On the road with stragglers, leaping pupils and a rather skinny giant off Baja California

We are almost too late – and we feel it, too. But well, we are only almost too late. Most of the grey whales have already moved on by the time we arrive in the bay of Bahía La Almeja. The fisherman takes us out anyway. To where the sea flows into the bay. On the off chance, maybe one of these whales will show up after all.

The grey whale that is a straggler

During the summer months, the grey whales dedicate themselves to feeding in the nutrient-rich Bering Sea. But they spend the winter months in the warmer waters of Baja California. They give birth to their calves in the bays, because there they are protected from killer whales.

We head out to the entrance of the bay at full throttle. Long ocean rollers stretch along the coast towards Santa Margarita Island. In the middle, you can barely feel the swell, until a larger wave breaks prematurely after all. Our captain is constantly keeping watch – for the whales and for the waves.

Meanwhile, the peak season for humpback whales is in full swing. Along the southern coast of Baja California, splashing and slapping hits the water from all sides. The young calves are learning to leap, and the adults have to show them how it’s done.

Humpback whales can be found in all the world’s oceans. We have encountered them in Central America before, but we didn’t experience a spectacle quite like the one in Baja California there. The days fly by – or disappear with the current – as we look out at the water, constantly keeping watch for the active giants.

The calves, barely five metres long, are still acting clumsily, while the mother, nearly three times their size, literally catapults herself out of the water. A splash that we can still hear a kilometre away on the beach. The exact reason for the whale breaches is unexplained; it could be against parasites, as play, or for communication. But if that isn’t loud enough, they slap their fins. Individual slaps with the pectoral fin or the fluke onto the water’s surface sound almost like a belly flop from a three-metre diving board.

A song without end

Once we’ve seen more than enough from the beach, we venture out onto the water by boat. Ideally, we would have paddled out directly on our own SUPs or something similar, but there was nothing to be found. And there it is again: mother and calf swimming peacefully along with the currents. Every now and then, a male joins them. Mostly, they are tolerated by the mother cows for protection against killer whales. Because orcas simply like young whale calves – their favourite part is the tongue.

Humpback whales are also present underwater. Albeit far enough away that they can’t be seen, they can certainly be heard. Thanks to a specially shaped larynx, humpback whales can reuse once-inhaled air over and over again to perform long songs. Yes, exactly, entire songs – even with recurring verses. And they learn them from an early age, so that the same population sings the same song – despite the annual adaptation of the hit.

The clock that urges us to continue on

For hours – if not days – we gaze out into the water. The whales, dolphins, rays and fish, the sea lions and sea turtles, the seabirds and crabs provide the best entertainment. Boredom never strikes; it is only time that flies by in a whirlwind. The clock is ticking; it is time to move on.

It is with a heavy heart that we leave the beautiful beaches of southern Baja California. We set off in search of other giants, namely those from the world of plants. To do so, we must swap salt for dust. Fortunately, we know that at our destination, a plunge into the cold sea water awaits us once more.

Then it simply swims past me. The first metre: leathery skin up to ten centimetres thick, speckled with bright little dots like water droplets. This pattern is as unique to each animal as a human fingerprint. Two, three, four metres. There fish still hasn’t passed me. Five, six, seven metres. The tail fin, as tall as a human, glides past me.

And just like that, the massive whale shark has vanished back into the murky sea. I swim after it, which requires a fair amount of stamina. Fortunately, I am wearing fins, otherwise I would hardly be able to keep up with its leisurely cruising speed of about 5 km/h.

Baja California and especially the Sea of Cortez resemble a cold, gargantuan aquarium. We spend all day at a wide variety of beaches – even the annoying sand that constantly steals into the inside of the car is absolutely worth it.

We are constantly looking out at the water. You must not let yourself get distracted, because you regret it instantly. Right by the shore, pelicans and ospreys crash headfirst into the surface in a steep dive to grab their snack and immediately safeguard it from the gulls.

Out on the horizon, sometimes near, sometimes far, a humpback whale calf practises its first, rather clumsy breaches, while the mother right beside it elegantly demonstrates how it is done. No sooner has the whale submerged than dolphins leap past, and shortly before sunset, more and more mobula rays catapult themselves out of the water like skipping stones. In between, a sea lion pops up briefly or a sea turtle comes to the surface to breathe. You quite simply have no chance of getting enough of it.

Only in the evening, when everything is dark, does it seem the right time for a break. Until a loud splash on the water somewhere serves as a reminder: the whales are still swimming past.

A small stream winds its way under the bridge, losing itself in the stony, rugged terrain. A simple archway marks the entrance to the recreation area. The ticket booth – a small, rather dilapidated hut – looks deserted. Although the price is posted (5 pesos per person), there is no one in sight to collect the money.

