Pachico's Ecotours
Pachico's Ecotours
5

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles68 reviews
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BB
Santa Barbara, CA21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
My very favorite moment was when we were out in the boat surrounded by friendly whales (six of them right next to us and many more within a half mile) and petting one of them, and another nudged in to be petted. We went back and forth petting the one and then the other. The captain was skilled, experienced and sensitive to the whales. The whales are incredibly graceful, and even when they surrounded us, they were gentle with us and the boat. We saw everything you could imagine: nursing calves, courtship and mating, spyhopping, fluking, breaching. We even got a bonus bird-watching experience in the mangroves.
Each time we went out whale watching with a local captain and an experienced marine biologist aboard. Pachico's attracted some lovely people from around the globe, whose company we enjoyed on and off the water.
Written March 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James S
Richmond, Kentucky, United States19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Friends
Pachico’s delivered a whale watching triple crown: seeing, touching, experiencing. Our guide, Adrianna, and our captain, Pedro, were exceptional: they knew whales, gave us appropriate and thorough information, and were respectful of the whales and environment in a way that left me feeling like I’d had an exceptional experience and hadn’t harmed the environment. These guys are good at what they do.
Written March 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cyberaamaa
Seattle, WA19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
The gray whales and other marine life were fantastic. Our guides and captains were so helpful. There are many whales camps at the lagoon. Good water boots are provided to wade out to the panga boats. Pachico's is about a half hour boat ride from the whale protection area in which the 90 minute time for the boat is monitored. We had lunch on a wild beach near the whale area each day. There are no bathrooms where the packed lunch is served on camp tables, there are bushes to go behind. Then you reboard the boats, have the afternoon 90 minutes with the whales, and then the 25-30 minute boat ride back to Pachico's camp.
At the camp, the cabins have comfortable beds. The shower water is heated by solar panel, and the electricity for a few light bulbs in the cabin is also solar. In the dining cabana, there is a (cell phone) charging station supplied by solar panels, and WiFi. The toilets are composting toilets. It was an amazing place to be.
Written March 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Extraordinary269911
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
A once in a lifetime type of experience...learning about and getting up close to magnificent gray whales, and often their babies. Being able to observe and touch these wonderful gentle giants does something magnificent to one's heart! The two guides, Alex and Victoria were knowledgeable, fun and made one feel both safe and welcome. Two great people.
Written March 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dawn B
Oxford, UK18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • Family
Pancho and his family looked after us from the moment we arrived. Alex Romero guided us with Juan to experience the most incredible life changing interaction with the grey whales.
My daughter is vegan so the cook took time to prepare different food for her every meal.
Could not recommend Pachico ecotours enough.
Written February 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emmett & Therese
Sacramento27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
We couldn’t even imagine how many whales we would see up close and personal; what an amazing experience! We saw males, females, babies, spy hops, and breaches; all so close to our panga. The staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable. The meals were excellent! As a bonus, we also saw sea lions, dolphins and a bird tour through the mangroves. Alex, Adriana, and Capitan Juan took great care of us. A truly memorable experience!
Written February 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom and Debbie M
Key Biscayne, FL1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
We had an amazing experience visiting the San Ignacio Lagoon with Pachico’s. Pancho, Adriana and Pamela were wonderful hosts and exceptionally knowledgable about the whales and the overall ecosystem of the lagoon and surrounding areas. The encounters with the whales exceeded all expectations. The lodge and accommodations are clean and comfortable with beautiful sunsets and views of the lagoon. We can’t wait to go back!
Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Becky R
West Bay, Grand Cayman42 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2014 • Friends
This IMHO is the best place to stay and the best folks to use for visiting the friendly whales of San Ignacio Lagoon. At present, however, it is not for the faint at heart. This is the first resort you come to when traveling the road from San Ignacio town to the lagoon, and that is important, because the road is at present not a good one. It is under construction and MAY by the time the 2015 whale season rolls around be completed as far as Pachico's, but I doubt that it will have been completed any further. The paved part of the road is beautiful, but the parts that are still under construction or that have not been touched are very rough and can be poorly marked.

