INTIMATE WHALE WATCHING EXPERIENCES
Welcome to Laguna San Ignacio’s premier locally owned and operated Ecolodge – Campo Cortez – located along the shores of San Ignacio Lagoon in the heart of Mexico’s largest protected area, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. Gray Whales have migrated here for thousands of generations for the purpose of giving birth and mating. Over the years these whales have come to be known as “friendlies” because of their notable behavior approaching our boats encouraging us to scratch, pet and even sing to them and their newly born calves. This has become a regular occurrence only at San Ignacio Lagoon. This unique location is the only Gray Whale birthing lagoon in the world that has been left untouched by industrialization and modern civilization and has a local community striving to keep the lagoon a sacred and protected sanctuary. Our low impact Ecolodge is a sustainable way to come and experience this life-changing event and interaction with the whales. We are one of the last remaining family-owned operators at the Lagoon and our friendly and knowledgeable staff have guided thousands of life-changing adventures.
A great way to see the Baja landscape scenery from the air on this two-and-a-half-hour flight via our commercially chartered aircraft. Our trip begins in San Diego and our experienced guides escort you to your destination. You’ll spend four days and nights at Campo Cortez Ecolodge in clean, comfortable, wooden cabins with views of the lagoon, comfortable beds, and electricity to charge your camera or other small devices. Enjoy whale watching twice daily with our local guides and boat captains who are residents of the lagoon that share with you their local knowledge of this peaceful Gray Whale Sanctuary. Days are spent whale watching, strolling the beach, joining guide led excursions, while evenings are spent discussing the day’s events with informal lectures and discussions. Enjoy delicious authentic meals made with fresh locally sourced ingredients and you’ll love the sunsets, sunrises, and dark sky constellation gazing at night.
§ 6 up close whale watching trips - two per day
§ Round trip charter air direct to San Ignacio Lagoon
§ 4 days and 4 nights at our private Ecolodge
§ Solar powered beach cabins with lagoon views
§ Naturalist led discussions & field excursions
§ All inclusive: meals, beer, wine, margaritas & happy hour
§ Hiking, beach strolling, tide pool exploration
§ Experienced and knowledgeable local resident staff
§ Mangrove tour
§ Evening presentations
§ Bird watching and dark sky constellation gazing
Discover the unparalleled experience offered by Campo Cortez Ecolodge – your gateway to an unforgettable adventure at San Ignacio Lagoon. As a locally owned and operated company, we pride ourselves on our exceptional location, modern amenities, and commitment to sustainable practices.
Nestled on the outskirts of civilization, Campo Cortez Ecolodge provides a unique blend of comfort and environmental consciousness. Our off-the-grid ecolodge has been powered by solar and wind energy for over 30 years, ensuring a clean and renewable source of power. Constructed using traditional building methods and local materials, our palapa serves as the central gathering point for daily activities and meals as well as a gift shop with local curios.
With our state-of-the-art solar generation system, you'll have access to 110 AC or 12-volt DC power for all your charging needs. Whether it's your phone, video camera, or computer, you can conveniently recharge them in the dining palapa or your cabin during the day. Our facilities feature hot showers, flushing marine toilets, and numerous hand washing stations, providing modern comforts in harmony with the surrounding environment.
Stay connected with our STARLINK internet service, ensuring you can share your memorable moments and stay in touch with family and friends.
Take advantage of our prime location to explore our trails for walking, hiking, and strolling on the beach. Join a tide-pooling excursions, where you'll discover fascinating marine life and even try your hand at chocolate clam hunting during our weekly clam and oyster bake.
Always available in the palapa are:
§ Book and video library of Baja & marine mammals & plants
§ Large screen TV to view daily videos & presentations
§ Science and weather monitoring station
§ Coffee and hot tea
§ Snacks and fruit
§ Sodas, beer, and wine
§ Clean, reverse osmosis drinking water
§ Gift shop of locally crafted goods including t-shirts and headgear
Our beachside cabins come equipped with electricity, comfortable beds and are well protected from the often harsh wind and elements of the coastal desert. Twelve of our cabins are double occupancy with a mixture of single and double beds while three cabins offer triple occupancy with a double and single bed. All our cabins are supplied with fresh linens, pillows, shelving and a countertop area with a small mirror. They are cozy, efficient and leave a small footprint on the land. You’ll find charging stations inside of each cabin with standard USB-A connections as well as two USB-C connections.