The only neighbour in sight seems to be driving away. I manage to flag her down. ‘The owners are at a party and won’t be back until tomorrow,’ she explains. She adds that it should be absolutely fine if we just stay. Is this our free pass for an overnight stay?

Despite the nearby main road – the only thoroughfare through this area – the spot feels idyllic. Conifers and oaks frame the meadow, and the stream babbles over the rocks with such consistency that small, natural pools have formed over time. There are fire pits and benches.

We knew that we were highly unlikely to find the extremely rare Ambystoma mexicanum here. Yet the mole salamander family has other fascinating members. In Mexico, the word axolote is often used as a general term for salamanders that remain in their larval stage. Many of these species possess the ability of neoteny: they reach sexual maturity without ever shedding their larval form (gills included).

One such species is the plateau tiger salamander (Ambystoma velascii).

Metamorphosis on demand

In the larval stage, the true axolotl and the tiger salamander are barely distinguishable. This often leads to wild-caught A. velascii being mistakenly sold as axolotls. The surprise usually follows in the aquarium: while the true axolotl almost always remains a “child”, the tiger salamander undergoes a complete metamorphosis as soon as conditions (such as water levels or temperature) change. It loses its gills, develops lungs, and leaves the water as a terrestrial salamander.

In the river system where we ended up, however, they apparently remain in the water for life. This usually happens at higher altitudes when they grow up in a body of water free from predatory fish. And that is exactly where we finally find them: tiny, dragon-like creatures with four legs and the characteristic crown of gills. It takes a while before we spot the first specimen in the somewhat murky water, but then we see them everywhere – in all sizes, completely undisturbed in their idyllic world.

When we drive past the ticket booth the next morning to pay, we are met with astonished glances. The owners hadn’t even noticed that anyone had been camping down by the river. To them, the axolotes are simply neighbours in the stream – to us, it was an encounter with yet another wonder of nature.

Snakes and other reptiles in Mexico – Part II

One swings the lasso, the next takes over if the first throw misses, and a third, armed with a stick, stands guard to ensure the crocodile doesn’t get too close. We intend to catch it, certainly, but contact should only occur on our terms – when it is safe for both human and animal.

That might sound sarcastic; after all, a crocodile is always dangerous. Yes, absolutely. But even these animals can be handled with varying degrees of risk. Since we are currently in Mexico, Michael decided it was the perfect place to learn something new. By chance, he stumbled upon a crocodile-handling course. And, well, why not give it a go?

Even the tamest of animals can be dangerous depending on the situation. With these massive reptiles, the peril is staring you right in the face. Since Michael had already caught small caimans by hand in Bolivia, we now want to learn how the larger specimens are managed using proper equipment.

A Star of Herpetology

Most animals are released back into the wild as soon as they are healthy and capable of survival. Some must stay forever. Take the American Crocodile Canelo, who suffered a broken jaw due to mistreatment; he can no longer open his mouth further than 10 cm and is therefore unable to hunt. Some birds had their wings clipped; for them, freedom would mean certain and immediate death. Or some animals have been imported and are not endemic to the nature, thus can not be set free.

Jeronimo began his career as a biologist counting crocodiles. It is partly thanks to his analyses that protected areas were established and laws passed to safeguard wild populations. It may sound cynical, but the fact that crocodiles can be kept legally on farms for meat and leather production has actually aided wild stocks. These farms are only permitted to operate as long as a minimum population thrives in the wild. Consequently, poaching has plummeted, and species like the Morelet’s crocodile have been removed from the Red List of threatened species.

To further reduce stress, we place a cloth over their eyes. When they cannot see, their entire system shuts down. In this instinctive survival mode, they power down their metabolism—one of many tactics these masters of adaptation have perfected over 200 million years. One of the anatomical wonders is the actively controlled Foramen of Panizza in the right ventricle of the heart. Under water, they can close this valve, preventing blood from being shunted to the lungs. Deoxygenated blood bypasses the lungs and flows directly back into the systemic circulation and to the stomach. This not only allows them to dive for longer but also aids digestion due to the more acidic blood.

Teamwork or couple’s therapy?

With large crocodiles, two hands are no longer enough. This is where lassoing and precise teamwork come into play. From a distance, ropes are used to hold the jaws shut. Crocodiles possess immense biting power, yet they have almost no muscle strength to open their mouths against resistance.

It takes practice to hit the mark, but it works. Then we haul it onto land, where two people secure it. The approach starts at the tail and moves toward the head; you then pin the front legs with your knees and apply pressure to the back without sitting fully on it. A second person does the same with the hind legs.

The skin feels like cool, embossed leather—firm, dry, and surprisingly clean. Once secured, measurements are taken. To weigh the animal, it is trussed up; though it looks barbaric, it is for the safety of everyone involved. Once everything is done, we release it back into the enclosure. This is one of the most dangerous moments.