Jesus Mayoral, the owner of Pachico's EcoTours is an intelligent, articulate, well-informed and personable host and boat captain. His major domo, Jorge, is slightly less fluent in English, but equally personable, accommodating, and competent. He used to own a restaurant before Jesus enticed him to come to work at Pachico's, so it is no wonder that the food is so good here! The boats that take you to see the whales are small, low craft with an outboard motor that enable you to reach out and touch the whales that approach, but you should know that the seats have no padding and no backs. If you have a padded stadium seat, I recommend that you take it. You will also need waterproof pants and jacket to keep off the spray during transit from the resort to the interaction zone and back and in the event of rain. Because you must wade out to the boats in water that can be up to your knees, straight leg long pants do not work well, and it's a bit chilly in the morning for shorts. We found convertible pants to be the best, but any wider leg pants that can be rolled up or capris will also work. You'll also need water shoes (or very high waterproof boots) to walk out to the boats. Some or our group found that carrying dry socks and/or shoes to put on once they got to the boat helped them stay warmer. You'll also need a bag that closes (preferably waterproof or water resistant) to put your stuff in on the boat, so it doesn't blow around and/or get wet and dirty.

Pachico's is the smallest of the resorts, so you have a small group and get to know the other guests. The cabins are spartan, but comfortable. They face the lagoon and have huge windows to let you enjoy the view. The shower room and composting toilet facilities are separate, so it's a good idea to bring pre-moistened towelettes for washing up and make-up removal in your cabin. There is a jug of water, but no sink. In fact, there is only one sink on the property for use by the guests, and it is located between the 2 latrines. When we were there in February of 2014, the passive solar water heating system was not able to provide hot water for showers, and Jesus had purchased a propane heater that had not yet been installed. I found it much to cold to shower, but other guests braved it more than once. The cabins have no heat or A/C, so remember to leave windows open in the AM to allow the heat to dissipate while you are out whale watching and close them when you go to Happy Hour, so the heat will stay in while you're at dinner. And speaking of Happy Hour, all drinks (soft drinks, wine, beer and liquor) are included in your package if you are staying in the cabins. There are also camp sites for RV's (no hook-ups) and tents available.

We stayed for 3 nights and went out on 3 full day and 1 half day trip. There are things I will do differently on my next visit, but they relate mostly to flying and driving. (You need to allow more time to drive from Loreto to San Ignacio and from town to the lagoon that I was led to expect, and driving at night is not a good idea because of the free ranging cattle en route.) You can do your own comparison of the 4 facilities that offer lodging and whale watching trips at San Ignacio Lagoon, but the flexibility, package price and inclusions, type and style of accommodations, and the environmentally reponsible outlook of Pachico's Eco-Tours sold us, and the experience we had confirmed we made the right choice for us. All of the operations that take visitors to see the whales are required to operate according to the same rules. Once a boat enters the interaction zone, it can only stay 90 minutes. Most of the resorts include only one 90-minute stay per day in your package. Pachico's takes you out after breakfast (around 10 AM) and you spend 90 minutes in the zone and then go to a beach just outside the zone for a picnic lunch. (You'll want your Wet Ones here, too.) If you have chosen just a half-day trip, either the boat takes you back to the resort without stopping for lunch or you are met at the picnic area by transport that takes you back to the resort by road. After lunch and a chance to stroll around and relax, you get back in the boat for another 90-minute experience in the interaction zone; then the boat takes you back to the resort, and you wade ashore. By that time it's late afternoon with just enough time to get cleaned up and gather in the main building for Happy Hour, followed by dinner. It's a great time to get to know the other guests and compare photos or look at the many books available or just enjoy the sunset.

Jesus has done a wonderful job of creating a pleasant and comfortable resort in an eco-friendly manner and is making every effort to preserve the fragile ecosystem known as San Ignacio Lagoon. His plans for improving the resort and the experience will continue this effort and make Pachico's Eco-Tours even better. The stories about the friendly whales that approach the boats, play games with you, and let you pet them are all true. The experience was wonderful, and I hope to do it again when the road is finished! It was indeed one whale of an adventure, and I highly recommend it.
Written April 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BajaMax
Rancho Santa Fe, CA15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2014 • Couples
This is our second straight year visiting Pachico's Eco Tours on Laguna San Ignacio. Jesus & Sabrina Mayoral are the proprietors, having taken over the business from Jesus's father Francisco, who is nothing short of a legend in the whale watching community, and the man who started it all (see picture below). Francisco was the first local fishermen to ever have an encounter with a "friendly" gray whale.

I have visited the Laguna four times: 1992, 2008, 2013 & 2014. The first two visits were made in late January and even though the whale sightings were plentiful, it was a little early in the season
for the mothers to allow their calves close to the panga. The last two years we visited in the middle of March, and the results were out of this world!! We had so many opportunities to touch and even kiss the whales that it's impossible to convey our excitement! My wife Cindy & I chose a one night stay in the bungalows, sandwiched between two full days of whale watching, and would highly recommend you do the same.

