Marine life Calendar of Baja California, Mexico

Sharks, Whales, Mobula Rays, Marlins & Orcas

Where and when encounter your favorite marine species in Baja California ?

Baja California and Cabo San Lucas offer incredible wildlife encounters year-round. From sharks and whales to orcas, mobula rays, marlins, and sea lions, the list goes on!"

While there are fascinating marine animals found around Baja California each month of the year, some species are highly seasonal, so it is best to pick your travel month according to what you want to see most on your trip.

Plan your next ocean adventure with our marine life calendar, designed to guide you on where and when to encounter Baja California’s most iconic marine species.

Here’s a breakdown of each animal with its
peak season and best sighting locations:

Silky shark in Cabo San Lucas waters
Silky shark in Cabo San Lucas waters

Sharks in Baja California

We have many species of shark throughout the months in Baja and Cabo San Lucas, which can be seen on all of our tours, including blue sharks, mako, silky, hammerhead and whale sharks.

Blue Shark

Blue sharks can be seen from April to December in Cabo San Lucas. Blue sharks is a rare species and have iridescent blue skin. The blue shark is listed as near threatened by the IUCN.

You can find blue sharks in Cabo San Lucas in the spring in both our Swim with Sharks tour and our specially-dedicated Mako & Blue Shark Expedition.

Mako Shark

The mako shark can be found in Cabo San Lucas waters most frequently from December to June.

They’re known for its gnarly-looking teeth and torpedo-like body, is one of our smaller species, but no less mesmerizing. The Shortfin Mako Shark is one of the fastest species of shark.

Mako shark can be encounter during our Swim with Sharks tour and our Mako & Blue Shark Expedition in Cabo San Lucas.

Silky Shark

Silky sharks frequent Los Cabos all year with their peak season from May to August on our Summer Shark Expedition, during their breeding season, when huge schools of sharks can be spotted cruising around.

Even if you can’t make it for summer, there’s a good chance to see some Silky Shark if you join our Swim with Sharks tour in Cabo San Lucas.

Hammerhead Shark

There is potential to encounter Smooth hammerheads in January to August, peaking during April to July, as part of our Ocean Safari.

Scalloped hammerheads can be spotted while scuba diving at the Gordo Banks dive site – a deep underwater seamount.

Hammerheads sharks are a rare and endangered species of shark, so we’re super grateful to have them in Baja.

Whale Shark

The infamous whale shark can be spotted in La Paz from November to June, and juveniles until April.

We tend to see the largest whale shark specimens in a shorter period of time, from April to June when they migrate through the Sea of Cortez during our Big Animal Expedition tour in La Paz.

humpback whale and calf in cabo

Whales in Baja California

Whales are another main reason visitors choose to check out Baja California as we have several species that migrate through the Sea of Cortez most months of the year, including Humpback, Blue, Gray, Bryde's and Sperm whales.

Humpback Whale

Humpback Whales are found in number around Cabo San Lucas, but can be seen all around Baja California from November to mid-April during all of our ocean safari and expeditions during the season.

The Humpback Whales happen to have one of the longest migrations of any mammal on the planet.

Blue Whale

Blue whales can be everywhere in Baja, even Cabo, but the best chance at seeing them is in La Paz during our Big Animal Expedition from November to June.

The Blue whale is unique as the largest known animal to have lived on Earth, both on land and in the sea.

Gray Whale

  • When: January to March

  • Where: Magdalena Bay or San Ignacio

  • Tours: On request

Gray whales are occasionally found on the northern side of the lower half of Baja California around Magdalena Bay or San Ignacio Lagoon from January to March.

Bryde’s Whale

Bryde’s whales are rarely spotted off of La Ventana in La Paz during our Big Animal Expedition, but when they do happen, it’s always an exciting day as a species that is in danger of extinction.

Sperm Whale

Sperm whales can sometimes be seen off of La Ventana in La Paz during our Big Animal Expedition, which is special since they have been listed as endangered specie since the 1970s.

School of mobula rays in Cabo San Lucas

Mobula Rays in Cabo San Lucas

Mobula Ray (Mobula munkiana)

From April to August, during our Mobula Rays Multi-day expedition you have the opportunity to see the iconic mobula rays, and sometimes even hundreds at a time!

The peak season to encounter the mobula rays in Cabo San Lucas is from May to June.

The Mobula Munkiana Rays also called Munk’s Pygmy Devil Ray, can also be spotted during our Ocean Safari and Swim with Sharks tours if you want to see other animals.

Striped Marlin Baja California

Striped Marlins & Sardines

Mexican Sardine Run

In Magdalena Bay from October to December, we host our special Striped Marlins Multi-day Expedition, exclusively dedicated to experiencing the Mexican sardine run.

Swim with a giant bait balls of sardines and mackerels and get a plunge with the Striped marlin, one of the fastest fish in the ocean !

Dolphins in Baja California

Bottlenose, Pacific white-sided and common dolphins

In all areas of South Baja California, you can spot bottlenose dolphins, common and Pacific white-sided dolphins on any of our ocean safari or expeditions, likely all throughout the year.

With their curious and playful dispositions, dolphins are always a favorite to see and to swim with while visiting Cabo San Lucas in Baja California.

Sea Lion hunting in Baja California

Sea Lions in Baja California

California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

Sea lions congregate all over Baja from Cabo San Lucas to La Paz and Magdalena Bay all months of the year.

However, the best time to see California Sea Lions is during our Sardine Run Expedition in Oct to Dec, or while scuba diving at Sea Lion Colony of La Paz in Sept to June.

Orca in Cabo, Baja California

Orcas of Baja California, Mexico

Orcas or Killer whales (Orcinus orca)

Orcas can be found in the water of Baja California all year long around Cabo San Lucas, La Paz or Magdalena Bay.

Contrary to popular belief, Orcas or Killer Whales don’t only reside in arctic waters, at least 195 individual orcas have been identified around the Baja California area.

Join our Big Animal Expedition in La Paz from April to June for your best shot to encounter orcas, or check out any of our tours with an opportunity to catch these intriguing animals as they swim along our coast.

Baja Shark Experience - Logo

Sharks, Whales, Mobulas or Striped Marlins
pick your next experience !

Baja Shark Experience is a team of professional marine experts, leading ocean safari and shark encounter trips in Cabo San Lucas and Baja California since 2016.

As a leader in ecotourism in this region, you can rest assured that you're in good hands with some of Mexico's most knowledgeable guides, paired with a desire to preserve the ocean life we're able to explore.

Our tours and expeditions in Baja California are made for all ocean lovers – from wild adventurers to photographers, nature enthusiasts, ocean professionals, and families with group sizes of no more than six people per boat, guaranteeing an intimate, personalized experience.

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