Why Los Cabos Is Becoming A Top Destination For This Growing Travel Trend 

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Last Updated 12 months ago

Los Cabos is mainly known for its paradisiac beaches, luxury resorts, and, most recently, its fine-dining restaurants.

But there is a new travel trend that is recently gaining momentum in the area: animal watching. 

Los Cabos is home to two UNESCO natural reserves and 25 blue-flag beaches, making this one of the most unspoiled natural corners of Mexico. 

In light of this, it is not too surprising that every year thousands of birds and marine mammals migrate here to reproduce and enjoy the warm weather. 

But which species can be spotted here, where should tourists head to, and why is October one of the best months for this popular travel trend? 

More and more turtles hatching every year

According to a recent article by Mexico News Daily, this year, experts recovered double the amount of turtle eggs compared to last year. 

This great news can be attributed to the hard work of the Sea Turtle Protection Network, which supervises the wellbeing of these fascinating animals. 

In a recent interview, the Sea Turtle Protection Networks’ representative, Carlos Villalobos, declared that this year, roughly 2,500 hatchlings have been released into the sea. On top of this, almost 2,000 nests have been protected from predators and other threats in the Los Cabos area. 

This means that spotting a sea turtle in this municipality is now becoming easier for snorkeling enthusiasts. 

The whale watching season is here

Apart from sea turtles, visitors in Los Cabos now have the opportunity to see the largest mammal species on Earth, whales. Some of the species migrating to Baja California Sur every autumn include humpback whales, orcas, gray whales, fin whales, and blue whales.

With the arrival of the fall season, these gentle giants approach the beaches of Baja California Sur, putting an end to a 12,500-mile-long journey started in the Arctic. 

The best place to spot whales is, without a doubt, Magdalena Bay. Located about 200 miles north of Los Cabos, this area is known for being a breeding lagoon for gray whales. 

Here, these giant mammals often come to the surface to showcase their calves and play with visitors.

Lopez Mateos is another popular area among whale watchers, but there are also a few beaches in the Los Cabos municipality where these marine mammals can, at times, be spotted from the shore. These include Santa Maria Beach and Chileno Beach. 

UNESCO Natural Reserves for birds watching 

The Los Cabos municipality is also the ideal place for bird watchers. One of the best places to spot these fascinating animals is in the San José del Cabo’s estuary. In particular, in the Reserva Ecológica Municipal. 

Here, people can spot all kinds of birds, ranging from frigate birds to white herons, red-tailed hawks, sparrow hawks, and more. 

Another great area for bird watching is the Cabo Pulmo National Park, home to a vast range of bird species, including the greater roadrunner, the belted kingfisher, and the red junglefowl. 

Los Cabos also features another UNESCO natural reserve, La Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra La Laguna. This natural reserve has the perfect ecosystem for white-winged and collared doves, hawks, owls, and vultures. 

Swimming with whale sharks

But watching animals from far away is not enough for some visitors. Luckily, Los Cabos has something to offer for these tourists too, as people here have the possibility to dive in the water and take a close look at the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. 

Despite their scary names, whale sharks are docile creatures feeding on plankton and other small sea creatures. Averaging between 18 and 22 feet in length, these marine animals tend to gather in Baja California Sur with the arrival of the fall.

Los Cabos’ whale shark season officially starts on October 1st, when 200 boats take to the sea around La Paz to give tourists the chance to swim with these majestic animals. 

One of the best areas to swim with whale sharks is the Isla Espíritu Santo, where people will also find other marine animals, such as sea lions.