The facilities that the Mayoral family have put together are nothing short of amazing. The bungalows are roughly 12' x 12' with a pair of twin beds, and although relatively sparse, are a very cozy & welcome relief from the cold winds that tend to blow nightly over this portion of the peninsula. The composting eco-toilets are always a conversation starter. Their use of fresh sawdust, trucked in from nearby Santa Rosalia, is the secret to these totally odorless toilets!! In fact that fresh sawdust gives los banos a rather pleasant "woodshop" fragrance. The two solar showers always plenty hot and the water pressure surprisingly strong. My how good those felt at the end of a long day on the laguna.

This year brought some welcome additions to the camp. During the off season, Jesus & staff have added a stand-up bar to the "earth-mother" (main gathering/dining room) which includes a beverage cooler that keeps those Pacifico's icy-cold!! In fact they were the coldest beers we had during our entire 10 days in Baja. All of our meals were deliciously prepared and beautifully presented, always served with hot handmade tortillas!! Jorge, the former owner & chef of "La Palapa", one of San Ignacio's favorite restaurants, is now in charge of the food & beverage operation at Pachicos, and he's doing one hell of a job there!!

Back in 1992 it took almost 3.5 hours to get to the Laguna on a terrible wash-board road. In 2008
they were just beginning to pave the road in and it took us a little over 2 hours. Last year, it took us just over 1 hour to reach Pachico's, and this year (2014) it took us roughly 45 minutes from San Ignacio. By next season the road may be paved all the way, but then again who really knows....after all, this is Mexico.

A huge plus for us is that Pachico's is literally the very first operation you see when you finally reach the laguna. There are several (6) other tour operators lining the eastern shoreline of the laguna, the furthest of which takes an extra 20-30 minutes to reach by car. We would much rather keep our drive time to a minimum, and spend more time travelling by panga to the whale watching area.

I my opinion, Pachico's is not only the closest, cleanest & has the friendliest staff of all the tour operators, but their panga captains are the most knowledgeable as well. They each seem to know exactly how to position their craft for an optimal whale watching experience. Jesus told me that his father's philosophy was to motor near the oncoming mother & calf and then put the motor in neutral and just drift, allowing the whales to approach us rather than us chase the whales. There is something magical about the sound of an outboard motor that attracts the whale calves. They always seem to approach the stern (rear) of the panga first, to inspect where that enticing sound was coming from. Once entranced by the motor's hum, they would stay along side our boat for between 20 and 60 minutes, allowing us all to both touch and kiss them repeatedly, and after all...isn't that the main reason you traveled this far from home in the first place??? Without a doubt, the Original is Still the very Best and we will be back next year!!!!!!

Cindy & I give Pachico's, and the entire Mayoral family the highest rating possible!!
This review is in memory of the late Francisco Mayoral...."Pescador mas fina!"

Adios
Written April 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brina_t4
Brevard, NC184 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2013 • Couples
We had the most amazing time in San Ignacio Lagoon with Pachico's Eco Tours. I know its been said over & over but you simply can not imagine how wonderful this place is until you have experienced it yourself! You will not find kinder people than Jesus & his family. The small eco-camp is a huge part of what makes this place so special. You are able to meet other like minded travelers & get to know them. The food is outstanding. The cabins simple but comfortable. Watching the sun rise & set over the lagoon = stunning. Spending the day playing with whales = indescribable! This goes so far beyond simply whale watching. There were whales in every direction around the boat. They would scratch their backs on the bottom of the boat, pop up beside the boat to be petted & kissed, and spy hop all around. We saw males, females & calves & interacted with so many of them! Its been 4 months & I still can not believe the amazing interactions we had. Before our trip I debated long and hard about whether or not driving the extra ways to San Ignacio would really be worth it or if we could simple go to Magdalena Bay since it was so much closer. I am so glad we chose to drive to San Ignacio! We had countless interactions with "friendlies". San Ignacio is the BEST place to visit gray whales & Pachico's is the best base to experience it from! I will warn you though that after a visit to San Ignacio all other whale watching will seem subpar! We saw blues in Loreto, humpbacks in Cabo, & Orcas off the San Juan Islands. None of them came remotely close San Ignacio. Pachico's will be an experience few things in life will ever come close to! Make sure to give yourself at least two full days with Pachico's since the weather can greatly effect how the whales interact.
Written June 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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