San Ignacio Lagoon - Petting Grey Whales

In 2002 my friend Jim Dorsey and his wife Irene talked my wife and I to come down to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja to pet grey whales.  I did not believe him at first that you could actually pet grey whales.  While I joked that my first encounter with these beautiful creatures was to exclaim that they feel just like chicken, the experience of actually touching one of the largest animals on earth can turn anyone into a zealot regarding living as one with other creatures.  It was a life affirming experience.  Therefore I decided that I needed to have my son Darrow and daughter Sasha experience this. 

Therefore in April 2006 once again, along with my friends son and his dad, we took off to San Ignacio lagoon.  This involves a 14 hour bus ride and a 2 hour van ride (not counting for 2 flat tires along the way) to an eco camp (www.bajaecotours.com) for whale watching and petting.  As my kids are older this was probably one of the last chances for a vacation with the 3 of us.  I heard complaining about the trip down and how hard it was, but after that first encounter with a whale it quickly disappeared. 

We had an amazing time petting grey whales and had an incredible encounter with a mom and her baby.  Mom, twice the size of our little 15 foot panga boats swam and spun underneath us in an underwater ballet while we splashed and petted her baby.  Not once was there any fear as both man and animal new the other meant no harm. 

We also took a mule ride up into a canyon to see cave paintings.  What is interesting is that this high up the Mountain there are drawings of whales.  Also, these paintings are hundreds of years old, yet they portray people wearing pants.  It gives you something to think about (CLICK HERE to see them!) I think we all came away from the trip a little more in tune with nature and the need to protect and save our environment. 

As I told my kids afterwards, “you may have complained but any amazing experience usually takes some amount of inconvenience or sacrifice or else everyone would be able to do it.  Walk into a room I told them and ask anyone who has petted a grey whale to raise their hand.  I bet you will be the only ones.”  It is that kind of adventure I believe will stay with them the rest of their lives.