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Ordinary Traveler / Blog / Mexico / Whales, Haciendas and Infinity Pools – This is Cabo!

Whales, Haciendas and Infinity Pools – This is Cabo!

By Christy Woodrow, Last Modified: September 7, 2019

Hacienda Encantada Cabo Mexico Infinity Pool

Did you know that the lagoons of the Pacific Coast of Baja and the Sea of Cortez have the greatest concentration of whales per square mile? It’s no surprise that Cabo is one of the best spots to see whales — and from January to March, in particular, it’s the perfect time to witness interesting mating behavior from these majestic creatures.

Whale Watching Cabo San Lucas

Whales migrate to Cabo not just for the warm water, but also because of the high salt content in the Sea of Cortez, which acts like a pain reliever for mothers giving birth. I mean, imagine giving birth to 30-50 tons. That can’t be fun. The salt also increases buoyancy, giving the calves an easier time while learning how to float and swim.

I’ve been on my fair share of whale watching tours, but this tour was different than my previous experiences because of the vast amount of whales in a small area. We saw mothers with their calves, multiple breaches, and males looking to mate.

Whale Watching Los Cabos

At one point, our zodiac pulled up to two male humpback whales competing for the attention of one female. Now, I’ve seen whales battle it out before (read about our experience in the Channel Islands) but these whales weren’t trying to hurt each other. Instead, they were just showing off with some tail thrashing above the surface, tail slaps, and breaches — to show the lady how strong they are.

Perhaps the most eye-opening experience for me was when the captain of our boat dropped an aquatic microphone into the water to listen to the whales communicating. He even played a recording from a previous trip that left everyone speechless. You can view a short clip from the recording in the video below.

Before booking a whale watching tour, it’s important to find a company with a respectful and knowledgeable staff. I was very impressed with the whale watching crew at Cabo Adventures and really appreciated the distance they kept from the whales.

However, I was a bit surprised to learn that this same company holds captive dolphins and offers swimming with dolphins at their main location in Los Cabos. I’m definitely not on board with this practice and I’m unsure why a company who treats marine life so well in the wild would feel comfortable holding a wild animal captive.

 

Where to Stay on the Beach in Cabo

Just outside of the busy streets lined with bars like Cabo Wabo and Squid Roe, lies a quiet oasis in the desert. On my flight over from San Diego, I had visions of rowdy parties and all-nighters in Cabo, but I experienced quite the opposite during my stay at Hacienda Encantada.

where to stay in cabo san lucas

This secluded, ocean-front resort is often called Los Cabos’s best kept secret. Each hacienda-style suite has its own charm and is carefully decorated with colorful Mexican art. Hacienda Encantada sits on the end of a peninsula, so you have dramatic views of either the Pacific Ocean or the Sea of Cortez from the front, back, and side of the resort.

Hacienda Encantada Beach View Sea of Cortez

Hacienda encantada los cabos review

I can’t say enough about my veranda. It stretched from the living room to my bedroom and the view was astounding. As if I didn’t get enough whale time on the zodiac, I saw multiple whale spouts, breaches, and even tail thrashing as I sipped coffee each morning.

Oh, and the infinity pool with a swim-up bar, overlooking the Sea of Cortez — I was smitten.

Hacienda Encantada Mexico Hot Tub

I was on the all-inclusive package, which means unlimited eating and drinking — even the fridge was stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks included in the package. I tried all five restaurants at the resort and didn’t have a single bad meal. I wasn’t expecting sushi in Mexico, but I was extremely impressed with the roll I ordered at the pool bar.  I even took advantage of the cooking class they offer once a week and learned how to make Seabass Ceviche and Shrimp Empanadas.

Hacienda Encantada Cooking Class

If you are looking for a quiet getaway in Cabo San Lucas, this is the place. However, if you want to stay right in the heart of Cabo within walking distance to all of the action, their sister property Marina Fiesta has the same charm as Hacienda Encantada with a location that caters to those who want to experience more of a party scene.
 

Plan Your Trip to Cabo

After traveling consistently for over 10 years, we’ve come to trust and rely on a few websites to help us find the best deals on flights and accommodation.

Flights:

  • Momondo is the first place we check when searching for cheap flights. It searches hundreds of sites for the best fare and includes both standard and budget airlines. The price calendar feature shows the cheapest days to fly in your preferred month of travel.

Accommodation: 

  • Booking.com offers savings on hotels, apartments, and villas in 80,000 destinations worldwide. You can browse hotel reviews and find the guaranteed best price on hotels for all budgets.

 

For More Mexico Travel Resources, Visit These Pages:
Villa Del Palmar Review – Loreto, Mexico
Where to Stay in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
8 Reasons to Visit Mexico’s Riviera Maya
Algondones, Mexico – The New Tijuana?
Cenotes, Caves, & Zip Lines – Oh My!
Travel to Riviera Maya is Safe & Should Be on Your Bucket List

 

Disclosure: My time in Cabo was hosted by Hacienda Encantada, however, all opinions expressed here are my own.

About Christy Woodrow

Christy Woodrow is a travel photographer and professional blogger based in San Diego. She has been traveling around the world with her partner, Scott, since 2006. Join them in their quest to find off-the-beaten-path destinations by signing up for weekly emails. You can read more about her on our about page.

Filed Under: Mexico

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ashley @ My Wanderlusty Life says

    I came across some wild dolphins… and then some whales while snorkeling off the coast of Hawaii. Hearing them communicating under water was the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced! What a day you had – great whale pictures!

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      Wow! You snorkeled with whales?! I’m always hoping I will stumble upon some whales while I’m out there. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Corinne Vail says

    This sounds like an amazing time. I’ve done tons of whale-watching and it just never gets old.

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      So true!

      Reply
  3. BeyondBlighty says

    This looks incredible! I’ve seen whales a couple of times but that photo is amazing!

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      Thanks! It was interesting being so close to water level. They look even bigger!

      Reply

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