Los Cabos
Whale watching in Los Cabos: season dates, prices and what you will see
The regulated whale watching season in Los Cabos runs 15 December to 15 April, with January through March the peak. Trips cost $50–$95 per person for a two to three hour boat tour, and gray and humpback whales are the two species you are most likely to see. Mexican law requires boats to stay 60–80 metres from the animals.
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Key facts
- Official season
- 15 December – 15 April
- Peak months
- January, February, March
- Typical price
- $50–$95 per person
- Typical duration
- 2–3 hours
- Legal approach distance
- 60–80 metres (200–250 feet)
- Species regularly seen
- Gray whale, humpback whale
Eight whale species transit Los Cabos across a season and as many as 5,000 individual animals pass through the area annually, but two account for almost every sighting a visitor will have. Gray whales come down from the Arctic to calve; humpbacks come to breed and are the ones that breach, which is why they dominate the photographs.
The season is federally regulated and the dates are fixed: 15 December to 15 April. Whales are frequently in local water from early November and linger into late April, but no permitted operator will run a whale tour outside the official window.
February is the single strongest month. January and March are close behind. By the first week of April sighting rates are still good but declining, and after 15 April the tours simply stop.
Best based in Cabo San Lucas. Season: 15 December – 15 April; peak January–March.
Whale watching in Los Cabos: common questions
When is whale watching season in Cabo San Lucas?
15 December to 15 April. That is the federally regulated season and no permitted operator runs tours outside it. January through March is the peak, and February is the most reliable single month.
How much does whale watching cost in Cabo?
$50–$95 per person for a standard two to three hour boat tour. Small-boat and photography-focused trips run higher, $120–$180. Large catamaran tours are cheapest but give the worst viewing angles.
Are you guaranteed to see whales in Cabo?
No operator can guarantee wildlife, but most reputable ones offer a free repeat trip if you see nothing. During January to March, a tour that sees no whales at all is genuinely rare. Ask for the guarantee in writing before you pay.
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