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A group of people hired a van, and rode 40k over a bumpy, dusty road to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja Mexico. We then, climbed into a panga (open boat) and motored into the middle of the lagoon. The purpose of this abuse is to watch the California Grey Whales who are here to give birth and teach their young before they head for the grueling journey back to Russia and Alaska. Here they will spend their time feeding and gaining weight for the next trip to Mexico. We watched whales surface and blow with many dolphins romping about for about an hour. Then, one mother whale approached us with her baby. We all had the opportunity to pat the calf and mother.

Amazing whale watching video from La Paz, Mexico. Visit Monster Tope (www.monstertope.com) for more great pictures, videos and stories from La Paz, Mexico.

Hervey Bay is only three hours drive north of Brisbane, so you can choose to drive from there and have transport to explore the local area.

However, for people coming from interstate or internationally major airlines including Qantas and Virgin Blue offer daily services from selected capital cities. There is also a regular coach services operated by Greyhound Pioneer that departs daily from either the Sunshine Coast, or Brisbane. Queensland rail also service the town from major outlying areas including Rockhampton and Cairnes, so if you’re already in the region there are many transport options to get you where you need to be.

Apart from taking a sightseeing cruise, there are other activities that tourists may wish to discover in the picturesque coastal city. These may include any number of water sports including swimming, fishing, scuba diving, sailing and kayaking. There are also many dry land activities to choose from such as mini golf, visiting the aquarium, seeing the wildlife park or perhaps the model railway. Your visit can be as active or as relaxed as you want it to be. There are also many free activities for the budget conscious traveller. To see the humpbacks it is best to visit during peak season around July, but otherwise the weather is perfect year round making for a fantastic holiday destination any time.

Cape Cod is only a short drive away from New York.

The best whale watching areas are:

• Southeast Alaska – especially the area known as ” The Inside Passage “.  Juneau is one of the better known departure points.  Includes Angoon, Craig, Elfin Cove, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway and Wrangell.
•  South Central – the Gulf of Alaska, Resurrection Bay, Kachemak Bay and Kodiak Island. Here you’ll find Blue Whales, especially in July and August. Seward is a famous departure point in this area, as is Kodiak Island. Includes the cities of Homer, Seward, Kenai, Kodiak, Valdez and the area of Turnagain Arm.
  • What makes Seward popular is its road access to the Seward Highway, meaning that a bus service is available to tourists. It is also  the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad, making it a primary end point for north-bound cruise ships. There is an airport used by sight-seeing aircraft, but there are flight connections to Anchorage International Airport.
  • Kodiak Island with its nutrient-rich waters is a great area to watch: Fin, Minke, Sei, Humpback  and Grey Whales. The Grey Whales begin their migration in April, with the Humpbacks arriving in June.
  • For kayaking, Hoonah is a good departure point for seeing Humpbacks.
• Bering Sea – the areas north of the Alaska Peninsula, including the Aleutian Islands, Bristol Bay, Pribilof Islands and Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. Blue Whales are being seen in ever-increasing numbers, especially around the Aleutian Islands.

Juneau, Alaska Whale Watching

This standard luxury trip lasts four hours, including van travel, which gives you plenty of time to view whales as well as look for other animals like orcas, bears, sea lions, eagles, and porpoises, all while viewing the incredible scenery that Southeast Alaska has to offer. The trip includes all transportation costs from the downtown Juneau to Auke Bay and back.

Whale watching trip in May 2006, near Orcas Island, Washington. J-pod swims right by the boat. A longer, higher resolution version is available at www.zievid.com

Whale watching off Vancouver. Ruffles (J1) and his entourage.

Whale Watching in Australia is an amazing experience! So if you cant make it here, just watch my video. Hervey Bay Australia Sept 2006.

Aztec Adventures, the outdoor program at San Diego State University, takes you on a "trip of a lifetime!"