Magdalena Bay, Mexico
Magdalena Bay | The Experience
[ad #1]
Located along the western coast of Baja California in the Mexican state of Baja California de Sur, Magdalena Bay is best-known for being a haven for wildlife. Visitors to Magdalena Bay usually come to watch whales, visit its bird sanctuaries and mangrove swamps, or enjoy the water sports.
[ad #2]
Magdalena Bay, overall, is a sleepy Mexican town that has been largely left alone by history’s persistent march. Its only significant bit of history is that the Japanese actually attempted to buy the bay from the Mexicans in 1912, for use as a strategic naval base not far from its then-enemy, the United States. However, lucky for the United States – and probably for the wildlife in the area, as well - the Mexicans were not interested in selling their beautiful bay and lagoon to the Japanese. It remained in Mexican hands, and today it remains a small town whose economy is based in fishing and tourism.
[ad #3]
The Pacific Gray Whales, who migrate over 5,000 miles each year, call the lagoon at Magdalena Bay their primary, permanent address. Because the area is protected from the Pacific Ocean by the sand bars of two islands – Isla Magdalena and Isla Santa Margarita – the bay is quiet and protected, providing the whales with a place to rest, mate, and raise their young before heading back to the Arctic Ocean. From January to March, whale watching is one of Magdalena Bay’s primary activities. A three hour to four hour tour will cost roughly $250, but the chances of getting up close and personal with a whale are quite good. Not a home to big boats, whale watchers in Magdalena Bay see their whales from inside a fishing boat. There are two other bays nearby that also play host to the gray whales, and Magdalena Bay is the lesser known of the three – making it a quieter, less crowded spot from which to whale watch.
[ad #4]
Besides the whale watching experience, visitors to Magdalena Bay are also drawn to the sea kayaking and the surfing. From June to November, surfers are drawn to the area for its excellent swells. Although the surfing is world class, because Magdalena Bay remains relatively undiscovered, its beaches and waves are not that populated, and the crowds are thin at most. An outfit called Mag Bay Tours picks surfers up from the airport and hosts them along the beach for $1360 per person for an eight day trip (seven night stay).
[ad #5]
Overall, for someone looking for some ocean-oriented adventure, but not wanting to deal with the crowds that normally come with beautiful beaches and great surfing, Magdalena Bay is a perfect stop. While it may not be as comfortably resort-oriented as some of Mexico’s more popular tourist destinations, Magdalena Bay offers a quiet, almost remote getaway for the tourist looking for a different kind of vacation experience.