The Baja peninsula is home to some incredible wildlife, from endemic species to unique experiences where visitors can get up-close-and-personal with animals in the wild. Here are some of our favorite wildlife experiences on the peninsula.
Gray Whales
One of the most incredible natural wonders on the Baja peninsula is visiting with the gray whales that come to the warm lagoons of Baja California Sur to breed and give birth every winter. Every October, the gray whales of the Pacific begin a two-to-three-month migration from the cold Alaskan seas to the warm waters of Baja California. At nearly 14,000 miles round-trip, it is the longest annual migration of any mammal. The gray whales travel to the warm lagoons of Baja California Sur to mate and give birth to their calves.
From January to April, tourists travel from all over the world to visit Baja and see the gray whales. Weighing up to 40 tons and measuring nearly 50 feet long, the gray whales are gentle giants of the ocean. Seeing them in Baja is not your typical whale watching experience. In addition to putting on a show for humans by spy hopping, breaching and spouting, the gray whales of Baja actually seek out human contact and will come right up to the whale watching boats. Often mother whales will push their young calves right up to the boats so that people can pet, hug and kiss the baby whales. It’s a uniquely thrilling and unforgettable experience.
Where to See Them: Laguna San Ignacio, Ojo de Liebre (Guerrero Negro), or Bahía Magdalena
When to See Them: late January-mid April
How to See Them: Because whale watching is highly regulated, you’ll need to go out with a certified operator. Whale watchers are taken out in smalls groups of 6-8 people on pangas (small fishing boats) in order to get up-close and personal with the whales. In some places, you can show up the morning of for a quick day trip, in other places, reservations must be made in advance for multi-day packages. For more information on whale watching in Baja, visit our Gray Whale Page. If you want a fully curated experience, Baja Custom Tours is offering 2025 all-inclusive Gray Whale Tours.
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks are the world’s largest fish and grow up to lengths of 40 feet and can weigh over 21 tons. With extremely large mouths, whale sharks are filter feeders and are of no harm to human beings. These docile creatures are harmless to humans and are impressive to see up close in real life. To swim, snorkel, or kayak with the whale sharks is one of the peninsula’s unique treats.
Where to See Them: In the southern Sea of Cortez: La Paz, Bahía de los Angeles, Bahía Concepción
When to See Them: The whale sharks are present year-round in La Paz but are seasonal father north in Bahía Concepción and Bahía de los Ángeles where they are generally present middle of summer to fall, depending on the weather and year.
How to See Them: Tour operators in each location will be able to take you on excursions (usually early morning when the water is the most calm) to swim, snorkel, or kayak with the whale sharks. Try Fun Baja in La Paz, El Burro Baja Tours in Bahía Concepción , or Ricardo’s Diving Tours in Bahía de los Angeles. Read Graham Mackintosh’s article about going out on your own to visit the shale sharks in Bahía de los Ángeles.
Berrendo
The berrendo pronghorn were once abundant in Baja, but now only exist in the Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve area. The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere and can sustain running at high speeds longer than cheetahs. There are five pronghorn subspecies and the Antilocapra americana peninsularis in Baja are in critical danger of going extinct. It’s estimated that there are only 150 berrendos left in Baja. The San Diego Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo are working to reestablish the berrendo in protected areas of Baja California.
Where to See Them: There’s a Berrendo Station conservation park just north of Guerrero Negro off of highway Mexico 1 near the airport where you can see the berrendos.
When to see them: Year-round
How to See Them: You can stop by on your own to see the berrendo at the Berrendo Station conservation park. Admission is free. The berrendos will come up near the fence and visitors can observe the animals. There’s also a Berrendo museum, the Museo del Berrendo Peninsular (MUBE) at the station. Read our article for more information about berrendos and the berrendo station.
California Condors
More than ten thousand years ago, the California condor was found all along the west coast of North America from Canada to Baja California. By 1982, only 22 condors survived in the world. Hunting, lead and pesticide poisoning, power line collisions and consuming garbage led to the demise of the population. The condors had been gone from Baja California since the 1950s.
In August 2002, five condors were transferred to Sierra San Pedro Mártir as a program to reintroduce the species to the wild. The San Diego Zoo manages the recovery program, working with Mexico’s National Commission for Natural Protected Areas and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As of 2024, there were 561 condors living worldwide.
Condors are often found in groups and can fly 160 miles in a day. As the largest North American land bird, the condors have a wingspan of 9.5 feet and can weight up to 25 pounds. They mate for life and lay one egg every two years. The condors living in the San Pedro Mártir have become used to humans and are therefore easy to observe and photograph.
Where to see them: Sierra de San Pedro Mártir Parque Nacional
When to see them: Year-round
How to See Them: Just before the entrance to the Parque Nacional Sierra de San Pedro Mártir is a lookout where California condors congregate. You’ll find some of the endangered birds perched on top of granite rocks and can watch as they soar over the valley.
Sea Lions
The playful sea lions of Baja are a fun and enjoyable experience for divers, snorkelers, and swimmers in the Sea of Cortez. The sea lions are interactive with visitors, playfully swimming around and nibbling on fins.
Where to see them: While found in various places around the Sea of Cortez, the most famous spot to see them is on the islands off of La Paz. Part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the islands of Isla Espíritu Santo and Isla Partida are home to an incredible amount of marinelife including a large colony of sea lions (nearly 500) at Los Islotes, a a small craggy outcrop just past Isla Partida.
When to See Them: October through March is considered the best season for visiting Los Islotes. From June 1 to August 31 CONANP (Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales protegidas, Natural Protected areas Department) restricts snorkeling and diving at the site due to mating season. During this time, you can still swim with the sea lions at other nearby areas such as San Rafaelito, a small islet home to another sea lion colony.
How to See Them: There are plenty of boat and tour operators around La Paz. For a cheaper price, you can go out to Playa Tecolote and arrange with one of the local pangueros to take you out to the islands. For a truly unique experience, stay with Todos Santos Eco Adventures at their Camp Cecil or Camp Cuevas where you’ll get to glamp on the islands and have hands-on experiences with the nature of the region.