From January to March, visitors can enjoy the spectacle of mammoth grey whales breaching off the Pacific coast of Baja California. We visited Bahía Magdalena on the Pacific side where grey whales migrate from the Arctic to give birth in the warm, tranquil lagoons.

Inexplicably drawn by innate curiosity to humans, they playfully spout, breach and spy-hop around the many small launches which set out daily from January until March to interact with them. For it isn’t just about observation: these gigantic creatures and their young swim right up to and under the boats, rearing their heads for a friendly pat.

Heaven knows why nobody ever encounters one in a bad mood, as they could so easily tip a boat over! It’s a virtually guaranteed contact experience, and one of the most touching wildlife encounters the world can offer.

We can organise trips whale watching trips in the serene Baja Californian bay of Magdalena, one of the world's most popular whale watching sites.