About Whale Watch Cabo
Whale Watch Cabo is the only company in the Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos region of Mexico staffed exclusively by english speaking marine biologists – this provides a unique experience for whale encounter enthusiasts visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We focus on small groups of ten guests or less on whale watching trips (this is the lowest ratio of guests to boat/guide in all of the whale watching operations here). We also offer private whale watching tours which are particularly attractive options for families or whale photographers who want a stable platform and exclusive moments to capture ‘the shot’.
All of our staff have years of working in marine conservation and as guides focusing on safety, education and non-invasive encounters with marine life. Peter and Janneke help further our company’s dedication whale conservation and research by photo data and naturalistic observation. Both of our guides share a great respect for all wildlife, especially the whales. We believe success in responsible eco-tourism relies on operations that give something back by supporting; whale conservation efforts, marine mammal education, public awareness and research.
As the principal guides of Whale Watch Cabo, we are lucky to be able to share what we love and love what we do. Our enthusiasm for introducing Los Cabos visitors to the magnificent whales creates an upbeat environment you are sure to enjoy. We believe in a more personal approach, we know each guest has questions about the whales, their life histories and observed behaviors. We endeavor to bring fun, educational and responsible eco-tourism to your whale watching experience in Cabo.
We recognize the importance of non-invasive encounters and that we are visitors to the whales domain. Join our passionate team of whale watching professionals for unique, fun and intimate whale watching in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Meet Whale Watch Cabo
Janneke Louwes | Whale Biologist | Professional Photographer | Whale Guide
Janneke is one half of our Marine Biologist Whale Watching Guide Team. Originally from Holland, Janneke’s dedication to exploration, research and marine conservation has led her to Costa Rica (Marine turtles) the Caribbean (Coral Reef Ecology) and finally to her home in Cabo San Lucas where she finally gets to work in her intended field with the whales.
In addition to being a marine biologist, Janneke is also a certified SCUBA Instructor and professional photographer. Janneke has a real passion for studying the whales, naturalistic observation and documentation of the whales incredible lives with her photography. Since beginning to work with the whales here in Cabo Janneke has started the first Humpback Whale Photo ID Database in the Los Cabos region, a valuable resource to marine biologists in uncovering the mysteries surrounding the lives of these whales.
Janneke is also working to expand Whale Watch Cabo’s support of whale conservation together with the Cabo Marine Mammal Rescue Group. Every year several whales are found in the Sea of Cortez trapped in fisherman’s nets. The group works to coordinate rescue efforts to save these whales and will be expanding their efforts to include all cetacean and marine mammal species.
Peter Wilcox | Whale Biologist | Professional Photographer | Whale Guide
Peter is the other half of our Marine Biologist Whale Watching Guide Team. Peter is from Victoria, BC, Canada home to an abundance of cetacean species, including many whale species and resident pods of Orcas. Peter’s dedication to photo and video documentation of marine life and its conservation has led him through a decade of many Caribbean Islands and Marine Conservation projects.
Peters background in marine biology combined with his other career as a SCUBA Instructor Trainer and Photo Pro makes him a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide when encountering whales in Los Cabos. Together with Janneke, Peter’s images of the whales that breed and calve here in Cabo are helping to build a better understanding of the lives of individual Humpback Whales.
Having run several marine life conservation organizations, Peter is now teaming up with Janneke to improve the Cabo Marine Mammal Rescue Group and the support network for whale conservation initiatives in the Sea of Cortez.
Our Whale Watching Boats
Our Whale Watching Boat ‘The Blessing’
Whale Watch Cabo uses 32 foot ‘super pangas’ – not rigid hull inflatable boats commonly used for our whale watching tours. Viewing whales from a small boat has many advantages over both large and inflatable boats:
- Small boats do not interfere sonically with the whales – large boats that use diesel engines tend to annoy the whales
- Small boats mean small groups – Whale Watch Cabo, at 10 guests per trip offers the smallest group to guide ratio in Cabo
- A smaller boat that seats guests closer down to the water means getting closer to the whales, and is much better for photography angles
- Our pangas have roofs, inflatable boats do not and the sun here in Cabo, especially over the water is very strong
- Our pangas are fast, but inflatable boats, in our experience, are too fast for children (families), people with back problems or anyone that is not completely at ease when going out on the ocean
- Once we have found the whales and we are at idle speed you can stand or move around our boat, this is not possible on the inflatable boats with ‘toboggan style’ seating that are commonly used in Cabo San Lucas
- Finally, Whale Watch Cabo’s boats use quiet and environmentally responsible 4 stroke engines, unlike many of the 2 strokes found on the inflatable boats in Los Cabos
These boats are very fast, able to reach the whales quickly, safely and maybe most importantly, comfortably for everyone. Each boat has plenty of shade, seat cushions and lots of room to relax and enjoy an unobstructed view the whales. Each boat is licensed for up to 16 guests, but we limit the number to 10 guests per boat to ensure a quality experience for our guests. We stock bottled drinking water and juice on board, available at no cost.
Typically we take a few minutes on the way out of the bay to show our guests the other sites and marine wildlife that live here. This includes stopping for photos at the famous ‘El Arco’, visiting the sea lion colony at ‘Lands End’ and our boat even has glass bottom ports that we can open and show our guests some of the prolific reef fish life in the Cabo San Lucas Bay.
We hope you have enjoyed getting to know about Whale Watch Cabo and our guides that offer visitors to Cabo an unequalled whale watching experience. We are sure you will find our approach of responsible interaction, combined with education and professional photography makes for a wonderful whale watching tour here in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
