CC BY-SA 3.0, AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia CommonsSeasonal· San Blas· Mexico
Humpback Whale Season (Nayarit)
21° 2.4′ N · 105° 18.0′ W · approximate
Each winter, humpback whales migrate to the warm waters off Nayarit and Banderas Bay to mate and give birth. Breaches, tail slaps and singing are part of daily life on passage from Mazatlán to Punta de Mita, along with occasional grey, blue and sperm whales and orcas.
Practical
Best mid-December to the end of March (Riviera Nayarit tourism). Tours run from Guayabitos, San Blas and Banderas Bay. Under sail, keep a lookout, slow down when you see blows, and don't approach mothers and calves. Humpbacks remain a protected species. Cruisers report whales on the run into Chacala and close to the Isla Isabela anchorage. Coordinate is nominal (Jaltemba Bay offing).
Best for
Whale encounters on coastal passages
Season
Mid-Dec to end of Mar
Nearby
- Los Ayala–Punta Raza Trails (Playa del Toro)0.9 NM away
- Restaurante Pineda (Rincón de Guayabitos)1.4 NM away
- Isla del Coral Day Anchorage (Jaltemba Bay)1.7 NM away
- Isla del Coral Snorkel1.7 NM away
- Rincón de Guayabitos Anchorage (Jaltemba Bay)1.7 NM away
- Playa Rincón de Guayabitos1.9 NM away
- El Amigo Vargas (Rincón de Guayabitos)2 NM away
- La Peñita Thursday Tianguis3 NM away