Southeast of San Ignacio on the Pacific Coast lies a large bay used by calving whales January - March every year.  The grays are closer to shore here than at Laguna Ojo de Libre to the north or Bahia de Magdelena to the south and seem to exhibit friendlier behavior here than at other calving lagoons.  Many mothers and calves at Laguna San Ignacio actively seek out tactile encounters, ie., petting and scratching.  They also like to play hide-and-seek with boats, sometimes blowing bursts of bubbles into the bow, then spy-hopping (extending the head vertically above the sea surface) to see the effect their shenanigans may have had on the passengers.

During the calving season, only boats with whale-watching permits are allowed on the bay.  Around a half dozen camps along the sand road that parallels the bay offer the services of licensed pangeros, who will take visitors out to meet the whales, usually for $25.00 US per person with a general minimum of four persons (some will go out with as few as two).  Campo La Fridera seems particularly friendly and efficient.  The typical tour last three to four hours; you should be at camp by around 9 a.m. to get one of the boats,  Since the 59 Km (35 miles) drive from San Ignacio takes one and a half hour to two hours due to road conditions (most passenger vehicles can make it - slowly), you must leave town early in the morning or spend the previous night at one of the camps.  If you don't have your own vehicle, taxi transportation to the bay can be arranged in San Ignacio.  Inquire at the taxi stand on the main plaza in front of the church. 

The farther south you go along the bay shore by car, the less time you'll spend on boat transit to the prime whale-watching area near the mouth of the bay.  One of the last camps on the bay,  

Whales and Marine Animals of Baja California, Books & Guides

has a fully equipped campground with hot-water showers, ecologically sound outhouses, and a tented dining room.  For a small amount, you can pitch your own tent, or Kuyima will provide a tent, sleeping bags, and flashlights.  Full meal service is available.  The camp offers a small collection of books on whales and other marine fauna.  Kuyima charges a little more for whale-watching panga tours than other camps on the bay.  Packages that include transportation to and from San Ignacio, one night at Hotel La Pinta in San Ignacio, two nights at the camp, two whale watching trips on the bay, kayaking trips to nearby mangroves, and all meals are also available.  Kuyima is far enough south that you can see whales spouting and spy-hopping from shore in season.