Despite the knotting technique, a residual risk remains: the crocodile feels the moment the restraints fall and fights back. Michael ends the day with grazed hands from his rodeo ride on the reptile. Our two American crocodile specimens weighed about 80 kg and were over 2.5 metres long; four people were needed to lift them. The largest specimen, Argos, at over 4 metres, would easily push eight people to their limits. We’ll leave that one for another time!

After two days, we say our goodbyes with grazed knees and bruised legs, but proudly holding our certificates as official “crocodile handling experts” in Mexico in our (mostly) intact hands.

Snakes and other reptiles in Mexico – Part I

As we fought our way through millions of bats in Kantemó to reach the hungry rat snakes, we had no idea that shortly afterwards, we would almost be carrying a rattlesnake as an involuntary hitchhiker.

It all begins in total silence. Despite the darkness of the cave, we know the sun hasn’t set yet. But the first few faint wingbeats soon multiply, growing louder and louder. They slice through and churn up the air, which thickens with the scent of guano. Our face masks are meant to protect us from health risks, yet the acrid stench penetrates every filter. The air in the cave vibrates palpably; millions of small mammals are seeking the exit to turn the night into their hunting ground.

The hanging snakes of Kantemó

That is where we must enter. Crouched and only with the pale glow of our torches, we struggle forward. To our left and right, the animals shoot past us, guided by their precise echolocation, which veers them away from our faces at the very last millisecond—most times, at least.

The deeper we venture, the more stifling the air becomes. We are surrounded by life; a fleeting thought of “Patient Zero” creeps in as the walls close in. But we are here for a very specific inhabitant: the yellow red ratsnake (Pseudelaphe flavirufa).

These animals are unique masters of adaptation. Unlike vipers, they do not possess thermal vision. They live in permanent darkness and have never seen daylight—and yet, they see. Their reddish, oversized eyes look like rubies in the torchlight, perfectly adapted for localising bats. The snake colony of Kantemó is estimated at about 100 individuals—a microcosm that survives by hunting bats mid-flight.

In March, the desert on the peninsula Baja California awakens. The air still blows cold from the sea, but the sun is already warming the ground. Amidst dust and thorny bushes, we encounter a different calibre: the rattlesnake.

Venemous snake handling: When Michael’s training saves the day

The rattle makes you shudder instinctively—a sound that goes right through you. We had almost run over a specimen; she was lying exactly between the wheels. Thanks to Michael’s training in handling venomous snakes, we are able to safely get the animal away from the road. All the while, she rattles incessantly with her keratin rattle at the end of her tail—a remnant of every single shed—letting us know she is dangerously venomous.

Rattlesnakes are pit vipers native only to the American continent—but found there from Argentina to Canada. It took us a while to see one, the first one not until Baja California: a Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii). It was about time, considering most snakes of this species live in Mexico.

This feared species is found on the ground and usually sounds the alarm if you get too close, but when they bite, “dry bites” are rare. Their haemotoxic venom decomposes blood cells, leading to very painful internal bleeding, tissue destruction, and swelling. The only option then is to find a hospital quickly and hope they have antivenom in stock.

The snake winds itself beautifully around the tree trunk. Another poses on a lush green leaf, with the Arenal Volcano in the background. Simply incredible, the perfect coincidence – or is it?

We have often wondered how it is that animals in photos always pose so beautifully – mind you, wild animals.

The answer? It’s sobering: the animals are placed exactly where people want them.

The methods behind the photo

With cold-blooded animals, there are particularly questionable methods: when they are chilled, they hardly move. There are even reports of limbs being suspended by threads. A famous photo of a frog riding a beetle was likely staged this way, as the two species are not active at the same time of day.

Bringing a jaguar into the right position in the wild is difficult – if not impossible. To give tourists a guaranteed sighting, providers resort to aids. Feeding stations are far more common than one might think.

We have also been offered a guaranteed sighting of a “wild” ocelot, or taken to a feeding site for tapirs; even the Orinoco crocodile is fed regularly so that it remains within the national reserve and isn’t killed outside its borders.

Feeding stations for birds are found almost everywhere: Bananas and sugar water are popular choices.

As long as tour operators can guarantee sightings, their income is secure. This leads to a dangerous set of expectations. Tourists want “wildlife photos”. In Costa Rica, the practice went so far that sloths, for example, were taken down from trees just for a “wildlife selfie”. The government launched an awareness campaign in 2019. Perhaps it helped. We didn’t experience anything of this sort ourselves, but we read about it.

With snakes, however, we witnessed a different side of the story.

The business of “perfect” nature

In Costa Rica, we came across a particularly negative practice: a photographer told us about providers who carry snakes around in boxes to position them in the perfect spot. We also came across a post on Facebook denouncing this exact practice.

And why? Simply to offer tourists the perfect picture. It would quite frankly be too exhausting to spend the night in the jungle without a guaranteed find – plus, you can’t see the volcano at night.

