Scammon's Lagoon is about 27 km (17 mi) south of Guerrero Negro, down a rough but passable sand road that crosses salt flats. The lagoon got its name from U.S. explorer Charles Melville Scammon of Maine, who came here in the mid-1800s. On his first expedition Scammon and his crew collected more than 700 barrels of valuable whale oil, and the whale rush was on. Within 10 years nearly all the whales in the lagoon had been killed, and it took almost a century for the population to increase to what it had been before Scammon arrived. In the 1940s the U.S. and Mexican governments took measures to protect the whales. With a sturdy vehicle you can drive the washboard dirt road to Scammon's Lagoon and arrange a trip for about $25-$40 per person, depending on the type of boat and length of tour. Start early to take advantage of the calmest water and best viewing conditions.