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 interact with them and their newly born calves. Over the years, 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.
For the avid Baja traveler or those with a sense of adventure we offer a self-arrival program. Whether you arrive by automobile, bus, or private plane you’ll enjoy the hospitality and comfort of our all-inclusive, secluded Ecolodge on the shores of San Ignacio lagoon - with all meals, beverages, natural history excursions and two whale watches daily. Our “off the grid” solar powered Ecolodge offers all-inclusive amenities. Your days are spent whale watching and exploring, while evenings are spent in the company of our local lagoon resident staff in our Ecolodge discussing the day’s events and enjoying informal lectures from our staff and resident experts.
Self-Arrival: TWO OPTIONS depending on Dates of Travel
OPTION 1
Schedule your own Arrival and Departure Dates
Dates OPEN CAMP: January 25 - February 12 & March 20 - April 02
Daily Rate: $535.00 per guest, double occupancy, 2 day minimum
Single Supplement fee: $100.00 daily for single cabin
*Group and family discounts of 6 or more and child discounts available
Trip includes:
§ 2 days and nights at camp
§ 2 whale watching trips per day
§ Lodging, meals and camp activities
Arrival Time is 12pm. Upon Arrival you will get checked in to your cabin and then have lunch and an afternoon Whale watch.
Departure Time is 11am. After breakfast we ask you to check-out of the cabins so our staff can prepare the rooms for the next guests. You will have a whale watch and then depart by 11am.
Additional fees for Self Arrivals:
Single Fees: $100usd per night
Biosphere Fee: $35usd per day (Vizcaino Biosphere Fee San Ignacio Lagoon)
Deposit: $200 per person per night
OPTION 2
Join a guided group as a Self-Arrival guest.
Dates to Join Guided Trips: February 20- March 16
Trip Fee: $2895.00 per guest, double occupancy (all-inclusive fee)
Single Fee: $500.00 for cabin (if available)
Joining a Private Air Trip includes:
§ 4 days and nights at camp
§ 6 whale watching trips per day
§ Lodging, meals and camp activities
§ All excursions and presentations offered during our Guided Air Trips
Details:
Join one of our Guided Trips and enjoy all the amenities of our most prestigious trip as a Self-Arrival guest at a fraction of the trip cost. Not all trips have availability and only a select number of Self-Arrival guests are permitted during each trip. Space is not always available – guided trip guests have priority.
Arrival Time is 3pm. Upon Arrival you will meet the incoming air travelers and then have group orientation to camp and Happy Hour at 5pm. No whale watch on Day 1.
Departure Time is 8am. Departure after breakfast usually around 8-8:30am
Dates Available for 2027 -- SPACE IS LIMITED FOR EACH TRIP
To sign up for OPTION 2 please go to the 5 Day Private Air and select the Self-Arrival Option on that specific trip.
§ 2 up close whale watching trips per day
§ 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
§ Evening presentations
§ Bird watching and dark sky constellation gazing
Situated at the heart of the Vizcaino Biosphere, Campo Cortez solar powered Ecolodge lies on the shores of San Ignacio Lagoon, at the mouth of one of the largest bird estuaries in the area, offering spectacular opportunities to view breeding and birthing Gray whales throughout the day. A variety of species of migrating birds take refuge in the mangrove forest along our shoreline, which provides excellent bird watching and tide-pool walks. The local shoreline here is covered with millions of years of ancient whale fossils, bones, and shells.
This region of the Baja Peninsula is truly a piece of paradise that has been left untouched throughout thousands of generations and offers visitors a look at how the peninsula once was before man’s arrival
7:00am Coffee, cereals, fruit
8:00am Hot breakfast
8:45am Whale watching
12:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Whale watching
5:30pm Happy hour
6:30pm 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 & petting
§ 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
§ Detailed Driving Instructions
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.
Nights at Campo Cortez Ecolodge in seaside solar cabins
Enjoy a short ride to the whale observation area from our location. Enjoy a morning and an afternoon whale watch daily.
Meals, snacks, beer, wine & soda while at Campo Cortez
Naturalist led walks & discussions. All of our boat trips have Naturalist guides to answer any questions you may have on whale behavior or activities.
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)
Transportation to & from Campo Cortez Ecolodge
Premium liquor or call drinks are at a separate cost
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.
Arrival Time is 12pm. Upon Arrival you will get checked in to your cabin and then have lunch and an afternoon Whale watch.
Experience Whale watching twice daily to give you the best opportunity to see the whales up-close. After whale watching, simply relax and absorb the ancient unbroken rhythms of the lagoon and its splendid 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.
Departure Time is 11am. After breakfast we ask you to check-out of the cabins so our staff can prepare the rooms for the next guests. You will have a whale watch and then depart Campo Cortez by 11am. The timing is perfect for you to stop in town for lunch around 12:30 on your departure day. There are a few options in the plaza in San Ignacio town.
Seemingly perched on the edge of civilization, Campo Cortez is a fully off-the-grid, solar-powered ecolodge offering clean, comfortable, modern amenities with minimal environmental impact. Built using local materials and traditional methods, our palapa serves as the heart of daily life—where guests gather for meals, activities, presentations, and connection.
Powered by advanced solar generation systems, the lodge provides 110 AC and 12-volt DC electricity for charging phones, cameras, and other devices in the palapa and cabins during daylight hours. While we encourage guests to unplug and immerse themselves in nature, we also offer Starlink internet access and a cellular antenna booster for those who wish to stay connected.
Our eco-friendly facilities include hot showers, flushing marine toilets, hand-washing stations, and clean reverse osmosis drinking water. The palapa is stocked with coffee and tea, fresh fruit and snacks, sodas, beer, and wine. Guests also enjoy a Baja-focused book library, a large-screen TV for daily presentations, a science and weather monitoring station, and a gift shop featuring locally crafted goods.
Our beachside cabins are equipped with electricity, comfortable beds, and sturdy construction that protects from coastal winds and desert elements. Ten cabins accommodate two guests with a mix of single and double beds, and three cabins accommodate three guests with one double and one single bed. Two deluxe cabins offer a private in-room toilet for nighttime convenience (available for an additional fee).
All cabins include fresh linens, pillows, shelving, and a countertop with a mirror. Charging stations provide one standard USB and two USB-C connections. Designed to be cozy and efficient, each cabin maintains a small footprint on the land.
Special Accommodations: If you have specific needs, please let us know—we will do everything possible to ensure a comfortable stay.
CPAP Users: Two cabins provide standard A/C power throughout the night for medical devices.
Special Diets: We gladly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary needs with advance notice.
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.
