whales. Mothers and calves rest in the sheltered waters before beginning their long migration north.

During your stay, you will participate in six whale-watching excursions—one in the morning and one in the afternoon on each of your three full days at the lagoon.

Our small pangas are operated by experienced local captains who have spent decades navigating these waters and observing gray whale behavior. A Baja Ecotours naturalist accompanies each excursion to help guests understand the whales, the lagoon, and the surrounding ecosystem.

The gray whales of San Ignacio Lagoon are known for their curiosity. At times, they may approach the boats closely or remain nearby for extended periods. Every experience is different, and all encounters are initiated by the whales themselves.

Our captains and guides follow the lagoon’s wildlife-viewing regulations and allow each whale to determine the distance and nature of the interaction.