SAN IGNACIO LAGOON WHALE TRIP: Discover the Friendly Gray Whales!

A recent trip south to the Kuyimá Camp to see the Gray Whales deliver their new calves to the sea and breed yielded a very special and unique adventure. The road to the San Ignacio Lagoon, perhaps the most pristine whale sanctuary on the planet, winds down the Baja peninsula through many different terrain and foliage contrasts. One minute you will be skirting the sea, and an hour later in the midst of the desert. The Baja Trans-peninsular highway is paved and in good repair for the 400 miles that you will travel to the little ciudad of San Ignacio. The last 38 miles to the Kuyimá Camp is a typical Baja dirt washboard path, kept up properly as this is an important tourist trail to see the gray whales in their indigenous environment.

The whales annually make the trek from Alaska to Baja during the months of December to mid- April. April and May they can be seen off the coast heading back north to Alaska for the warm summer months before the cycle repeats itself in the winter. They seek the lagoons for protection while they are enabling the newly born calves to grow strong for the trip north. The lagoons are strictly protected by the Mexican authorities and any panga that enters the restricted whale occupied zone is counted, documented, and allowed only a 90 minute span of time to approach the whales up close and personal.

The whales can be seen getting really frisky, 3 males may be observed courting a single female, and that process is very spirited indeed! Cavorting around the female, the males can be seen emerging repeatedly from the lagoon and spinning sideways showing you a rare view of their pectoral fin. All the while blowing out tremendous heart shaped spouts of air with a sound that you have never heard on earth before! A deep dive will allow you to get a close-up photo of the whale’s flukes as they dive and rise repeatedly in the mating progression. The babies are very friendly, sometimes approaching the panga for a pet on the head, all the while watched closely by the whale mother. The larger whales also approach the pangas, their size is breathtaking as they peer out of the sea at you.

Once hunted by whalers, now the whales share these special moments with adventurous travelers coming from all over the world to enjoy this incredibly sacred experience. It is very moving to be so close to this mammal assembly, all the while realizing that man came close to driving the species into extinction.

In order to accommodate you, Kuyimá offers you two programs from which you can choose according to your time availability and budget. Kuyimá features a camping area by the San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Sanctuary with tent-sites and parking for your camper vehicle (no water or electricity hook ups). They also have 10 rustic and cozy thatched huts. Each cabin is designed to accommodate two persons. Both sites have a restaurant serving a delicious menu 3 times daily. The cost of the panga ride to view the whales is $40 per person. Visit the Kuyimá Camp website at http://www.kuyima.com.

Chaperoned trips available with Spanish speaking gringo Baja residents. Photo assignments also available for hire. This photo session and trip was provided by http://www.truetraveler.com/, visit the site to see more yacht, whale watching, racing and surfing videos and photos. Contact sitka@truetraveler.com for more details.

There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. Steven Wright

GillBilly Slideshow: Kuyima San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Trip

A recent trip south to the Kuyima Camp by the GillBilly down the Baja, California peninsula to see the gray whales deliver their new calves to the sea and mate. Chaperoned trips available with Spanish speaking gringo Baja residents. Photo assignments also available for hire. This photo session and trip was provided by http://www.truetraveler.com/, visit the site to see more yacht, whale watching, racing and surfing videos and photos. Contact us at sitka@truetraveler.com.

I am not against golf, since I cannot but suspect it keeps armies of the unworthy from discovering trout...
Paul O'Neil

GillBilly Slideshow: Baja Surf Photos 28

This is the twenty eighth in a series of Baja surf photos captured by the GillBilly

All fishermen are liars; it's an occupational disease with them like housemaid's knee or editor's ulcers.

Beatrice Cook

GillBilly Ceviche Peruano

This ceviche is the best you will ever have. It is from Peru and GillBilly enjoys making it every time he has friends and family over.


INGREDIENTS

* 2 potatoes
* 2 sweet potatoes
* 1 red onion, cut into thin strips
* 1 cup fresh lime juice
* 1/2 stalk celery, sliced
* 1/4 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves
* 1 pinch ground cumin
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 habanero pepper, seeded and minced
* Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
* 1 pound fresh tilapia, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
* 1 pound medium shrimp - peeled, deveined, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
* 1 bibb or Boston lettuce, separated into leaves

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the potatoes and sweet potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Simmer until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, then drain, and set aside to cool to room temperature. Place the sliced onion in a bowl of warm water, let stand 10 minutes, then drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, place the lime juice, celery, cilantro, and cumin into the bowl of a blender, and puree until smooth. Pour this mixture into a large glass bowl, and stir in the garlic and habanero pepper. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the diced tilapia and shrimp.
3. Set aside to marinate for an hour, stirring occasionally. The seafood is done once it turns firm and opaque.
4. To serve, peel the potatoes and cut into slices. Stir the onions into the fish mixture. Line serving bowls with lettuce leaves. Spoon the ceviche with its juice into the bowls and garnish with slices of potato.

What to Drink?
Wine - Sauvignon Blanc
Cocktail - Dirty Martini
Chilled Non-Alcoholic - Cherry Limeade

An angler is a man who spends rainy days sitting around on the muddy banks of rivers doing nothing because his wife won't let him do it at home.
Author Unknown

GillBilly Slideshow: Baja Surf Photos 27

This is the twenty seventh in a series of Baja surf photos captured by the GillBilly

Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting.
Dave Barry

GillBilly Slideshow: Baja Surf Photos 26

This is the twenty sixth in a series of Baja surf photos captured by the GillBilly

We ask a simple question
And that is all we wish:
Are fishermen all liars?
Or do only liars fish?
William Sherwood Fox

New! YouTube GillBilly Baja Girls Softball Video

This is a collection of Baja Girls Softball photos captured by the GillBilly

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.
Doug Larson

GillBilly Slideshow: Baja Surf Photos 25

This is the twenty fifth in a series of Baja surf photos captured by the GillBilly

This planet is covered with sordid men who demand that he who spends time fishing shall show returns in fish.
Leonidas Hubbard, Jr.

GillBilly Slideshow: Baja Surf Photos 24

This is the twenty forth in a series of Baja surf photos captured by the GillBilly

There are two types of fisherman - those who fish for sport and those who fish for fish.
Author Unknown

GillBilly Slideshow: Passione Yacht Show

The yacht Passione cruising off the coast of beautiful Baja California, Mexico. Photo assignments available for hire. This photo session was provided by http://www.truetraveler.com/, visit the site to see more yacht, whale watching, racing and surfing videos and photos.

Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl.
Ernest Hemingway