Unfortunately, this practice is quite widespread – even in countries like Costa Rica, where animal welfare is supposedly a high priority. What can then be expected from other countries that hardly care about it at all?

Encounters with Costa Rica’s primates

We see “big monkeys” all the time – after all, we’re all guilty of making a monkey out of ourselves every now and then. But those that actually still swing through the treetops are, sadly, becoming fewer and farther between.

By now, we’ve reached the north of Central America, and here they have become a rare sight. Since crossing the border from Costa Rica, we haven’t spotted a single monkey – we haven’t even heard one. Reason enough to look back wistfully at our time in Costa Rica, where we were lucky enough to observe all four native monkey species, some of them on multiple occasions.

Capuchin: grumpy and intelligent

They usually look a bit grumpy, but curiosity almost always wins the day: Capuchin monkeys (cebinae). Their habitat stretches from Central America down to Northern Argentina. They owe their name to Portuguese explorers, who felt the monkeys’ colouring resembled the cowls worn by Capuchin friars.

It’s fascinating to note that Capuchins have quite a large brain relative to their body size. Scientists attribute this to their complex foraging techniques. They are extremely adaptable and skilled tool users – we watched them feeding time and again, even seeing them tuck into coconuts.

Howler monkeys: loud and leisurely

You often hear them long before you see them: the loud Howler monkeys (alouatta) frequently served as our natural jungle alarm clock at four in the morning. After the Woolly Spider monkeys (brachyteles), they are the largest monkeys in the New World.

A fascinating detail: They are the only New World primates to have developed trichromatic colour vision (similar to us humans). Their namesake roar, which can be heard for several kilometres, is used for communication between different groups. This makes them officially the loudest land animals on Earth! Despite their leisurely pace, they are expert climbers and often use their prehensile tail as a “fifth hand” – strong enough to support their entire body weight during a leap.

For me, monkeys are definitely animals I could watch for hours on end – no matter how many times we’ve seen them before. And honestly? Even that loud roaring at 4 am has become something quite beautiful and comforting to me. It’s the sound of the wild, and I truly hope we get to hear it for many years to come.

From our perspective, the American continent is bordered by two oceans: the Atlantic and the Pacific. For most travellers, the sea accompanies them along the entire route from north to south, or vice versa. For us, however, it was slightly different. For long periods, we travelled almost exclusively inland through South America.

But now, in Central America, there is no escape. The sea is never far away and provides us with wonderful places to stay time and time again. The sea creatures are fascinating too, especially in the middle of whale season.

Visiting humpback whales

We hadn’t seen any for a long time because we hadn’t been near the coast. In Ecuador, we arrived either too early or too late for the season, as there was no sign of the whales.

But in Panama, we arrived at just the right time. This meant that we absolutely had to get out on the water to see them!

Whale watching has become big business in this region. Prices are often correspondingly high. In Panama, specifically in Santa Catalina, they wanted to charge between 80 and 100 US dollars. To be fair, this includes not only whale watching but also snorkelling and the park entrance fee.

However, we received a tip from other travellers about a cheaper option with fewer tourists. Since we had already been fortunate enough to see a humpback whale calf practising its jumps and observe other whales from a distance during our diving trip, we thought long and hard about it. But at 30 US$ per person for six hours on the water, we couldn’t complain.

We drove to Boca Brava. Despite it being the rainy season, our guide was waiting for us there on a beautiful sunny day. Five American expats joined us on the boat. The eight of us set off in the small boat for Chiriquí National Park. Right in the middle was a mother swimming with her calf. They kept coming very close to the boat! It took an hour for another tourist boat to arrive. So we were almost alone the entire time.

Seeing these little calves swimming, and then seeing the mothers appear right next to them, was deeply impressive. This is especially impressive given how much bigger they are than our little boat. These giants can grow up to 15 metres long, which is rather small for the rorqual family, and weigh between 25 and 30 tonnes. We saw whales repeatedly that day, both from the beach and from the boat.

Can you do whale watching from bed?

In Costa Rica, we tried again. This time, from our bed looking through the tent window, parking on a beach near Puerto Jiménez where whales are often seen. We didn’t see the whales, but we did see dolphins, rays and turtles.

The second time we went whale watching, it was in Uvita, with a colleague of Michi’s brother who organises whale-watching tours. He took us on a fishing trip with his friends. I still find fishing boring, but there were whales in the bay. We saw them jumping in the distance repeatedly, and then a mother and calf came very close.

It was different here, though. Despite it being the off-season, five other boats carrying up to 15 people surrounded the animals. So much for whale watching alone! It’s a completely different experience to have the animals almost exclusively to yourself. We are looking forward to new encounters on our way north. After all, we will continue to encounter the coast and its fascinating inhabitants all along the way.