San Ignacio Lagoon Gray Whale Ecolodge for Self-Arrivals
San Ignacio Lagoon Gray Whale Watching Up Close
Join us at Campo Cortez Ecolodge located at San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California, Mexico. Campo Cortez is located at the end of the road on the remote shores of San Ignacio Lagoon where Gray Whales end their winter migration to mate and give birth. This is the last untouched and undeveloped Gray Whale Sanctuary on the planet which is located in the heart of Mexico’s largest protected area El Vizcaino Reserve. There is no other location like it where we encounter Mother Gray Whales approaching our boats encouraging us to scratch, pet and make contact with their newborn Gray Whale Calves. A truly indescribable and touching experience. Over the years, this behavior has become a regular occurrence only at San Ignacio Lagoon. Campo Cortez Ecolodge is one of the best locations at San Ignacio Lagoon and is a low impact, sustainable way to come and experience this life changing event with one of San Ignacio Lagoon’s first families that run and operate The Ecolodge Campo Cortez.
For the avid Baja traveler or those with a sense of adventure we offer a self-arrival program to Campo Cortez Ecolodge at San Ignacio Lagoon. Whether you arrive by automobile, bus, or private plane you’ll enjoy the hospitality and comfort of our all-inclusive, secluded Ecolodge on the shores of San Ignacio lagoon - with all meals, beverages, kayaking, natural history excursions and two Gray Whale tours daily. Our “off the grid” solar and wind powered Ecolodge offers all-inclusive amenities. Your days are spent whale watching and exploring, while evenings are spent in the company of our local San Ignacio Lagoon resident staff in the Ecolodge discussing the day’s events and enjoying informal lectures from our staff and resident experts. Gray Whale Watching at San Ignacio Lagoon has never been better due to our location, fleet of our own boats and our local staff that live at the lagoon and are generous ambassadors of the Baja Gray Whale experience.
BEACHSIDE CABINS
Our waterfront cabañas come equipped with solar electricity, comfortable beds and are well protected from the wind and elements. Wind and weather are often an issue at San Ignacio Lagoon, and our sturdy, functional waterfront cabins are the best source of comfort with modern amenities while having a low impact to the region. All cabañas are supplied with fresh linens, pillows, shelves along with countertop space, small desk, and mirrors. They are cozy, efficient and leave a small footprint on the land while keeping with local Biosphere Regulations.Special Accommodations:
If you have any special needs, let us know and we will do everything we can to make your stay comfortable. If you use a CPAP machine, we have two cabins that provide power throughout the night to CPAP devices.| CAMP SCHEDULE | ACTIVITIES | |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 am: | Coffee, cereals, fruit | • Guided tide pool exploration and critter hunts • Guided kayaking* excursions to mangroves • Naturalist led excursions and lectures • Up close whale observation and petting • Happy hour and incredible sunsets • Gray whale boneyard • Beach combing and stargazing • Bird watching |
| 8:00 am: | Hot breakfast | |
| 8:45 am: | Whale watching | |
| 12:00 pm: | Lunch | |
| 2:00 pm: | Whale watching | |
| 5:30 pm: | Happy hour | |
| 6:30 pm: | Dinner | |
| 9:00 pm: | Lights out-Palapa (Baja Midnight) |
*Camp Schedule WILL vary day to day based on tidal movements and weather.
*Kayaking is dependent upon the tide. Camp guides will lead kayaking trips.
CAMPO CORTEZ PRIVATE ECOLODGE AT SAN IGNACIO LAGOON
Seemingly perched on the edge of civilization, Campo Cortez Ecolodge offers modern amenities that are clean, comfortable, and low impact on the environment. Campo Cortez is a completely off the grid solar and wind powered community located at one of the remotest and undeveloped places at San Ignacio Lagoon. Constructed from local materials and by traditional building methods, our palapa is the gathering point for all our daily activities and meals. Powered by a modern solar and wind generation system, our electrical system provides 110 ac or 12-volt DC power for all your charging needs. You can charge your phone, video camera or camera batteries anytime in the dining palapa or your cabin during the day. Our facilities include hot showers, flushing marine toilets, and numerous hand washing stations. Additionally the camp maintains a cellular antenna for connectivity to the outside world. .Always available in the palapa are:
- Book and video library of Baja and marine mammals & plants
- Television to view our daily videos and presentations
- Science and weather monitoring station
- Sodas, beer, and wine
- Fresh drinking water
- Coffee and hot tea
- Snacks and fruit
As a Self-Arrival guest, you have a variety of options. You can join us on your own travel dates during our dates of availability or you can also join one of our scheduled guided trips during the same dates of travel at Campo Cortez Ecolodge. Getting to San Ignacio Lagoon is not always a quick and easy task, so we’ll help you with your itinerary and options for other activates in the area.
| 2023 Self-Arrival Trip Fees | |
|---|---|
| Item | Amount |
| Daily Fee (all inclusive) | $375.00 USD Daily per guest (2 day minimum) |
| Single Supplement Fee (if available) | $75.00 USD Daily |
| Vizcaino Biosphere Entry Fee: | $12.00 USD Daily |
| Self Arrive 4 day/night during Tour | Self Arrive 4 day/night during Tour $2,295.00 USD pp (join guided trip at Campo Cortez) |
| Self-Arrival Dates and Availability | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Arrivals: January and February | January 15 thru February 07 (two day minimum) | |||
| Self-Arrive During any Guided Trip: (5 day air or 8 day trip at Campo Cortez) | Arrive in your own vehicle and join any of our 5 or 8 day trips. Space is limited for this option and restrictions apply & only when space is available. Permitted when staying same dates as one of our guided 5 or 8 day tours at the Ecolodge: (4 day/night stay) | |||
| Self-Arrivals: March and April | Self-Arrivals: March and April March 16 thru April 10 (two day minimum) | |||
We are consistantly rated the #1 Travelers’ Choice on Trip Advisor year after year for one reason, our Staff and Owners - who are residents and locals to San Ignacio Lagoon. We are four generations of family living and working in the lagoon since the settlement of San Ignacio Lagoon. We take pride in our efforts at our Ecolodge to have a low-impact environmentally and the responsibility that we carry as Ambassadors to the lagoon and its many wildlife residents.