By José Antonio Pérez
Along with cooler temperatures in Puerto Peñasco comes the beginning of whalewatching season, with whales having been spotted as early as the first week of December about six miles from shore.
Harbor Master Luis Castro Galán noted while whale sightings, as well as spottings of whale sharks, attract people to the water it is essential that everyone respect appropriate guidelines and established protocol for such situations. Tourism service providers are informed of these rules, including keeping a minimum distance of 20 – 30 meters, as well as remaining alert to the number of boats surrounding any sighting. He stressed that swimmers, kayakers, scuba divers, paddle boarders, etc. should be cautious in keeping their distance from the sealife as well.
Whale sightings, and consequently whalewatching trips, have increased in the Puerto Peñasco area over the past five years, with the majority of sightings reported in the cooler months from January through early March.