| Front Page |
Nayarit News |
Travel | Home & Living |
Mexico Insurance Products |
Travel Buddies |
Name: Guerrero Negro was named after the American whaling ship “Black Warrior,” which wrecked off the coast in the 1850s. The town’s name translates to “Black Warrior” in Spanish.
Location: Guerrero Negro is situated on the northern edge of the Vizcaíno Desert in Baja California Sur, near the border with Baja California. The town is an important stop along Highway 1, the main road that runs the length of the Baja Peninsula.
Weather: Guerrero Negro experiences a desert climate, characterized by warm days and cool nights. The temperature can vary significantly between day and night, making layers essential for visitors.
Weather Today in Guerrero Negro: Check local forecasts for the most accurate weather updates, but expect mild daytime temperatures with cooler evenings, especially during winter months.
Population: Approximately 14,000 inhabitants call Guerrero Negro home, contributing to a tight-knit community where local industries play a central role.
Elevation: Guerrero Negro sits at an elevation of approximately 10 meters (33 feet) above sea level, making it relatively flat and easy to navigate.
Founded: Guerrero Negro was founded in 1957 primarily as a company town for the Exportadora de Sal, the largest saltworks in the world. The town’s economy is still largely driven by this industry.
Medical: Guerrero Negro has a local clinic and a few small medical facilities that can handle basic medical needs. For more serious conditions, the nearest larger hospitals are located in the nearby towns of San Ignacio or Santa Rosalía.
Money: The local economy revolves around the salt industry, fishing, and seasonal tourism, particularly during whale-watching season. U.S. dollars are widely accepted, but it’s advisable to carry pesos for smaller purchases.
History: The history of Guerrero Negro is closely tied to its salt production, which began in the late 1950s. The town was developed specifically to support the saltworks, which are now a major global exporter. The presence of gray whales in the nearby lagoon also put Guerrero Negro on the map as a prime location for whale watching.
Today: Guerrero Negro remains a thriving industrial town, with salt production still at its core. However, the town has also embraced its natural surroundings, offering visitors a chance to witness one of the world’s most incredible wildlife spectacles: the annual migration of gray whales to the warm waters of the Ojo de Liebre Lagoon.
Getting There: Guerrero Negro is accessible via Highway 1, which connects the town to the rest of the Baja Peninsula. The drive from Tijuana to Guerrero Negro takes about 10 hours. For those flying, the nearest airport is in Loreto, approximately 5 hours south by car. Buses also serve the town, connecting it with other major destinations in Baja California Sur.
Whale Watching Season: One of the most popular times to visit Guerrero Negro is during whale watching season, which runs from January to March. Visitors flock to the area to see gray whales up close as they give birth and nurture their young in the calm, protected waters of the lagoon.
Guerrero Negro may be a small town, but its unique combination of industrial might, natural beauty, and seasonal wildlife make it a destination worth exploring. Whether you’re there for the saltworks or the whales, Guerrero Negro offers an authentic slice of life on the Baja Peninsula.
Get a customized quote for your Vehicle HERE
Explore the Wonders of Scammon’s Lagoon: A Journey through the Heart of Baja California Sur
To begin your adventure, drive along the scenic Transpeninsular Highway 1 down through the Baja Peninsula. Just beyond the border separating the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur, you’ll pass the town of Guerrero Negro. Continue south to KM 208, where the turnoff to Scammon’s Lagoon (Laguna Ojo de Liebre) is clearly marked. From here, take the well-maintained dirt and gravel access road, which stretches approximately 25 miles over the vast salt flats and through the access gate. These salt flats are part of the largest natural outdoor salt facility in the world, co-owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and the Mexican government.
You are now on the threshold of an experience of a lifetime.
Scammon’s Lagoon, also known as Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Spanish for “Eye of the Jackrabbit”), is nestled within the largest biosphere reserve in Latin America. Every year, gray whales migrate from the Bering and Chukchi seas in the Arctic to this lagoon—a journey of around 6,000 miles—as part of their biological cycle. This lagoon is the primary calving ground for gray whales in Baja California Sur.
During the winter months, these gentle giants live in the lagoon’s calm, protected waters, giving birth before beginning their long journey back to the northern seas. The warm waters and shallow bays of Scammon’s Lagoon provide the perfect environment for breeding and nurturing the next generation of these magnificent mammals.
The lagoon’s entrance was discovered in 1857 by Charles Melville Scammon, an American whaling captain who, unfortunately, led the charge in hunting these graceful creatures for their oil, whalebone, and meat. At the time, the gray whale population was estimated to be around 30,000. However, by 1869, their numbers had dwindled to fewer than 2,000, pushing them to the brink of extinction. In 1972, the Mexican government created the Gray Whale Sanctuary, and through international treaties and dedicated conservation efforts, the population has rebounded to approximately 20,000, with around 1,500 whales making Scammon’s Lagoon their winter home each year.
From late December to March, visitors can arrange guided tours from Guerrero Negro for approximately $45, offering a 4-hour exploration of the lagoon with an authorized guide. Alternatively, you can drive the gravel and salt flat road yourself and enjoy a guided panga (small boat) ride at the lagoon entrance for about $25 per adult and $15 per child.
Private boats and kayaks are prohibited from entering the lagoon. Only licensed tour boats are allowed, as the area is protected by SEMARNAT (Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources) and is a designated sanctuary for migratory birds (including Canadian geese, bald eagles, white pelicans, and cormorants) and marine mammals. It is also recognized by UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program.
A boat tour through Scammon’s Lagoon is truly unforgettable. Each boat, carrying a guide and a dozen or so passengers, heads toward the mouth of the lagoon. Don’t forget your camera—you’ll want to capture the awe-inspiring sight of these whales as they swim gracefully by, some surfacing gently while others breach the water, launching their massive bodies into the air before slowly descending back into the depths with a powerful blow.
This is, without a doubt, an experience of a lifetime.