Special Accommodations: If you have any special needs, let us know and we will do everything we can to make your stay comfortable.
CPAP users: we offer two cabins that provide standard a/c power throughout the night for your medical device.
Special Diets: We happily accommodate special diets like Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free or others.
7:00am Coffee, cereals, fruit
8:00am Hot breakfast
8:45am Whale watching
12:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Whale watching
5:00pm Happy hour
6:00pm Dinner
9:00pm Lights out-Palapa
Schedule WILL vary day to day based on tide movements and weather
§ Guided tide pool exploration & critter hunts
§ Naturalist led excursions & lectures
§ Up close whale observation & interactions
§ Happy hour & incredible sunsets
§ Hike to Gray Whale boneyard
§ Beach strolling and dark sky constellation gazing
§ Bird watching
Because we value a small group size, availability is on a limited basis. Please make your reservations well in advance to secure your spots. Many of our guests plan and book their trips at least six to fourteen months in advance. For your comfort, space is limited at camp and all our reservations are made on a first come basis. Please call or email us to check our schedule for availability.
Before your departure, you’ll receive from us:
§ Comprehensive itinerary package & travel information
§ Camp guidelines & whale watching information
§ Guide information & contact information
§ Detailed packing list
We are consistently rated the #1 Travelers’ Choice on Trip Advisor year after year for one reason, our Staff and Owners - who are residents and locals to San Ignacio Lagoon. We are four generations of family living and working in the lagoon since the settlement of San Ignacio Lagoon. We take pride in our efforts at our Ecolodge to have a low-impact environmentally and the responsibility that we carry as Ambassadors to the lagoon and its many wildlife residents.
Meals, snacks, beer, wine & soda while at Campo Cortez
All transporation from San Diego to San Ignacio Lagoon including privately charted commercial flight to San Ignacio Lagoon
Naturalist led walks & discussions. All of our boat trips have Naturalist guides to answer any questions you may have on whale behavior or activities.
Enjoy a short ride to the whale observation area from our location. Enjoy a morning and an afternoon whale watch daily.
When the tide is low we provide boots for you to use for exploring the tide pools.
Entrance fee to Vizcaino Biosphere – (added to your invoice)
Premium liquor or call drinks are at a separate cost
Transportation to & from San Diego
Hotel stays in San Diego
We recommend you eat breakfast before our morning departure
There are several restaurants at the Tijuana airport if you want to get a quick lunch before boarding the flight.
We highly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance
If you'd like to leave a gratuity for our staff, you will have the opportunity to do so at the end of the trip.
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby, then depart for the Tijuana Airport via CBX.
Enjoy the two and a half hour scenic flight over the Baja Peninsula. Arrive at San Ignacio Lagoon for orientation, Happy Hour and dinner.
Enjoy twice-daily whale watching with total of 6 whale watches to give you excellent opportunities to see the whales up-close. In between excursions, relax and take in the timeless rhythms of the lagoon and its remarkable wildlife. Wander the shell-strewn beaches; join an afternoon low tide exploration; play games; take a natural history excursion with our guides; or simply relax. All Activities & times will be listed in the Palapa on our Activity Board.
We depart camp after breakfast and arrive San Diego by 1:00-4:00 pm
One thing we are passionate about is respecting and honoring the whales that come here each winter. Our boat captains are all local residents of San Ignacio Lagoon and they each have decades of experience. Why does that matter? Well, maneuvering close to whales and keeping the panga steady and in perfect position is truly an art. They make it look easy but if you observe less experienced captains, you can see the difference. We respect the rules of the Lagoon to not overcrowd the whales and are considerate of other boats. Not many other camps own their own pangas or are as fortunate to have the excellent captains that we have. Our pangas are specially designed with low sides and cushioned benches to make the up close experiences easy and comfortable for our guests. Owning our boats ensures that we can keep small group sizes on each whale watch.
