Nature

Whales in Cabo Corrientes: when, where and with whom

2026-09-04 · 2 min read

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Every winter humpback whales come down from the cold water of the North Pacific into Banderas Bay to calve. The calves are born here, in warm and relatively sheltered water, and spend their first weeks learning to breathe and swim before the trip back.

The dates are not an estimate

The whale watching season in Banderas Bay has official dates published in Mexico's federal gazette: December 8 to March 23.

That is not brochure copy. Outside that window the activity is not authorised, and operators who go out anyway are doing so illegally.

Why it matters who takes you

Running a whale watching trip requires a current permit and a certification course. The rules exist because a whale with a calf is a vulnerable animal: there are minimum distances, maximum time alongside a group, limits on how many boats may approach at once, and a ban on cutting across their path.

When we go out from Chimo, we go with someone who holds the permit. It takes more coordinating and sometimes costs more. It is also the difference between watching whales and harassing them.

What it looks like from here

Chimo sits at the southern end of the bay, almost at the cape itself. That position has a practical advantage: the whales come and go past it. In season it is not unusual to see them from the terrace of the house, without getting on a boat at all, especially early when the water is flat.

You hear the blow first. Then you look for the fin.

When to book

December through March is high season across the whole bay, and the New Year dates go months ahead. If you are coming for the whales, the sensible time to hold your dates is September or October.

And an honest caveat: these are wild animals. The season is the season, but no single day is guaranteed.

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