Whale Species at Loreto

Excursions last approximately 8 hours and depart near sunrise in February and March only. Reservations are recommended. For more detail on the itinerary please go to the –>> Reservations & Rates page.
Great Whale Species that you will see off Loreto, Baja California Sur-

 

Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
Size of Adult: up to 110 feet (34 m), average 85 feet (26 m)
Weight of Adult: up to 200 tons (181,000 Kg), average 120 tons (109,000 Kg)
Birth length/weight: 23 feet (7 m), 2.5 tons (2300 Kg)
Blow: Tall thin column approximately 35 feet (11 m) high, can be seen from as far away as 5 miles (8 Km)
Feeding: The blue whale feeds exclusively on krill, up to 4 tons per day.
Displays/Behavior: This whale will show its fluke if comfortable with its environment. It often swims alone or as a pair. Adults generally don’t breach but juveniles can.

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus
Size of Adult: up to 89 feet (27 m), average 70 feet (21 m)
Weight of Adult: up to 140 tons (127,000 Kg), average 80 tons (73,000 Kg)
Birth length/weight: 20-22 feet (6.1-6.7 m), 2 tons (1800 Kg)
Blow: Tall thin column approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) high
Feeding: The fin whale feeds on krill, schooling fish, copepods, squid and other invertebrates
Displays/Behavior: Fast swimming, does not generally show its fluke. Many cow calf pairs are seen in our area in winter and spring.

Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Size of Adult: up to 62 feet (19 m), average 45 feet (14 m)
Weight of Adult: up to 53 tons (48,000 Kg), average 30 tons (27,000 Kg)
Birth length/weight: 13-16 feet (4-5 m), 1-2 tons (900-1800 Kg)
Blow: Bushy heart shape approximately 10 feet (3 m) high
Feeding: Humpback whales feed on krill and schooling fish, lunge feeder feeds in groups forming bubble nets to disorient prey
Displays/Behavior: Acrobatic often will be seen breaching. Fluking, tail lobs and fin-slaps are common behavior.

Short Finned Pilot Whale Globicephalia macrorhynchus
Size of Adult: up to 23 feet (7 m), average 19 feet (5.8 m)
Weight of Adult: up to 4 tons (3,600 Kg), average 2.5 tons (2,300 Kg)
Birth length/weight: 4-6 feet (1.4-2 m), 140 pounds (64 Kg)
Blow: Strong blow visible only in calm water
Feeding: Pilot whales feed on squid, octopus and fish
Displays/Behavior: Most commonly seen while logging at the surface or below the surface in clear water. Tail lobbing, fin slapping and porpoising are common but these generally don’t breach.

Orca or “Killer” Whale  Orcinus orca
Size of Adult: up to 32 feet (9.8 m), average 28 feet (8.5 m)
Weight of Adult: up to 11 tons (10,000 Kg), average 7.5 tons (6,800 Kg)
Birth length/weight: 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m), 400 pounds (180 Kg)
Blow: usually not noticible
Feeding: Orca are top predators and feed on marine mammals, and even land mammals, sea turtles, fish, and birds.
Displays/Behavior: Acrobatic and can be observed breaching, tail slapping, fin slapping, showing flukes and porpoising.

Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus
Size of Adult: up to 69 feet (21 m), average 48 feet (15 m)
Weight of Adult: up to 58 tons (53,000 Kg), average 35 tons (32,000 Kg)
Birth length/weight: 13 feet (4 m), 1 tons (900 Kg)
Blow: Straight out and to its left, very unique to this species and readily identifiable by this blow.
Feeding: The Sperm whale feeds on giant squid, octopus, large fish and sharks.
Displays/Behavior: Generally seen logging at the surface. Adults and juveniles may breach or lob tail. Before a deep dive they may breath 30-40 times and remain for about 15 minutes. These are the deepest diving mammals believe to have reached 10,500 foot (3,200 m) depths.

Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris
Size of Adult: up to 7 feet (2 m)
Weight of Adult: up to 165 pounds (75 Kg)
Birth length/weight: 2.5 feet (75 cm), unknown