Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In the calm waters of Baja’s San Ignacio Lagoon, gray whales rise beside the boats—curious, gentle and eager to interact. Join Mexico Expedition Leader Sofia Merino as she guides travelers through one of the world’s most intimate and awe-inspiring wildlife migrations.
GET NATURE TRAVEL EMAILS: nathab.com/emails
Each winter, gray whales travel thousands of miles to the protected waters of Baja’s San Ignacio Lagoon, where they mate, give birth and raise newborn calves in one of the most important refuges of their migration. Here, the whales are remarkably relaxed and interactive, surfacing beside small skiffs and lingering beneath outstretched hands—often as curious about us as we are about them. Nat Hab Expedition Leader Sofia Merino guides travelers to Baja, Mexico, each season to witness these extraordinary encounters up close. A marine biologist drawn to whales since childhood, Sofia first came to the lagoon as a student and found a place she never wanted to leave. For her, San Ignacio became more than a destination—it became a place of belonging, much like the lagoon itself is for the whales: a safe harbor where life begins anew each year.
WATCH NEXT – youtube.com/watch?v=LgrFj5mmZ3Y
LEARN MORE – Eye to Eye with the Friendly Giants of Baja: The Great Gray Whales
nathab.com/blog/is-the-pacific-gray-whale-the-oceans-friendliest-gentle-giant
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE
nathab.com/baja
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNELS
• @nathab • @naturewebinars • @nathabshorts
00:00 — Gray Whales of San Ignacio Lagoon
01:48 — Sofia’s Journey Into Marine Biology
02:53 — Finding Purpose as a Whale Guide
04:17 — Why Gray Whales Come to San Ignacio
05:01 — From “Devil Fish” to Friendly Whales
06:14 — Close Encounters with Gray Whales
08:06 — A Dream Realized
In the calm waters of Baja’s San Ignacio Lagoon, gray whales rise beside the boats—curious, gentle and eager to interact. Join Mexico Expedition Leader Sofia Merino as she guides travelers through one of the world’s most intimate and awe-inspiring wildlife migrations.
GET NATURE TRAVEL EMAILS: nathab.com/emails
Each winter, gray whales travel thousands of miles to the protected waters of Baja’s San Ignacio Lagoon, where they mate, give birth and raise newborn calves in one of the most important refuges of their migration. Here, the whales are remarkably relaxed and interactive, surfacing beside small skiffs and lingering beneath outstretched hands—often as curious about us as we are about them. Nat Hab Expedition Leader Sofia Merino guides travelers to Baja, Mexico, each season to witness these extraordinary encounters up close. A marine biologist drawn to whales since childhood, Sofia first came to the lagoon as a student and found a place she never wanted to leave. For her, San Ignacio became more than a destination—it became a place of belonging, much like the lagoon itself is for the whales: a safe harbor where life begins anew each year.
WATCH NEXT – youtube.com/watch?v=LgrFj5mmZ3Y
LEARN MORE – Eye to Eye with the Friendly Giants of Baja: The Great Gray Whales
nathab.com/blog/is-the-pacific-gray-whale-the-oceans-friendliest-gentle-giant
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE
nathab.com/baja
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNELS
• @nathab • @naturewebinars • @nathabshorts
00:00 — Gray Whales of San Ignacio Lagoon
01:48 — Sofia’s Journey Into Marine Biology
02:53 — Finding Purpose as a Whale Guide
04:17 — Why Gray Whales Come to San Ignacio
05:01 — From “Devil Fish” to Friendly Whales
06:14 — Close Encounters with Gray Whales
08:06 — A Dream Realized
