Adapted by:
Miguel Jorge
WriterJournalist. I've spent more than half of my life writing about technology, science, and culture. Before landing here, I worked at Telefónica, Prisa, Globus Comunicación, Hipertextual, and Gizmodo. I'm part of Webedia's cross-section team.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
“Touristification” has reached the most remote corners of the planet. Beyond idyllic beaches, adventurers now venture into areas such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Albania. Hordes eager for new experiences have even targeted Antarctica. Few could have imagined that swimming with orcas would become a “must.”
Dancing with cetaceans. According to The Guardian, every morning in La Ventana, a quiet coastal town in Baja California Sur, dozens of wetsuit-clad tourists board boats guided by local fishermen or tour operators from nearby cities such as Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. Their goal? To swim with wild orcas.
An ecological crisis. According to many experts and veteran operators, what began as a unique and inspiring experience has become an uncontrolled activity that threatens both human safety and animal welfare. Without formal regulation, up to 40 boats may gather around the same group of orcas—particularly between May and June, when activity peaks.
Social media platforms have driven the phenomenon’s popularity since 2019. This has exposed a legal loophole in Mexican law: While there are regulations protecting endangered marine species, none explicitly prohibit swimming with toothed cetaceans such as orcas.
The invisible risks. Though no recorded attacks by wild orcas on humans have occurred, marine biologists warn that excessive and disorderly contact can provoke defensive reactions. Even more concerning is the cumulative effect of engine noise and constant human presence on the resident orcas. Many of these are females with calves that use sonar to hunt rays, dolphins, and sharks. Tourist activity interferes with this skill.
Capt. Juan Vásquez, who has spent more than two decades at sea, says these animals “will remember being harassed” and may stop visiting the area. Despite this, economic pressure is high because marine life tourism is a crucial source of income, and few want to limit it. Even uninsured and unlicensed boats participate in excursions, competing with more established operators who guarantee orca encounters to secure bookings.
A pioneering plan has emerged. Without clear regulations, scientists and responsible operators, including marine biologist Georgina Saad and documentary filmmaker Erick Higuera, have proposed Mexico’s first orca management plan. The plan is based not only on numerical quotas but also on animal behavior. It’s awaiting government approval this summer and would limit interaction to three boats per group of orcas and nine boats per day. It would also require official permits.
Additionally, the plan proposes that guides and captains learn to identify signs of stress in cetaceans to know when to withdraw. Each orca can be identified by its unique dorsal fin, making it easier to track sightings and interactions. Part of the revenue from permits would fund local patrols and training, establishing a sustainable model that prioritizes conservation and education.
Local tensions. However, implementation of the plan isn’t without controversy. Many local captains and families feel they haven’t been considered. They claim the permits will favor large companies in Cabo and La Paz, displacing those who have lived off marine tourism for generations.
They also criticize the plan for focusing exclusively on La Ventana when orcas and tourists travel throughout the peninsula. For Saad, however, concentrating regulation in La Ventana is key to establishing a legal and operational precedent.
“We can send the message that this is the only place to do it, and this is how it is going to be done, and the rest is illegal,” Saad said.
A fine line. Despite the divisions, the report concluded that most agree the solution is education, not bans. Evans Baudin, a pioneer of this type of experience and a critic of the current chaos, insists the priority must be protecting the orcas while ensuring encounters remain respectful and safe.
La Ventana is at a crossroads: It can either become a responsible tourism model or a symbol of how a viral trend can harm even the most imposing ocean giants. The plan’s success depends not only on the rules imposed but also on the collective will to care for the creatures everyone says they want to protect.
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